New plants resist herbivores, herbicides.New plants resist herbivores, herbicides Biologists and agronomists increasingly express optimism that genetically engineered genetically engineered adjective Recombinant, see there crops may help reduce reliance on synthetic pesticides. Two weeks ago, Agrigenetics Advanced Science, a Madison, Wis adv. 1. Certainly; really; indeed. v. t. 1. To think; to suppose; to imagine; - used chiefly in the first person sing. present tense, I wis. See the Note under Ywis. .-based biotechnology company, announced it soon will begin fiedl trials of two engineered, pest-resistant plants that have shown promise in the greenhouse against plant-eating caterpillars and viruses. Biotechnology will serve more than the organic farmer, however, as evidenced by field trials begun May 11 by the St. Louis-based Monsanto Co. Its scientists are field testing in Canada a genetically engineered strain of canola canola see brassicanapus. -- a type of rapeseed rapeseed the seed of Target rape grown specifically for the seed and its oil. rapeseed meal as oil cake or meal after rapeseed oil is removed this is a high-protein feed supplement used in cattle. -- resistant to Roundup, Monsanto's own broad-spectrum herbicide herbicide (hr`bəsīd'), chemical compound that kills plants or inhibits their normal growth. A herbicide in a particular formulation and application can be described as selective or nonselective. . The chemical tends to kill crops as effectively as it does weeds, and a new breed of Rounup-resistant crops open the door to more widespread use of the herbicide. Although Roundup is considered relatively safe to people and animals, environmentalists worry about the growing trend to develop herbicide-resistant crops, saying the research may encourage increased use of more dangerous chemicals. |
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