India Develops Rapid Diagnostic Kits for GM Traits

In view of the increasing global acceptance and trade of genetically modified (GM) crops and food, the government  of India felt an urgent need to upgrade the analytical methods for GM detection. Methods are needed  to check authorized GM crops being cultivated, solve legal disputes as well as to meet  labeling and international trade requirements. Diagnostic kits based on Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) have been developed for five principal GM crops including cotton for cry1Ac and cry2Ab gene and, four other food crops viz. Bt brinjal and Bt cauliflower with cry1Ac gene, GM mustard with barnase/ barstar gene for male sterility and GM tomato with osmotin gene for drought and salinity tolerance.

The diagnostic kits were developed at the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), an agency  designated as a Referral Center for Molecular Diagnosis of Transgenic Planting Material.  They are ready for commercial launch and will be of immense use to meet regulatory obligations and legal requirements as well as help to address consumer concerns, said Mr Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences.

For details visit http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=37168.  Contact Bhagirath Choudhary at b.choudhary@isaaa.org for more information on biotech developments in India.