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Tennessee State University

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Agricultural Biotechnology for Underserved Communities

Fisseha Tegegne, Ph.D.
Ahmad Aziz, Ph.D.
Roger Sauve, Ph.D.
Safdar Muhammad, Ph.D.
Enefiok Ekanem, Ph.D.

Summary

As part of a consortium involving eleven 1890 universities, IAgER researchers have been working on a biotechnology project focusing on underserved communities. The project has collaborators from government agencies, private sector organizations and other universities. Thus far, the following activities have been undertaken:

• Field trials of conventional and biotech crops on the TSU main campus farm.

• Socio-economic surveys of farmers’ and consumers’ knowledge of biotechnology and their attitudes towards it in five Middle, West and East Tennessee counties.

• Field trials of conventional and biotech varieties of different crops on thirteen farms in five middle Tennessee counties.

• Ten Tennessee high school teachers received hands-on training in biotechnology techniques in 2002. Each participating teacher also received a biotechnology kit and supplies for use in schools.

• Another thirty-four middle and high school teachers from rural counties completed similar training in June 2004 using funding from a related project.

• Forty additional teachers will receive hands-on training and biotechnology kits in 2005.

At present, another round of trials involving different crops on farms in five middle Tennessee counties is underway. Details of all consortium member institution activities and results can be accessed at the following website: http://www.sacuc.subr.edu/.

Commodity Demonstrations at TSU and Tennessee Farms:

Conventional and corresponding biotech varieties of five crops were planted, harvested and distributed to various consumers in 2001-02. Thirteen farms in five counties were used for on-farm demonstrations. As specified in the project’s plan of work relating to commodity demonstrations, five crops (Bt-Corn, Squash, Bell Peppers, Tomatoes and Seedless Watermelon) were planted on Tennessee State University demonstration field plots. Contacts were then made with Tennessee farmers to have demonstration plots on their farms. In 2003-04 seeds were distributed to farmers who were willing to participate in the on-farm demonstrations.

	GSS 0966 Bt-Corn (left) vs. Golden Queen Corn variety (right) on Tennessee farmer’s field. Bt-Sweet Corn became the favorite ag-biotech commodity for on-farm demonstrations in Tennessee.
Insect Resistant GSS0966 Bt-Corn (left) in comparison to Prime Plus (non Bt) corn variety (right) grown at Tennessee State University research/demonstration fields.
Commodity Ag-Biotech Varieties Conventional Comparison Source Bt Sweet Corn   GSS0966 Prime Plus, Golden Queen Syngenta "Heat-Set" Tomatoes   Florida 47, Florida 49 Mountain Fresh Asgrow/Seminis Yellow Straight Neck Squash   Conqueror III, Lioness, Cougar F1 Lemon Drop L Asgrow/Seminis/Harris-Moran "Improved" Bell Pepper X3R, TBD-Multicolor (green to red, yellow, white or purple) and virus resistant   Seminis/Peto Seed Seedless Watermelon   Palomar Tri X Mardi Gras Rogers/Syngenta Zucchini Squash   Independence II, Lynx Senator Asgrow/Seminis
Left: On-farm demonstration of “Improved” Bell Pepper;  Center: “Heat-Set” Tomatoes on a Tennessee farm;  Right: Tennessee farm demonstration of Seedless Watermelon.

For additional information please contact:

Dr. Fisseha Tegegne
ftegegne@tnstate.edu
Tel: (615) 963-5830
Fax: (615) 963-1557

Dr. Ahmad Aziz
aaziz@tnstate.edu
Tel: (615) 963-1595
Fax: (615) 963-1557

Dr. Roger Sauve
rsauve@tnstate.edu
Tel: (615) 963-5828
Fax: (615) 963-1557

Funding provided by USDA/CSREES