Transgenic Horticultural Crops: Challenges & Opportunities

As the world debates the risks and benefits of plant biotechnology, the proportion of the global area of transgenic field crops has increased every year, and the safety and value continues to be demonstrated. Yet, despite the success of transgenic field crops, the commercialization of transgenic horticultural crops (vegetables, fruits, nuts, and ornamentals) has lagged far behind. Transgenic Horticultural Crops: Challenges and Opportunities examines the challenges for the creation and commercialization of horticultural biotechnology and identifies opportunities, strategies, and priorities for future progress.

A "must read" for anyone working in the fields of genetic engineering or plant breeding, for policy makers, educators, students, and anyone interested in the issues of genetic engineering of fruits, vegetables and ornamentals, this book covers:

• Past achievements, newest developments, and current challenges in transgenic fruit, nut, vegetable, ornamental, and pharmaceutical crops
• Reviews transgenic horticultural crops in the U.S., Europe, Africa, and Asia
• Hurdles to the commercialization of transgenic technology in economics and marketplace, consumer acceptance, intellectual property right protection, public–private partnership, and regulation
• Critical evaluation of the benefits and risks of genetically engineered horticultural crops, including risk assessment and transgene containment
• Presents case studies and an industry perspective on transgenic horticultural crops

The production and commercialization of transgenic horticultural crops is an enormous task—its progress and realization require an informed research community, horticultural industry, government, and body of consumers. To aid in this effort, this book provides facts, analyses and insights by leading experts in this field to inform a wide audience of students, agricultural and genetic professionals, and the interested public. Part of the global conversation on the pros and cons of transgenic foods, Transgenic Horticultural Crops aims to stimulate more interest and discussion on the subject and to promote the development of safe and sustainable genetically modified horticultural crop varieties.

Dr. Beiquan Mou is currently a Research Plant Geneticist with the Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Salinas, California. He obtained his Ph. D. degree in plant breeding and genetics from Oregon State University in 1993. Then he worked on the mechanism and inheritance of self- and interspecific-incompatibility in Nicotiana at University of Misourri-Columbia, and carried out postdoctoral research on the transgenic modification of cornstarch structure and functionality at Iowa State University. Since 2001, Dr. Mou has been conducting research on the genetics and breeding of lettuce and spinach for disease and insect resistance, nutritional improvement, and horticultural traits. He has released 15 lettuce and spinach varieties possessing unique traits, improved quality, new genes, and/or disease or insect resistance. He currently serves as chairs of the USDA Leafy Vegetable Crop Germplasm Committee and Vegetable Breeding Working Group of American Society for Horticultural Science. He is sought out for consultation nationally and internationally by other researchers, government agencies, industry, and media.

Dr. Ralph Scorza is a Research Horticulturist and Lead Scientist for the Genetic Improvement of Fruit Crops Research Unit at the USDA-ARS Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Kearneysville, West Virginia. He received a BS in agronomy and MS degree in Fruit Crops, both at the University of Florida, and received his Ph.D. in genetics and plant breeding at Purdue University in 1979. The broad objectives of his research program at the USDA are to develop stone fruit (Prunus) germplasm with improved fruit quality, resistance to biotic and abiotic stress, and improved tree growth habits for high yielding, mechanically integrated orchard systems. His breeding program combines classical and molecular approaches.

He has released nine stone fruit varieties developed through conventional breeding. His genetic engineering work has included the successful development of disease resistant grapes, pears and plum. The genetically engineered plum pox virus resistant plum cultivar ‘HoneySweet’ developed by Dr. Scorza and his colleagues is the first genetically engineered temperate fruit crop to be deregulated and approved by APHIS, FDA and EPA in the U.S.

Dr. Scorza is a recipient of the Arthur S. Flemming Award, was selected as an ARS-NAA Senior Research Scientist of the Year. He has been co-recipient of three Secretary of Agriculture Honor Awards. He has authored over 190 research publications and is a Fellow of the American Society for Horticultural Science.