Board gets GEAC nod to take up BRL-1 trials of GM rubber in Assam

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) has lately offered acceptance to Rubber Board to carry out the confined area trials of the GM rubber produced by the Condition-run entity.

The Rubber Study Institute of India, beneath the Rubber Board, has produced GM rubber that has supplemental copies of the MnSOD (Manganese Superoxide Dimutase) gene, creating it tolerant to nerve-racking climatic disorders and show fewer incidence of tapping panel dryness syndrome, resulting in far better productivity. GEAC, in its meeting on July 28, authorised the Biosafety Study Amount – 1 (BRL-1) trials of GM rubber.

NOC acquired

“We are ready to start area trial as soon as the formal communication of permission in this regard is acquired from the Central governing administration. Becoming a perennial tree crop with financial existence span of more than 20 decades, the proposed area trial will last for at least 10-fifteen decades,” mentioned KN Raghavan, Government Director, Rubber Board. The Board has gained a no objection certificate from Assam Authorities to acquire up the confined area trials.

The launch for professional cultivation can be viewed as only following the thriving completion of the proposed area trials which may well acquire 10-fifteen decades, he added.

The Board experienced approached Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal in search of permission for area trials. “We have gained a favourable reaction only from Assam,” he mentioned.

James Jacob, Director (Study), Rubber Study Institute of India, mentioned that the GM crop produced by RRII is specifically the same rubber clone (RRII one hundred and five), but with supplemental copies of MnSOD gene. The GM rubber has also acquired an antibiotic-resistant gene sourced from a germs which is made use of as a marker to determine efficiently remodeled cell traces. Both equally these genes are existing in commercially grown crops which include Bt cotton in India and various species of edible GM crops grown abroad.

MnSOD gene is closely associated with antioxidant exercise in rubber plants (as very well as other organisms like animals). Overexpression of this gene in the GM rubber is predicted to impart tolerance to environmental stresses these as drought, superior temperature, chilly etc. as very well as tapping panel dryness (patta marappu).

Consequently the productivity would be far better, he mentioned.

RG Kala, Principal Scientist, RRII, mentioned that the Board produced the GM variety following a long and painstaking training following receiving needed skills and instruction from the University of California as a result of a Entire world Financial institution-funded venture. When the Board 1st produced GM rubber in 2003, it was the 1st-at any time commodity produced everywhere in the planet and the 1st GM tree species produced in India.