The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0882.034 2006-2008 Murashige Laura From: Susan Miyasaka [sc_miyasaka@yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 8:37 PM To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us Subject: Against Resolution 462-08 2008 JAN 23 AEI 9 20 Attachments: Resolution-taro.doc; Update-GE-Dec14-06.pdf CCL C. ,F < COUNTY ~i L~1 LJ Resolution-taro.doc Update-GE-Decl4-0 (24 KB) 6.pdf (441 KB... Dear Clerk of Hawaii County Council, I forgot to attach the update of my research project on genetic engineering of taro in my earlier email message. Please attach it to my written testimony. Thanks! Susan Susan Miyasaka <sc_miyasaka@yahoo.com> wrote: > Dear Clerk of Hawaii County Council, > I would like to submit written testimony against Resolution 462-08. > Thank you for your attention. > Sincerely, > Dr. Susan C. Miyasaka > University of Hawaii > CTAHR, Hawaii County > 875 Komohana St. > Hilo, HI 96720 > ph: (808) 981-8264 > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. > http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs Susan C. Miyasaka P.O. Box 203 Pepeekeo, HI 96783 Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/; ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Comm. No. Ref. To.. ~?ai.NW ('pwt~ 1 Ref. to JAN 24 7nnR Testimony Presented before the Hawai'i County Council January 24, 2008 by Susan C. Miyasaka, Professor Department of Tropical Plant & Soil Sciences College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources And Interim CTAHR Hawaii County Administrator University of Hawai'i at Manoa Relating to Comm. 882 (Res. 462-08): A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING S.B. 958 S.D.1 H.D.1 TO IMPOSE A TEN-YEAR MORATORIUM ON DEVELOPING, TESTING, PROPAGATING, CULTIVATING, GROWING, AND RAISING OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED TARO IN THE STATE OF HAWAII To Hawaii County Council: My name is Susan C. Miyasaka. I am a professor and agronomist in CTAHR at UH Manoa. I have 19 years of research and teaching experience in crop sciences at UH. I am providing testimony on my own behalf, but not presenting the official position of CTAHR or UH on this bill. I respectfully oppose Resolution 462-08 and SB 958, SD1, HD1. As the lead scientist on this now-ended research project to genetically engineer (GE) increased disease resistance in the Chinese taro variety Bun long, I would like to correct some common misconceptions: First, my team made no attempt to insert foreign genes into Hawaiian taro varieties and we have no plans to do so in the future. In 2005, Dean Andrew Hashimoto of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources signed a moratorium on genetic engineering of Hawaiian taro until appropriate dialog is held with the Hawaiian community. Second, we inserted disease resistance genes from rice, grape, or wheat into the Chinese taro variety Bun long and the resulting transgenic plants showed increased tolerance to several taro pathogens. The only existing GE Chinese taro plants are in the laboratory and we have no plans to field-test them in Hawaii due to lack of funding. An update of this research project is attached. Third, there is little risk of accidental movement of foreign genes from GE Chinese taro to Hawaiian taro varieties because: a) Chinese taro variety Bun long rarely flowers under the environmental conditions in Hawaii; b) Hawaiian taro varieties flower but they rarely produce seed capable of growing into whole plants; and c) the insect pollinator that fertilizes taro flowers is not found in Hawaii. When we applied for federal funding to study the risk of accidental movement of foreign genes from GE Chinese taro variety Bun long to Hawaiian taro, we were turned down because the reviewers thought that the risk was too low to be measured. What would be the effect of a 10-year moratorium against genetic engineering research on Chinese taro? A lot can happen in 10 years, because invasive pests and diseases are entering Hawaii all the time due to the ease of global transportation. For example, there is a deadly disease found in the South Pacific called Alomae-Bobone that kills taro, and all Hawaiian taro varieties are susceptible to this viral complex. When this viral complex was accidentally introduced into the island of Makira in the Solomon islands, it took only 15 to 20 years before it caused the demise of taro production in several large taro-growing regions. Genetic engineering has had its greatest success in increasing viral disease resistance in many crops in which there is no natural resistance. In the case of papaya, genetic engineering for increased resistance to the papaya ringspot virus saved the papaya industry in Hawaii. This biotechnology has the potential to increase viral disease resistance in taro, but not if a 10-year moratorium against genetic engineering research on all taro varieties is passed. Let's compromise and work together to ensure the sustainability of taro production in Hawaii. Let's balance respect for indigenous culture with the need for pro-active, scientific research. For these reasons I respectfully oppose S13958, SD1, HD1 and Resolution 462- 08. