by L.N. Revathy
The Hindu Business Line

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has given the go-ahead signal to the Tamil Nadu-based private seed producing firm, Rasi Seeds Company Ltd (RSCL), for conducting `multi-location contained replicated research trials in open fields using transgenic Bt Cotton containing the Cry 1A(c) gene' during kharif season 2002.

The permission has been granted for conducting 15 trials, of which five are to be undertaken in the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutes, at the Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR) in Coimbatore and Nagpur, University of Agricultural Sciences in Dharwad, Andra Pradesh Agricultural University in Guntur and the Gujarat Agricultural University in Surat, while the rest, in the blocks identified by the DBT.

These research replicated trials are to be conducted in triplicate repeats with completely randomised block design at Faridkot, Hissar, Rajkot, Khargaon, Parbhani, Yavatmal, Dharwad, Warangal, Guntur and Athur. These trials are to extend over an area of about one hectare each.

The Managing Director of RSCL, Mr M. Ramasami, hailed the move and expressed the hope that DBT would expedite the trial process and accord clearance for commercial cultivation of the Bt cotton in a year's time.

The company's own strains— RCH 2, RCH 20 and RCH 144 (suited for cultivation in the Central and South Zone), and RCH 134 and RCH 138 (suited for the North and Central Zone)— have been identified for exploitation using the Bt gene Cry 1A(c).

These non-Bt cotton hybrids now being commercially cultivated are to be raised with the corresponding Bt counterparts in the experimental plots for comparison of lepidopteron pest load, seed cotton yield and fibre quality.

It is not known yet as to how long the trial periods would be extended and whether the clearance for commercial cultivation would be forthcoming in a year's time or later.

If the entire cotton-producing areas were brought under Bt cultivation, the seed requirement would be around 100 lakh packets, he said.

At present, the Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) can supply to about 1.06 lakh acres only, but the demand is phenomenal, as farmers are keen to take to Bt cultivation.

Replying to a query, he said his company would be able to supply about 35 to 40 lakh packets (of 450 gm each) of seeds, once the process for commercial cultivation of the Bt RCH hybrids was cleared. "There is still a huge gap. The other sub-licensees, namely, Ankur and Ajith Seeds will take another couple of years to even complete the trials," he added.

On future plans, Mr Ramasami said the company would focus on expanding Bt research, by developing capacity to insert readymade genes into different crops, and develop a score of genetically modified crops, in about 5 years.