The focus of the meeting Biotech fruit 2008, the progress in the development and application of biotechnological methods in fruit breeding, in the presentations and discussions will be a total of 38 fruit species from the tropics, subtropics and temperate zone at all" says the host Dr. Magda-Viola Hanke by Julius Kuhn Institute (JKI) - Federal Research Institute for crops. Even at their institute in Dresden Pillnitz modern methods of breeding new apple, cherry or strawberry varieties are used.
Dr.Hanke says "With climate changes are changing the requirements for fruit breeding. To join breeding characteristics such as tolerance to drought or salt deposits in soil increased solar radiation and resistance to new pathogens in the forefront”, a crucial factor to timely customized fruit at the start to have the time. Because for a new breed be 20-25 years. JKI the scientists have developed a method with which the breeding process can speed up the apple. Usually apple seedlings bloom only after 5-12 years, and only then can the growers to carry out a farther crossing. "With the new system, the plants already in the year of sowing First flowers and fruits, so that subsequent breeding steps can be realized more quickly than usual" says Dr.Hanke advantage. At the end of the shortened breeding process is a new apple places that only apples own genes.Other conference topics include issues of biotechnology without genetic engineering, the so-called "smart breeding" (too German precision breeding) as well as new tactics in genetic engineering to create plants CISG. In addition, there is an intense exchange on the international status of the genome in various fruit species and the status of breeding research in the areas of biotic and a biotic stress tolerance, the fruit growth, fruit development and the growing importance of product quality. Finally, questions about the biological safety and to the international status of the use of transgenic plants in breeding programs and the admission of such plants for fruit production.
Three questions for the host to the biotech fruit 2008
Dr. Hanke, long ago, new methods of breeding that stands at the molecular or cell level, but none of the critically eyed "Genetically Modified Plants spawn. What is behind the so-called smart breeding?
In classical breeding two plants are crossed and they elect from between the descendants of those plants from which the desired property inherited. Smart Breeding highlights what is happening to a new level, because here is not to hand the appearance of the mature plant is selected, but to look at the genes of the mature plant has not yet managed to determine weather they bare the desired property is. The condition is that we know which genes for which property is. This is by no means for all genes clarified. In addition, there are properties that are of very many genes can be controlled. There is still need for research.
In the public perception of transgenic plants have a difficult position because they will be through the introduction of rootstocks, such as genes isolated from bacteria modified, as happens in nature does not occur. Grow your attempt to land such plants?
No. We have such plants are not on our field test areas are and will continue in the foreseeable future for transgenic plants do not ask.
Using genetic engineering methods can be, for example, genes from a wild apple places in a recent Variety introduce. Are you working in this field?
Yes, Plants in which genes of the same kind or of crossable, related species may be called CISG plants. At our institute we are working on methods that allow some genes from wild species that are our apples resistant to disease selection marker can be freely transferred. CISG plant condition no genes outside the gene pool, as well as breeders conventional used. To check weather the gene was successful had been often operated marker, e.g., antibiotic resistance, but not naturally occur in apples. We are trying now with it’s an own switch and a control element of the apple brings to work.
Biotech fruit 2008 are the main topics...
Non-GM biotechnological approaches
New strategies in genetic technology
Genomics - underpinning technology for molecular breeding and biotechnology
-Advances in Agronomic traits important - Biotic and A biotic stress, fruit growth and development, product quality
Integration of transgenic fruit crops into breeding program - release and Commercialization of transgenic varieties
Additional topics…
Software for assisted living
Transportation logistics companies
Wireless temperature monitoring
Your contact on site:
Dr. habil. Magda-Viola Hanke
Head of the Institute for Plant Breeding Research on horticultural crops and fruit at the Julius Kühn Institute - Federal Research Institute for crops (JKI)
Pillnitz Platz 3a, 01326 Dresden
Tel: 0351 / 26162-14
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Meeting places are ...
HTW, Pillnitz Platz 2, 01326 Dresden, Sobrigener Strasse 3a, 01326 Dresden, Germany.