Q. Bollgard I and Bollgard II technologies are mentioned in the context of

  • Clonal propagation of crop plants
  • Developing genetically modified crop plants
  • Production of plant growth substances
  • Production of biofertilizers

Answer: (b) Developing genetically modified crop plants

Bollgard I and Bollgard II technologies:
  • Bollgard I Bt cotton (single-gene technology) is India’s first biotech crop technology approved for commercialization in India in 2002, followed by Bollgard II – double-gene technology in mid-2006, by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), the Indian regulatory body for biotech crops.
    • Bollgard I cotton provides in-built protection for cotton against destructive American Bollworm Heliothis Armigera infestations and contains an insecticidal protein from a naturally occurring soil microorganism, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).
    • Bollgard II technology contains a superior double-gene technology – Cry1Ac and Cry 2Ab which provides protection against bollworms and Spodoptera caterpillar, leading to better boll retention, maximum yield, lower pesticides costs, and protection against insect resistance.
    • Both, Bollgard II and Bollgard I insect-protected cotton is widely planted around the world as an environmentally friendly way of controlling bollworms.
  • BT Cotton:
    • In order to tackle the bollworm attack that had devastated cotton crops in the past, Bt cotton was introduced which was jointly developed by the Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) and the US seed company Monsanto.
    • In 2002, the GEAC approved Bt Cotton for commercial cultivation in 6 states such as Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. It has to be noted that, Bt cotton is the first and only transgenic crop approved by the GEAC.
Genetically Modified (GM) Crops
  • GM crops are derived from plants whose genes are artificially modified, usually by inserting genetic material from another organism, in order to give it new properties, such as increased yield, tolerance to a herbicide, resistance to disease or drought, or improved nutritional value.
  • Probably the best-known variety of GM rice is golden rice.
    • Golden rice involves the insertion of genes from a plant – both daffodils and maize have been used – and a soil bacterium to create a grain that is enriched with Vitamin A.
  • Earlier, India approved the commercial cultivation of only one GM crop, Bt cotton, but GEAC has recommended GM Mustard for commercial use.
  • Advantages:
    • Increased Yield: Genetically modified seeds dramatically increase the yield of the plant. This means that with the same plot of land, a farmer can now produce noticeably more crops.
    • Beneficial in Specific Climates: Genetically modified seeds can also be produced for specific conditions or climates. For example, drought-resistant seeds can be used in places with little water to ensure healthy crop growth.
  • Disadvantages:
    • Manipulation of Seeds Cost: Only a few companies are in charge of creating and selling modified seeds. With a near monopoly, this means that there are few choices available to those buying seeds.
    • Seeds can’t be Replanted: Genetically modified seeds do not create viable seed offspring by design. This means that every time you want to plant a new crop, you have to go to the company you originally bought the seeds from.
    • Environmental Concern: They can decrease species diversity. For example, insect-resistant plants might harm insects that are not their intended target and destroy that particular insect species.
    • Ethical Concern: GM crop is the violation of natural organisms’ intrinsic values by mixing among species.
      • There have also been concerns of mixing animal genes in plants.
GM Mustard
  • Dhara Mustard Hybrid (DMH-11) is an indigenously developed transgenic mustard. It is a genetically modified variant of Herbicide Tolerant (HT) mustard.
  • It contains two alien genes (‘barnase’ and ‘barstar’) isolated from a soil bacterium called Bacillus amyloliquefaciens that enable breeding of high-yielding commercial mustard hybrids.
  • It has been developed by the Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP) at Delhi University.
  • Significance: India produces only 8.5-9 million tonnes (mt) of edible oil annually while it imports 14-14.5 mt which entailed a record foreign exchange outgo of USD 18.99 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. Further, GM mustard would make India self-reliant in oil production and help in saving forex.
    • Mustard varieties in India have a narrow genetic base. The barnase-barstar system enables breeding of hybrids from a wider range of mustards, including those of East European origin such as ‘Heera’ and ‘Donskaja’.