What factors are responsible for losses during storage and transport o

1.	What factors are responsible for losses during storage and transport of crops? Explain, with example, how genetic engineering can reduce these losses?
Answer» 1. Diseases and pests, bruising on soft fruits and vegetables, heat and cold storage, overripeness, loss of flavours and odours, etc. lead to great deal of losses during storage and transport of crops. 2. Most of these changes are caused due to endogenous enzyme activities which could be slowed down using genetic engineering. For example, shelf life of Flavr savr tomatoes has been increased using genetic engineering techniques. (a) The enzyme polygalacturonase breaks down pectin in the cell wall, leading to softening of fruit during ripening of tomatoes. (b) In genetically modified Flavr savr tomatoes, polygalactouronase enzyme is inhibited by antisense genes. These tomatoes can remain on the vine until mature and be transported in a firm solid state.

What factors are responsible for losses during storage and transport of crops? Explain, with example, how genetic engineering can reduce these losses?

Answer»

1. Diseases and pests, bruising on soft fruits and vegetables, heat and cold storage, overripeness, loss of flavours and odours, etc. lead to great deal of losses during storage and transport of crops.

2. Most of these changes are caused due to endogenous enzyme activities which could be slowed down using genetic engineering.

For example, shelf life of Flavr savr tomatoes has been increased using genetic engineering techniques.

(a) The enzyme polygalacturonase breaks down pectin in the cell wall, leading to softening of fruit during ripening of tomatoes.

(b) In genetically modified Flavr savr tomatoes, polygalactouronase enzyme is inhibited by antisense genes. These tomatoes can remain on the vine until mature and be transported in a firm solid state.

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