Call Prefix : PR-M

Call Suffix : 1997

Call Cutter : BIC54

Location : SEARCA Library

Format : Printed

Publisher : Dutch Agricultural Research Department, Ministry of Agriculture,

Publication Date : 1997

Publication Place : Wageningen, The Netherlands :

Summary : Abstract: As first step in the analysis of the impact of introducing transgenic plants, the scientific literature and patent abstracts have been reviewed. An inventory was made of genes induced by abiotic stress and their functions, focussing on low temperature and drought stress. In the search, 220 genes were reported to be induced by low temperature or water deficit in 31 species, of which 26 were agricultural species. Over 35 genes were induced by low temperature, 115 were induced by drought stress and another 45 were induced by both low temperature and drought stress. A table of the stress-induced genes was made, indicating where possible, the available information on its biochemical and physiological function, as well as an indication of its inducible expression or tested tolerance of the transgenic plant to enhanced stress. Genes involved in drought or low temperature tolerance were subsequently grouped according to their functions. Based on known and putative functions, or homologies (identical stretches of amino acid sequences), approximately 115 of the stress-induced genese described in the literature, were placed into one of the functional groups. Applicants requesting permission to modify a plant with a particular gene, should be required to explicity state its potential for increased tolerance to abiotic stress. This report and subsequent, forthcoming data may provide an indication of this potential. The available knowledge on the effect of specific promoter-gene product combinations in transgenic plants with respect to potential ecological risks should be evaluated. Plant growth and fitness characteristics of genetically modified plants should be identified, standardized, quantified and compared to that of the wild type to ascertain possible signs of pleiotropic effects. Such a standardized evaluation is relevant for the plant growth and fitness of transgenic plants.