Development & Aid, Environment, Tierramerica - Ecobrief

Ecobreves – A Transgenic Sunflower Is Born: ARGENTINA

BUENOS AIRES, Sep 27 2004 (IPS) - Scientists from Argentina's Universidad del Litoral have isolated a gene that, once introduced into the sunflower, helps this crop tolerate extreme drought.

Researchers from the university's cellular and molecular biology laboratory made the discovery after working on the project for several years.

Raquel Chan, the program's co-director, told Tierramérica that they first isolated a gene that proved effective in unfavorable environmental conditions, particularly under ''hydric stress'', or water deficiency.

Fellow researcher Daniel González said that by introducing this resistant gene into a sunflower plant — using biotechnology and under experimental conditions — they created a transgenic organism that may one day be used in commercial farm production.