Agricultural Development and Environmental Research American and Czechoslovak Perspectives: Proceedings of a Bilateral Workshop (1987) / Chapter Skim
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'AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INNOVATIVE RESEARCH AND APPLICATION OF BIOTECHNOLOGY'
'AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INNOVATIVE RESEARCH AND APPLICATION OF BIOTECHNOLOGY'
Pages 198-206
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From page 198... ...
This remarkable progress has been made possible by advances in agricultural science, particularly the development of agricultural chemicals, improved plant varieties, and farm mechanization. As a result of the early discoveries by the Czechoslovak-born Gregor Mendel, a foundation was laid in genetics which enabled plant breeders to produce new and improved crop varieties.
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From page 199... ...
Intensive use of irrigation, which is a prerequisite for a maximum crop output in arid regions, can bring additional problems since heavily irrigated soils are plagued by salt buildup and mineral toxicities. Agricultural problems are not limited to any one region and are particularly acute in Third World countries where farmers still struggle to extract whatever food they can from marginal soils.
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From page 200... ...
The PSTC program invites scientists from around the world to submit research proposals directly to AID for consideration and rigorous peer review. The response from LDC scientists and institutions has been enthusiastic, as the annual submission of proposals has increased from 120 in 1981 to 600 in 1986.
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From page 201... ...
Biomass Resources and Conversion Technology, emphasizing improved, renewable production and innovative, efficient use of woody biomass and tropical grasses for fuel, fodder, and higher value chemicals, as well as new and simpler methods to identify economically useful biomass products and by-products; 5. Biological Control of vectors transmitting human, animal, and plant diseases, emphasizing ecologically acceptable interruption of disease transmission based on microorganism/host/vector relationships, genetics, biochemistry, immunology, natural predation, and pathobiology;
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From page 202... ...
Occasionally, support is provided for selected innovative research proposals in two additional somewhat broader areas ("Premodules") : • Engineering Technology, such as structural/materials research, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering, including low-cost information and computer technology; and • Atmospheric, Marine, and Earth Sciences, such as meteorology, hydrology, geology, seismology, remote sensing for natural resource analysis, and the better utilization and preservation of coastal zones.
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From page 203... ...
Gene transfer techniques rely on the applications of molecular genetics, commonly known as genetic engineering. This highly sophisticated research approach involves gene sequencing, gene isolation, gene cloning, development of appropriate gene vectors, gene transfer, gene expression, and gene transmission through subsequent generations.
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From page 204... ...
To minimize environmental hazards and increase specificity, there is also a renewed interest in microbially-induced insecticides to control specific crop pests without harming natural predators or beneficial insects. The PSTC program supports research efforts in all these areas, as illustrated by the titles of the projects set forth below: • Tissue culture of banana and plantain for improving yield potential; • New varieties of rice for saline and acid soil through tissue culture; • Tissue culture for virus-free potato propagation; • Genetic engineering approach to improvement of Rhizobium for tropical legumes; • Isolation of strains, clones, and regeneration of plants from single cells of winged bean; • New approaches of purification and immunological techniques for characterization and diagnosis of plant viruses infecting beans in Latin America; • Utilization of plant protoplast biotechnologies for transfer of organelles having useful traits into crop plants; • Application of monoclonal antibodies to rice virus epidemiology in the tropics; • Interspecific hybridization in Phaseolus spp.
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From page 205... ...
For maximum effectiveness, biotechnology will have to be used in conjunction with the traditional agricultural practices currently used by plant breeders, soil scientists, and pest management specialists. REFERENCES Bajaj, Y.P.S., Ed.
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From page 206... ...
1985. Development through innovative research.
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