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. Update on Genetic Engineering of Chinese Taro (variety Bun long) for Increased Disease Resistance Susan C. Miyasaka Dec. 14, 2006 Why do we need to increase disease resistance in taro? Hawaii is no longer the isolated island chain that it once was. Today, we have ships and airplanes arriving from places around the world, and unfortunately, they bring new diseases and pests. Phytophthora leaf blight reached our islands during the 1910's and probably caused losses of many traditional taro varieties. At one time, there were 343 named taro varieties in Hawaii, but less than 84 remain today. Many probably were lost due to introduced diseases and pests. Taro yields in Hawaii have been declining over the past 50 years, with the lowest production since 1946 recorded in 2005 (http://the.honolutuadvertiser.com/article/2006/Feb/02/bz/FP60202032O.htmi). In addition to the overall decrease in taro production (which partly is due to decreased acreage in production), yield on a per acre basis has declined also (figure below is based on the Statistics of Hawaiian Agriculture). Much of the recent sharp decreases in yield are due to diseases and pests, such as Phytophthora leaf blight, Pythium corm rots, pocket rot, and apple snails. 28000 Kauai Taro Yields 26000 24000 w U R 22000 R N 20000 7 O O ~ 18000 N r 16000 14000 12000 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 Year ' E.S. Craighill Handy, 1940, The Hawaiian Planter, Vol. 1, Bishop Museum Bulletin 161. I Phytophthora leaf blight Pythium corm rot Why utilize genetic engineering (GE) of taro to increase disease resistance? Conventional breeding of taro is being conducted at the University of Hawaii, and new hybrids have been developed with increased resistance to Phytophthora leaf blight. However, under weather conditions suitable for this disease organism, this resistance can break down. The taro variety shown above with leaf blight is one of the new hybrids conventionally bred for greater disease resistance. Genetic engineering offers the possibility of increased disease resistance beyond the level found within the taro germplasm. And, the taro variety remains the same genetically except for the few new genes engineered into it. The greatest success of genetic engineering of crops for increased disease resistance has been to improve viral disease resistance in plant species without any known natural resistance. For example, genetic engineering of papaya for resistance to Papaya ringspot virus has helped to save the papaya industry in Hawaii. The Alomae-Bobone viral complex is found in the Solomon Islands today, where it has wiped out 96% of the native taro varieties there and decreased taro production by 95%. Hawaiian taro varieties were tested in the Solomon Islands and all were found to 2 be susceptible to this virus complex2 The insect vector required to transmit this virus complex is found in Hawaii. Imagine if that virus reaches Hawaii - what would it do to our taro production? Alomae, a lethal viral disease of taro, is spread by taro planthoppers. Taro plant hoppers In the Solomon Islands, "it is by no means certain that the crop [taro] can be reinstated to its former abundance and usage. Its day may have gone forever, as has happened in many parts of coastal Melanesia.s3 Could this viral disease decimate taro production in Hawaii in the future? Is the movement of genes across species unnatural? No. Conventional breeding of plants and animals have moved genes across species for specific purposes, such as increased hardiness. For example, mules are the offspring of a female horse and a male donkey. And triticale is a hybrid of wheat and rye. In addition, all organisms, including humans, carry genes inserted from different species. For example, all humans carry genes that have been incorporated from viral infections. The bacterium Agrobacterium tumefasciens transfers its DNA (genetic material) into woody or herbaceous plants and causes crown gall disease. In our project, we are utilizing this naturally occurring bacterium to transfer disease resistance genes into Chinese taro. What is the progress of our project on genetic engineering of Chinese taro to increase disease resistance? Three disease resistance genes have been transferred into Chinese taro variety Bun long: 1. Oxalate oxidase gene from wheat; 2. Chitinase gene from rice; and S. Pacific Commission., 1978, Advisory Leaflet. 3 Kastom Gaden Association, Solomon Islands, 2005., People on the Edge, www.terracircle.org.au. 3 3. Stilbene synthase gene from grapevine. Each disease-resistance gene was transferred separately into callus (undifferentiated tissue) of variety Bun long in tissue-culture. Then, we manipulated plant hormones to produce shoots and then whole plants from the callus. Taro calli (undifferentiated tissue) Taro plantlets in tissue-culture Do these disease resistance genes help Chinese taro resist pathogens? Yes, in preliminary tests using small, tissue-cultured plants. Untransformed Chinese taro (NT) Chinese taro transformed with oxalate infected with Phytophthora colocasiae at oxidase gene (g5) shows complete arrest 12 days after inoculation. Note plant is of Phytophthora colocasiae without any almost dead. diseased lesions spreading to the leaves. 