September 5, 2007

DuPont silences plant gene that controls phytic acid

Biotech firm DuPont identified a gene that, when silenced, can help increase the feed value of grain, improve breeding programs for corn and other crops and reduce phosphorous in animal waste.

The gene controls production of phytic acid, a compound in grain and oilseeds that is not digestible by monogastric animals such as swine and poultry. The acid also reduces the availability of essential minerals and through genetic manipulation, researchers at DuPont subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred International were able to silence the gene in corn, greatly reducing the amount of phytic acid in the seed.

Pioneer plans to introduce low-phytic acid seed during the next decade with a package of traits for improved feed quality. It is part of the DuPont strategy to improve the productivity of grain and livestock producers to meet the growing demand for feed, fuel, food and materials.

Jinrui Shi, research scientist at Pioneer said this research is a major advancement to improve the quality of grain used for animal feed as biotech companies have been trying to lessen phytic acid in plants for years. Shi claims this is the first time that a transgenic low-phytic acid trait was produced without impacting germination or plant growth. In the past, this has precluded successful commercialization of this trait.

Low-phytic acid seed is beneficial because it increases the amount of nutritionally available phosphorus and the bioavailability of essential minerals, which reduces the need for producers to add more costly feed supplements. In addition, lowering the amount of phosphorus from undigested phytic acid in manure can help reduce the environmental impacts of livestock production.

Shi said the low-phytic acid trait will become part of our portfolio of traits to be integrated into DuPont's high-yielding, agronomically superior corn hybrids over a wide range of maturities. This trait, he said, can also be used in other crops such as soybeans.