Sjemenarstvo, Vol. 16 No. 6, 1999.
Preliminary communication
FEEDSTUFF PRODUCTION BASED ON GM PLANTS - YES OR NO?
Ivan Pejić
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Snježana Kereša
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Darko Grbeša
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
Genetically modified (GM) plants are those obtained through genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is array of biotechnological methods and procedures derived from recent accomplishments of molecular biology and genetics applied in isolation and transfer of genes from one organism to another. These technologies reveal possibility for number of manipulations with genes, i.e. for combining and transferring characters between very distant species what could never be accomplished by natural way. In several countries (USA, Canada, Argentina, China) during last 4-5 years the acreage's under GM cultivars of maize, canola, potato, soybean, and some other cultivated species are enormously increased, because there they ensure higher and more safe yields as well as higher profit of crop production. The most of today's GM cultivars have engineered gene which makes the cultivar tolerant to particular total herbicide, what makes weed control easier, more simple and cheaper. Second most engineered character in today's GM cultivars is resistance to particular insects such as pink boll worm (cotton) or maize borer, and it is consequence of isolated and transferred gene from bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). These "Bt cultivars" ensure full crop resistance to above mentioned pests and completely exclude application of significant amounts of chemical means which are regularly applied in classical crop management. However, beside the positive sides of GM cultivars which are recognized and exploited by farmers, GM organisms cause fear and concern both to non-professionals and scientists, due to possible uncontrolled events and unwanted consequences for environment and mankind. In this paper we deal with principles of genetic engineering, current status (statistics) according to species, acreage's, and application of GM cultivars used for feed production, as well as the status of GM plants in Croatia and discussion on scientifically based reasons For and Against cropping with GM plants.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
168098
URI
Publication date:
25.7.1999.
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