GENETICALLY modified potatoes that glow when they need watering have
been developed by scientists.
The vegetables’ leaves have been implanted with a fluorescent gene from a
jellyfish, which can be seen using a handheld monitor.
Researchers say using the plant could increase the efficiency of food production
by raising crop yields, leading to lower shop prices.
And the technique could be used on root vegetables, such as carrots and parsnips.
‘It has been shown that if potato crops do not get enough water the harvest can
be reduced by up to two thirds.’ At present, farmers have no reliable method to
test whether their crops have adequate water, except to wait for signs of wilting.
But by then, the plants will have already slowed down their growth rate to
ompensate reducing the size of the harvest.
With the new system, a small number of GM potatoes would be planted near
the crop.
The glowing leaves would tell the farmer whether watering was necessary,
saving the cost of needless irrigation as well as maximising crop yield.
Prof Trewavas and his team created the ‘intelligent’ potato by adding a gene
from the jellyfish aequorea victoria.
The gene makes the leaves glow when it is triggered by a protein that forms
as the plant becomes dehydrated.
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