Vanilla Planifolia - Improving Plants
Vanilla Planifolia - Improving Plants
In the table below you can see the differences between self- and cross-pollination.
Vanilla itself is Cross Pollinated, but because of unusually high fruit sets a few Vanilla species have been suggested to be self-pollinated through the stigmatic leak or a reduced rostellum (Soto Arenas and Cameron 2003, Householder et al. 2010, Soto Arenas and Dressler 2010, Van Dam et al. 2010). Very little is known about the biology of Vanilla species in Madagascar and so far, nothing about their pollination (Allorge 2013)
Vanilla itself is Cross Pollinated, but because of unusually high fruit sets a few Vanilla species have been suggested to be self-pollinated through the stigmatic leak or a reduced rostellum (Soto Arenas and Cameron 2003, Householder et al. 2010, Soto Arenas and Dressler 2010, Van Dam et al. 2010). Very little is known about the biology of Vanilla species in Madagascar and so far, nothing about their pollination (Allorge 2013)
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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SELF AND CROSS-POLLINATION
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No.
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Self-Pollination
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Cross Pollination
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1.
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In self-pollination, the pollen grains are transferred from anther to stigma of the same flower or different flower present on the same plant.
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In cross-pollination, the pollen grains are transferred from anther to stigma of another flower present on a different plant.
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2.
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In self-pollination, only one plant is involved.
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In cross-pollination, two different plants are involved.
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3.
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It is a sure method of pollination (pollination rarely fails).
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It is not a sure method of pollination (pollination may fail).
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4.
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External pollinating agents are not required.
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External pollinating agents are required.
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5.
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Pure line progeny can be obtained.
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Pure line progeny cannot be obtained.
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6.
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It does not help in evolution.
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It helps in evolution.
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7.
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Undesirable characters cannot be eliminated.
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Undesirable characters can be eliminated.
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Do I support transgenic plants in agriculture? Well, the thing is, it has a lot of disadvantages, but also advantages. So, I don’t know if I can really say if I support it or not. But I think plants need to grow in their natural way. The only thing is we as people are destroying the planet and their natural habitat (climate change). So, to sustain our planet earth we maybe need a bit of research on how we can improve plant growth. But for now I will just sum up some advantages and disadvantages:
First 5 advantages, the advantages are:
1. Improvement of Yield =
Gene technology plays important role in increasing the productivity of food, fibre and vegetable crops ensuring food security which is essential for international peace and stability. Thus, it is an important mean to fight hunger.
2. Improvement in Insect and disease resistance =
In crop plants, heavy yield losses are caused every year due to insect and disease attack. Moreover, insecticides and pesticides which are are expensive and have adverse effects on other beneficial organisms (parasites and predators).
First 5 advantages, the advantages are:
1. Improvement of Yield =
Gene technology plays important role in increasing the productivity of food, fibre and vegetable crops ensuring food security which is essential for international peace and stability. Thus, it is an important mean to fight hunger.
2. Improvement in Insect and disease resistance =
In crop plants, heavy yield losses are caused every year due to insect and disease attack. Moreover, insecticides and pesticides which are are expensive and have adverse effects on other beneficial organisms (parasites and predators).
Gene technology has played a key role in developing insect resistant cultivars in several crops. This leads to saving a substantial amount of insecticidal chemicals. Moreover, the technology is environmentally friendly.
3. Improvement in Quality =
The quality is adjudged in three ways, viz., nutritional quality, market (keeping) quality and industrial quality. Gene technology has helped in improving all these three types of quality in different crops. For example, gene technology has made it possible to delay the ripening and softening of tomatoes resulting in safe transport and longer storage.
4. Herbicide resistance =
In crop plants, weeds cause heavy yield losses and also adversely affect the quality of produce. The genetic resistance is the cheapest and the best way of solving this problem.
3. Improvement in Quality =
The quality is adjudged in three ways, viz., nutritional quality, market (keeping) quality and industrial quality. Gene technology has helped in improving all these three types of quality in different crops. For example, gene technology has made it possible to delay the ripening and softening of tomatoes resulting in safe transport and longer storage.
4. Herbicide resistance =
In crop plants, weeds cause heavy yield losses and also adversely affect the quality of produce. The genetic resistance is the cheapest and the best way of solving this problem.
Gene technology has been used to develop herbicide-resistant cultivars in cotton, maize, wheat, tobacco, potato, tomato, rapeseed, soybean, flax etc.
5. Resistance to abiotic stresses =
The gene technology can also be used for developing crop cultivars tolerant to environmental or abiotic stresses such as drought, soil salinity, soil acidity, cold, frost etc. Efforts are being made to develop varieties resistant to abiotic stresses using gene technology.
