Agriculture and Biotechnology

Biotechnology in Agriculture
Biotechnology, if combined with a better understanding of the molecular and cellular biology, will be beneficial to agriculture and food production in many ways. For example:-i) biotechnology can reduce the amount of time needed to introduce the character (gene) of the selected organisms and is required when compared to conventional breeding.

ii) Duration of years will be to test and select the properties required in the plant through conventional breeding and testing sites. But through biotechnology, the duration of these tests can be reduced to a few months for laboratory testing and selection. Growers and consumers will benefit from the reduction of this time.

iii) Biotechnology will produce plants that can provide a nutritious diet (such as vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids) in animal nutrition, and develop options for consumers.

1. Gene Manipulation

A gene that controls a feature that is required are identified and selected from other species.

Modifying an existing gene in a plant and create an 'allele' new.

2. Gene Submission

In the biotechnology laboratory, which identified the gene inserted into an organism by using Agrobacterium tumefacians' or 'Gene Gun'. These techniques are called transformation and the creation of transgenic organisms.

3. Characteristics of transgenic plants produced by biotechnology is dependent on a feature that has been identified and selected, including the following: -

i) resistance to pests attacks
ii) Resistance to disease
iii) Resistance to herbicides
iv) tolerance to saline soil / toxic metals
v) Improve the quality of
vi) drought resistance

Why BIOTECHNOLOGY Selected For Plant Breeding
Biotechnology is selected and given the emphasis of current plant breeding for the following reasons: -
1. Repairers breed plants:

Repairers plants reproduce by means of conventional / usual take a long time to produce new varieties for the conversion of 'gene' to form a combination of 'gene' is new is available only after several generations of hybrids.

Only among species suitable to be hybrids (interbreed)

Various combinations of 'gene' is obtained, some combination of 'gene' may not be appropriate.

2. By using biotechnology / genetic engineering:

Only the 'gene' is selected to be moved

'Gene' from any source can be used, regardless of barriers of species (species barrier).

Improvement is more focused / specific.

Agriculture and Biotechnology in Malaysia
Transformation in the agricultural sector is needed to increase productivity in the agricultural sector to be competitive and global level. One way of transforming agriculture sector is the introduction of advanced technologies to improve productivity and enhance their food and products (novel) from agro based industries. In this context, biotechnology plays a vital role to support the government's agricultural sector to play a role as a third engine of growth.

Research Priorities in the Field of Biotechnology
Agricultural crops to increase productivity, several colleges and research institutes have been actively involved in biotechnology research as follows: -

• Palm oil: the quality of oil, secondary products and
downstream (MPOB and UKM)
• Rubber: resistance to disease, yield, production
high quality products (MRB / LGM)
• Rice: resistance to disease, the results (MARDI)
• Flowers: resistance, flower color, resistance to
illness (MARDI, UPM)

• Fruits: 'shelf life, resistance to disease, quality
fruit (MARDI, UM)
• Cocoa: resistance to diseases and insects,
fat (butter content) and
cocoa flavor (MARDI)
• Species-species forest (FRIM, UPM)
• Plant herbs, medicinal and fragrance (UTM, FRIM, Mardi, UKM)
• Medical, pharmaceutical (IMR, USM)