1. Non-GM ringspot virus-resistant papaya
2. Peru: Production of transgenic papaya to improve
NOTE: "Only GM can save the papaya", in common with "only GM can save the banana", is one of the recurring myths of GM promoters (item 2). But a papaya resistant to ringspot virus, the disease of concern here, has been developed by non-GM means (item 1).
More non-GM breakthroughs in disease resistance:
http://www.gmwatch.org/component/content/article/31-need-gm/12314-disease-resistance
Non-GM breakthroughs for other traits:
http://www.gmwatch.org/component/content/article/31-need-gm/12348-introduction
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1. Non-GM ringspot virus-resistant papaya
Papaya ringspot virus resistance in Carica papaya via introgression from Vasconcellea quercifolia
S. V. Siar, G. A. Beligan, A. J. C. Sajise, V. N. Villegas and R. A. Drew
Euphytica
DOI: 10.1007/s10681-011-0388-z
http://springerlink.com/content/48t805l7w7564288/
We report the first successful production of PRSV-P resistant backcross (BC) papaya plants following intergeneric hybridisation between C. papaya and a Vasconcellea species after 50 years of reports on unsuccessful attempts. This follows our previous reports of PRSV-P resistant F1 hybrids developed by intergeneric hybridisation between C. papaya and V. quercifolia. One PRSV-P resistant BC 1 (BC1) plant was produced after 114,839 seeds were dissected from 940 fruits. The seeds yielded 1,011 embryos and 733 germinated in vitro from which 700 developed into plantlets that were screened in a glasshouse and in the field under high disease pressure and exposure to inoculation by viruliferous aphids. From the PRSV-P resistant backcross 1 (BC1) male plant, 1465 plants [137 BC2, 546 SbC2 (BC2 sib-crosses), 147 BC3, 379 SbC3 and 256 BC4] were grown from seed and inoculated with PRSV-P and virus resistant BC3 and BC4 plants were selected from these generations. Presence or absence of virus was confirmed by ELISA serological tests. BC plants generally developed mild symptoms of PRSV-P after periods ranging from 5 to 18 months in the field but many showed the ability to produce new growth free of symptoms. All control plants developed severe symptoms after 3 months in the field. Some BC3 and BC4 plants were free from viral infection after 18 months in the field. Subsequently they developed very mild symptoms on their leaves and a few ringspots on their fruit. They continued to grow vigorously and produce fruit for 3 years under high disease pressure provided by the infected controls and other susceptible plants. Good quality marketable fruit were produced on these plants. Application of these results should lead to restoration of the papaya industry in virus-infested regions of the Philippines and worldwide.
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2. Peru: Production of transgenic papaya to improve
By: Raul Yaipen Carranza
Fresh Plaza
3/30/2011
http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=78425
William Daga Avalos, fruit specialist of the National Institute for Agrarian Innovation (INIA), said that the production of papaya in the last 8 years went back to remote areas due to allele virus (Ringspot, Bunchy Top, Phytophthora) which irretrievably destroy crops, taking over the planted areas.
The specialist explained that in order to save the papaya crop in the areas of Chanchamayo, Satipo and Pucallpa, genetically transformed seeds should be sowed (transgenic) to save production and productivity of the fruit, which threatens to set back even further damages on biodiversity and deforestation of Peru's jungle.
"People have a wrong idea of the word transgenic, in this case applies to the implementation of a specific gene to alter the genetic resistance of the crop and allow it to be immune to damage caused by alleles, the public should be better informed in technology advances and the study of genetics, allowing us to stop damage before it is irreversible to various crops", said Daga.
Daga Avalos said that by the beginning of the 2012 it is planned to have pilot fields planted with improved papaya seeds to adapt the culture to the area, estimating, according to Avalos, that in three years exports could be doubled and deforestation of the jungle prevented.