conference document
TRANSCRIPT
SOUTH ASIA BIOSAFETY PROGRAM
2nd Annual
South Asia Biosafety Conference
September 15 - 16, 2014 • Colombo, Sri Lanka
For more information about the South Asia Biosafety Program or
about this publication, please contact:
Center for Environmental Risk Assessment
ILSI Research Foundation
1156 Fifteenth Street N. W., Suite 200
Washington, D. C. 20005-1743 USA
Tel: +1{202) 659-3306; Fax: +1{202) 659-3617
E-mail : [email protected]
URL: http://cera-gmc.org/SABP
Copyright © 2014 Center for Environmental Risk Assessment
The South Asia Biosafety Program would like to
acknowledge USAID for its continued support.
FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
Agenda .............................................................................................................................................................. 1
Speaker Biographies ...................................................................................................................................... 16
Wimal Abeyewickreme, Ph.D. .................................................................................................................. 16
Amit Agarwal .............................................................................................................................................. 16
Vibha Ahuja, Ph.D. .................................................................................................................................... 16
Paulo Paes De Andrade, Ph.D. .................................................................................................................. 17
Muhammad Ashraf, Ph.D.......................................................................................................................... 17
Gita Bamezai, Ph.D. .................................................................................................................................... 17
Hans Bergmans, Ph.D. ............................................................................................................................... 18
Manmohan Singh Chauhan, Ph.D. ......................................................................................................... 18
Md. Aziz Zilani Chowdhury, Ph.D. ......................................................................................................... 19
Bertrand Dagallier, Ph.D. ........................................................................................................................... 19
Swapan Datta, Ph.D. .................................................................................................................................... 19
Kevin Gorman, Ph.D. ................................................................................................................................. 20
Solaiman Haider ......................................................................................................................................... 20
C. Hettiarachchi, Ph.D. .............................................................................................................................. 20
Shailaja Hittalmani, Ph.D. ......................................................................................................................... 21
Syed Humayun Kabir, Ph.D. ..................................................................................................................... 21
J.L. Karihaloo, Ph.D.................................................................................................................................... 22
Vinay Kumar ............................................................................................................................................... 22
Morven A. Mclean, Ph.D. .......................................................................................................................... 22
Charles Mugoya, Ph.D. .............................................................................................................................. 23
Anwar Nasim, Ph.D. .................................................................................................................................. 23
Prabhakar Patil, Ph.D. ................................................................................................................................ 24
Sriyani Peiris, Ph.D. ................................................................................................................................... 24
Athula Perera, Ph.D. ................................................................................................................................... 25
P. J. Raju, Ph.D. ........................................................................................................................................... 25
Zeba Islam Seraj, Ph.D. ............................................................................................................................. 25
Kiran Sharma, Ph.D. .................................................................................................................................. 26
B. K. Tyagi, Ph.D. ........................................................................................................................................ 26
Libby Williams ........................................................................................................................................... 27
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Jeff Wolt, Ph.D. ............................................................................................................................................ 27
Tashi Yangzom ............................................................................................................................................ 28
Lareef Zubair, Ph.D. ................................................................................................................................... 28
Abstracts .......................................................................................................................................................... 29
Biosafety Regulations In Sri Lanka: A Status Update .............................................................................. 29
Perspectives On The Regulation Of Genetically Engineered Organisms In South Asia: Bangladesh
Perspective .................................................................................................................................................. 30
Regulation Of Genetically Engineered Organisms In Bhutan ............................................................... 31
An Update On Regulation Of Gmos In India .......................................................................................... 32
Biosafety Regulatory Systems In Pakistan ................................................................................................ 32
Transgenic Crop Research At Icrisat: From Product Development To Deployment ........................ 32
Application Of Reproductive Biotechnology For Improvement Of Dairy Animal Productivity .... 33
Genetic Modification Of Several Plant Species By Transformation Of Gai Mutant Dwarfing Gene
For Improved Ornamental Qualities ....................................................................................................... 34
Current Status Of Research And Development Of Genetically Engineered Plants In Bangladesh .. 34
Applying Knowledge Gained From Studies Of Arabidopsis Thaliana To Agriculturally Important
