Plant Vaccination has become a scientific
revolution. Scientists have injected 2,200 corn stalks with a
microbe effective against the destructive European corn borer. This was the
first approved outdoor testing done. Being said , there no was no
environmental group that opposed the testing. The tests of the microbe, was on
corn planted in the Eastern Shore of Maryland. This land is owned by p
Genetics International. This was the company that originated the organism.
Although being the first, corn is not the last to be genetically engineers.
Frostban, a frost- inhibiting microbe was also approved to be filed tested.
This testing has become a phenomenon for many researchers. Is it too much to
say that it could help world hunger? Plant vaccination is just the beginning of
a rush of hundreds of similar products. Corn borer which is a moth larva was
introduced to the U.S in 1908. This moth is also one of agricultures largest
threats. A sum of 400 million dollars a year, is the coast to keep this
distractive insect away from the crops. With this new genetically modified
testing, scientist have been able to determine and monitor if the living
pesticide could spread from plant to plant. Spreading is the most undesirable
affect for the crops. This new microbe has been genetically altered, causing it
to attack the alkaline stomach of each corn borer. Thus, creating users in the
lining of there stomachs, without affecting the human consumers. Unfortunately
the pesticide has not show much improvement to work in greenhouses and has
lowered the corn yield among some test. There is a constant progression with
trial and error. This pesticide will change food consumption for years to come,
corn will be the sweetest tasting vegetable all year round.
No comments:
Post a Comment