Biotechnology and GM crops development in Tunisia: Status and

1 t I t ti l W k h H i ti f GMO1 t I t ti l W k h H i ti f GMO1st International Workshop on Harmonization of GMO 1st International Workshop on Harmonization of GMO Detection and Analysis in the Middle East and North Africa Detection and Analysis in the Middle East and North Africa

(MENA) Region(MENA) Region(MENA) Region (MENA) Region Dead Sea, Jordan: 4 Dead Sea, Jordan: 4 -- 5 June 2012 5 June 2012

Biotechnology and GM crops development in Tunisia: Biotechnology and GM crops development in Tunisia: Status and experience related to the implementation Status and experience related to the implementation

of GMO and legislationof GMO and legislation

Pr. Khaled Masmoudi & Dr. Faïçal BriniPr. Khaled Masmoudi & Dr. Faïçal Brini

Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS), TunisiaCentre of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS), Tunisia

Germplasm improvement programs in Tunisia: the playersGermplasm improvement programs in Tunisia: the players

Ministry of AgricultureMinistry of Agriculture Ministry of Environment Ministry of Environment Ministry of Higher Education Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Researchand Scientific Researchand Scientific Researchand Scientific Research

Key Biotech institutions: CBS CBBC INAT INRAT FSTKey Biotech institutions: CBS CBBC INAT INRAT FSTKey Biotech institutions: CBS, CBBC, INAT, INRAT, FST,.. Key Biotech institutions: CBS, CBBC, INAT, INRAT, FST,..

M d bi t h l t l ti lt t h i DNA l lM d bi t h l t l ti lt t h i DNA l lModern biotechnology tools: tissue culture techniques, DNA molecular Modern biotechnology tools: tissue culture techniques, DNA molecular markers, molecular genetics and genetic engineering technology, ..markers, molecular genetics and genetic engineering technology, ..

Genetic engineering is applied for research only and this is due to lack of Genetic engineering is applied for research only and this is due to lack of human capacity, financial support and biosafety framework. human capacity, financial support and biosafety framework.

In Tunisia, there are no GMOs grown in open field at commercial levelIn Tunisia, there are no GMOs grown in open field at commercial level

Tunisia is party to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Tunisia is party to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Protocol on BiosafetyProtocol on Biosafety

Current state of art in our Current state of art in our l b CBSl b CBSlaboratory at CBSlaboratory at CBS

Water transporters:(aquaporins)

Ion homeostasis:(Na+/H+ antiporter, V-H+-

pyrophosphatase

Improving drought Improving drought d li itd li it

(aquaporins)pyrophosphatase, SOS1, HKTs,)

and salinity and salinity tolerance in cerealstolerance in cereals

Si li f t ProtectionSignaling factors:(protein kinases: MKP,

CDPK,GSK3,MAPKKK,SNRK2 C l i

Protection macromolecules:

(Dehydrin, LEA, HSP, chaperone)

Transcription factors:(AP2/ERF family: DREB, AP2), bZIP, Asr proteins,NRK2, Calcium sensor, chaperone)AP2), bZIP, Asr proteins,

MYB/MYC, Zinc finger proteins,)

Status of GMO crops developed in Tunisia Status of GMO crops developed in Tunisia Status of GMO crops developed in Tunisia Status of GMO crops developed in Tunisia for research purposefor research purpose

Institutions: Institutions:

CBSCBSCBSCBS

CBBCCBBC

FSTFSTFSTFST

Potato: PVYPotato: PVY-- CP, scFv CP, scFv

Tomato: TYLCV, NHXTomato: TYLCV, NHX--PPase, PPase,

Durum wheat: NHXDurum wheat: NHX--PPase, DHN5, AlSAP,..PPase, DHN5, AlSAP,..

Grapevine: GFLV, Rd22, Grapevine: GFLV, Rd22,

Project of law regulating GMOsProject of law regulating GMOs

Confined Confined Volunteer Volunteer Confined Confined utilisationutilisation disseminationdissemination

I t ti I t ti CommercialisationCommercialisation

Importation Importation & Transit& Transit

Durum wheat and barley transformation procedure using the Bio‐Rad PDS‐He1000 or Agrobacterium tumefaciensthe Bio Rad PDS He1000 or Agrobacterium tumefaciens

+ A. tumefaciens

Khoudi. et al., (2007). Patent N° SN07060.

Molecular and physiological analysis of itransgenic durum wheat plants

RB LBpUbi-1 pNos T-NosT-35STVP1 BAR

pGreenIIpG ee

M  1   2   3   4   5   6    7   8   9  10  11 12Wt             T1              T2 T3

PCR screening Leaf painting with Basta

Transgenic wheat plants

Salinity tolerance phenotype of different transgenic durum h t li d t iti t f d l twheat lines compared to sensitive non transformed plants

WT TVP1.1 WT TVP1.1 TVP1.2

200 mM NaCl

WT TVP1.1 TVP1.2

Gouiaa et al. in preparation

Risk assessment of GM plants

1. Contained use: laboratory, greenhouse, closed facilitiesIt covers:General information on the projectGeneral information on the projectRisk assessment for environmental protectionRisk assessment for human health and safety

2. Deliberate environmental release

Application with the following information's:

The GMO (e.g. recipient organism, details of modification and novel trait)( g p g )

Proposed release and the receiving environment

Interactions between GMO and the environmentInteractions between GMO and the environment

Monitoring regime and procedures for controlling the release

A statement evaluating the impacts and risks posed by the GMO toA statement evaluating the impacts and risks posed by the GMO to human health and the environment from the uses envisaged

GMO or not GMO?GMO or not GMO?GMO or not GMO?GMO or not GMO?

… Towards harmonization on:… Towards harmonization on:… Towards harmonization on:… Towards harmonization on:

•• Easy to useEasy to use

•• FastFast-- results in few minutesresults in few minutes

•• Easy to interpreteEasy to interpreteEasy to interprete Easy to interprete

•• Cheap, economicCheap, economic

•• Accreditation by GIPSAAccreditation by GIPSA--USDAUSDA

Example of detection thresholdExample of detection threshold

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!