Herbicide-Tolerant Rice Varieties | IASbaba

Herbicide-Tolerant Rice Varieties

Part of: Prelims and GS III – Cropping patterns

Context Recently, the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has developed the country’s first-ever non-GM (genetically modified) herbicide-tolerant rice varieties (Pusa Basmati 1979 and Pusa Basmati 1985).

• These varieties can be directly seeded and significantly save water and labour compared to conventional transplanting.
• ICAR-IARI is a deemed university.

About the New Varieties of Rice:

• The new varieties contain a mutated AcetoLactate Synthase (ALS) gene making it possible for farmers to spray Imazethapyr, a broad-spectrum herbicide, to control weeds.
  • Imazethapyr, effective against a range of broadleaf, grassy and sedge weeds, can’t be used on normal paddy, as the chemical does not distinguish between the crop and the invasive plants.
• The plants can now “tolerate” application of the herbicide, and hence it kills only the weeds.
• It is important to note that, as there is no foreign gene involved in the process, the herbicide-tolerance is through mutation breeding. Thus, it is not a Genetically modified organism.