Board gets GEAC nod to take up BRL-1 trials of GM rubber in Assam
The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) has lately provided acceptance to Rubber Board to carry out the confined field trials of the GM rubber produced by the Point out-operate entity.
The Rubber Research Institute of India, beneath the Rubber Board, has produced GM rubber that has more copies of the MnSOD (Manganese Superoxide Dimutase) gene, earning it tolerant to stress filled climatic ailments and clearly show significantly less incidence of tapping panel dryness syndrome, resulting in far better efficiency. GEAC, in its meeting on July 28, authorized the Biosafety Research Degree – 1 (BRL-1) trials of GM rubber.
NOC attained
“We are prepared to begin field demo as shortly as the formal interaction of authorization in this regard is attained from the Central federal government. Getting a perennial tree crop with economic existence span of far more than 20 years, the proposed field demo will very last for at minimum 10-fifteen years,” mentioned KN Raghavan, Executive Director, Rubber Board. The Board has received a no objection certification from Assam Govt to get up the confined field trials.
The launch for business cultivation can be thought of only immediately after the thriving completion of the proposed field trials which may possibly get 10-fifteen years, he additional.
The Board experienced approached Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal in search of authorization for field trials. “We have received a good response only from Assam,” he mentioned.
James Jacob, Director (Research), Rubber Research Institute of India, mentioned that the GM crop produced by RRII is just the exact same rubber clone (RRII one zero five), but with more copies of MnSOD gene. The GM rubber has also obtained an antibiotic-resistant gene sourced from a germs which is utilised as a marker to recognize properly transformed cell traces. Both equally these genes are existing in commercially developed crops which consist of Bt cotton in India and many species of edible GM crops developed overseas.
MnSOD gene is closely affiliated with antioxidant action in rubber crops (as nicely as other organisms such as animals). Overexpression of this gene in the GM rubber is envisioned to impart tolerance to environmental stresses these as drought, higher temperature, chilly and many others. as nicely as tapping panel dryness (patta marappu).
Consequently the efficiency would be far better, he mentioned.
RG Kala, Principal Scientist, RRII, mentioned that the Board produced the GM variety immediately after a very long and painstaking work out immediately after getting vital experience and instruction from the University of California via a Planet Bank-funded undertaking. When the Board to start with produced GM rubber in 2003, it was the to start with-at any time commodity produced any place in the planet and the to start with GM tree species produced in India.