Hopefully, this will encourage the vegetative cells to produce an embryo, thus enhancing apomixis. Appropriate genetic manipulation would bring this to the obligate point. Apomixis is probably present in most species or at least in a related or wild species. Special efforts should be made to discover this valuable plant breeding tool, Dr. Hanna said. Being able to grow "perpetual hybrids" like this would have great potential, especially for the developing nations of the world that desperately need the additional yield that high quality hybrids could provide. At present the cost of buying new hybrid seed each year may be prohibitive or simply unacceptable. Using apomictic hybrids, farmers could save seed from each crop to plant the next season without losing hybrid vigor. Similar advantages are also possible for the seed industry. Each year, seed producers must begin with the original parent lines and produce the hybrids for a new seed crop. Eliminating this step would save money on seed production which could be passed on to farmers and consumers, with the additional potential of increasing total food supplies at the same time. Apomixis would lessen the need for highly trained production people and would increase the opportunity for breeders to use superior gene combinations in hybrids. Admittedly, the perpetual hybrid is far from being a reality, but it is a lot more than fiction. Based on the evidence and what scientists already know about plant genetics, the theoretic possibilities are clearly evident. A long process of research will be needed, but the promise of more efficient food production for the world's population makes the effort worth taking. Reading List 1. Brown, Lester R. In the Human Interest: A Strategy to 2. Freeman, Orville L. World Without Hunger. New York: Praeger, 1968. 3. Hayami, Yujiro. Agriculture Development: An International Perspective. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1971. 4. Mellor, John W. The Economics of Agricultural Development. Ithaca, N. Y.: 5. Overcoming World Hunger. Englewood Cliffs, N. J.: PrenticeHall, 1969. 6. Stakman, E. C.; Bradfield, Richard; and Mangelsdorf, Paul C. Campaigns Against Hunger. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press, 1967. 7. United Nations. Current studies and reports published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). P.O. Box 433, New York, N. Y. 10016: UNIPUB. 8. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Periodic reports on U.S. and World Agriculture. Washington, D. C.: U. S. Government Printing Office. 9. Whitney, Robert S., ed. Challenge to Agronomy for the Future. Madison, Wisc.: American Society of Agronomy, 1967. 401 U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1975 - 587-271 ar TO: TAPE RECORDING REQUEST Department of Nonresident Instruction Washington, D. C. 20319 Please forward to me taped copies of subjects checked below which were presented at the National Security Seminar held in I am inclosing one 7" reel of 1200' magnetic recording tape or one C-120 Cassette for each two lectures desired. ( ) Economics of National Security () ( ) Emergency Preparedness ( ) Energy Resources () Far East, The ( ) Foreign Assistance ( ) Problems of National Security () Role of the U. S. Foreign Service ( ) Foundations of National Power ( ) Southeast Asia (Please type or print name and shipping address on reverse side.) |