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Virus-resistant GM potato, groundnut under trial stage in India |
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In India, genetically modified (GM) virus-resistant potato and groundnut, and drought and salinity-tolerant rice are under various stages of trials in the green houses and confined fields of select universities and research institutions.
According to a media report, the programme is led by the Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project -II (ABST-II) of the Cornell University, which helped the development of the fruit and shoots borer-resistant brinjal and led to the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) gateway for commercialisation.
While the GM brinjal was developed by the Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco), the other three were developed by researchers in the US universities. ABSP-II facilitated the transfer of the genetic technology for all the four to public sector universities and institutions for the development of native varieties.
For fighting the dreaded `late blight` virus in potatoes, ABST-II has assisted the transfer of `Rb gene` to the Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI), Shimla. The gene was isolated from a wild relative of potato by the researchers at the University of Wisconsin and incorporated into a popular potato variety in the US. CPRI has transferred the RB gene to two popular varieties kufri jyothi and kufri bahar. Confined field trials were conducted during November 2008. It will be field-evaluated during May-June, 2009.
Under ABSP-II, Cornell University`s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Donald Danforth Plant Sciences Centre, USA, teamed up with Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, and the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Research, New Delhi, to develop transgenic groundnut with ability to fight TSV. Two varieties of groundnut plants were developed and were being evaluated in green house.
Through ABSP-II, the trehalose gene has been transferred to the Directorate of Rice Research (DRR), Hyderabad, to be introduced into local rice varieties and to evaluate the positive events in green house conditions and screen them for drought tolerance.
(Posted on : 29/04/2009)
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| Virus-resistant GM potato, groundnut under trial stage in India |
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