• Investment World
• eWorld
• Catalyst
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Port Info

• Ships in Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• Business Line
• The Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

M. R. Subramani

Philadelphia , June 21

A GENETICALLY modified groundnut variety, which is immune to the tobacco streak virus (TSV), is likely to be tested at the greenhouse level at International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat) in Hyderabad before the year-end.

According to Dr Roger N. Beachy, Director, Donald Danforth Plant Science Centre, a gene in some plants in the US has been found immune to TSV and it is now ready to be transferred to India.

"The gene will now be introduced in groundnut strains. The gene has been proven safe. It was tested on plants available in the US," Dr Beachy said. "We first did the experiment to control TSV through a gene in the US along with Icrisat and Satguru University. While we manage the project in the US, it is managed by an Indian team in India." The Donald Dandforth centre had taken up the project in co-ordination with Icrisat, which has been involved in the research of genetically modified strains in groundnut and chickpea.

Icrisat is already testing a genetically modified groundnut that is resistant to aflatoxin that produces fungus, which renders the grain powdery. It is also doing research on another groundnut variety that can withstand the peanut clump virus.

"Our finding to control TSV doesn't pertain to groundnut only. TSV affects other crops also, including tobacco. Therefore, the gene can be useful for crops such as marigold, okhra (lady's finger), sunflower and cotton," Dr Beachy said. "We understand that at least over a million farmers will benefit if the TSV-resistant groundnut becomes a reality," he said. "Not only that, it will help India improve its oilseed production," he said.

The Donald Danforth Centre hasn't charged either the Indian Government or Icrisat for the research and it expects the new strain, when commercially released, to be priced lower. Nearly $2,00,000 million (Rs 87 lakh) has been spent on this project, including $15,000 (Rs 6.5 lakh) towards legal costs.

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

Stories in this Section
`Commodity futures market likely to more than treble by 2010'

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line