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PATANCHERU, India - International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid
Tropics (Icrisat) is planning next generation of genetically modified (GM)
crops in the range of controlled gene expressions, marker-free transgenics,
plant-based vaccines, enhanced nutritional content, functional foods and
phytoceuticals, plant-derived plastics and polymers and transgenic plants
for phytoremediation, October 2004 vy Ashok B Sharma .

Icrisat, however, has the mandate for a few select crops of the semi-arid
tropics like sorghum, pearl millet, pigeon pea, chickpea and groundnut.
Icrisat is one of the 15 ?future harvest centres? of the Consultative Group
in International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and is headquartered at
Patencheru, near Hyderabad in India.

Speaking to FE, Dr Kiran K Sharma of Icrisat Genetic Transformation
Laboratory said: ?We have developed the world?s first transgenics in two
crops, namely groundnut resistant to Indian peanut clump virus (PCV) and
pigeonpea resistant to legme pod borer. The GM groundnut has successfully
completed three-year controlled field trials. Large-scale field trials under
the approval of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) are likely
in 2005. The GM pigeonpea has completed two-year controlled field trials.?

The GM groundnut, resistant to PCV, is inserted with coat protein/replicase
genes. Other GM groundnuts, which are resistant to fungi, are ready for
greenhouse testing. Another groundnut, which is resistant to abiotic stress,
is being characterised, said Dr Sharma. The programme for biofortification
of groundnut with Vitamin A has been initiated under HarvestPlus programme
and it is also proposed to develop an edible vaccine.

He said that GM pigeonpea, which completed two-year controlled field trial,
has Bt cry1ab gene inserted in it. Another pigeonpea having SBTI gene have
been field tested in 2003. Fungi-resistant pigeon peas are ready for
greenhouse testing and biofortification with sulphur, amino acids and
Vitamin A has been initiated under HartvestPlus programme.

He said three varieties of GM chickpea has been developed having Bt cry1ab,
SBTI, Bt cry1ac genes and are ready for bioassy.

These varieties are transferred to Bangladesh under ABSPII programme. Work
is is also initiated for GM chickpea having Bt cry2a gene. Chickpeas
developed for drought resistance are in glasshouse and seeds are available
for fungi-resistant ones. Target traits in sorghum have been identified to
fight stem borer with the insertion of Bt cry1ac and Bt cry1b genes and for
resistance to shoot fly with the insertion of Bt cry1ab gene.

Dr Sharma said that developing ?Golden Peanut? and pigeonpea having
essential amino acids is part of the programme for biofortification of
foods.

He said: ?We will also concentrate on next generation of GM crops in the
range of controlled gene expressions, marker-free transgenics, plant-based
vaccines, enhanced nutritional content, functional foods and phytoceuticals,
plant-derived plastics and polymers and transgenic plants for
phytoremediation.?

Dr F Waliyar of Icrisat said : ?Our genomic research is focussed on
development of markers, trait mapping and marker-assisted breeding,
fingerprinting and variety protection. We had the success story of
marker-breeding in extra-early grain pearl millet hybrid, HHB 67 which was
bred at Haryana Agriculture University and transferred to farmers? field.?

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