| in Argentina they develop genetic resistance against very destructive diseases |
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In Argentina, regional citrus production ranks high: represents 60% of fruit production. It also has it in the world rankings. By volume of production, the country ranks eighth and, in the particular case of lemons, national exports are the world leader.
Gabriela Conti, professor of Genetics at the UBA Faculty of Agronomy (FAUBA) and researcher at INTA and Conicet. She indicated to the scientific dissemination site “Sobre La Tierra” that, in Argentina, they are working on different lines of genetic research to make them resistant to diseases and thus reduce the use of agrochemicals.
According to the researcher, “a solution to diseases is to have resistant citrus varieties.” Until now, to combat certain diseases, as detailed, the strategy of using rootstocks or ‘feet’ —that is, roots plus a part of the trunk— that are resistant to certain diseases has been used, on which crown varieties are grafted that produce different citrus.
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This form of control is complex, it is not effective against diseases such as HLB, the most destructive of citrus fruits, or canker, or, likewise, it is necessary to resort to chemical treatments to manage certain pathogens.
Another way to fight diseases, as Conti explained, is to obtain hybrids. A decision that takes more than 20 years due to the genetic challenges posed by these fruit plants. Therefore, as a control alternative, the development of genetic resistance arises, applying biotechnology (gene transformation or editing).
ARGENTINE INNOVATION
According to Gabriela Conti, in Tucumán, the Obispo Colombres Agroindustrial Experimental Station developed plants that have their most active defenses and are prepared to face diseases such as canker.
On the other hand, a research group from the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences of the UBA (FCEyN/UBA) generated plants whose tissues have the potential to combat pathogenic microorganisms.
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In turn, a team from the National University of La Plata (UNLP) seeks to intervene in a gene involved in HLB infection, using the ‘gene editing’ technique. The modification would create a kind of barrier for the bacteria that cause the disease. “It couldn’t get into or multiply in the plant,” he said.
Likewise, he also added that, “at INTA we obtain plants from a variety of rootstock that produce a protein with antimicrobial power that grants a considerable degree of tolerance to canker.
In the latter case, he mentioned that a potato gene was added to the genetics of the rootstocks.
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“Since the bacterium that causes HLB develops initially in the roots, if we attack it there, we could prevent it from spreading to the rest of the plant. In this way, the cup, which is where the fruits are produced, is not transgenic,” he assured.
Conti said they haven’t tested for HLB resistance yet. “For that we are processing the authorization of a greenhouse at INTA and refining the protocols to carry out controlled infections. The idea is that all the institutions in the country that so wish can test their modified plants against this very harmful disease”. |
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