Virus-resistant papaya developed

It’s but a matter of time before papaya cultivars resistant to the destructive papaya ring spot virus (PRSV) and also have delayed ripening traits are developed.

Now working along these lines are Southeast Asian researchers, including Filipinos, under the umbrella of the Papaya Biotechnology Network of Southeast Asia.

The network is composed of experts from the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The International Service for the Acquisition of Argi-biotech Applications (ISAAA) developed and brokered the project with support from the public and private sectors.

Launched in March 1998, the network aims to enhance income generation, food production, nutrition and productivity for resource-poor farmers by integrating proven biotechnology applications into their agricultural practices.

In the near term, the network seeks to positively impact farmers in Southeast Asia by increasing the availability of papaya for both food and modest incomes.

"In a few years' time, the researchers hope to produce local papaya varieties suited for each country and make them available for small-scale farmers," said Dr. Randy Hautea, global coordinator and Southeast Asia director of ISAAA.

ISAAA is a not-for-profit international organization that facilitates the transfer of agri-biotechnology applications, particularly private sector proprietary technology, from industrial to developing countries for their benefit.

Monsanto and University of Hawaii scientists are collaborating with the Papaya Biotechnology Network to develop PRSV-resistant papaya while Syngenta (formerly Zeneca Plant Science) and the University of Nottingham are sharing their technology and know-how on delayed ripening in papaya.

The network members are collectively addressing the critical aspects of product development, effective bio-safety and food safety regulations, product dissemination, and product acceptance by growers, consumers and the public.

As part of capacity building and research activities of the countries, selected scientists and regulators of the Papaya Biotechnology Network were sent on study fellowships abroad to have hands-on training and research in molecular biology, plant transformation, food safety and regulatory procedures. Private companies and public laboratories as well as government regulatory organizations host these study fellowships.

In addition, ISAAA regularly organizes workshops on specific topics in participating countries, the latest of which was in Vietnam last October.

Country report highlights indicate that Malaysia will expect to test its delayed ripening papaya while Thailand will test its PRSV-resistant papaya in field trials next year.

Other member countries are making good progress and hope to do their own field trials a few years after. – Rudy A. Fernandez