September 17, 2007

Chinese academy testing high-phytase corn

Chinese scientists have developed a genetically modified (GM) corn that is richer in phytase, the enzyme that enriches animal nutrition and reduce pollution from animal wastes. 

The research, by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), has entered pre-production field trials.

Phytase helps livestock to digest phosphorus in the indigestible form of phytate. Since phosphorus is digested, less of it would pollute the environment in the form of animal waste.

The CAAS scientists isolated the gene that produces phytase from a species of the fungus Aspergillus and inserted it into corn.

The modified corn has the same germination rate, growth speed and yield of the normal variety.

The scientists said that adding just a few grammes of the GM corn seed per kilogramme of animal feed would be enough to satisfy animal nutritional demand for phosphorus.

There has been growing interest in phytase-use in recent years as authorities tighten laws on environmental pollution.