A news story from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
reports that the first series of peer-reviewed publications on the GR2E
golden rice field trial data are now available. The two publications
focus on the agronomic performance of golden rice varieties developed in
the Philippines and Bangladesh. The varieties were developed by crossing
genetically modified GR2E Kaybonnet rice (produced by addition of the
phytoene synthase gene from maize and the carotene desaturase gene from
the bacterium Pantoea ananatis to the temperate japonica rice variety
Kaybonnet) with popular rice varieties from Asia. Unlike conventional
milled rice, golden rice produces provitamin A (beta-carotene), from
which humans can make vitamin A, in the endosperm, the starchy portion
of the grain left after milling.


[www.irri.org]