GM potatoes resist to blight



a variety of Desiree potatoes



A three-year trial has shown that these potatoes can thrive despite being exposed to late onset blight.Blight was is the disease that has plagued farmers for generations and it triggered the Irish potato famine in the 1840s. EU approval is needed before commercial cultivation of this GM crop can take place.

                                                        



                                                                       The research is published in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B.Potatoes are particularly vulnerable to late blight, a fungus-like organism that loves the damp and humid conditions that often occur during the growing season in Europe. The speed with which this infection takes hold and the devastating impacts on the crop make it the number one threat to six million tonnes of potatoes produced in the UK each year

GM purple tomatoes coming to shops

The prospect of genetically modified purple tomatoes reaching the shelves has come a step closer.

Their dark pigment is intended to give tomatoes the same potential health benefits as fruit such as blueberries.It was developed in Britain, large-scale production is now under way in Canada with the first 1,200l of the purple tomato juice ready for shipping.

The pigment, known as anthocyanin, is an antioxidant which studies on animals show could help fight cancer.Scientists say the new tomatoes could improve the nutritional value of everything from ketchup to pizza topping.

The tomatoes were developed at the John Innes Centre in Norwich where Prof Cathie Martin hopes the first delivery of large quantities of juice will allow researchers to investigate its potential.