New Delhi, Nov 29, Nirmesh Singh

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has responded to concerns about the evaluation of two gene-edited rice varieties, stating that both Pusa DST-1 and DRR Dhan 100 Kamala performed well in the growing regions where they were assessed. It has strongly refuted allegations of bias in the evaluation of two gene-edited rice varieties.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, ICAR outlined its multi-location trial process under the All India Coordinated Research Project on Rice (AICRPR). The project, active since 1965, has supported the release of more than 1,750 rice varieties.

The clarification follows comments from The Coalition for a GM-Free India, which questioned the assessment of the two gene-edited rice lines developed through advanced breeding techniques.

According to ICAR, the varieties were evaluated in their respective Target Performance Environments (TPEs), the regions where their parent varieties MTU1010 and Samba Mahsuri are already cultivated, mainly in southern states under Zone VII.

For Pusa DST-1, a salt- and alkalinity-tolerant derivative of MTU1010, ICAR reported higher yields under stress conditions. Under alkaline conditions in Zone VII, the line recorded 3,731 kg per hectare compared with MTU1010’s 3,254 kg per hectare, a 14.66% increase. Under coastal salinity, it showed a 30% yield advantage, according to ICAR.

DRR Dhan 100 Kamala, developed from Samba Mahsuri, also showed higher yields across three seasons in Zone VII. In Kharif 2023, it recorded a 9.13% increase over its parent in relevant TPE locations. ICAR stated that in the 2023–24 Rabi season, the variety yielded 5,243 kg per hectare, compared with Samba Mahsuri’s 4,299 kg per hectare, a 21.95% increase.

ICAR noted that, under AICRPR protocols, rice lines are blind-coded and tested across roughly 100 sites nationwide over two to three years.

Meanwhile, The New Indian Express reported that ICAR is developing organisational guidelines that would limit scientists from sharing their research findings with the media and journals.
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