GMOs are something we’ve all heard a lot about when it comes to large-scale commercial crops like corn and soybeans, but what about the plants we grow in our gardens? While plant breeding is nothing new, genetic engineering is beginning to enter the scene of ornamental horticulture and expand in the world of food production in ways we have not seen before.
Learn more: How to Use the Science of Plant Survival Strategies for a Healthier Garden
Recent Developments in Genetically Modified Plants
The Pinkglow® pineapple, launched by Del Monte in 2020, is one such innovation. This palette-swapped pink pineapple has been genetically engineered to contain lycopene, the natural pigment responsible for the red color of watermelons and tomatoes. Del Monte grows the pineapples in Costa Rica by replanting the crowns of fruits harvested for sale (source).
Even more surprising is the Firefly™ petunia (Petunia cv., annual), which emits a soft glow in the dark from its white flowers. Light Bio, a synthetic biology company founded in 2019, built upon decades of research to engineer this bioluminescent plant. By splicing genes from a bioluminescent mushroom (Neonothopanus nambi) into a petunia, the company was able to create a plant that naturally lights up at night. Firefly™ petunia was one of Time’s Best Inventions of 2024 and is currently sold seasonally on the company’s website (source) and will be available in nurseries in the spring of 2025.
Genetically Modified Plants Are Commonplace
If you live in the United States, genetically modified plants are likely an everyday staple in your pantry. In 2020, 92% of corn, 94% of soybeans, and 96% of cotton planted in U.S. soil were genetically modified crops (source). Few categories of GM crops are grown here, but they account for a substantial amount of the U.S. food supply. More than 95% of livestock raised for meat, dairy, and eggs are fed GM foods like corn and soy (source), while some GM apples and summer squash are available in the produce section of grocery stores. So what exactly are genetically modified plants, and what do you need to know about them?
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) undergo changes to their DNA (genetic makeup) by either adding, removing, or altering genes to introduce or enhance specific traits. This biotechnological process is called “genetic engineering.” You’ll often see the terms “genetically engineered” (GE), “genetically modified” (GM), and “bioengineered” (BE) used interchangeably.
Differences Between Selective Breeding and Genetic Engineering
Selective Breeding
Home gardeners aren’t strangers to manipulated plant genetics. Garden centers are filled with cultivated varieties of plants (or “cultivars”) that humans have created for desired traits, whether that is larger blooms, a smaller or denser habit, larger fruit, or different colors. These cultivars differ from GMOs in that they are usually created through a conventional process like selective breeding. With this method, two parent plants exhibiting desired traits are often cross-pollinated to breed the ideal offspring. The desired offspring is then cloned through tissue culture, grafting, or taking cuttings to create a cultivar. It can take several years to achieve this goal. Many plants you are familiar with and can buy in a garden center are created this way.
An example of a cultivar is the popular shrub Eternal Fragrance™ daphne (Daphne × transatlantica ‘BLAFRA’, Zones 6–9). This plant is a cross between two species, a female deciduous Daphne caucasica and a male evergreen Daphne collina. It was bred to have evergreen foliage, a long bloom period, intensely fragrant flowers, and a small, dense habit of growth, all desirable traits intended to make it an improvement upon its parent species.
Genetic Engineering
Genetic engineering, on the other hand, offers a faster process with greater control over the results. It’s able to target just a single gene in an organism’s DNA, expediting the desired result and minimizing the chances of random or unintended outcomes. Genetic engineering can also be used alongside conventional breeding methods.
