NBRI Develops GM Cotton Resistant to Pink Bollworm

Syllabus: GS3/Biotechnology

Context

• Scientists at the CSIR-NBRI in Lucknow claim to have developed the world’s first genetically modified (GM) cotton that is totally resistant to the Pink Bollworm (PBW).

About

• Since the implementation of GM cotton in India in 2002, varieties such as Bollgard 1 and Bollgard 2, developed jointly with Monsanto have effectively controlled certain bollworm species. 
  • However, these varieties have not maintained robust defence against the PBW.
• The CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) is a premier research institution in India dedicated to botanical research and conservation. 

Pink Bollworm (PBW)

• The pink bollworm (PBW), known among farmers as gulabi sundhi, damages the cotton crop by burrowing its larvae into the cotton bolls. 
  • This results in the lint being cut and stained, making it unfit for use. 
• Spread: PBW primarily spreads through the air. Residue of infected crops, often left by farmers on the field to be used as fuel, can also harbour PBW larvae which can then infect future crops. 
• Prevention: To prevent future infestation, fields which saw PBW infestation should not be planted with the cotton crop, for at least one season.
  • Farmers are advised to burn residue at the earliest, and ensure there is no mixing between healthy and unhealthy seeds (or cotton). 

What are GM crops?

• Crops that have undergone genetic engineering processes to alter their DNA are referred to as genetically modified crops.
  • This alteration is done to introduce desirable traits such as resistance to pests or herbicides, improved nutritional content, or increased yield.
• The process of creating GM crops typically involves: identification of desired traits, isolation of genes, insertion into crop genome, and expression of the trait.
• The techniques used in GM crops are: gene guns, electroporation, microinjection, agrobacterium etc.
• The types of modification are: transgenic, cis-genic, subgenic and multiple trait integration.
• The main trait types in GM crops are herbicide tolerance (HT), insect resistance (IR), Stacked traits etc.

Indian Scenario in GM crops

• Bt Cotton: In 2002, the GEAC had allowed the commercial release of Bt cotton.
  • Bt cotton has two alien genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that allows the crop to develop a protein toxic to the common pest pink bollworm. 
  • Till now, it is the only GM crop that is allowed in India.
• Many varieties of GM crops are under different stages of development, like Bt brinjal and DMH-11 mustard.

Source: TOI