Crops............................................................................................................................................................ 35
Virus Resistant, Transgenic Silkworm: Development, Efficacy, And Biosafety Considerations For
Commercial Scale Production .................................................................................................................. 36
Biosafety, Regulatory Aspects And Performance Assessment Of Transgenic Ox513a Strain Of
Aedes Aegypti L. In India ......................................................................................................................... 36
Dengue Vector Mosquito Control In Sri Lanka: Strategies And Challenges Using Biotechnology 37
Progress On The Oecd Consensus Document On The Biology Of Aedes Aegypti: Taxonomy,
Systematics And Distribution ................................................................................................................... 38
Practical Experience In The Field Release Of Transgenic Mosquitos .................................................. 39
Risk Assessment Of Genetically Modified Ridl Aedes Aegypti .......................................................... 39
New Media For Science Communication ................................................................................................ 39
The Importance Of Social Media: Twitter 101 ....................................................................................... 40
Digital Green – An Innovative Digital Story Telling Platform For Agricultural Development .......... 40
Putting Communications Theory Into Practice: Securing Space For Communicating Risks, Safety
And Security Issues In Bio-Safety Programme ....................................................................................... 41
The Impact Of Climate Change On Agricultural Productivity In South Asia .................................... 41
Productivity Constraints Caused By Changing Climate: The Role Of Agricultural Biotechnology 42
New Plant Technologies To Address Climate Change: Opportunities For Biotechnology Innovation
And Challenges For Regulation ............................................................................................................... 42
Increasing Abiotic Stress Tolerance For Rice Improvement In Bangladesh ....................................... 42
Biotechnology Applications To Mitigate Climate Change Challenges For Agriculture..................... 43
The Role Of The Oecd In Facilitating Regulatory Harmonisation In Risk Assessment Of Biotech
Products ...................................................................................................................................................... 44
Regional Harmonization: Reflections On The Regulation Of Genetically Modified Organisms In
The European Union .................................................................................................................................. 44
Progress And Challenges For Implementation Of The Common Market For Eastern And Southern
Africa (Comesa) Policy On Biotechnology And Biosafety .................................................................... 45
Harmonizing In The Asia-Pacific - Views From Recent Meetings Of The Asia-Pacific Association
Of Agricultural Research In- Stitutions (Apaari) .................................................................................... 45
Update From The South Asia Regional Workshop On Biosafety In Bhutan ...................................... 46
Promotion Of Saarc Regional Harmonization Of Standards ................................................................. 47
Opportunities For Advancing Regional Approaches For Biosafety Risk Assessment And
Regulation ................................................................................................................................................... 48
Posters .............................................................................................................................................................. 49
Nutrient Dynamics, Microbial And Enzymatic Activities As Affected By Bt And Non-Bt Cotton
Rhizospheres .............................................................................................................................................. 49
Effect Of Sulphur, Zinc And Boron On Growth And Yield Of Rainfed Rice In Calcareous Soils Of
Bangladesh .................................................................................................................................................. 49
Potential Risk For Cross Resistance Development In Cotton Growing Areas Of Pakistan ............. 50
Genetic Transformation Of Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.) With Antisense Banana Acc
Oxidase Gene For Delayed Ripening ...................................................................................................... 50
Assessing Agricultural Management Practices And Externalities Of Bt Cotton Plantation In
Pakistani Punjab ......................................................................................................................................... 51
Current Status Of Research And Development Of Genetically Engineered Plants In Bangladesh 51
Dna Fingerprinting As A Tool For Genetic Purity In Rice ................................................................... 52
Optimizing The Yield Of Rice (Twin Rice, Br-11, Brri Dhan 28) Through The Application Of
Magic Growth And The Transformation Of Aeromatic Flavour At Level Barind Tract (Aez- 25)
To Ensure Food Security ........................................................................................................................... 52
Quantitative Elisa (Cry1 Ac) And Insect Bioassey Against Helicoverpaarmigera At Various
Maturity Phases Of Upland Cotton (Gossypiumhirsutum L.) ............................................................ 53
Ecological Impact Of Transgenic Bt Cotton Hybrids On Soil Biological Attributes Of Varying
Agricultural Soils In Pakistan ................................................................................................................... 54
Bacteria As A Remediation Tool For Health Hazardous Peptides ...................................................... 54
Preparing For Transgenesis In A Cleisotogamous Crop: Peanut (Arachishypogaea L.) Islam,
Aparna ......................................................................................................................................................... 55
Prevalence Of Insect Pests, Predator, Parasitoids And Its Survival In Ge Corn In ........................... 55
Pakistan ....................................................................................................................................................... 55
Assessment Of Leaky Maternal Inheritance In Transplastomic Tobacco As A Serious Biosafety
Concern ....................................................................................................................................................... 56
Transgenic Plants With Abiotic Stress Tolerance Genes And Challenges In Environmental Risk
Assessment ................................................................................................................................................. 57
Earias Spp Survival To Transgenic Bt-Cotton Strains Having Different Protein Levels .................. 57
International Trade And Gm Crops: A Comparative Analysis Of Regulations On Risk And
Institutional Framework In Developing Countries ............................................................................... 58
Laboratory Evaluation Of Transgenic Ox513a Strain And Surveillance Of Wild Aedesa Egypti L.
