Soya going the transgenic way

Though the Centre has imposed moratorium on release of transgenic brinjal, scientists in Madhya Pradesh are working on transgenic varieties of soya. Also Indian scientists are working on other food varieties like gram, toor, potato, papaya and castor seed.

Though the Indore-based National Soybean Research Centre has admitted “scientists are working at developing and testing protocols for transgenic varieties of soya”, sources have said by 2012 Indian farmers are likely to have their own transgenic varieties.

Speaking to Business Standard director of the National Soybean Research Centre SK Srivastava said, “We are working at testing of protocols for transgenic varieties of soya so that we can be ready in future if need arises. But it is a time-taking process. However, transgenic varieties of rice are underway at Cuttack and New Delhi.” Though he refused to comment on other food varieties, a scientist who has worked with Indian Council of Agricultural Research( ICAR) said, Indian scientists were working at testing or developing transgenic varieties of 12 different crops. “The new homegrown transgenic cotton variety ‘Bikaneri Narma’, is also being grown privately,” a source said. According to an expert, “India loses more than 12 per cent of its annual soybean yield due to hundreds of pathogens fungi, bacteria, viruses, phytoplasma, spiroplasma and nematodes.”

Last year, speaking to BS, the then director general of ICAR Mangla Rai had said in Bhopal while participating in the 5th International Soya Conference, that Indian scientists had introduced “AmA1 gene” to potatoes to increase its protein content by 50 per cent.

‘AmA1’ is a seed albumin gene encoded for a protein of high lysine and sulfur containing amino acids from “Amaranth” seeds, a plant which is used by Indian women during fast. Normally potato contains only 2 per cent of protein. The “AmA1” in transgenic plants results in significant growth and tuber yield,” an expert said.