The Australia’s Office of Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) approved the commercial cultivation of the genetically modified Indian mustard species called ‘Brassica juncea’ for herbicide tolerance (Ref.-OGTR).
Key points
- This is, perhaps, the first time a genetically modified variety of Indian mustard has received commercial approval anywhere in the world.
- GM Indian mustard variety RF3 contains bar gene from Streptomyces hygroscopicus that impart tolerance to herbicide glufosinate whereas barstar gene from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (a species of bacterium in the genus Bacillus) for restoration of male fertility..
- It has been developed by crossing nonGM Indian mustard with GM canola, already approved and cultivated successfully on large scale in Australia since 2003.
- New GM Indian mustard genetically modified for tolerance to Glufosinate Ammonium is approved for commercial cultivation in all mustard growing areas of Australia.
- The approval has been granted to BASF Australia to commercially release the Indian mustard genetically modified for herbicide tolerance across all of Australia, subject to restrictions in some states and territories for marketing reasons.
- General conditions have been imposed to ensure that there is ongoing oversight of the release. The risk analysis for this application was carried out in accordance with the Regulator’s Risk Analysis Framework.
GM canola
- So far, the canola (Brassica napus) is perhaps the only genetically modified mustard variety that has been cleared for commercial application.
- GM canola has been in cultivation since 1996 in several countries across the world including Canada, the USA, and even in Australia.
- Canola is a temperate species of mustard.
India and GM
- As far India is concerned, it first allowed GM cotton cultivation in 2002 by approving Monsanto’s single gene Bollgard I technology, and Monsanto’s GM cotton seed technology soon dominated 90% of India’s cotton acreage.
- Apart from GM cotton, India has not approved any other transgenic crop.
