ARS | Publication request: Enhancing Plant Carotenoids via Manipulation of Sink Strength

Submitted to: Information Systems for Biotechnology News Report
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: January 10, 2008
Publication Date: February 28, 2008
Citation: Zhou, X., Li, L. 2008. Enhancing Plant Carotenoids via Manipulation of Sink Strength. Information Systems for Biotechnology News Report. February 2008:5-7

Technical Abstract: Significant progress has been made in dissection and genetic engineering of carotenoid biosynthesis in plants. The availability of a large number of carotenogenic genes from various sources supplies the necessary molecular tools for genetic engineering of carotenoid content and composition in food plants to benefit humans. Manipulation of carotenoid biosynthetic genes that control the committed steps of carotenoid biosynthesis offers an effective approach to quantitative and qualitative alteration of carotenoids in food crops. The study of the cauliflower Or mutant gene shows that increase of the sink strength also exerts a strong influence on carotenoid accumulation and thus it offers a new approach for genetic engineering of carotenoid content in food crops.