Mosquito In Villages Of Jalna District, Maharashtra State, India ........................................................ 59
Genetic Transformation Of Tomato (Solanumlycopersicum L.) With Cryiaabc Gene For Resistance
Against Fruit Borer Helicoverpaarmigera .............................................................................................. 59
Brassinosteroid-Mediated Increase In Seed Yield And Enhanced Abiotic Stress Tolerance In
Safflower ...................................................................................................................................................... 60
Impact Assessment Of The Transgenic Sugarcane Over Expressing Antifungal Proteins On
Endophytic And Rhizospheric Microorganisms ................................................................................... 60
Virus Resistant, Transgenic Silkworm: Development, Efficacy, And Biosafety Considera- Tions
For Commercial Scale Production .......................................................................................................... 61
Impact Of Rhizodeposition And Incorporation Of Residues From Bt-Cotton On Soil C And N
Cycling......................................................................................................................................................... 62
Standardization Of In Vitro Regeneration And Genetic Transformation Protocol In Pigeonpea
(Cajanuscajan(L.) Millisp) For Pod Borer Resistance ............................................................................ 62
Genetic Transformation Of Chickpea (Cicerarietinuml.) For Pod Borer Resistance ....................... 63
Expression, Efficacy And Risk Assessment Of First Batch Of Approved Bt Cotton Varieties In
Pakistan ....................................................................................................................................................... 64
SOUTH ASIA BIOSAFETY CONFERENCE
September 15-16, 2014 Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka
September 15, 2014
08:00 Delegate Registration
09:00 Inauguration
• National Anthem and Lighting of Traditional Oil Lamp
• Welcome Address: Mr. B.M.U.D. Basnayake, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Renewable Energy
• Introduction and Objectives of the Conference: Dr. Vibha Ahuja, Chief General Manager, Biotech Consortium India Limited.
• Introduction to the South Asia Biosafety Program: Dr. Morven McLean, Director, Center for Environment Risk Assessment
• Address: Mr. Christopher Corkey, Deputy Economic and Commercial Counselor, US Embassy
• Address: Hon. Abdul Kader, Deputy Minister of Environment and Renewable Energy
• Keynote Address: Hon. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Environment and Renewable Energy,
• Vote of Thanks: Dr. Andrew Roberts, Deputy Director, Center for Environmental Risk
Assessment
10:00 TEA Plenary Session I: Perspectives on the Regulation of Genetically
Engineered Organisms in South Asia
10:30
Biosafety Regulations in Sri Lanka: A Status Update
Prof. Athula Perera National Science Council, Sri Lanka
11:00
Perspectives on the Regulation of Genetically Engineered Organisms in South Asia: Bangladesh Perspective
Mr. M. Solaiman Haider Department of Environment, Bangladesh
11:30 Regulation of Genetically Engineered Organisms in Bhutan Ms. Tashi Yangzom Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority, Bhutan
12:00 An Update on Regulation of GMOs In India Dr. Vibha Ahuja BCIL, India
12:30 Biosafety Regulatory Systems in Pakistan Dr. Muhammad Khurshid, Director General, Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, Pakistan
13:00 LUNCH
AGENDA
Parallel Session I: Research and Development of Genetically
Modified Organisms in South Asia
14:00 Transgenic Crops at ICRISAT: From Product Development to Deployment
Dr. Kiran Sharma ICRISAT, India
14:40 Application of Reproductive Biotechnology for Improvement of Dairy Animal Productivity
Dr. M.S. Chauhan National Dairy Research Institute, India
15:20 Genetic Modification of Several Plant Species by Transformation of gai Mutant Dwarfing Gene for Improved Ornamental Qualities
Dr. SriyaniPeiris University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
16:00 TEA
16:30 Current Status of Research and Development of GE Plants in Bangladesh
Dr. Md. Aziz Zilani Chowdhury BARC, Bangladesh
17:10 Applying Knowledge Gained from Studies of Arabidopsis thaliana on the Agriculturally Important Crops
