Genetic engineering and biotechnology : concepts, methods, and agronomic applications /


Preface v
Introduction 1
Chapter 1. Some basic concepts of biology 3
1.1. Biology and plant physiology 3
1.1.1. The range of living organisms and the place of plants 3
1.1.2. Plant growth and development 8
1.1.3. Plant reproduction 20
1.2. Agronomy 38
1.2.1. Wild plants and cultivated plants 38
1.2.2. Agriculture and agronomy 39
1.2.3. The objectives of agriculture 42
1.3. Cellular and molecular biology 54
1.3.1. Information in the cell 54
1.3.2. Controlling genetic information 61
Chapter 2. Plant biotechnology and genetic engineering 75
2.1. A new science but an old partner of agriculture 75
2.2. In vitro culture 76
2.2.1. In vitro culture of organs and tissues 76
2.2.2. In vitro culture of meristems 79
2.2.3. Culture of plant cells 84
2.2.4. Protoplasts 88
2.2.5. In vitro culture of haploids 94
2.3. Gene transfer in plants 99
2.3.1. A practice as "old" as life 99



Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
2.3.2. Crown gall disease and natural genetic engineering 100
2.3.3. Controlled genetic engineering 103
2.4. Plant biotechnology and other biotechnologies 121
Chapter 3. Applications of biotechnology and genetic engineering 125
3.1. Examples of the impact of biotechnology and
genetic engineering on agronomy 125
3.1.1. Problems of choice and evaluation 125
3.1.2. Plants affected by biotechnology 126
3.1.3. The whole plant and its organs 128
3.1.4. Major metabolic pathways 130
3.1.5. Resistance and plant protection 140
3.1.6. Molecular markers and plant breeding 148
3.1.7. A provisional assessment 149
3.2. Plant biotechnology and bio-industries 149
3.2.1. A quick overview of bio-industries 149
3.2.2. Agro-food industry 152
3.2.3. Fibre industry 156
3.2.4. The health sector 158
3.2.5. The environment 161
3.2.6. The energy sector 163
3.2.7. A provisional assessment 164
Chapter 4. Plant biotechnologies and bioethics 167
4.1. Evaluation of risks 167
4.1.1. Transmission of transgenes through food 168
4.1.2. Behaviour of the transgene in its new environment 169
4.1.3. Flow and dissemination of transgenes 170
4.1.4. Appearance of resistance 171
4.1.5. Ownership of transformed plants 172
4.2. Evaluation of advantages 172
4.2.1. A remarkable tool of knowledge 173
4.2.2. Productive and environment-friendly agriculture 173
4.2.3. More focused industrial uses 174
4.3. Regulatory mechanisms 175



Conclusion. The future of biotechnology and genetic
engineering in plants 177
Excercises 178
Possible Answers 181
Glossary 187
Index 195