- Scientists employed genome editing to generate mustard plants with lower glucosinolate levels in their seeds, making them more suitable for cooking oil and animal feed and potentially lowering India’s dependency on imported vegetable oils.
- The core notion is that domestically grown oilseeds in India, such as rapeseed and mustard, supply cooking oil as well as protein-rich animal meals. The strong flavour of high glucosinolate levels, on the other hand, lowers consumer attractiveness, and an unappealing meal offers animal issues. A genetic breakthrough provides promise, with the potential to revolutionise mustard’s applications.
Rapeseed-Mustard: A Crucial Crop
- Rapeseed-mustard is important in India’s oilseed landscape, accounting for 42.6% of vegetable oil production and 30.3% of meal production, trailing only soyabean.
- Mustard seeds contain glucosinolates, which contribute to the pungency of its oil and meal.
What is glucosinolate?
- Glucosinolates are sulphur- and nitrogen-containing chemicals found in plants such as rapeseed-mustard.
- These chemicals help to give mustard seeds and other cruciferous vegetables their distinct pungent flavour and scent.
- The glucosinolates in mustard seeds are responsible for their distinctive flavour, but their strong taste and probable detrimental effects on animals limit their attractiveness for eating and livestock feed.
The Distinction Between GE and GM Crops
Genetically Modified (GM) Crops:
- Foreign genes from other species, such as Bacillus thuringiensis bacterium in cotton or Bar-Barnase-Barstar in GM hybrid mustard, may be present.
- In India, environmental release rules are strict, requiring approval from the Ministry of Environment’s Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC).
- The GEAC’s decision is not final; final approval is given by the Union Government.
Genetically Edited (GE) Crops:
- Are transgene-free or non-GM, carrying no foreign genes.
- In successive generations, the Cas9 enzyme, which is utilised for gene editing, is removed, resulting in transgene-free lineages.
- Benefit from the MoEFCC’s exemption from the requirement for GEAC permission for open field testing of GE plants devoid of exogenous inserted DNA.
- Approval is now required at the level of an Institutional Bio-Safety Committee (IBSC) comprised of scientists involved in the research of GE crops and the DBT.
A Significant Advance in Gene Editing
- CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing has been used by researchers at Delhi University and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research to address the glucosinolate problem.
- They altered 10 of the 12 GTR genes in the Varuna mustard variety, lowering glucosinolate concentration in seeds but preserving higher levels in leaves and pod walls.
- This editing also increased resistance to fungal diseases and insect pests, hence strengthening the plant’s defence mechanisms.
The Importance of This Development
- Reducing Edible Oil Imports: India’s large reliance on edible oil imports, assessed at $20.84 billion (Rs 167,270 crore) for the fiscal year ending March 2023, highlights the need to reduce foreign exchange outflows and boost domestic production.
- Managing Economic Stress: The high import value strains India’s trade balance and foreign exchange reserves, making increased self-reliance in edible oil production critical.
- Increasing Agricultural Self-Sufficiency: This development is in line with India’s goal of increasing agricultural self-sufficiency by reducing dependency on imports and increasing indigenous oilseed production.
- Mustard and soyabean, which are grown on 9 million and 12.5 million hectares, respectively, are important crops for India’s oilseed sector. Mustard’s higher oil-extractable concentration of 38% emphasises its importance.
- Nutritional and livestock advantages: Mustard’s improved appropriateness for culinary and animal feed applications benefits both human nutrition and the livestock industry.
- Scientific Discovery: The development of genetically edited (GE) low-seed, high-leaf glucosinolate mustard lines and GM hybrid mustard demonstrates India’s agricultural scientific capability and inventiveness.
- Enhanced Food Security: By increasing domestic oilseed output and quality, this development helps India’s food security and lessens its vulnerability to global market swings.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/understanding-gm-mustard-8231981/