Biotechnology - a modern tool for crop improvement in horticulture.
Koundal K. R.
Author Affiliation: NRC on Plant Biotechnology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India.
: 307-309
Abstract : Biotechnology will have a major impact on agriculture in the coming decades. A whole spectrum of gene technology is now routinely and successfully applied to a wide range of problems in agriculture and horticulture. Research strategies need to be directed towards production of quality fruits in the horticulture area. We have to achieve success in several fruit cultivars with delayed ripening and extended shelf life and further our research efforts for increased synthesis of lycopene and beta-carotene which act as strong antioxidants in tomato. Other climacteric fruit crops for extended shelf life are mango and banana. As many of the fruit crops provide a great deal of health benefit, much of the research efforts need to be focused on improvement of the nutritional quality. Therefore, there is a greater need to promote and accelerate the effort for mobilizing the tools of biotechnological and genetic engineering for improving the productivity stability and sustainability of our major fruit crops.