Q. With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements:
- GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that give the plant the property of pest-resistance to a wide variety of pests.
- GM mustard has the genes that allow the plant cross-pollination and hybridization.
- GM mustard has been developed jointly by the IARI and Punjab Agricultural University.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer:
2 only
Notes: The correct answer is
[B] 2 only. This question pertains to
Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 (DMH-11), which has been a significant topic in Indian agricultural biotechnology and regulatory discourse.Detailed Analysis of the Statements:
- Statement 1 (Incorrect): DMH-11 is not designed for pest resistance. Unlike Bt Cotton (which contains Cry genes for pest resistance), GM mustard uses a system of three genes (barnase, barstar, and bar) derived from the soil bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. These genes are used to create a hybrid seed production system by inducing male sterility and then restoring fertility, rather than killing pests.
- Statement 2 (Correct): Mustard is normally a self-pollinating plant, which makes creating hybrids difficult. The "barnase" gene induces male sterility in one parent line (preventing self-pollination), while the "barstar" gene in the other parent line restores fertility in the resulting hybrid. This allows for effective cross-pollination and hybridization, leading to "heterosis" (hybrid vigor) and higher yields.
- Statement 3 (Incorrect): DMH-11 was developed by the Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP) at Delhi University, led by former Vice-Chancellor Deepak Pental. It was not a joint venture between IARI and Punjab Agricultural University. It was funded largely by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
Key Facts about DMH-11:
- The "Bar" Gene: It also contains the bar gene, which makes the plant tolerant to the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium. This is used as a marker in the breeding process, though it has led to debates regarding herbicide-tolerant (HT) crops.
- Regulatory Body: The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is the apex body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) that approved the environmental release of DMH-11 in 2022.
- Significance: It is the first transgenic food crop to approach commercial cultivation in India, aimed at reducing the country's massive edible oil import bill.