4 Chinese taro transformed with an oxalate oxidase gene completely arrested the spread of the pathogen Phytophthora colocasiae which is the organism responsible for leaf blight. In comparison, untransformed Chinese taro was almost dead at 12 days after inoculation with the pathogen. Other preliminary tests showed that Chinese taro transformed with an oxalate oxidase gene or a chitinase gene slowed the spread of the fungal pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii but the disease eventually killed the plants. How do the products of these disease resistance genes work? Oxalate oxidase catalyzes the breakdown of oxalate to produce hydrogen peroxide which inhibits growth of pathogens. Remember the hydrogen peroxide your mother used to cleanse your skinned knees? Chitin is a hard, semitransparent material that's found in the cell walls of some fungi and molds. Chitinases degrade the chitin found in the cell wall of fungal pathogens, causing the fungi to die. Stilbene synthase catalyzes the production of resveratrol, a compound that is found naturally in grapes and peanuts. Resveratrol stops the growth of fungal pathogens. Could these disease-resistance genes accidentally move from GE Chinese taro? Not likely. First, Chinese taro variety Bun long rarely flowers under the environmental conditions of Hawaii. Second, traditional Hawaiian taro varieties rarely produce viable seed in Hawaii without human intervention. Taro breeders must manually move the pollen from one taro flower to another flower when its female part is ready because the insect that naturally pollinates taro flowers is not found here. Also, since taro is vegetatively propagated, it would be easy to maintain traditional taro varieties without a high risk of accidental transfer of disease-resistance genes from GE Chinese taro. How might these disease-resistance genes affect the nutrition of taro? The health risk of GE food is so low that after more than 10 years of experience, GE crops have been grown on more than a billion acres and been consumed by millions of humans without a single negative health issue 4. The federal government requires intensive testing of genetically engineered crops for possible health and environmental hazards prior to approval. The official position of the American Dietetic Association is that "Agricultural and food biotechnology can enhance the quality, safety, nutritional value, and variety of food available for human consumption and increase the efficiency of food production, food processing, and food distribution, and environmental and waste management"'. Did you know that if you eat cheese made in the United States, almost certainly you are eating the product of a genetically modified organism? The anti-microbial compounds produced in GE Bun long should have little negative effect on its nutrition. For example, oxalate oxidase possibly might improve the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications, 2006, Brief No. 34-2005. s Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Feb. 2006, p. 285-293. 5 digestibility of taro, because it breaks down oxalate, a known anti-nutritive compound that contributes to the `itchiness' of taro. Chitinases should have little effect on humans when consumed, because chitins are found in true fungi and insects but not in plants or mammals. Resveratrol is found in the skin of red grapes and it might improve the nutrition of GE Chinese taro due to its anti-cancer, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory effects. Of course, prior to any potential commercialization of GE Chinese taro, federal government regulations require intensive food safety tests. What are the plans for GE Chinese taro when this project terminates? The early results for increased disease resistance of GE Chinese taro appear promising, but much more research is needed. Obviously, researchers cannot state that GE Chinese taro is more disease resistant without testing plants in the greenhouse and ultimately in the field. In addition, the federal government would require tests of GE Chinese taro for food safety and environmental concerns prior to commercialization. This federally funded project on genetic engineering of Chinese taro for increased hardiness will run out of funds in early 2007. As a result of the current controversy about genetic engineering and taro, it isn't likely that future funding will be available without support from the taro industry and/or consumers in Hawaii. Without further funding, the GE Chinese taro lines either must be discarded or sent to other cooperators in the world who are willing to conduct further tests. We will lose the opportunity in Hawaii to test these promising lines for increased disease resistance. This brief summary presents the scientific facts about potential benefits such as increased hardiness of GE Chinese taro and an evaluation of possible risks. You, as taro consumers, need to weigh the possible risks against potential benefits of GE Chinese taro. Ask yourselves what risks are acceptable to ensure that taro is here for future generations to enjoy? 