Indian government for the first time allowed the commercial cultivation of two non-transgenic varieties of herbicide-tolerant (HT) basmati rice: Pusa Basmati 1979 and Pusa Basmati 1985.These varieties of Basmati rice have been developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).The main objective is to promote sustainable rice farming practices that encourage water conservation and reduction of carbon emissions.Transgenic refers to a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) or cell whose genome has been altered by the introduction of one or more foreign DNA sequences or genes from another species by artificial means.GMO is an organism that contains a genetically modified genome.All transgenic organisms are GMOs.Non-Transgenic does not involve inserting any foreign DNA.
Key features of this new rice variety
- Mutated ALS gene: These varieties use the aceto-lactate synthase (ALS) gene, which enables weed control through spraying of imazethapyr (herbicide).
- Lack of enzyme binding site: The mutated ALS gene causes the ALS enzymes to lack the binding site for imazethapyr, leaving no effect on amino acid synthesis.
- Amino acid synthesis: This gene encodes the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of amino acids essential for the growth and development of the rice crop.
- Herbicide effect: Imazethapyr targets broadleaf, grassy and sedge type weeds but cannot differentiate between crop and weed, causing the crop to be tolerant to the herbicide.
- Non-Genetic Process: No foreign genes are involved in this process, whereby herbicide tolerance is achieved through mutation breeding and these plants are non-genetically modified (Non-GMO).
Rice
- It is a kharif crop that requires high temperature (above 25°C) and high humidity with annual rainfall above 100 cm.
- In southern states and West Bengal, the climatic conditions allow the cultivation of two or three crops of rice in an agricultural year.
- In West Bengal farmers grow three crops of rice called ‘aus’, ‘aman’ and ‘boro’.
- About one-fourth of the total cropped area in India is under rice cultivation.
- Leading producer states: West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab.
- High Yielding States: Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal and Kerala.
- India is the second-largest producer of rice after China.
- Basmati rice is India’s top agricultural-export produce. In 2022-23, India exported 4.56 million tonnes of this valued at USD 4.78 billion.
- Basmati’s distinctive fragrance is attributed to 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP), an organic compound produced during maturation that gives this rice grain its nutty and fragrant aroma.
| Paddy Transplantation vs Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) | |
| Paddy Transplantation | DSR |
| The field where the seedlings are transplanted has to be “puddled” or tilled in standing water. | The pre-germinated seeds are directly drilled into the field by a tractor- powered machine. |
| For the first three weeks or so after transplanting, the plants are irrigated almost daily to maintain a water depth of 4-5 cm. | There is no nursery preparation or transplantation involved in this method. |
| Farmers continue giving water every 2-3 days even for the next four-five weeks when the crop is in tillering (stem development) stage. | Farmers have to only level their land and give one pre-sowing irrigation. |
| Paddy transplantation is both labour- and water-intensive. | It is water and labour efficient and reduces methane emissions due to a shorter flooding period and comparatively decreased soil disturbance. |