The use of genetically engineered bacteria to control frost on strawberries and potatoes. Whatever happened to all of that research?

The identification of biological ice nucleating agents and their importance in frost induction and prevention is discussed. The discussion also includ es information about the researchers who did the work, their original inves tigations, and struggles with government agencies to introduce their produc ts. The original research was initiated independently by a group of atmosph eric scientists in Wyoming and a group of plant pathologists in Wisconsin. They both discovered that ice does not form randomly but is initiated on a nucleating site which is associated with particular bacterial species, espe cially Pseudomonas syringae. From this original discovery has come commerci al products that are used to prevent frost (Frostban(TM) [the generic name for bacteria that lack the genes coding for the ability to form ice crystal s on the leaves of crop plants (Oei, H.L., 1999. Genes and Politics: The Re combinant DNA Debate. Chatelaine Press, Burke, VA)I and Blightban(R)), manu facture snow (Snomax(R)), reduce the incidence of fire blight (Blightban(R) ), and as an aid for food concentration and texturing. The moral and ethica l questions encountered by the scientists performing the original research helped to establish the rules by which biotechnology research is carried ou t today. (C): 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.