In a recent discovery by the international collaboration of researchers found that there is a single genes in rice that is resistant to bacterial leaf blight, causing a disaster in plant. Moreover, that particular genes also promotes and regulates male fetility. The xa13 genes in rice, when expressed dominant is said to have multiple effect, making plant resistant to disease and promoting pollen development. This finding of multiple effect on plant disease resistant and fertility by a single genes have given a new insight to researchers and influenced their way of thinking for further studies.

personal opinion: with discoveries like this, science is making a great progress. This is further helping us understand about effect of genes on plants which is a good thing. With more such discoveries, we will develop better understanding and gain further insight about genes, plants, and this is a great thing.!!

source science daily.

weblink: www.sciencedaily.com/release/05/060507211616.htm

Arizona farmers recieve same yield of crop, using fewer insecticides yet maintaining the insects biodiversity. BT crop is one of the genetically modified crops that produces BT toxin to kill a naturally occuring insectides, Bascilus Thuringienesis, a pink ballworm which is a major pest of cotton. One of the reason for success is that the BT plants only kill the targeted pests, and not kill the non target pests, not harming the insects biodiversity and useful insects. 

BT plants only controls one of the three major pests of cotton. In order to control the other pests , broad spectrum insecticides called  insecticides growth regulator are used. But when BT plants were grown, researcher found that the BT plants yielded in 9% more cotton than non-BT plants, yet in BT plant the insecticide growth regulator was not used in broad spectrum.

However, researchers believe that just because BT plants are a success in Arizona does not mean it is a success elsewhere. Therefore, more systematic study of BT plants need to be done before making general conclusion.

Personal Opinion: I think the success of BT crop in Arizona is a plus point to biotech plants. If most of the GM plants are a success like this leading to high plant yield,good impact on environment, human and ecosystem, then may more people will be open to the GM plants, and feel safe to use it.

source: science daily

weblink: http//www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/05/060501232015.htm

Soil type preference: Phoradendron Leucarpum prefers sandy (light), loam (medium) and clay (heavy) soil. The preferred pH of the soil is acid, neutral and alkaline. However, the Mistletoe requires moist soil to grown in.

Habitat: Woodland, Multicolored Shade, Shady Edge. Phoradendron Leucarpum grows as a parasite usually on Acer rubrum and Nyssa spp but may also grow on shrubs. The Mistletoe usually grows on light woodland or no shade.

BiomesThe Phoradendron Leucarpum can exist in any kin of biomes. It can adapt to any ecosystem but undisturbed by human density, Phoradendron Leucarpum is found in Temperate Deciduous Fores, because one of the Characteristic of the Temperate Deciduous Forest is hardwood trees, and the Phoradendron Leucarpum which are parasitic plants, usually grows on high branches of the hardwood tree.

Phoradendron Leucarpum is found in abundant in tropical dryfaorest: savanna as well. In savanna the conditions such as solar incidence, host trees provide an ideal for the mistletoe growth.

However, Phoradendron Leucarpum is least concentrated in the Tropical rain forest because the Mistletoes need to have lower water potentials than their host plants to ensure the flow of water and nutrients moving through the haustorial connection. This is achieved by maintaining higher transpiration rates than that of their host plants. However, dense, dark condition of tropical Rainforest will not provide the accurate condition for Phoradendron Leucarpum.

Photosynthetic pathway: Phoradendron Leucarpum are semi-parasitic hence, the mistletoe gets some of its carbon and other nutrients from the host xylem. However, they have oval shaped, evergreen leaves so they do perform photosynthesis through out the year. Phoradendron Leucarpum has not been speciafically mentioned, but they probably perform C4  photosynthetic, firstly because they prefer dry ecosystem, and they grow only to certain height, so under such condition C4 photosynthesis would be preffered. 

Source:

1. Nutrient and Water Relations of the Mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum (Viscaceae): How Tightly are they Integrated? by A. Darlene Panvini and William G. Eickmeier.

Web link: http://www.jstor.org/view/00029122/di001952/00p0004n/0

2. Deciduous
ForestWeb Link:http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/deciduous_forest.htm

3. Reveal & M.C. Johnston

Web Link: http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/phle.html

4. Plants For A Future: Database Search Results.

Web Link: http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Phoradendron+leucarpum&CAN=COMIND

5. Nickrent, D. L. 2002. . Parasitic Plants of the World. Chapter 2, pp. 7-27 in J. A. López-Sáez, P. Catalán and L. Sáez [eds.], Parasitic Plants of the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands.
Mundi-Prensa, Madrid.