5. Resistance to abiotic stresses =
The gene technology can also be used for developing crop cultivars tolerant to environmental or abiotic stresses such as drought, soil salinity, soil acidity, cold, frost etc. Efforts are being made to develop varieties resistant to abiotic stresses using gene technology.
And now 5 disadvantages which are:
1. Allergic Reactions
According to research by the Brown University, resent genetically modified foods can pose significant allergy risks to people. It states that genetic modification often adds or mixes proteins that were not indigenous to the original animal or plant, which might cause new allergic reactions in our body.
According to research by the Brown University, resent genetically modified foods can pose significant allergy risks to people. It states that genetic modification often adds or mixes proteins that were not indigenous to the original animal or plant, which might cause new allergic reactions in our body.
2. Not 100% Environmentally Friendly
Though it is claimed by many experts that genetically modified foods are safe for the environment, they actually still contain several kinds of substances that are not yet proven to be such.
Though it is claimed by many experts that genetically modified foods are safe for the environment, they actually still contain several kinds of substances that are not yet proven to be such.
3. Lower Level of Biodiversity
One big potential drawback of this technology is that some organisms in the ecosystem could be harmed, which in turn could lead to a lower level of biodiversity. When we remove a certain pest that is harmful to crops, we could also be removing a food source for a certain species. In addition, genetically modified crops could prove toxic to some organisms, which can lead to their reduced numbers or even extinction.
One big potential drawback of this technology is that some organisms in the ecosystem could be harmed, which in turn could lead to a lower level of biodiversity. When we remove a certain pest that is harmful to crops, we could also be removing a food source for a certain species. In addition, genetically modified crops could prove toxic to some organisms, which can lead to their reduced numbers or even extinction.
4. Decreased Antibiotic Efficacy
According to the Iowa State University, some genetically modified foods have antibiotic features that are built into them, making them resistant or immune to viruses or diseases or viruses. And when we eat them, these antibiotic markers will persist in our body and will render actual antibiotic medications less effective.
According to the Iowa State University, some genetically modified foods have antibiotic features that are built into them, making them resistant or immune to viruses or diseases or viruses. And when we eat them, these antibiotic markers will persist in our body and will render actual antibiotic medications less effective.
5. Unusual Taste
Genetically modified foods are observed to have unnatural tastes compared with the ordinary foods that are sold on the market. This could be the result of the substances that were added to their composition.
Genetically modified foods are observed to have unnatural tastes compared with the ordinary foods that are sold on the market. This could be the result of the substances that were added to their composition.
Yield of a farmer in Madagascar,
This information is from 2013 so it is already some years ago, and with climate change, it is not getting better for a Vanilla farmer in Madagascar.
This is a summary of net income per hectare for a farmer over six-year period based on green vanilla in conventional markets. The calculations were based on the following assumptions:
- Plantation density: 2,000 plants per hectare
- First harvest beginning Year 3
- Production cost based on those reported by farmers in Mananjary and Mananara
- Cost of establishing new plantations
- Yield: 1 kg of green vanilla per plant
- Green vanilla price: $2.38 per kg conventional; $5.60 fair trade
- Cured vanilla price: $19.05 per kg conventional; $45 fair trade (CRS,2013)
This is a summary of net income per hectare for a farmer over six-year period based on green vanilla in conventional markets. The calculations were based on the following assumptions:
- Plantation density: 2,000 plants per hectare
- First harvest beginning Year 3
- Production cost based on those reported by farmers in Mananjary and Mananara
- Cost of establishing new plantations
- Yield: 1 kg of green vanilla per plant
- Green vanilla price: $2.38 per kg conventional; $5.60 fair trade
- Cured vanilla price: $19.05 per kg conventional; $45 fair trade (CRS,2013)
The average yield per plant in Madagascar is 250–500 g per plant. However, to 8 obtain substantial income benefits production per plant should be, ideally, 1 kg of green vanilla per plant. The ratio of green vanilla to cured vanilla is 5 to 1 (due to shrinkage and weight loss during postharvest processing), yielding an average of 200 g of cured vanilla per plant. (CRS,2013)
References
Biology, L. (- ). Difference between self and cross pollination? Retrieved from http://www.biology.lifeeasy.org/2943/difference-between-self-and-cross-pollination
connectusfund. (n.d.). Home Environment 27 Big Advantages and Disadvantages of Genetically Modified Foods. Retrieved from Environment: https://connectusfund.org/27-big-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-genetically-modified-foods
CRS. (2013, December). REVITALIZING VANILLA IN MADAGASCAR. Retrieved from https://www.crs.org/sites/default/files/tools-research/revitalizing-vanilla-in-madagascar.pdf
Petersson, L. (2015, August). Pollination biology of the endemic orchid. Retrieved from Webb: http://files.webb.uu.se/uploader/271/196Petersson-mindre.pdf
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