Role of plant biotechnology in crop improvement, horticulture, forestry and conservation of biodiversity

Role of plant biotechnology in crop improvement, horticulture, forestry and conservation of biodiversity:-

Role of plant biotechnology in crop improvement, horticulture, forestry:- The role of biotechnology in agriculture is multifaceted. Some of the most prevalent benefits of biotechnology in agriculture include –

1. Increase in Crop Production:- With better disease control and increased tolerance to drought and flooding, biotechnology leads to a significant increase in crop production. This does not just match the ever-growing demand for food but also helps farmers to lower losses. 

2. Better Crop Protection:- The techniques of biotechnology serve as cost-effective solutions to problems about pests. Farmers have been able to transform crops like cotton, corn, and potato to synthesize a protein that tackles issues of pests effectively. 

3. Increase in Nutrition Value:- It has also enabled farmers to produce crops with a higher nutritional value and enhanced flavour and texture. For instance, the technology has made it possible to cultivate soybeans with high protein content, beans with more amino acids, and potatoes with starch. 

4. Fresher Produce and Better Taste:- It further helps to improve the taste and flavor of crops by enhancing the activity of enzymes present in plants. Also, it helps in keeping the yield fresh for longer. 

5. Chemical Tolerance:- Most farmers rely on herbicides to control the growth of weeds which often leads to soil erosion. However, genetically engineered food is resistant to a variety of chemicals, including herbicides; as a result, the scale of soil erosion is significantly low.

6. Disease Resistance:- Viral infections spread by insects are often difficult to contain, and also the use of insecticides tends to pose a threat to both soil and the quality of produce. Nonetheless, genetically modified plants are less susceptible to viral infection and make it easier for farmers to contain crop damage. 

Biotech for Conservation:- At present, loss of specific species, groups of species (extinction) or decrease in number of particular organisms (endangerment) are taking place in different parts of the world at a rapid pace. These losses are often manifestations of degradation or destruction in the ecosystem or habitat.4 According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), it is estimated that about three-quarter of the genetic diversity in agricultural crops have been lost over the last century due to various reasons such as combination of different agricultural production systems and globalization.

DNA Banks:-

> More plant conservationists are turning to DNA technologies to have effective conservation strategies. The DNA bank is an efficient, simple and long-term method used in conserving genetic resource for biodiversity. Compared to traditional seed or field gene banks, DNA banks lessen the risk of exposing genetic information in natural surroundings. It only requires small sample size for storage and keeps the stable nature of DNA in cold storage. Since whole plants cannot be obtained from DNA, the stored genetic material must be introduced through genetic techniques.

> A number of DNA banks are present worldwide which include those managed by the International Rice Research Institute, South African National Biodiversity Institute, and National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences in Japan. 

> Gene bank documentation has been enhanced with the advances in information technology, geographical information systems (GIS), and DNA marker technology. Information on DNA assessment of variation derived through these technologies help search for important genes. Information from DNA collections are available online through biodiversity initiatives such as Global Biodiversity Information (www.gbif.net), Species 2000 (www.species2000.org), and Inter-American Biodiversity Network (www.ukbiodiversity.net).

> In vitro techniques are also valuable for conserving plant biodiversity. Such techniques involve three basic steps: culture initiation, culture maintenance and multiplication, and storage. For medium-term storage (few months to few years), slow growth strategies are applied. 

> For undefined time of storage, cryopreservation is applied. In cryopreservation, plant tissues are processed to become artificial seeds and stored at very low temperatures to impede growth. Cryopreservation allows 20 percent increase in regeneration process compared to other conservation methods.