Controlling Pests and Diseases via Genetic Transformation: Transgenic Crops for Food Security Pontifical Academy, Rome May 15 -19, 2009 Controlling Pests and Diseases via Genetic Transformation: Examples from the Public Sector Original file of this presentation www.pitt.edu/~super1/PPT/35571.htm Roger Beachy, Ph.D., is president of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, Missouri.  He previously held academic positions at Washington University, St. Louis and The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California.  His research includes projects to reduce virus infection in plants via biotechnology, and in studies of control of gene expression in plants. Beachy is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, a Fellow of the Academy of Microbiology, among others; he has several awards for his work, including the Wolf Prize in Agriculture. The Danforth Center has committed significant effort to research in developing countries, including through private-public partnerships. Beachy is involved in a variety of efforts with regard to rationalizing regulations that control commercialization of agricultural biotechnology.  Roger Beachy, Ph.D., President of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri

Outline Needs for genetic controls for pests and pathogens: options include chemical control +/- IPM, breeding for resistance, genetic modification, or crop losses Demonstrations from research by the public sector Capacity building and technology transfer Regulatory hurdles

(maize, rice, wheat, potato, soybean) Worldwide Cost (million €) of Losses Due to Insects, Diseases, and Viruses in Five Major Food Crops (maize, rice, wheat, potato, soybean)

Control of diseases caused by fungi: research but no commercialization to date Resistance to Pythophthera infestans/late blight: R gene from wild species: technology at near-commercial level (several univ.) Use of chitinase, glucanase and other PR proteins for control of Aspergillis, Fusarium spp., and others: not commericial (mulitple locations) Defensin proteins: not commercial (multiple)

Transgenic Approaches to Control Fungal Pathogens using Antifungal Defensins

Goal: Resistance to F. verticilliodes in maize Maize for Africa and U.S.: reduce ‘gray mold’ and mycotoxins, increased value (field trials under- way in U.S.) Cancer risk Reduced nutrition

Alfalfa defensin confers strong resistance to V.dahliae in potato

Development of East African Highland Banana Resistant to Black Sigatoka and Nematodes using Genetic Engineering