Transgenic technologies and their potential applications in horticultural crop improvement

Abstract

The increasing world population is facing a threatening health crisis in the form of malnutrition or hidden hunger, and simultaneously global demand for food and nutrition is growing day by day. Horticultural crops are widely grown and used globally and play an important role in human dietary nutrition in terms of providing vitamins, edible fibers, essential minerals, and health protective bioactive plant metabolites. Consumption of horticultural crops, mainly vegetables and fruits, is also linked with enhancement of intestinal health and digestion, better body immunity, and reduced risk of several life-threatening diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and many forms of cancer. The growing world population needs engineered horticultural crops to enhance yield, nutrient value, and tolerance toward climate change. As the scientific community debates the advantages and risks of transgenic plants, the proportion of the transgenic field crops has significantly increased worldwide, since last few years, and the public acceptance of transgenic crops continues to demonstrate. Nevertheless, despite the encouraging success story of commercialization of transgenic field crops, the production and marketing of transgenic horticultural crops, such as vegetables, fruits, and ornamentals, are very poor. Transgenic vegetable crops could provide an economically viable solution toward sustainable production of horticultural crops in the coming years to meet the growing demands. However, countries differ in their policies and regulations for acceptance of transgenic horticultural crops. Production of transgenic horticultural crops will be more meaningful and publically acceptable if their advantages in terms of nutrient and yield and their safety issues are demonstrated clearly. In this chapter, authors presented the latest updates available on plant transgenic technologies and their possible applications in the improvement of horticultural crops, particularly on vegetables and fruits. The future challenges, strategies, and opportunities of transgenic technologies in the improvement of horticultural crops are discussed.