December 10, 2010

Source: Crop Biotech Update

Bangladesh's National Technical Committee for Crop Biotechnology headed by Ministry Secretary of Agriculture CQK Mustaq Ahmed, has approved the second year multi-location field trial (MLT) of late blight resistant (RB) Potato for planting in 2010-2011 crop season.

Dr. Md Yusuf Mia, Director General of the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) explained that first year results were satisfactory. Scientists from BARI's Tuber Crops Research Center (TCRC) developed the transgenic lines by crossing the leading Bangladeshi varieties (Diamant, Cardinal, Multa, Granula, Local) with transgenic variety Katahdin at Wisconsin University and Indonesian University. BARI brought back these lines in 2006 and tested them in glasshouse and multi-location field trial.

In a meeting of inter-ministerial policy planners, university professors, and researchers, it was agreed that the trial must follow international standard biosafety procedures set by the Cartagena Protocol.

Email Dr. Khondoker Nasiruddin of the Bangladesh Biotechnology Information Center at nasirbiotech@yahoo.com.

Website: http://www.isaaa.org/kc/

Published: December 10, 2010