The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) that functions has yet again cleared the proposal for commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) mustard DMH-11.
Key points
- The environmental release of mustard hybrid Dhara Mustard Hybrid (DMH-11) is for its seed production and testing as per existing ICAR guidelines and other extant rules/regulations prior to commercial release.
- Considering the application of the CGMCP, the GEAC also set certain conditions for the clearance. It includes that the approval is for a limited period of four years and is renewable for two years at a time based on compliance report.
- External experts will visit the growing sites of the crop at least once during each season.
- The applicant should also develop and deposit the DNA fingerprints of the approved varieties to the ICAR.
- Though the GEAC cleared the proposal in 2017, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change vetoed it and suggested that the panel hold more studies on the GM crop.
- The GEAC functions under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- This will be the second GM crop after GM cotton that can be commercially cultivated in the country now. Now, the central government has to decided on the GEAC’s recommendations.
- A GEAC meeting held on October 18 allowed the environmental release of two varieties of genetically engineered mustard, so that it can be used for developing new parental lines and hybrids under the supervision of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR).
How was the DMH-11 created?
- DMH-11 is a transgenic hybrid mustard for seed production. Scientists at Delhi University’s Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP) have developed the hybrid mustard DMH-11 containing two alien genes isolated from a soil bacterium called Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.
- The CGMCP scientists have deployed the barnase-barstar GM technology to create DMH-11.
- This system was used to develop DMH-11 by crossing a popular Indian mustard variety ‘Varuna’ (the barnase line) with an East European ‘Early Heera-2’ mutant (barstar).
Hybridisation and mustard
- Hybridisation involves crossing two genetically dissimilar plant varieties that can even be from the same species. The first-generation (F1) offspring from such crosses tend to have higher yields than what either parent can individually give.
- Such hybridisation isn’t easy in mustard. Its flowers have both female (pistil) and male (stamen) reproductive organs, making the plants largely self-pollinating.
- Since the eggs of one plant cannot be fertilised by the pollen grains from another, it limits the scope for developing hybrids — unlike in cotton, maize or tomato, where this can be done through simple emasculation or physical removal of anthers.
Concerns
- Some experts have raised concern over the presence of a third ‘bar’ gene, which makes GM mustard plants tolerant to the spraying of glufosinate ammonium, a chemical used for killing weeds. This, the opponents allege, will cause displacement of manual labour engaged in weeding by promoting use of chemical herbicides.
- GM mustard threatens or undermines the population of honey bees. Mustard flowers are a source of nectar for honey bees and many other pollinator insects.
