By Martin Kugler, Die Presse
Translated by Stephan Nyeki, Checkbiotech

A new generation of plants are being cultivated in university research labs and companies.

Almost all genetically modified (GM) plants grown in fields have no direct use for the consumer, and they only help farmers in the fight against insects and weeds. Two thirds of GM organisms are resistant to certain chemicals, the rest produce substances through genetic engineering which are poisonous to insects.

Quality can only be increased with difficulty

A new genetic generation of plants is already being cultivated in university and company research labs. The properties of these plants are themselves being altered, which is of interest for industrial applications.

For example, the properties of cotton for material production primarily depend on the length of the single fibers. These are five centimeters long for the best type of "Egyptian cotton" (Gossypium barbadense), but only half as long for highland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). Nevertheless, the latter accounts for more than 90 percent of the world harvest, because the cultivation of Egyptian cotton is extremely labor-intensive.

According to experts, further improvement in the quality of highland cotton is not possible with traditional breeding methods, but is with genetic engineering.

A worldwide consortium based around Bayer CropScience and the Australian research institute CSIRO, recently deciphered the mechanisms of cotton fiber growth. Two enzymes were found to be decisive for the length of fibers which regulate the internal pressure in the growing seedling hairs. The greater the cell pressure, the greater the growth.

GM seeds in strong demand

As a result of the aforementioned studies, researchers have changed the enzyme concentrations in the less labor-intensive highland cotton through genetic engineering. As a result, these plants produced longer fibers in open field trials in 2005. Those who are afraid of jeans and shirts from GM cotton, should be reminded that already 28 percent of the world cotton harvest stems from GM seeds.

Large market for new GM cotton

It is at present uncertain when the development of the new cotton plants will be concluded. In this regard, progress on industrial potatoes is further advanced. Various groups are at a stand-still in the EU over the licensing of a potato strain, which has a different starch composition.

The German chemical company BASF has switched off an enzyme in the potato that prevents formation of amylose, a long-chained starch. The potato now only produces mainly Amylopektin, a branched from of starch.

Although, these plants are only foreseen to have industrial uses, mixing with food cannot completely be excluded in practice - and, hence, they must go through the same licensing procedures as for food. The European food authority EFSA has recently licensed the BASF potato for release.

Cotton growers in the USA also have to undergo protracted procedures, because the seeds are also processed into edible oil. Industry is expecting a lot from the development of a new generation of GM plants with enhanced properties. GMOs will only be more widely accepted when consumers are able to benefit more directly, or so one hopes in industrial circles.

Besides, a huge market for GMOs is expected to open up in the future. According to branch estimates, the GMO turnover of € 4.4 billion could increase a hundredfold within ten years.

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