A disease in corn plans known as Goss's wilt has decreased corn yields by as much as ten percent. The disease which spreads to damaged plants when bacteria enters a plant's vascular system through a wound caused by hail damage or some other outside force. It turns leaves yellow and brown with spots. While it does not always kill the plant it almost always decreases yields. With increasing demand for ethanol and the importance of corn to our economy this is a huge issue. Crop rotation seems to help but plant pathologists have traced the catalyst of the spread of the disease to a strain of genetically modified corn. This specific strand yields high amounts of corn but is also especially susceptible to Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis, the culprit responsible for Goss's wilt.
I think using genetically modified food is okay until it starts to threaten the plant itself and those who consume it. Planting too much of the same species is an issue too or we could end up with the kinds of crop yields that resulted in the Irish Potato Famine. When crop modification or overplanting becomes a danger to the species it is time to stop.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/01/science/earth/a-disease-cuts-corn-yields.html?ref=science&_r=0
There is a reason this crop did not exist before we created it. I dont know this reason but messing with nature never ends up well.
ReplyDeleteThis further proves that while we may have the answers momentarily for better yields of corn, it isnt always without consequence. While we make advances in the science of genetically modified food, we now see just how unprepared we can be to these random and dangerous bacteria that threaten our progress.
ReplyDeleteKarma maybe? Hopefully people will soon realize this isn't always the best solution.
ReplyDeleteThis is shocking and dangerous to a lot of people! Hopefully everything can be taken care of very quickly!
ReplyDelete