Scientists from Kyungpook National University in South Korea compared the
vegetative and reproductive traits as well as antioxidant properties of
drought tolerant biotech rice lines (HV8 and HV23) and its non-biotech
counterpart (Ilmi). The findings were presented at Journal of Agronomy and
Crop Science.

According to the research article, the grain size and weight, seed
germination, root length, root and shoot dry weight, length and width of
flag leaf, plant height, and ligule, stamen and carpel length were not
significantly different. Onset and completion of heading in each line
happened almost during the same period. The antioxidant properties in terms
of DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity and
polyphenol content were not statistically different under similar treatment
condition.

Based on the results, the transgenic rice lines containing CaMsrB2 gene were
equivalent to their non-transgenic counterpart without any visible
unintended effects.

[onlinelibrary.wiley.com]
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