Plant Genetic Engineering (Improvement Of Commercial Plants-II)

Plants have a major share in the commercial sector, which is increasing day by day due to the recent advances in bio-techniques and a tilt in peoples liking towards the products of herbal origin. In-vitro cell culture and gene technologies have created possibilities for obtaining novel products in commercially viable quality from plants, which was never realized before. The major plant products of market value are edible oils, pharmaceuticals and fragrances, agrochemical, beverages, fibres, wood, pulp and spices etc. Advances in genetic engineering has revolutionized biotechnology industries dealing with these products. The companies which have development GM plants want to protect the exclusive right of their products and are keen to develop gene protection technologies within the GM plants. In-vitro culture and gene transfer techniques have played a significant role in improving the desired quantitative and qualitative characters in cotton, barley, sunflower, safflower, niger, sesame, linseed, oil palm and salicornia.