CH 8092 Z rich. The research team at the Institute of Plant Sciences led by Dr. Potrykus focuses on rice, wheat, sorghum and cassava and is using genetic engineering to contribute to the stabilization and increase of yield and to improvements in food quality. The deficiencies are especially severe in developing countries where the major staple food is rice. To contribute to a solution of the problem, the research team set out to genetically engineer rice towards an improvement in supply of vitamin A and of iron to the diet. Consequently Potrykus et.
All transgenes are under endosperm-specific regulation.
The researchers analyzed a series of transgenic rice plants for all genes mentioned and have achieved, so far, a twofold increase in iron content, and a high activity of the A. fumigatus phytase, reducing phytate completely after one hour of cooking. Expression of the metallothionin-like protein led to an increase in cystein of approximately 25 percent above control. Vitamin A-deficiency is often the consequence of rice being the predominant food in the diet. Four transgenes offer the potential to complete the pathway towards beta-carotene. The research team has generated a large series of transgenic plants which produce grain with yellow-colored endosperm.