Weblink: http://www.parasiticplants.siu.edu/Chapter3.html

Global Warming is said to be a great threat to earth's biodiversity. The Plant biodiversity is under greater threat from global warming than deforestation, which many believe as the biggest threat. The rapid global climatic change is said to be causing loss in plant biodoversity. A study shows that there is a scientific evidence that the glonal warming will cause loss of massive number of species biodiversity. 25 out of 24 biodiversity hotspot place that have unique plant and animal species are under enormous threat. These hotspot contains 44% of terristial animals and 35% of world's plant species. Hence, there is a most likely chance, that global warming will lead to massive loss of diverse plants and animals. Moreover, these hotspot areas are more vulnerable because the species have stopped migrating due to geographical limitation. So, these diverse species are tied down to particular hotspot which are at a greak risk with rise in global warming, leading to rapid climatic change.

source: science daily

posted: APril 12, 2006

weblink:http:/www.sciencedaily.com/release/2006/04/060411230548.htm

Recent study has shown that nitrates used in the fertilizers during intensive farming can contribute to environmental and health problem. Environmental problem such as water contamination or degradation of ozone layers, and health problem such as accumulation of cancerous substance in adults stomach and decrease in oxygenated blood in breas-feeding women. Therefore, researchers are looking for an alternative of nitrate that can increase the crop yield and productivty yet not cause environmental or health problem.

The researchers have discovered the possibility of using ammonium or urea as nitrogenous source instead of nitrates. However, although ammonium or urea might not have negative health or environmental impact, it does not result in same crop yield or growth as nitrate fertilizer. Study shows that plant produces stress when ammonium fertilizer is used. Using this idea, an investiagtion was undertaken. They found that activation of antioxidative enzyme produced by the ammonium in plants results in stress. To further study the ammonium assimilation enzyme, varities of peas were cloned, and the result showed that the content of enzyme increased in various root tissue when the ammonium fertilizers were used, therefore the increase in enzyme concentration is related to the ammonium concentration.

source:Elhuyar Fundazio

Posted: April 19th, 2006.

websource: science daily

weblink: http://www.sciencedaily.com/release/04/060419075309.htm

On March 22, 2006, Chinese government introduced a 5% tax on disposable wooden chopsticks in a bid to preserve its forests.
China produces about 45 billion pairs of chopsticks a year, therefore, consuming millions of trees and bamboo plants. Therefore, the in order to improve the environment and narrow the gap between rich and poor, the government initiated this move. The disposable wooden chopsticks are splints of wood that are about eight and 10 inches long. The wooden chopsticks have always been target of environmentalist and of school children who have written to the Chinese prime minister asking for a ban on such disposable wooden chopsticks. There are some Chinese who doubt that the tax increase would protect the environment while some are optimistic about this new move taken by the government to preserve trees and protect the environment.

Personal opinion:  I think this might not be a very effective way to preserve trees, but it is a good initiative by the Chinese government. By putting a 5% tax on the wooden chopsticks, it is creating awareness among the Chinese that the wooden chopsticks are having harmful environmental impact. Since, the Chinese produces billions of wooden chopsticks, and hence it is cutting down millions of trees and plants to produce such chopsticks, this has negative impact on the environment. Especially, with the growing concern and risk of global warming and a great need to plant trees to decrease the risk of the global warming. The move made by the Chinese government is a good start but my not be wholly effective. It might need to take a stronger and more affirmative action to have a greater and more positive environmental impact.

Source: BBC News

Weblink: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4831734

With increase alarm of global warming, there have been rush to plant forests, so that it can soak up and store carbon dioxide; carbon sink. This process called “carbon sink” reduces the risk of global warming, however, new research showed that increase in plantation of forests could cause problems such as reduction local water supplies by up to 50%.
A recent international study on the forest plantations for the purpose carbon sinks has found that while intensive plantations does help to cut down the effect and risk of global warming, but they can also sap stream flows and cause salinity.

Personal Opinion: The trees must have taken up water from the streams for various purposes such as: photosynthesis, maintain the turgor pressure, environment and nutrients uptake. If more trees are planted the water uptake will increase and this could have led to loss of water in stream. However, I personally believe that this loss of water should not cause great alarm because even though the plant is taking in water, it will transpire the water into the atmosphere as well, and through the process of water cycle, the streams will be filled again. However, the issue of global warming is far more alarming and the increase in plantation of forest is a good thing and should be contribution of global warming. So, the increase plantation of forest is our encouraged as it is one of the most efficient way to cut down risk of global warming, since the human are not controlling or watching out their activity which is increasing the emission of CO2 and only hope!

source: The Australian

weblink:

Omega-3 fats are beneficial for people suffering from Alzheimer disease, growing children and people at risk of heart disease. It is difficult for people to get required amount of omega-3 fatty acid because of the limited source to fish. However, now theHumans can benefit from the recent development of genetically modified plant that is capable of produce omega-3 fatty acids that naturally occur in fish and algae, by the Australian scientist.The CSIRO developed the breed of plant by splicing the genes responsible for making the omega-3 fatty acid, and then insert into oil-seed crops such as grain legumes and canola.
The researcher are targeting to increase  the Omega-3 fatty acid content in the GM plant by 10% more than the omega-3 fatty acid content in fish by one or two years. 

