Chennai:
The field trials for the saline resistant paddy crop is likely to be
conducted in the coastal region of Tamil Nadu once the Union
government gives its nod for field testing of transgenic paddy crop.
The field trials is essential to assess the benefits and risk of the
transgenic crop in a reliable manner.
Noted crop scientist M S Swaminathan said that, “The genes for salt
tolerance from the mangrove species Avicennia marina and for drought
tolerance, from Prosopis juliflora have been transferred to rice
varieties. Unless field testing is permitted, MS Swaminathan Research
Foundation, which is developing the crop, will not be able to assess
the benefits and risks in a reliable manner.”
He said that field testing of GMO should not be prevented. “As far as
commercial release is concerned, this will have to be done, after the
necessary bio-safety clearances are given,” he says while calling for
the establishment of National Biosafety Authority without any delay.
This is essential for implementing Prime Minister’s suggestion for
harnessing the benefits of molecular biology and genetic engineering
for agricultural progress, he says.
Dr Ajay Parida, executive director of M S Swaminathan Research
Foundation told Express that MSSRF has transferred a gene from a
mangrove species to a rice variety to develop salt resistant crop
variety. “Trial on this variety were conducted prior to 2007 in
Kalpakkam. Now we are conducting it in our labs in MSSRF,” says
Parida.
He says while there is numerous research going on in transgenic crops,
the developing of a salt resistant paddy crop using a mangrove gene is
a first of its kind.
“Usually a paddy crop can’t withstand saline water having a toxicity
of 50ppm. But this variety can withstand salinity up to 300 ppm,” says
Parida.
Interestingly, a normal paddy crop growing in saline conditions below
50ppm of saline toxicity give 25 to 30 per cent reduced yield than a
crop sown on normal conditions. But the new variety of paddy crop
would be giving the same yield generated by a normal crop, says
Parida.
The crop is in advanced stage and once the regulatory clearances are
in place, then we will be going in for field trials, he says.
But there is also a need for Bio-safety regulations in place before
the field trials are being conducted. Prof Swaminathan says due to
suspected unanticipated adverse impacts of genetic modified crops on
human and animal health as well as on environment and biodiversity
there is a need for such regulation in place.
The field trials for the saline resistant paddy crop is likely to be
conducted in the coastal region of Tamil Nadu once the Union
government gives its nod for field testing of transgenic paddy crop.
The field trials is essential to assess the benefits and risk of the
transgenic crop in a reliable manner.
Noted crop scientist M S Swaminathan said that, “The genes for salt
tolerance from the mangrove species Avicennia marina and for drought
tolerance, from Prosopis juliflora have been transferred to rice
varieties. Unless field testing is permitted, MS Swaminathan Research
Foundation, which is developing the crop, will not be able to assess
the benefits and risks in a reliable manner.”
He said that field testing of GMO should not be prevented. “As far as
commercial release is concerned, this will have to be done, after the
necessary bio-safety clearances are given,” he says while calling for
the establishment of National Biosafety Authority without any delay.
This is essential for implementing Prime Minister’s suggestion for
harnessing the benefits of molecular biology and genetic engineering
for agricultural progress, he says.
Dr Ajay Parida, executive director of M S Swaminathan Research
Foundation told Express that MSSRF has transferred a gene from a
mangrove species to a rice variety to develop salt resistant crop
variety. “Trial on this variety were conducted prior to 2007 in
Kalpakkam. Now we are conducting it in our labs in MSSRF,” says
Parida.
He says while there is numerous research going on in transgenic crops,
the developing of a salt resistant paddy crop using a mangrove gene is
a first of its kind.
“Usually a paddy crop can’t withstand saline water having a toxicity
of 50ppm. But this variety can withstand salinity up to 300 ppm,” says
Parida.
Interestingly, a normal paddy crop growing in saline conditions below
50ppm of saline toxicity give 25 to 30 per cent reduced yield than a
crop sown on normal conditions. But the new variety of paddy crop
would be giving the same yield generated by a normal crop, says
Parida.
The crop is in advanced stage and once the regulatory clearances are
in place, then we will be going in for field trials, he says.
But there is also a need for Bio-safety regulations in place before
the field trials are being conducted. Prof Swaminathan says due to
suspected unanticipated adverse impacts of genetic modified crops on
human and animal health as well as on environment and biodiversity
there is a need for such regulation in place.
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