Dr. C. Hettiarachchi University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
17:50 Panel Discussion and Questions from the Floor
Parallel Session II: Biosafety and Regulation of Genetically Engineered Insects
14:00
Virus-Resistant, Transgenic Silkworm: Development, Efficacy, and Biosafety Considerations for Commercial Scale Production
Dr. P. J. Raju Andhra Pradesh State Sericulture Research & Development Institute, India
14:30 Biosafety, Regulatory Aspects and Performance Assessment of Transgenic OX513A strain of Aedes aegypti L. in India
Dr P. B. Patil GBIT India, India
15:00 Dengue Vector Mosquito Control in Sri Lanka: Strategies and Challenges Using Biotechnology
Prof. Wimal Abeyewickreme University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
15:30 Progress on the OECD Consensus Document on the Biology of Aedes aegyptii
Dr. B.K. Tyagi Center for Research in Medical Entomology, India
16:00 TEA
16:30 Practical Experience in the Field Release of Transgenic Mosquitos Dr. Kevin Gorman Oxitech Ltd., UK
17:10 Regulatory Considerations and Management Practices for the
Commercial- Scale Release of Transgenic Mosquitos in Brazil Dr. Paulo Paes de Andrade
Federal University of
Pernambuco, Brazil
17:50 Panel Discussion and Questions from the Floor
Parallel Session III: Tools for Science Communicators
14:00
New Media for Science Communication
Mr. Amit Agarwal Digital Inspiration, India
14:40 The Importance of Social Media: Twitter 101 Mrs. Libby Williams CERA, USA
15:20 The Impact of Information Technology on Agricultural Extension Services
Mr. Sanjeev Gupta Dept. Agriculture & Cooperation (invited)
16:00 TEA
16:30 Digital Story-Telling for Science Communications and Agricultural Development
Mr. Vinay Kumar Digital Green, India
17:10 Putting Communications Theory into Practice Dr. Gita Bamezai Indian Institute of Mass Communication, India
17:50 Panel Discussion and Questions from the Floor
18:00 - 19:00 POSTER SESSION
September 16, 2014
Plenary Session II: Agricultural Biotechnology and Adaptation to Climate Change
09:00
The Impact of Climate Change on Agricultural Productivity in South Asia
Dr. Lareef Zubair Foundation for Environment, Climate and Technology, Sri Lanka
09:40 Addressing Crop and Livestock Productivity Constraints Caused by a Changing Climate: The Role of Agricultural Biotechnology
Dr. Swapan Datta ICAR, India
10:20 New Plant Technologies to Address Climate Change: Opportunities for Biotechnology Innovation and Challenges for Regulation
Dr. Jeff Wolt Iowa State University, USA
11:00 TEA
11:30 Increasing Abiotic Stress Tolerance for Rice Improvement in Bangladesh
Dr. Zeba Seraj University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
12:00 Biotechnology Applications to Mitigate Climate Change Challenges for Agriculture
Prof. Shailaja Hittalmani University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore, India
12:30 Panel Discussion and Questions from the Floor
13:00 LUNCH
Plenary Session III: Regional Harmonization of Risk Assessment Approaches in Agricultural Biotechnology
14:00
The Role of the OECD in Facilitating Regulatory Harmonization
Dr. Bertrand Dagallier OECD, France
14:30 Regional Harmonization: Reflections on the Regulation of Genetically Modified Organisms in the European Union
Dr. Hans Bergmans RIVM (Retired), Netherlands
15:00 Progress and Challenges for Implementation of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Policy on Biotechnology and Biosafety
Dr. Charles Mugoya ASARECA, Uganda
15:30
TEA
16:00 Harmonization in the Asia-Pacific: Views from a Recent Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions
Dr. J.L. Karihaloo Asia-Pacific Consortium on Agricultural Biotechnology, India
16:30 Update from the South Asian Regional Workshop on Biosafety in Bhutan
Ms. TashiYangzom BAFRA, Bhutan
16:45 Risk Assessment Harmonization: Lessons Learned from the South Asia Biosafety Program
Dr. Vibha Ahuja BCIL, India
17:00 Promotion of SAARC Regional Harmonization of Standards Dr. Syed Humayun Kabir South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO), Bangladesh
17:30 Opportunities for Advancing Regional Approaches for Biosafety Risk Assessment and Regulation
Dr. Morven McLean CERA, USA
17:30 Panel Discussion and Questions from the Floor
18:00 CLOSE OF CONFERENCE
16
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
WIMAL ABEYEWICKREME, PH.D.
