By Ashok B Sharma, The Financial Express via Checkbiotech.org

International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is planning next generation of genetically modified (GM) crops in the range of controlled gene expressions, marker-free transgenics, plant-based vaccines, enhanced nutritional content, functional foods and phytoceuticals, plant-derived plastics and polymers and transgenic plants for phytoremediation.

ICRISAT, however, has the mandate for a few select crops of the semi-arid tropics like sorghum, pearl millet, pigeon pea, chickpea and groundnut. Icrisat is one of the 15 ‘future harvest centres’ of the Consultative Group in International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and is headquartered at Patencheru, near Hyderabad in India.

Speaking to FE, Dr Kiran K Sharma of Icrisat Genetic Transformation Laboratory said: “We have developed the world’s first transgenics in two crops, namely groundnut resistant to Indian peanut clump virus (PCV) and pigeonpea resistant to legme pod borer. The GM groundnut has successfully completed three-year controlled field trials. Large-scale field trials under the approval of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) are likely in 2005. The GM pigeonpea has completed two-year controlled field trials.”

The GM groundnut, resistant to PCV, is inserted with coat protein/replicase genes. Other GM groundnuts, which are resistant to fungi, are ready for greenhouse testing. Another groundnut, which is resistant to abiotic stress, is being characterised, said Dr Sharma. The programme for biofortification of groundnut with Vitamin A has been initiated under HarvestPlus programme and it is also proposed to develop an edible vaccine.

He said that GM pigeonpea, which completed two-year controlled field trial, has Bt cry1ab gene inserted in it. Another pigeonpea having SBTI gene have been field tested in 2003. Fungi-resistant pigeon peas are ready for greenhouse testing and biofortification with sulphur, amino acids and Vitamin A has been initiated under HartvestPlus programme.

He said three varieties of GM chickpea has been developed having Bt cry1ab, SBTI, Bt cry1ac genes and are ready for bioassy.

These varieties are transferred to Bangladesh under ABSPII programme. Work is is also initiated for GM chickpea having Bt cry2a gene. Chickpeas developed for drought resistance are in glasshouse and seeds are available for fungi-resistant ones. Target traits in sorghum have been identified to fight stem borer with the insertion of Bt cry1ac and Bt cry1b genes and for resistance to shoot fly with the insertion of Bt cry1ab gene.

Dr Sharma said that developing ‘Golden Peanut’ and pigeonpea having essential amino acids is part of the programme for biofortification of foods.

He said: “We will also concentrate on next generation of GM crops in the range of controlled gene expressions, marker-free transgenics, plant-based vaccines, enhanced nutritional content, functional foods and phytoceuticals, plant-derived plastics and polymers and transgenic plants for phytoremediation.”

Dr F Waliyar of Icrisat said : “Our genomic research is focussed on development of markers, trait mapping and marker-assisted breeding, fingerprinting and variety protection. We had the success story of marker-breeding in extra-early grain pearl millet hybrid, HHB 67 which was bred at Haryana Agriculture University and transferred to farmers’ field.”

© 2004: Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.