Protein-rich GM potato may combat malnutrition

Published on Monday 20 September 2010 16:30

A PROTEIN-PACKED "superspud" has been developed by genetic scientists who believe it could combat malnutrition.

The potato was created by boosting seed protein production by the gene AmA1.

Laboratory tests showed it contained up to 60 per cent more protein than ordinary non-modified potatoes. Concentrations of amino acids - protein building blocks essential to health - also increased significantly.

The research was reported yesterday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Scientists led by Dr Subhra Chakraborty, from the National Institute of Plant Genome Research in New Delhi, India, wrote: "To our knowledge, the increase in protein content of genetically modified tubers in this study is one of the highest increases observed in any transgenic crop."

As well as extra protein, the GM potatoes also produced greater crop yields.

The potato is the world's leading non-cereal food crop and ranks fourth in global production for all plant foods. Potatoes are grown in almost 125 countries and are consumed daily by more than a billion people worldwide.

The total value of potatoes is estimated at25.6 billion a year for the top 10 producing countries. However, nutrition is "greatly compromised" in normal potatoes because of their lack of protein, said the researchers.

They added: "To guarantee a sufficient supply of quality protein in a diet consisting mainly of staple foods such as potato, specific interventions in genetic engineering are an absolute necessity."