Improved food crops?

Rice research is making headlines. Two recent reports cite studies that could affect worldwide food production and public health.

Syngenta scientists at the Torrey Mesa Research Institute (formerly Novartis Agricultural Discovery Institute) have completed the rice genome map, the first successful project of its kind in a crop plant. In addition to finding the DNA sequence of virtually every rice gene, they have undertaken an analysis of gene impression and of rice proteins. Because rice is a model for other cereals, the advanced knowledge could contribute to better yielding and higher quality wheat, corn and barley. Syngenta says the rice genomics information will be made available for use in public research programs.

Samples of a genetically modified rice containing carotene and other carotenoids will be tested at the International Rice Research Institute in The Philippines. Scientists are hopeful that Golden Rice will successfully combat Vitamin A deficiency, a major cause of blindness and death in developing nations. Golden Rice resulted from a donation of intellectual property licenses from Syngenta Seeds AG, Syngenta Ltd., Bayer AG, Monsanto Company, Orynova BV and Zeneca Mogen BV.

Environment-friendly soy glue

Soy-based glue is getting high marks from the plywood industry. Scientists who replaced animal blood protein with soy in tests at the National Center for Agricultural Utilization say soy-based glue costs less, dries faster, uses less water in preparation and produces less waste than conventional plywood glues. Commercial development would create a potential domestic market for about a half million bushels of soybeans annually. A Portland, OR, company is testing three soy-based glue formulas in pilot trials.

Weather watchdogs

A trio of WatchDog weather stations is available from Spectrum Technologies. They can be used with Spectrum's SpecWare 6.0 software on any Windows-compatible PC to monitor, document and analyze site-specific growing conditions.

The top-of-the-line WatchDog 900ET is a comprehensive field station designed to monitor evapotranspiration and aid in irrigation scheduling. The 900ET collects data on wind speed and direction, windchill, dew point, solar radiation, air temperature, relative humidity and rainfall. Optional plug-in sensors measure soil moisture/temperature and leaf wetness.

The Model 700 monitors wind speed and direction, temperature, relative humidity and rainfall, while the Model 600 records wind, temperature and rain data. Both can be customized with four additional sensors.

All WatchDog weather stations are powered by eight-month battery packs and feature quick-read LCD displays and ready-mount design.

Contact Spectrum Technologies Inc., Dept. Apply*, 23829 W. Andrew Rd., Plainfield, IL 60544, 800/248-8873, Web site: www.specmeters.com.

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