While you’re not likely to see genetically engineered plants in your local garden center (at least not yet), they are commonplace in commercial farming. GM crops have been developed with increased resistance to herbicides, pests, or both, which can increase crop yields and reduce the need for pesticides. According to Dr. Christian Krupke, professor of entomology at Purdue University, insect-resistant GM crops like Bt corn contain insecticidal proteins that kill just a narrow category of insects. Bt proteins come from Bacillus thuringiensis, a bacterium naturally found in soil. Bt is often used in contact sprays by gardeners against garden pests as an alternative to chemical pesticides because it targets certain insects instead of all insects. Using it when genetically engineering crops makes it easier for farmers to control pests and save their crops from decimation and is safer than pesticides, which can endanger beneficial insects, agricultural workers, and waterways. (Source)
Criticism of GMOs
In theory, genetically modified crops could hold the answer to growing global food production shortages and mitigating the negative environmental impacts of commercial agriculture. So what’s the holdup? Since GMOs were introduced in the 1990s, there have been heated debates over the perceived health risks to consumers and the dubious business practices of certain GM giants.
The agrochemical and biotechnology company Monsanto, best known as the creator of Roundup, was one of the largest producers of genetically engineered seeds until its sale to Bayer in 2018. The company faced frequent backlash for chemical dumping, polluting the communities surrounding its factories (source), and suing farmers to enforce its GMO patents (source). It also spent millions of dollars lobbying to ease industry regulations and persuade voters to vote against GMO disclosure laws (source). Monsanto’s many controversies were fuel to the fire of the public’s poor perception of GMOs.
In addition to Roundup, Monsanto created the Roundup Ready series of GM crops, most notably corn. These genetically engineered crops resist Roundup’s main ingredient, glyphosate, which allows farmers to spray their fields indiscriminately. A 2009 scientific study found that Roundup Ready crops may lead farmers to overuse the herbicide, which can cause Roundup resistance in weeds (source). Glyphosate contaminates the environment and can cause serious damage to ecosystems. It has also been classified as a probable human carcinogen (source), so its overuse is especially problematic.
Similarly, there’s concern about the longevity of genetically engineered insect-resistant crops as a pest control solution. Dr. Christian Krupke of Purdue University says that the insects that survive consuming pest-targeting GM crops, such as Bt corn, can develop a resistance like they would to any other toxin as survivors evolve. Some Bt corn varieties are no longer effective in certain areas for that reason.
Lastly, GM crops may cross-pollinate on the wind and reproduce with non-GM crops of the same species. It may take decades to see the full effects that could have on farmers and crop production long-term.
Are Genetically Modified Plants Good or Bad?
Given all this information, are genetically modified plants good or evil? The answer is neither. Like all technologies, genetic engineering is only as ethical as the companies employing it and the rules regulating it, so it’s important to evaluate all GMOs on a case-by-case basis. Genetically modified organisms in the United States are regulated by a combination of the FDA, EPA, and USDA. As of January 1, 2020, the USDA requires food manufacturers to disclose any GMO ingredients on labels (source). Despite the wariness of some consumers, GMO foods have not had any documented health risks over their non-GMO counterparts so far (source).
Genetically engineered plants undergo more trials and testing than any other plants on the market to ensure safety, which can give the false impression that they are inherently less safe than those created by conventional methods. Selective breeding and other traditional processes can result in plants with adverse effects: The most infamous example is the Lenape potato, which was introduced in 1968 and became a fast favorite among potato chip manufacturers. Despite being created entirely with traditional breeding methods, the Lenape potato was determined to be toxic to humans and was pulled from stores in 1970 (source). Developing new plant varieties comes with challenges and risks, no matter the process.
As consumers, the best action we can take in the age of genetic modification is to stay informed. Challenges still face the GM crop industry, and there’s been plenty of controversy with its largest players.
The Future of Genetically Modified Plants
The implications for genetic engineering on the world of ornamental gardening is still unknown, as the first plants are just starting to be produced. While Firefly™ petunia was created with genes from fungi, some recent studies indicate that there may be native genes within a variety of plants that can be used to create bioluminescence so that breeders do not need to rely on fungi. (source) While the future for the technology looks bright, like a glowing petunia in the dark, there are bound to be controversies that will arise.
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Cheyenne Wine is a writer and gardener with experience in the plant nursery industry. She currently helps promote conservation efforts through the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
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