Sneeze No More

Spring and autumn are the seasons when most plants flower. But these seasons are bad news for those who suffer from hay fever and are allergic to pollens. Scientists have now discovered two genes that can produce long-lived and pollen-free plants. Researchers introduced these genes into Agrobacterium tumefaciens bacteria.

These bacteria, carrying the modified DNA, were then injected into geranium plant cells, where the DNA subsequently integrated into the plant’s genome. It was found that one gene increased the amount of cytokinin, a plant hormone, preventing ageing and the second destroyed pollen-producing anthers in geranium house plants. 

 

Source

Down To Earth, October 2012