ARS | Publication request: COMMERCIALIZATION OF TRANSGENIC PAPAYA: WEIGHING BENEFITS AND POTENTIAL RISKS

Submitted to: Proceedings of the OECD Workshop on Dissemination of GMOS in Agro-Ecosystems
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: March 22, 2003
Publication Date: April 22, 2003
Citation: Gonsalves, D. 2003. Commercialization of transgenic papaya: Weighing benefits and potential risks. Proceedings of the OECD Workshop on Dissemination of GMOS in Agro-Ecosystems, September 27-28, 2002, Grossrussbach, Austria. p. 131-137.

Interpretive Summary: Papaya is Hawaii's second most important fruit crop, behind the pineapple. In 1992, papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) was discovered in Puna Hawaii, where 95% of Hawaii's papaya were being grown. By late 1994, PRSV was widespread in Puna and the papaya industry was facing severe crop loss. In 1998, transgenic papaya cultivars expressing the coat protein gene of papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) were commercialized in Hawaii and saved the industry from devastation by PRSV. This article briefly traces the development, deregulation, commercialization, and impact of the transgenic papaya on Hawaii's papaya industry. It also mentions recent work that is aimed at transferring the transgenic papaya technology to developing countries.

Technical Abstract: Papaya is Hawaii's second most important fruit crop, behind the pineapple. In 1992, papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) was discovered in Puna Hawaii, where 95% of Hawaii's papaya were being grown. By late 1994, PRSV was widespread in Puna and the papaya industry was facing severe crop loss. In 1998, transgenic papaya cultivars expressing the coat protein gene of papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) were commercialized in Hawaii and saved the industry from devastation by PRSV. This article briefly traces the development, deregulation, commercialization, and impact of the transgenic papaya on Hawaii's papaya industry. It also mentions recent work that is aimed at transferring the transgenic papaya technology to developing countries.