Question
Q67. Bollgard 1 and Bollgard 2 technologies are mentioned in the context of
A. clonal propagation of crop plants
B. developing genetically modified crop plants
C. production of plant growth substances
D. production of biofertilizers
Answer: b
Detailed Explanation
· Bollgard® Bt cotton (single-gene technology) is India’s first biotech crop technology approved for commercialization in India in 2002, followed by Bollgard® II – double-gene technology in mid-2006, by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), the Indian regulatory body for biotech crops.
· Bollgard® cotton provides in-built protection for cotton against destructive American Bollworm Heliothis Armigera infestations, and contains an insecticidal protein from a naturally occurring soil microorganism, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).
· Bollgard® II technology contains a superior double-gene technology – Cry1Ac and Cry 2Ab which provides protection against bollworms and Spodoptera caterpillar, leading to better boll retention, maximum yield, lower pesticides costs, and protection against insect resistance. Both, Bollgard® II and Bollgard® insect-protected cotton are widely planted around the world as an environmentally friendly way of controlling bollworms.
GM Mustard
· Using this technology, the Delhi University scientists bred DMH-11, a GM hybrid obtained from crossing an Indian mustard variety, Varuna (‘Barnase’ line), with Early Heera-2 (‘Barstar’).
· Bt brinjal incorporates the cry1Ac gene expressing insecticidal protein to confer resistance against (Fruit & shoot borer)FSB.
· The cry1Ac gene is sourced from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).
· Bt Brinjal was developed by the Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco).
· Mahyco also generously donated the Bt brinjal technology to the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore and University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad.
