The first GM crop in Bangladesh – Bt Eggplant

Eggplant (Solanum melongena) commonly called Brinjal is the most popular vegetable in Bangladesh. It is extensively cultivated around homesteads and in commercial fields throughout the year. It is estimated that nearly 67 percent of the eggplant crop yield in Bangladesh is lost due to the damage caused by Leucinodes orbonalis also known as eggplant fruit and shoot borer (EFSB). EFSB is reportedly the most serious pest of eggplant. To overcome this EFSB problem Bt eggplant project has been initiated in 2004. The Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II (ABSPII) is a USAID-supported project that has funded the development of Bt eggplant in Bangladesh under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) received the Event EE-1 eggplant in Mahyco and backcrossed into nine popular eggplant varieties of Bangladesh selected based on the regional consumer preference. The efficacy of cry1Ac gene in providing effective resistance to the target pest was also assessed in terms of productively (fruit yield increase) which was studied in 9 Bt eggplant lines for a period of 7 years from 2008 to 2015. To launch the best 4 varieties, BARI applied to the National Technical Committee on Crop Biotechnology (NTCCB). For release of GM crop variety, first of all follow the recommendation of NTCCB, then submitted to the National Technical Committee on Crop Biotechnology (NTCCB) Core Committee and then to the National Committee on Biosafety (NCB). The Bangladesh government approved four varieties namely, BARI Bt Begun-1 (Uttara), BARI Bt Begun-2 (Kazla), BARI Bt Begun-3 (Nayantara) and BARI Bt Begun-4 (BARI Begun-6 or ISD006) on 30 October 2013 and these got momentum countrywide. On 22 January 2014, Bt seedlings were distributed among 20 farmers in four districts of Bangladesh as the first genetically modified (GM) crops. After the government of Bangladesh approved the cultivation of Bt eggplant in 2013, its popularity is increasing day by day and the socio-economic condition of the farmers is also improving. Bt eggplant started its journey in 2014 with only 20 farmers, in seven years it has grown to about 27012 farmers and from 8 acres to about 5,000 acres. This advancement of Bt eggplant has also faced opposition from different quarters at different times. Today, the progress of Bt eggplant continues by overcoming all obstacles. Field days, trainings, various publications, documentary making, use of mass and social media, observations, workshops, stewardship activities are acting as important regulators of this progress.

Controlling transgene flow from engineered crops to unintended hosts by molecular approaches.

For most transgenic crops, the purported ecological risk from transgenic-host hybridization and introgression to unintended host species is negligible. Nonetheless, there remains a risk-associated focus on the potential for gene flow in the governance and regulation of crop biotechnology. Because of uncertainties in the large world of biology as well as regulatory certainties (regulations will likely not diminish), researchers and stakeholders have a great interest in eliminating or substantially decreasing gene flow from transgenic crops. To that end, numerous approaches have been investigated for limiting transgene flow via hybridization and introgression to unintended hosts. While such bioconfinement may be accomplished by ecological and management strategies as discussed elsewhere in this book, this chapter focuses on mitigating unintended gene flow from engineered crops by way of genetic engineering itself. The chapter will mainly discuss the manipulation of relatively simple means to alter plant sexual reproduction and plant growth and development to control transgene flow, with the desired outcome being the prevention of transgenes from moving and/or introgression into free-living unintended hosts. These approaches include: (i) decreasing or delaying flowering; (ii) eliminating pollen production via male sterility or selective male sterility; (iii) removing transgenes from pollen or eggs by gene use restriction technologies; and (iv) kill switches. Emerging synthetic biology approaches that may be used for transgene bioconfinement are explored. Taken together, the same molecular biology strategies that are used to improve crops can also help assure their biosafety.

Strategies of Plant Biotechnology to Meet the Increasing Demand of Food and Nutrition in India

A groundbreaking application of biotechnology research during the recent past has been improvement of crop health and production. India being one of the most rapidly developing countries with an enormous population and remarkable biodiversity, plant biotechnology promises significant potential to contribute to characterization and conservation of the biodiversity, increasing its usefulness. However, India’s green revolution was noted to be insufficient to feed the country's teeming millions. Therefore, novel approaches in crop biotechnology had to be aimed at ensuring better productivity and quality of cultivars. This paper provides a comprehensive review of research undertaken mainly in the last couple of decades along with potential strategies in plant biotechnology focusing on specific grain and seed crops of key agricultural as well as dietary importance to meet the growing demand of food and nutrition in India, while also proposing potential application of relevant global research findings in the Indian context. The analysis would help address the ever-increasing worldwide socio-economic necessity for greater food security, particularly during times of crisis such as the recent Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

KANDUNGAN FENOL DAN LIGNIN TANAMAN NILAM HIBRIDA (Pogostemon sp.) HASIL FUSI PROTOPLAS

<p><strong>Evaluation of phenols and lignin in the root of hybrid patchouli (Pogostemon cablin Benth.) front protoplast fusion</strong></p><p>One of the problems faced in patchouli production is nematode infection (Pratylenchus brachyurus). Improvement of the plant resistance to nematode in patchouli is dificult 10 be conducted through conventional method as the plant never llowcrs. One of the methods of improving (he plain resistance is by using protoplast fusion of Aceh patchouli (Pogostemon cablin, cv Sidikalang ) and Java patchouli (/' heyneanus. cv (iirilaya). It has been found thai Ihe plain resistance lo nematode is closely related to phenols and lignin content of the root Therefore. Ihe level of resistance of different clones of somatic hybrids lo nematode was approached by evaluating ihe content of phenols and lignin of the roots The study was conducted al the laboratory of the Research Institute for food Crop Biotechnology, Bogor in November 2000. Phenol content was determined with high performance liquid Chromatography (IIPI.C). while lignin content was determined with Klasou method. Result showed that Java patchouli (Girilaya) contained phenols and lignin respectively 76.53 and 21 900 pp. higher than those of Aceh patchouli (Sidikalang and Tapak Tuan) respectively 38 2-81 45 and 8 000-7 200 ppm. Phenol and lignin content in the somatic hybrids were dilferenl in Ihe respective pairs. In the fusion of Girilaya x Sidikalang. all clones contained phenol lower than those of Iheir parents, some clones (29%) contained lignin higher than Sidikalang but lower than (iirilaya. and the rest (71%) contained lignin lower than the two parents. Meanwhile, from Ihe fusion of Girilaya, Tapak Tuan. I clone (4%) contained phenols higher than those of (he two parents (97 ppm). 39% contained phenols higher than Tapak Tuan but lower than Girilaya (38.75-60.12 ppm) and the rests (60%) contained phenol lower than the two parents. Furthermore, the lignin content, of 78% somatic hybrids was lower than Girilaya but higher than Tapak Tuan, but the rest (22%) was lower than the two parents. Based on the distribution of phenols and lignin content. Ihe somatic hybrids can be categorized in three group The irst groups (5 clones) contained high phenols (higher than the average). Ihe second group (9 clones) contained high lignin. and Ihe third (I clone) contained high phenol and lignin.</p>