After having served as an academic staff member of the Faculty of Medicine, University of
Colombo for over 22 years, Prof W.Abeyewickreme joined the Faculty of Medicine, University of
Kelaniya, as a Senior Lecturer in 1996 and now holds the post of Professor in Parasitology, at the
Department of Parasitology and the Molecular Medicine Unit of the Faculty of Medicine,
University of Kelaniya.
His academic qualifications include a B.Sc. (Honors-Applied Science) from the University of Sri
Jay-Awardenapura obtained in 1976. During the period of 1980-1983, he followed the M.Sc.
(Tropical Medicine) course attached to the Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand on a
TDR/WHO fellowship. He then was awarded a fellowship by the Malaysian Technical
Cooperation Programme to follow the Diploma in Applied Parasitology and Entomology
attached to the Institute for Medical Research in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia which he completed
with Distinction. In 1991 he was again able to receive a TDR/WHO Research Training Grant to
read for a Ph.D in Medical Entomology attached to the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in
Liverpool, United Kingdom.
During his long academic carrier, Prof Abeyewickreme has been able to contribute immensely to
the teaching and research programmes in the fields of Parasitology, Medical Entomology and
Molecular Biology to the universities in Sri Lanka. He has won many research grant awards from
the TDR/WHO, IAEA, National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka and many other funding
agencies. Prof Abeyewickreme has supervised over 10 M.Phil/Ph.D. students. He has over 100
publications and communications to his credit.
In addition to the services rendered to the university system in Sri Lanka, Prof Abeyewickreme has
been holding many key government positions such as the Chairman/ Atomic Energy Authority,
Chairman/ Central Environment Authority, and Chairman/ Ceylon Electricity Board. He is
currently the Chairman of the Industrial Technology Institute of Sri Lanka.
AMIT AGARWAL
Amit Agarwal holds an engineering degree in Computer Science from IIT and has worked at
ADP as a consultant for various investment banks. In 2004, Amit decided to quit his 9 to 5 job
to become India’s first professional blogger. His blog, Digital Inspiration, publishes tutorials and
how-to guides on all things related to consumer technology and apps. Amit has also worked as a
personal technology columnist for the Wall Street Journal and the Financial Express. He currently
lives in Agra, the city of the Taj Mahal, with this family.
VIBHA AHUJA, PH.D.
Dr. Vibha Ahuja holds a M.Sc (Hons.) and Ph. D. in Microbiology from India. She is presently
serving as Chief General Manager in Biotech Consortium India Limited. Dr. Ahuja has been
working at BCIL since 1993 and has more than 20 years of experience in undertaking the project
consultancy in the area of biotechnology.
17
She has been dealing with projects connected with biosafety and regulatory aspects, particularly
with reference to genetically modified organisms (GMOs), biodiversity conservation and
environmental/ industrial biotechnology. These include undertaking capacity building
activities in the area of modern biotechnology related to use of Genetically Modified Organisms,
imparting training through seminars/workshops/ national and international training programs
and preparing well researched publications for various stakeholders related to biosafety issues
etc.
She has been actively engaged in providing support to regulatory authorities in India and is well
versed with development of guidelines and also implementation of the regulatory system
including processing of applications etc. She has a vast experience in issues related to the
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and is well versed with relevant decisions/developments. She has
been active in the South Asian region having working with Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and
Malaysia.
