The Hindu Business Line : Nod for commercial release of disease-resistant rice strains

Genes that can resist the damage potential of bacterial leaf blight have been identified and successfully incorporated into popular rice varieties by the Indian scientists. This significant development can help substantially raise the potential of rice yields in the coming years.

Varieties

The varieties approved for release are Samba Mahsuri (BPT 5204) and Pusa Basmati 1. Scientists at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and the Directorate of Rice Research (DRR), both in Hyderabad, have successfully incorporated three resistant genes using molecular markers into Samba Mahsuri and tested them.

Similarly, scientists at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, have incorporated the resistant genes into the Pusa Basmati-1 variety using the same techniques. After evaluating the performances of these varieties, the Varietal Identification Committee recommended them for commercial release at the just-concluded 42nd All India Rice Research Group Meeting.

These would be the first commercially usable products developed in rice crop by using molecular markers. Most importantly, these are not GM products.

These varieties are likely to be available to rice farmers for general cultivation soon, according to Mr B.C. Viraktamath, Project Director, DRR.

Rice meet

The DRR hosted the three-day rice meeting from April 9 at Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), where some 300 rice scientists from India and abroad took stock of the developments and challenges.

Bacterial leaf blight causes enormous loss to rice farmers. Samba Mahsuri, which has been developed by ANGRAU, is a popular rice variety with superior grain quality and widely cultivated in South India.