With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements :
- GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that gives the plant the property of pest-resistance to a wide variety of pests.
- GM mustard has the genes that allow the plant cross-pollination and hybridization.
- GM mustard has been developed jointly by the IARI and Punjab Agricultural University.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 2 only
GM Mustard (DMH-11) is a genetically modified hybrid variety of Brassica juncea developed by Delhi University's Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants. It has been engineered with barnase-barstar genes to enable cross-pollination and hybridization for increased yield, not for pest-resistance.
✅ Statement 1 – Incorrect: GM mustard does not contain genes for pest-resistance; it is engineered for hybridization using barnase-barstar gene system, not Bt genes from soil bacteria.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: GM mustard contains genes (barnase, barstar, and bar genes) that facilitate cross-pollination and hybridization, enabling hybrid seed production.
✅ Statement 3 – Incorrect: GM mustard was developed by Delhi University's Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP), not jointly by IARI and Punjab Agricultural University.
📝 Short Notes: GM Mustard (DMH-11)
- Full Name: Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 (DMH-11), a genetically modified variety of Brassica juncea.
- Developed by: Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP), Delhi University under Prof. Deepak Pental.
- Genetic Modification: Uses barnase-barstar gene system borrowed from soil bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens for male sterility and fertility restoration.
- Purpose: Enables cross-pollination in naturally self-pollinating mustard to produce high-yielding hybrids; increases yield by 25-30%.
- Key Genes: Bar gene (herbicide tolerance), barnase gene (male sterility), barstar gene (fertility restoration).
- Not Bt Crop: Unlike Bt cotton/brinjal, GM mustard does not have pest-resistance traits; it is purely for hybrid development.
- Regulatory Status: Approved by GEAC (Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee) in 2017 but faced public and legal challenges.
Question 2 of 4 GM Crops and Biosafety
Practice PYQ questions from this topic across all years
Bollgard I and Bollgard II technologies are mentioned in the context of
With reference to agriculture in India, how can the technique of ‘genome sequen...