After developing genetically modified, pest-resistant cotton, Indian scientists are hoping for a similar breakthrough in brinjal to make its varieties resistant to pest attacks without high doses of insecticide.

Several institutions in India are conducting research on genetically modified brinjal, or eggplant, and among them efforts of state-run Indian Agricultural Research Institute and a US seed major have reached field trials.

The Department of Biotechnology hopes in two-three years the government will give permission for commercial cultivation of genetically modified varieties of brinjal after establishing the bio-safety of the crop.

This, they feel, will provide farmers with a solution to protect their brinjal crop against shoot and fruit borer pests, which account for 50 percent of the total insecticide sprays for the crop, costing Rs.1,750-Rs.4,375 per hectare.

"A lot depends on the performance of the Bt brinjal developed by Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company," said a senior official of the Department of Biotechnology, referring to the field trials by the Indian arm of US seeds major Monsanto.

The multi-location field trials by the company is evaluating the efficacy of a protein called Cry1Ac in resisting infestation of shoot and fruit borer at different agro-climatic conditions.

"We would know about the success of the transgenic variety of Mahyco's brinjal varieties after the crop is harvested in December or January at a dozen trial sites," officials said.

The Biosafety data would evaluate the effects of the Bt gene on the targeted and non-target pests, beneficial organisms, environment and food safety, as also the agronomic performance of its hybrids, cost savings and yield.

"Unless the trials establish over 90-95 percent protection against shoot and fruit borer, the transgenic variety of brinjal would not be considered viable," a senior scientist at a state-run research institution said.

"A moderate success runs the risk of the insect larvae gradually developing resistance to the Bt gene introduced in the plant," the scientist added.

Mahyco, as the Indian joint venture of Monsanto is known, was the first to get permission to release Bt cotton commercially. It is now assessing its Bt brinjal under the government's All India Crop Research Project on Vegetable Crops Trial Programme.

IARI, on the other hand, is conducting field trials at five locations of its own variety it developed by introducing a gene it had purchased from Japan in 1996. Scientists say new variety is providing moderate protection at three locations.

"We are now trying to introduce additional gene or two to enhance levels of protection," an IARI official said, adding brinjal now remained the sole focus for the institution, having given up research in Bt tomato and Bt cabbage.

"Shoot and fruit borer is the single most important problem faced by eggplant, which is relatively tolerant to drought. It is a perennial crop, which go on bearing fruit and can be adapted to a wide variety of climatic region," he said.

"Among the solanaceous (multi-seeded) vegetables, brinjal is the most important crop in India," said T.V. Ramanaiah of the Department of Biotechnology. Brinjal is cultivated in 390,000 hectares at an average yield of 76 tonnes per hectare.

"In India, it has been estimated that shoot and fruit borer causes damage to fruits in a range of 25.8-92.5 percent and yield reduction of 20.7-60 percent," Ramanaiah told IANS.

In recent years, the yield is gravely affected due to pest attacks, especially shoot and fruit borer, not only in the Indian sub-continents, but also in East and South Africa, Congo, Malaysia, Thailand, Germany, Sri Lanka and Burma.

The affected fruits lose their market value besides considerable reduction in yield as well as vitamin 'C ' content.

--Indo-Asian News Service

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