6 Update on Genetic Engineering of Chinese Taro (variety Bun long) for Increased Disease Resistance Susan C. Miyasaka Dec. 14, 2006 Why do we need to increase disease resistance in taro? Hawaii is no longer the isolated island chain that it once was. Today, we have ships and airplanes arriving from places around the world, and unfortunately, they bring new diseases and pests. Phytophthora leaf blight reached our islands during the 1910's and probably caused losses of many traditional taro varieties. At one time, there were 343 named taro varieties in Hawaii, but less than 84 remain today. Many probably were lost due to introduced diseases and pests. Taro yields in Hawaii have been declining over the past 50 years, with the lowest production since 1946 recorded in 2005 (http://the.honol uluadverti ser.coin/article/2006/Feb/02/bz/FP60202032O.h tm 1). In addition to the overall decrease in taro production (which partly is due to decreased acreage in production), yield on a per acre basis has declined also (figure below is based on the Statistics of Hawaiian Agriculture). Much of the recent sharp decreases in yield are due to diseases and pests, such as Phytophthora leaf blight, Pythium corm rots, pocket rot, and apple snails. 28000 Kauai Taro Yields 26000 24000 a~ 22000 a N = 20000 7 -d 18000 a> } 16000 14000 12000 1970 1975 198D 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 Year E.S. Craighill Handy, 1940, The Hawaiian Planter, Vol. 1, Bishop Museum Bulletin 161. 1 Phytophthora leaf blight Pythium corm rot Why utilize genetic engineering (GE) of taro to increase disease resistance? Conventional breeding of taro is being conducted at the University of Hawaii, and new hybrids have been developed with increased resistance to Phytophthora leaf blight. However, under weather conditions suitable for this disease organism, this resistance can break down. The taro variety shown above with leaf blight is one of the new hybrids conventionally bred for greater disease resistance. Genetic engineering offers the possibility of increased disease resistance beyond the level found within the taro germplasm. And, the taro variety remains the same genetically except for the few new genes engineered into it. The greatest success of genetic engineering of crops for increased disease resistance has been to improve viral disease resistance in plant species without any known natural resistance. For example, genetic engineering of papaya for resistance to Papaya ringspot virus has helped to save the papaya industry in Hawaii. The Alomae-Bobone viral complex is found in the Solomon Islands today, where it has wiped out 96% of the native taro varieties there and decreased taro production by 95%. Hawaiian taro varieties were tested in the Solomon Islands and all were found to 2 be susceptible to this virus complex2 The insect vector required to transmit this virus complex is found in Hawaii. Imagine if that virus reaches Hawaii - what would it do to our taro production? III d Alomae, a lethal viral disease of taro, is spread by taro planthoppers. plant Taro In the Solomon Islands, "it is by no means certain that the crop [taro] can be reinstated to its former abundance and usage. Its day may have gone forever, as has happened in many parts of coastal Melanesia." 3 Could this viral disease decimate taro production in Hawaii in the future? Is the movement of penes across species unnatural? No. Conventional breeding of plants and animals have moved genes across species for specific purposes, such as increased hardiness. For example, mules are the offspring of a female horse and a male donkey. And triticale is a hybrid of wheat and rye. In addition, all organisms, including humans, carry genes inserted from different species. For example, all humans cant' genes that have been incorporated from viral infections. The bacterium Agrobacterium tumefasciens transfers its DNA (genetic material) into woody or herbaceous plants and causes crown gall disease. In our project, we are utilizing this naturally occurring bacterium to transfer disease resistance genes into Chinese taro. What is the progress of our project on genetic en ing eering of Chinese taro to increase disease resistance? Three disease resistance genes have been transferred into Chinese taro variety Sun long: I. Oxalate oxidase gene from wheat; 2. Chitinase gene from rice; and Z S. Pacific Commission., 1978, Advisory Leaflet. Kastom Gaden Association, Solomon Islands, 2005., People on the Edge, www.terracircle.org.au. 3 3. Stilbene synthase gene from grapevine. Each disease-resistance gene was transferred separately into callus (undifferentiated tissue) of variety Bun long in tissue-culture. Then, we manipulated plant hormones to produce shoots and then whole plants from the callus. Taro calli (undifferentiated tissue) Taro plantlets in tissue-culture Do these disease resistance genes help Chinese taro resist pathogens? Yes, in preliminary tests using small, tissue-cultured plants. Untransformed Chinese taro (NT) Chinese taro transformed with oxalate infected with Phytophthora colocasiae at oxidase gene (g5) shows complete arrest 12 days after inoculation. Note plant is of Phytophthora colocasiae without any almost dead. diseased lesions spreading to the leaves. 