02 April, 2012

Scientists in Hertfordshire have created a GM wheat crop that can repel aphids, telegraph.co.uk reports.

As part of a £1 million project to genetically manipulate wheat to make a higher yield, scientists from Rothamstead Research have created a crop that emits chemicals to ward off aphids.

The chemical in question, known as (E)-beta-farnesene, is naturally produced in peppermint and is used by aphids to warn others of imminent danger. Scientists removed the chemical from peppermint, added it to the wheat and manipulated it so that the wheat released it in quantities that would scare off aphids and send them elsewhere.

Whilst the current research was something of a success, the research was undertaken for proof of principle, with scientists looking to make it commercially viable to sell to farmers in due course.

If successful, the new wheat could offer higher yields on Britain's 15 million tonnes of wheat harvested every year, at a value to the economy of around £1.2 billion.

Explaining their results, director of Rothamstead Research professor Maurice Moloney explained: "Generally GM has been used in a mode whereby you have got to kill something.

"In this case what we are really doing is putting a no-parking zone on the leaf of the plant saying 'don't come here'."

Source: Vertical Leap