Author(s):

Panchaal Bhattacharjee, Utpal Das, Venugopala Reddy M, Sukanya Gogoi and Gangaraja MM

Abstract: The main problem of genetic improvement of most fruit crops is their long juvenile period. This problem further aggravates by seedlessness, inter and intra specific incompatibility, high heterozygosity, sterility etc. Conventional breeding method of genetic improvement would not be a better option owing to its difficult, expensive and time consuming breeding techniques. Alternatively, non-conventional breeding method like recombinant DNA, a genetic engineering approach, is more precise in correcting the deficiencies in commercial cultivars or root stocks without disturbing their desirable genetic makeup. Transgenic plants develop through a number of gene delivery methods, the most common of which is Agrobacterium and particle bombardment mediated gene transfer. Generally, two tissue culture methods have been used for regeneration of transgenic plants: organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis. Genetic engineering technique has been used for resistance of a number of important diseases and pests. One successful example is transgenic papaya expressing coat protein of papaya ring spot virus (PRSV) against PRSV developing two cultivars ‘SunUp’ and ‘Rainbow’. Despite the usefulness of genetic engineering in many aspects, public of many countries are reluctant to adopt such technique on the ground of their risk to health and environment linked to the introduction of transgene into crop species of genetic material derived from alien organisms. To overcome the notorious aversion against transgenic, new genetic engineering approach, namely ‘cisgenesis’ and ‘intragenesis’ has been proposed. The acceptance of science-based approaches like cisgenesis or intragenesis or use of selection marker free transgenic will encourage confidence, and bring the benefits of GM-products to consumers.

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