The Hindu Business Line : Global alliance mooted for genomic research of cotton

Much more money and effort is required for deciphering the structural genomics of cotton and this calls for an international collaboration among the institutes engaged in cotton research, according to Dr Mangala Rai, Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research ICAR).

Delivering the keynote address at the inaugural session of the four-day International Cotton Genome Initiative Workshop - 2004 here, the ICAR chief said it would take several years of coordinated effort among the research institutions to decipher cotton genomics. Hence, research institutions should join hands and contribute to the cotton genome initiative.

"We have to compete with each other and at the same time make a coordinated effort for the development of structural and functional genomics of cotton," he said.

Despite its economic importance, Dr Rai said genomic research of cotton lagged behind that of other major crops. The genetic base of current cotton cultivars was very narrow leading to a decline in cotton yield over a period of time. This called for a long-term strategy for cotton genome sequencing. There is also the need to identify common research areas for international collaborative research and funding mechanism to make significant gains in cotton genomics.

Dr Rai, however, emphasised the need for prioritising our research efforts keeping view the high cost of genome sequencing projects. He said there were other crops such as pigeon pea, chickpea, urdbean and mungbean important for the food and nutritional security of India. Tools of genomics needed to be used for improving these crops also.

Even though sequencing of any of these genomes would cost in the range of Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 2,000 crore, resources could be mobilised to make a beginning in this direction.

Apart from the establishment of rice genome sequencing facility, Dr Rai said that ICAR had taken a major initiative in functional genomics for complex agronomic traits in seven crops including rice, wheat, maize, brassica, chickpea, banana and tomato.

The Andhra Pradesh Minister for Agriculture, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, who was the chief guest at the function, said that ICAR and other international research institutions should work in coordination for increasing the productivity of cotton and incomes of cotton farmers.

The President of the Indian Society for Cotton Improvement, Dr V.R. Gadwal, welcomed the gathering.

More Stories on : Cotton | Bio-tech & Genetics

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
`Task force on arecanut waiting for Karnataka Cabinet nod'

Spot rubber prices unchanged

Sugar likely to remain firm

Tea industry seeks Rs 4,000-cr special fund to revive bushes

Tea down at Coonoor sale

Farm ponds for Nagapattinam

Efficient use of bio-tech in agriculture urged

Global alliance mooted for genomic research of cotton

Coffee seen stable on lower Brazil crop next year

In troubled waters

Pepper prices decline

Vanilla growers open auction centres

Gene revolution and patent rights