Table 1.
Potential Benefits of Transgenic Crops
| 1. Resistance to pests and diseases. |
| 2. Modifications in fruit ripening and tuber storage; research research in potatoes is likely to reduce dependence on antisprouting compounds. |
| 3. Modification of oil, starch, and protein to provide sustainable supplies of raw materials for food, biodegradable plastics, detergents, lubricants, paper making, and packaging. |
| 4. Herbicide tolerance so that crop varieties can tolerate specific herbicides and in many instances reduce the number of herbicide applications to achieve effective weed control. |
| 5. Increased tolerance to environmental stresses including temperature, water, and saline soils. |
| 6. Plant architecture (e.g., dwarfing) and flowering (e.g., flowering time). |
| 7. Increase in the ability of certain plants to removing toxic metals from soils (bioremediation). |
| 8. Reduction in seed shedding at harvest time. |
| 9. Enhancement of vitamins, minerals, and anticancer substances (e.g., vitamin A and iron). |
| 10. The elimination of allergens from certain crops (e.g., rice). |
| 11. The production of pharmaceutical substances (e.g., edible vaccines). |
