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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #126630
Title: BIOTECHNOLOGY IN HORTICULTURAL CROP IMPROVEMENT: ACHIEVEMENTS, OPPORTUNITIES AND LIMITATIONS

Author
item Hammerschlag, Freddi
item SAXENA, PRAVEEN - UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH

Submitted to: Abstract of International Horticultural Congress
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/12/2002
Publication Date: 8/12/2002
Citation: Hammerschlag, F.A., Saxena, P. 2002. Biotechnology in horticultural crop improvement: achievements, opportunities and limitations. Hortscience. Page 67.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The applications of biotechnology to the improvement of horticultural crops have been considerable over the last 10 years. In vitro propagation technologies, commonly referred to as micropropagation, are the method of choice for propagating a wide range of horticultural crops. Of great importance has been the link between micropropagation and pathogen elimination protocols which has led to pathogen-indexed plants for worldwide distribution. The application of biochemical and molecular markers to horticultural crops has also developed rapidly, with advances in technology from isozymes to RFLPs, to RAPDs, AFLPs and SSRs. Genetic markers are now routinely used for classifying and identifying germplasm, analysis of genetic relationships among breeding materials, constructing genetic linkage maps, and selective breeding. Novelty horticultural crops have been developed through various tissue culture techniques including wide hybridization and embryo rescue, induced mutagenesis, somaclonal variation, somatic hybridization, and organelle transplantation. Closely aligned with tissue culture technology has been genetic engineering of plants. Numerous horticultural crops have been improved by selective insertion of specific genes for increased shelf life, disease resistance, novel morphological and floral attributes, and enhanced nutritional composition. This symposia will provide an overview of the impact of these advances on the horticultural industry with specific examples of successes.