RNA will protect flowers from aging

Monsanto will slow down the wilting of flowers

Oleg Lischuk, N+1

Agrobiotechnological and agrochemical company Monsanto has filed an application for patent protection of genetic manipulation of flowers, which allows them not to wither longer after cutting.

Ethylene is the main phytohormone regulating the plant life cycle, flowering, fruit ripening and wilting. One of the key components of the ethylene signaling pathway is the EIN2 protein.

The technology developed by Monsanto consists in the temporary suppression of the expression of the EIN2 gene by RNA interference (this is a mechanism for destroying foreign double-stranded RNA inherent in all nuclear organisms; it is used to regulate the activity of certain genes).

In particular, the company has created a double-stranded RNA that, when applied to the surface of a plant, suppresses the expression of EIN2, reduces the sensitivity of plant tissues to ethylene and, as a result, slows down the wilting of flowers after cutting. The technology has been successfully tested on roses and carnations. Unlike permanent gene modification, the effects of RNA interference persist for several days or weeks.

This technology will simplify, reduce the cost and environmentally secure the delivery of flowers to the end user, for which air transportation, ethylene gas antagonist methylpropylene and silver thiosulfate are currently used. In addition, according to MIT Technology Review, its implementation will be an important step towards Monsanto's implementation of its BioDirect program aimed at developing temporary methods for managing the plant genome (for example, they proposed to fight Colorado beetles in this way).

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  01.06.2016