NEW DELHI: The search for, characterisation, isolation and utilisation of new genes through application of biotechnology are essential for revitalisation of agriculture, Director-General of Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) Mangala Rai said here on Monday.

Delivering the B.P. Pal memorial lecture on `Harnessing Genetic Power to Enhance Agricultural Productivity, Profitability and Resource Use Efficiency,' Dr. Rai said natural and farm biodiversity needed to be explored as a prerequisite in the search for new genes. "The country's national agricultural research system had been effectively responding to such concerns and would continue to do so,'' he said.

Making out a case for application of biotechnology in crop improvement, Dr. Rai talked about the indigenous genetically modified (GM) potato, which is said to have more proteins than the normal potato, including a substantial amount of the essential amino acids, lysine and methionine.

Another development in the offing is a GM rice called the "golden rice" which is genetically engineered to produce beta-carotene, a substance that the body can convert to Vitamin A. "The rice is a product of genes transferred from a bacterium and a flower plant [daffodil]. The new rice could prove effective in overcoming vitamin A deficiency, a condition which afflicts millions in developing countries,'' he said.

Dwelling upon the advantages offered by biotechnology over classical breeding in terms of "precision, technology, gestation period and gene transfer of specific traits even from unrelated organisms,'' he said it would yield benefits in the form of development of crop sciences and animal breeds. The challenge was to characterise some focussed genes from the documented sequences and harness the much-needed genes for traits such as drought resistance, salinity tolerance. For this, the ICAR has allocated Rs. 12 crores exclusively for two years, Dr. Rai added.

He said the Indian gene centre had about 4,000 species of medicinal value, 500 fibre yielding species, 100 aromatic and essential oil yielding species and 400 fodder yielding species. The Western Ghats and the north-east were two of the 25 hotspots of biodiversity in the world. "We must conserve them for sustainable use and benefits.''

Transgenic crop

Referring to the emerging area of transgenic crop with "noticeable growth'' in four commercial biotech crops — soybean, maize, cotton and canola — he said that transgenic plants were going to be sought-after bioreactors for production of edible vaccines, antibodies, bio plastics, highly saturated oils for industrial use, pharmaceuticals and other metabolic products of economic value.

IPR regime

Dr. Rai said that in the emerging scenario, scientists must familiarise themselves with the Intellectual Property Rights regime, to become aware of the techno-legal requirements and benefit sharing.

Besides holding IPR titles, it was as important to decipher how the protected technologies would be disseminated for the cause of enhancing food security and household nutritional security.

Dr. B.P. Pal was the first Director-General of the re-organised ICAR. He is known for his pioneering work in the development of several plant varieties.

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