 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
New agriculture computing tool created
London (UPI) Sep 23, 2009 British scientists say they have developed a new computing tool that can predict how plants will react to various environmental conditions. Imperial College London researchers say their new computer program could lead to better crops, such as tastier and longer lasting tomatoes, as well as more effective pesticides. The tool will form part of a new $2.7 million Syngenta Center at the university. The center will develop new strains of crops, such as drought resistant wheat and new pesticides that are more environmentally friendly. But to produce such results, scientists need to predict how the genes inside plants will react when they are subjected to different chemicals or environmental conditions. "We believe our computing tool will revolutionize agricultural research by making the process much faster than is currently possible using conventional techniques," said Professor Stephen Muggleton, director of the new center. The researchers said their newly developed program can analyze in a matter of minutes, instead of months, which genes are responsible for different processes inside a plant, and how different genes work together. For the first project using the tool, scientists will look at how different genes affect the way a tomato's flesh hardens and tastes, and how the fruit's skin changes color from green to red. All software developed in the project will eventually be made publicly available, officials said. Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Farming Today - Suppliers and Technology
Alternative Energy Machine May Double World Food ProductionSan Diego CA (SPX) Sep 22, 2009 The single largest year over year potential increase in the industrial age of food production may occur with the use of a San Diego based alternative energy company's machinery. Circle Biodiesel and Ethanol Corporation has announced that their latest patent-pending machinery design enables previously inedible foods such as toxic strains of algae and Jatropha to be edible with an operation ... read more |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2009 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Google
Facebook