Navsari Agri Varsity to develop new Bt cotton variety

After successfully developing two high yielding sugarcane seed varieties, Navsari Agriculture University (NAU) has set the ball rolling to develop a new Bt cotton variety. NAU is the first agriculture university in the state to have embarked on a drive to develop such a transgenic cotton variety.

Navsari Agriculture University has just started the process of developing a new Bt cotton variety and currently gene conversion process has been kicked off, said sources in the university.

The agriculture university has selected parent genes of Gujarat’s popular varieties such as Sankar-6, Sankar-8 and Sankar-10. The parent gene of these varieties will be converted into Bt variety. This is being done for the first time in Gujarat, sources added.

However, it will take around four to five months to release the new variety as the process involves multiple stages. After conversion, the back cropping process will be undertaken followed by multi-location trials. The university will also have to obtain approval of Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC).

It may be mentioned here that Navsari Agriculture University last year developed two new sugarcane varieties called Gujarat Sugar-5 and Gujarat Sugar-6.