ABL Plant Research

Objective 1: Development of biomedical products in plants

Objective 2: Development of herbicide-resistant rice

Objective 3: Development of disease-resistant crops

Objective 1: Development of biomedical products in plants
Progress:

• Rapid and efficient transfer method of modified genes developed in rice and sugarcane
• Isolation and engineering of gene for human serum albumin and other products
• Field testing of transgenic sugarcane containing marker genes

Objective 2: Development of herbicide-resistant rice
Progress:

• Transgenic rice developed that is resistant to glufosinate herbicide
• Transgenic herbicide-resistant rice helps control noxious weeds, produces higher grain yields than conventional rice, reduces soil erosion and minimizes applications of insecticides

Objective 3: Development of disease-resistant crops
Progress:

• Transgenic rice showed increased tolerance to fungal attack under field conditions
• Antimicrobial peptides identified that inhibit in vitro growth of fungal pathogen
• Utility of antifungal peptides for disease control is being evaluated in transgenic Arabidopsis