Transgenic expression of trehalulose synthase results in high concentrations of the sucrose isomer trehalulose in mature stems of field-grown sugarcane.

Sugarcane plants were developed that produce the sucrose isomers trehalulose and isomaltulose through expression of a vacuole-targeted trehalulose synthase modified from the gene in 'Pseudomonas mesoacidophila MX-45' and controlled by the maize ubiquitin (Ubi-1) promoter. Trehalulose concentration in juice increased with internode maturity, reaching about 600 mM, with near-complete conversion of sucrose in the most mature internodes. Plants remained vigorous, and trehalulose production in selected lines was retained over multiple vegetative generations under glasshouse and field conditions.

Plant-based immunocontraceptive control of wildlife--"potentials, limitations, and possums".

Possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), originally introduced from Australia, are spread over 90% of New Zealand and cause major economic and environmental damage. Immunocontraception has been suggested as a humane means to control them. Marsupial-specific reproductive antigens expressed at high levels in edible transgenic plant tissue might provide a safe, effective, and cheap oral delivery bait for immunocontraceptive control. As proof of concept, female possums vaccinated with immunocontraceptive antigens showed reduced fertility, and possums fed with potato-expressed heat labile toxin-B (LT-B) had mucosal and systemic immune responses to the antigen. This demonstrated that immunocontraception was effective in possums and that oral delivery in edible plant material might be possible. Nuclear transformation with reporter genes showed that transgenic carrot roots accumulate high levels of foreign protein in edible tissues, indicating their potential as a delivery vector. However, prior to attempts at large scale production, more effective immunocontraceptive antigen-adjuvant formulations are probably required before plant-based immunocontraception can become a major tool for immunocontraceptive control of overabundant vertebrate pests.