The way to beat the GMO controversy, merited or not, is to use genetic mapping to find plants with desirable traits then cross them into the targeted crop with conventional breeding. I've talked with several anti GMO folks who have no problem with this method but you still can be sure it won't please everyone.
Bill Fleming Montana State University Western Ag Research Center 580 Quast Lane Corvallis, MT 59828 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Silsby, Ken Sent: Monday, May 05, 2014 8:23 AM To: Apple-crop discussion list Subject: Re: [apple-crop] apples and chemicals In January, I happened to attend a "standing room only" presentation on communicating about GMO crops at the Mid-Atlantic Convention in Hershey, PA. The speaker was from the Center of Science in the Public Interest. Their web site posts a 24 page bulletin on the subject at the link below. The bulletin provides a good review for those who are in position to discuss the issue with the public. Link to "Straight Talk on Genetically Engineered Foods": http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/biotech-faq.pdf Thanks. Ken Silsby Eastern Technical Manager, Apples Mobile: 716.471.5383 | Fax: 716.204.8065 [email protected] www.agrofresh.com -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Shoemaker, William H Sent: Monday, May 05, 2014 9:04 AM To: Apple-crop discussion list Subject: Re: [apple-crop] apples and chemicals I don't know the answer to this question. I'm curious about it too. I also wonder how much of that kind of work is in development. I doubt anyone knows as so much of it is done in the private sector. But I remember conducting trials of pumpkins in the '90s on some virus-resistant GMO pumpkins that derived their genetic material from a different species within the cucurbit genus. I believe it was a wild species that was incompatible for an intergeneric cross. We really need such resistance but it was withdrawn because of perceived market risk. Bill William H. Shoemaker Retired fruit and vegetable horticulturist University of Illinois [email protected] My question is this: does anyone know how many of the GMO crops/organisms that are currently approved for food crops actually involve genetic transfers among widely-separated species as compared to the number of GMOs that involve only modifications of genes within plants or the addition of virus coat proteins from viruses that are already commonly found in the plant species of interest? _______________________________________________ apple-crop mailing list [email protected] http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop _______________________________________________ apple-crop mailing list [email protected] http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop _______________________________________________ apple-crop mailing list [email protected] http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
