The Hindu Business Line : Mahyco awaiting GEAC nod for new Bt cotton

MAHARASHTRA Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) is awaiting the approval of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) for release of the Bollgard II series of Bt cotton hybrids.

Dr Brent E. Zehr, Director of Research, Mahyco, informed scientists at a meeting on `Commercialisation of Bt Cotton Technology in India' that the Bollgard II series consisting of (two Bt genes) Cry 1 Ac and Cry 2 Ab would be released soon.

Dr Zehr said these hybrids, besides increasing efficiency against target bollworms, zeroed in on pesticide sprays. "The two-gene approach is specifically meant to prevent target insects from developing resistance. It would have an effect on secondary pests such as Spodoptera spp," he added.

Trials conducted on Bollgard II hybrids revealed a 29 per cent increase in yield (3242 kg/hectare) over the Bollgard I hybrid (2507 kg/hec). The yield increase over non-Bt hybrids is said to be over 70 per cent.

On the commercialisation process perspectives, Dr Zehr stressed the need for revising the hybrid release component. Frequent release of new cotton hybrids would, according to him, reduce scope for illegal transgenic seeds. He emphasised the need for aligning the regulatory process with the requirement for crop breeding innovations.

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