Biotechnology for Improved Seeds and Seedlings
With biotechnology, we have a new and powerful tool for producing improved seeds and seedlings. In December, FFTC and TARI held a training course for seed scientists and technicians working in Asia.
Biotechnology to Produce Planting Materials
During the past two decades, the technology of producing seeds and seedlings has developed rapidly. However, all this innovation means that the people involved in seed production have a continuous need to update their expertise.
In December, FFTC and the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) held a training course on biotechnology in seed and seedling production. The course was attended by 25 scientists and technicians working in Asia on the production of high-quality seed and seedlings. They came from Bangladesh, Hongkong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
Major topics included in the course were:
- Training in current serological and molecular diagnostic techniques, including ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunisorbent assay) and PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction);
- Tissue culture techniques;
- Analysis of genetic diversity and the use of DNA finger-printing; and,
- Use of SI (self-incompatibility) in the production of F1 seeds, and other aspects of hybrid seed production.
Lessons for each topic included hands-on training in laboratory techniques. The overall focus of the course was on the practical application of biotechnology for disease detection, genetic analysis and germplasm exchange.
Elisa Testing
An important part of the training course was ELISA testing. This is an efficient and low-cost way to detect plant virus diseases. ELISA is based on antibodies produced by animals (usually rats or rabbits). Provided suitable antibodies are available, ELISA testing is usually the method of choice. It is sensitive, easy to use, and needs minimal equipment.
PCR testing was also covered in the training course (see page 3). PCR is an even more sensitive assay than ELISA, and can be used to test for three of four viruses at a time. However, the reagents used are expensive, and a tedious process of preparation is needed for each sample.
Tissue Culture for Seedling Production
Tissue culture is now being used for the mass production of plants that are reproduced vegetatively (by cuttings), or which are difficult to grow from seed for other reasons. Seedlings grown by tissue culture are rather expensive, compared to those grown from cuttings. However, tissue culture has the great advantage that it can remove viruses and other pathogens, ensuring that the seedlings are free of any disease. It is thus a good technique for producing healthy foundation stock.
Tissue culture is also being used in Taiwan for the propagation of medicinal plants that are becoming rare in the wild. They are a new high-value crop for farmers, but are often difficult to grow from seed, or may not have seeds at all. Tissue culture allows for the mass production of planting materials for farmers. This is likely to be a useful technique in other Asian countries, given the growing interest in medicinal herbs, many of which are rare in the wild.
Index of Images
Figure 1 Tissue Culture Used for Propagation of Jewel Orchid, a Chinese Medicinal Plant
Figure 2 FFTC Training Course: Practice in Elisa Testing
