The recipe for transgenic cotton breeding

China is one of the five largest cotton-producing countries in the world, with an annual planting area of 5.3 million hectares, accounting for approximately 13% of the global cotton cultivation. As soon as Li Fuguang, deputy director and researcher at the Cotton Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, begins to talk about cotton, he becomes visibly excited and shares his enthusiasm with reporters. “China's main cotton-growing regions are home to over 200 million people, with more than 19 million individuals involved in cotton spinning and related industries. The textile industry generates over 110 billion yuan in annual exports, contributing roughly 15% of the country’s total export volume.” On January 9, 2006, at the National Science and Technology Awards Conference, the "Comprehensive System of Cotton Generating Technology System Platform Construction and Application" project, completed by the Cotton Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, was awarded the Second Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress in 2005. The "Construction and Application of the Cotton Transgenic Technology System Platform" was a major achievement under the National "Tenth Five-Year Plan" 863 Project on "Transgenic Cotton Breeding Technology." To support the rapid development of transgenic cotton production in China, both gene research and breeding technology were crucial. After the project "Genetic Transformation of Double-Resistant Insect-Resistant Genes and New Variety Breeding Research," led by China Cotton Incorporated, was included in the National "Ninth Five-Year Plan" 863 High-Tech Program, the "Transgenic Cotton Breeding Technology" project received continued support from the 863 program during the Tenth Five-Year Plan period. In collaboration with organizations such as the China Cotton Institute, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and Zhejiang University, researchers have developed stable transgenic cotton materials, including insect-resistant and disease-resistant varieties suitable for five new cotton varieties and 23 strains across different regions. This project has promoted the planting of over 10 million mu of genetically modified cotton, generating social benefits exceeding 1 billion yuan. Looking for New Genes Although China is a major cotton producer, in the 1990s, the bollworm infestation in the Huanghuai-Hai region caused losses exceeding 50% in cotton output. In 1992 alone, it resulted in over 10 billion yuan in direct economic losses. “Cotton farmers initially sprayed pesticides only 1–3 times during the growing season, but even spraying more than 20 times couldn’t fully prevent the bollworm. They would still be active in pesticide solutions, showing their unstoppable destructive power. Farmers called them ‘insect discoloration’,” said Li Fuguang. With the support of national projects, China’s self-developed transgenic insect-resistant cotton gradually regained its market share from foreign competitors, now holding over 6%. “While China’s GM cotton technology leads globally, competition is fierce. A single mistake could lead to being left behind or even constrained,” Li warned. Challenges like seed degradation and bollworm resistance require continuous improvement in GM cotton breeding. Breeding disease-resistant varieties is key to controlling Verticillium dahliae. The "Transgenic Cotton Breeding Technology" project team has cloned six new disease-resistant genes from upland cotton, including four genes of the seagrass NPR1 gene, which were first cloned in China. Screening Transgenic Materials “We have discovered functional genes and introduced them into cotton to obtain stable genetic germplasm. With the support of special projects, we’ve established a large-scale transgenic system combining three methods: Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, pollen tube pathway transformation, and particle gun bombardment,” Li explained enthusiastically. “These three methods complement each other, creating diverse transgenic materials that lay the foundation for biotech cotton breeding.” The research group improved Agrobacterium-mediated technology, establishing a transformation system for 27 upland cotton cultivars, shortening the cycle and increasing efficiency. For example, the transformation cycle for Zhongmiansuo 24 was reduced to 5–7 months, while even difficult-to-regenerate varieties like Zhongmiansuo 12 were completed within 12 months. Other varieties were shortened to 8–10 months, with conversion rates stabilizing at 3–6%, averaging 4.1%. By extending the flowering period through greenhouse cultivation and adjusting timing, the team improved pollen tube pathway transformation efficiency. Twelve commonly grown varieties achieved transformation rates between 0.5% and 2%. Using gene guns, they optimized parameters for different cotton types, achieving an average conversion rate of 7.1% with cycles ranging from 3–5 months. By refining these methods, the team produced over 8,000 transgenic plants annually, with a survival rate of over 90%, enabling mass production of transgenic cotton materials. After rigorous identification and field testing, more than 900 genetically stable materials were selected and entered the breeding program. These not only show strong insect resistance but also exhibit stable agronomic traits and high quality. A "Relay Race" in Breeding “Cooperation is our secret weapon,” said Li. “To win in modern international competition, we need not only skill but also speed. When all fingers work together, a fist can strike effectively.” The project organized teams from gene cloning to variety selection, leveraging their strengths to conduct a fast and efficient “relay race.” This collaborative approach allowed for quick and effective progress in transgenic cotton breeding. Through genetic modification, cotton science has advanced significantly. Rapid field and lab testing identified highly expressed transgenic materials, directly entering breeding programs. Breeders then used molecular markers to identify materials linked to target traits, laying the groundwork for new varieties with superior characteristics. After adaptive screening in various ecological zones, new transgenic cotton varieties tailored to different regions were developed. Obtaining new transgenic cotton varieties is not the end. Breeding units conduct pilot plantings in major cotton areas, followed by large-scale promotion using existing sales networks and high-efficiency cultivation systems, ultimately transforming the industry. Using polysynthetic breeding, researchers obtained lines with high yield, disease resistance, and insect resistance. Through safety evaluations and production tests, new GM cotton varieties were successfully commercialized. This scientific approach led to three patents and four achievements, placing China’s GM cotton breeding technology at a leading domestic level.

Omega-3 Fish Oil

Omega-3 Fish Oil,Fish Oil 10/50 Tg,Omega 3 Fish Oil,10/50 Tg Fish Oil

ZHOUSHAN SINOMEGA BIOTECH ENGINEERING CO.,LTD , https://www.sinomegabiotech.com