Other than resistance to pests, what are the prospects for which genetically engineered plants have been created? 1. To enable them to withstand drought 2. To increase the nutritive value of the produce 3. To enable them to grow and do photosynthesis in spaceships and space stations 4. To increase their shelf life Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Genetically engineered plants have been developed for several purposes beyond pest resistance. They are designed to withstand abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity, ensuring food security in harsh climates [1]. Biofortification techniques allow for increased nutritional value, such as Golden Rice enriched with Vitamin A to combat malnutrition. Furthermore, genetic modification is used to increase the shelf life of produce, reducing post-harvest losses and improving marketability [1]. While plants like lettuce have been cultivated on the International Space Station (ISS) and research explores optimizing their nutrient delivery for space missions, there is no established evidence that plants have been specifically genetically engineered to enable photosynthesis in space environments, as photosynthesis is a natural process that occurs if light and CO2 are provided [3]. Therefore, statements 1, 2, and 4 are correct.

Sources

1. [1] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 11.8 Genetically Modified (GM) Crops > p. 342
2. [2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666833524000236
3. [3] https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-23253917