Therefore, these GM plants are an excellent and easy way for people to get required omega-3 content in their diets. These Grain crops with omega-3 fatty acids will benefit people with fish allergies.Sydney nutrionist Ms. Griffith is supportive of the GM crop. She believes that social attitudes to genetic technology in plant production were unlikely to change overnight, but expects people to accept GM technology more as they realized its health benefits. 

I believe and agree to Ms. Griffith’s view. GM plant such as this is very effective because it is easily accessible and improves nutrient diets. Although, it might be difficult at first to accept such GM plants,  if it is scientifically proved that it has no bad or ill effect on humans, and is beneficial rather than harmful, then people should not hold back to accept it and rather we should encourage invention of more of such GM crops.

source: Herald Sun (Australia)

weblink:http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=00276e8c1cecd602a31af4dd8bc5f2c7&_docnum=2&wchp=dGLbVtb-zSkVA&_md5=6f205a2a01298df648caf5e097bac710

According to Weed scientists, Crop cultivation in spring might help increase the populations of desirable weeds. Weeds are grouped intro “desirable” and “undesirable” category, and there have been funded researches that have tried to understand the effect of these two categories of weed on crop cultivation.

James Clarke ADAS claimed that spring cultivation is required to be able to achieve much more desirable species such as fat hen and polygonums than other seasonal crop cultivation. Recent work as part of the SAFFIE project and for Defra investigated whether spring wheat cultivation might stimulate weed germination.
The research showed that when crops were sowed in other season but spring they had difficulty in increasing growth of desirable weed species while removing undesirable ones. However when crops were sowed in spring in winter-sown cropping areas, it resulted in significant increase in populations of desirable species. Hence, in the spring crop area, there were good numbers of spring species. The weeds did not cause any problem or yield loss furthermore; these weeds are rare and important for plant biodiversity.

In conclusion, summing up entire article, sowing crops in spring will increase the population of “desired” weeds; which will not cause loss of crop production, or any such problem like “undesirable” weeds, and further more it will enhance biodiversity. Therefore, the best time to sow crops is during the spring season!!!

source:Farmers Guardian

headline:Spring cultivations increase wanted weeds

weblink:

http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=45da43ccde80cb52062c26efd9ef6538&_docnum=25&wchp=dGLbVtb-zSkVA&_md5=7044ff7c41df330fd34276db0bd9cdfc

Genetically-modified tomatoes may be the key to win the global fight against bird flu.
This is because Australian plant scientist Amanda Walmsley is working on growing a vaccine on GM tomatoes against the deadly H5N1 virus.She is hoping to develop a vaccine for the birds to fight against H5N1 virus that is causing the bird flu. The technique used will be similar to the vaccine created against the Newcastle Disease in tobacco plant. To develop such GM tomatoes will involve introduction of one of the H5N1 virus gene into tomato plants cells. The injected viral gene would order the tomato cells to produce a specific protein, found in bird flu, effectively making it a factory for the vaccine. This vaccination on bird will have proteins that will protect them if they came into contact with H5N1.

If this vaccine is turns out to be successful, it will reduce the number and risk of viral infected birds in poultry,  hence in turn decrease the possible of the bird flu turning into pandemic, and reduce the risk of it being transmitted in and between humans,Dr Walmsley hopes to have a vaccine ready for preliminary test in mice by the end of the year.  

I believe that this is just a starting step, if Dr. Walmsley does succeed in her mission, it will be a boost to a fight against the bird flu. The GM tomatoes are our new hope to fight the battle. Although the vaccine is against bird, it will have a major impact on us, because if we reduce the viral infection among birds, this will automatically reduce the viral to spread in human, and will stop the flu from becoming pandemic

 source: Financial Times Information

            Global News Wireweblink: http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=0a07cb8961e85a87cab271a7c1997ad8&_docnum=12&wchp=dGLbVtb-zSkVA&_md5=6417dc2b2ede16a3df8dc51f71186f7a