4 Chinese taro transformed with an oxalate oxidase gene completely arrested the spread of the pathogen Phytophthora colocasiae which is the organism responsible for leaf blight. In comparison, untransformed Chinese taro was almost dead at 12 days after inoculation with the pathogen. Other preliminary tests showed that Chinese taro transformed with an oxalate oxidase gene or a chitinase gene slowed the spread of the fungal pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii but the disease eventually killed the plants. How do the products of these disease resistance genes work? Oxalate oxidase catalyzes the breakdown of oxalate to produce hydrogen peroxide which inhibits growth of pathogens. Remember the hydrogen peroxide your mother used to cleanse your skinned knees? Chitin is a hard, semitransparent material that's found in the cell walls of some fungi and molds. Chitinases degrade the chitin found in the cell wall of fungal pathogens, causing the fungi to die. Stilbene synthase catalyzes the production of resveratrol, a compound that is found naturally in grapes and peanuts. Resveratrol stops the growth of fungal pathogens. Could these disease-resistance genes accidentals move from GE Chinese taro? Not likely. First, Chinese taro variety Bun long rarely flowers under the environmental conditions of Hawaii. Second, traditional Hawaiian taro varieties rarely produce viable seed in Hawaii without human intervention. Taro breeders must manually move the pollen from one taro flower to another flower when its female part is ready because the insect that naturally pollinates taro flowers is not found here. Also, since taro is vegetatively propagated, it would be easy to maintain traditional taro varieties without a high risk of accidental transfer of disease-resistance genes from GE Chinese taro. How might these disease-resistance genes affect the nutrition of taro? The health risk of GE food is so low that after more than 10 years of experience, GE crops have been grown on more than a billion acres and been consumed by millions of humans without a single negative health issue°. The federal government requires intensive testing of genetically engineered crops for possible health and environmental hazards prior to approval. The official position of the American Dietetic Association is that "Agricultural and food biotechnology can enhance the quality, safety, nutritional value, and variety of food available for human consumption and increase the efficiency of food production, food processing, and food distribution, and environmental and waste management"'. Did you know that if you eat cheese made in the United States, almost certainly you are eating the product of a genetically modified organism? The anti-microbial compounds produced in GE Bun long should have little negative effect on its nutrition. For example, oxalate oxidase possibly might improve the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications, 2006, Brief No. 34-2005. 5 Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Feb. 2006, p. 285-293. 5 digestibility of taro, because it breaks down oxalate, a known anti-nutritive compound that contributes to the `itchiness' of taro. Chitinases should have little effect on humans when consumed, because chitins are found in true fungi and insects but not in plants or mammals. Resveratrol is found in the skin of red grapes and it might improve the nutrition of GE Chinese taro due to its anti-cancer, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory effects. Of course, prior to any potential commercialization of GE Chinese taro, federal government regulations require intensive food safety tests. What are the plans for GE Chinese taro when this project terminates? The early results for increased disease resistance of GE Chinese taro appear promising, but much more research is needed. Obviously, researchers cannot state that GE Chinese taro is more disease resistant without testing plants in the greenhouse and ultimately in the field. In addition, the federal government would require tests of GE Chinese taro for food safety and environmental concerns prior to commercialization. This federally funded project on genetic engineering of Chinese taro for increased hardiness will run out of funds in early 2007. As a result of the current controversy about genetic engineering and taro, it isn't likely that future funding will be available without support from the taro industry and/or consumers in Hawaii. Without further funding, the GE Chinese taro lines either must be discarded or sent to other cooperators in the world who are willing to conduct further tests. We will lose the opportunity in Hawaii to test these promising lines for increased disease resistance. This brief summary presents the scientific facts about potential benefits such as increased hardiness of GE Chinese taro and an evaluation of possible risks. You, as taro consumers, need to weigh the possible risks against potential benefits of GE Chinese taro. Ask yourselves what risks are acceptable to ensure that taro is here for future generations to enjoy? 6