PAULO PAES DE ANDRADE, PH.D.
Paulo Paes de Andrade, 60, is an Associate Professor at the Department of Genetics, Federal
University of Pernambuco (UFPE). Under the leadership of Prof. Andrade, the research group
collaborated in broad programs to study the transcriptome of Leishmania, and then to study gene
expression in plants, especially sugar cane, soya and beans. The transcriptome of these plants was
analyzed in various situations of biotic and abiotic stress, using Super-SAGE, resulting in a large
set of gene expression tags that indicated potential new gen targets for the development of stress
tolerant transgenic plants.
From 2006 to 2012, Prof. Andrade joined the National Technical Commission on Biosafety (CTN-
Bio), as a member of the Environmental Risk Assessment Sub-committee, with outstanding
performance in analyzing submissions for the environmental release of transgenic plants and in
the drafting and revision of CTNBio rules and regulations.
MUHAMMAD ASHRAF, PH.D.
Muhammad Ashraf works as t h e Biotech and Regulatory Affairs Lead for Pioneer Pakistan
and as Chairman of the CLP biotech committee. He received a M.Sc. from CSU Fort Collins CO
and PhD from Kansas State University in Agronomy. He has worked as a water management
specialist and irrigation agronomist in different projects of USAID and Punjab Govt., National
Sale and as an Agronomy Manager and the Biotech and Regulatory Affairs Manager. He works
with the farmers to provide them with the best possible agronomy services and make them
successful. He has received DuPont’s Excellence Award twice for “Spring corn in a potato corn
rotation in Punjab” and “Corn from bread to business in the KPK province of Pakistan”. He has
been nominated for the Ag. Biotech Award in 2012 and 2013. Dr. Ashraf has conducted successful
trials of biotech corn in Pakistan and has submitted quality data for commercial approval of
transgenic corn in Pakistan.
GITA BAMEZAI, PH.D.
Dr. Gita Bamezai is currently the Professor and Head of the Communication Research Department
at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi, India. Dr. Bamezai conducts national
level research projects on behalf of the central government and various ministries on
communication and media for development.
Prof.Bamezai has a long teaching and research experience of 35 years in the area of communication
and media research. Dr. Bamezai worked with the National Institute of Health and Family
Welfare, a Think Tank of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GOI for over two decades.
18
She was the Lead Consultant with National AIDS Control Programme of India. Currently, she is
the Chairperson of the Advisory Group on Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization of
the TB Control Programme (RNTCP) in India.
She has been conducting in-service training programmes and education in Development and
Health Communication. Her research interest areas are aimed at devising communication
strategies for improving life-situation of marginal and disadvantaged groups, especially women
and adolescents. Prof. Bamezai has had training in Participatory Learning for Action, a
participatory tool for engaging communities and mobilizing social action for development.
She has presented papers at different conferences in India and abroad on development
communication and media. Dr. Bamezai was involved in designing and implementing media
advocacy programme with the objective of building consensus on salient issues of population
stabilization, Reproductive Health and HIV-AIDS and promoting public opinion on elimination of
such practices like sex determination and violence against women.
HANS BERGMANS, PH.D.
Hans Bergmans was educated at Utrecht University, the Netherlands, as a microbiologist and has
a Ph.D. in bacterial genetics. In 1990, he joined the Netherlands Advisory Committee on Genetic
Modification, as secretary, and since 1999, he has been senior risk assessor in the GMO Office of the
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in Bilthoven, the Netherlands. He retired
from this position on 1 January 2014.
He has been involved in the development of the methodology of environmental risk assessment
of genetically modified organisms, and of GMO regulation in the Netherlands. He has been a
delegate to the OECD Working Group on Harmonization of Regulatory Oversight in
Biotechnology (and its predecessors) since 1990, and has been active as chair of its Sub-Working
Group on Micro-organisms. He has been member of Ad Hoc Technical Expert Groups on risk
assessment and risk management of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
MANMOHAN SINGH CHAUHAN, PH.D.
Dr. Manmohan Singh Chauhan is presently working as a Principal Scientist in Animal
Biotechnology at National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal. He is a Distinguished Scientist of India in the field of Reproductive Biotechnology of Livestock viz cattle, buffaloes, yaks and goats.
During his research career spanning 30 years till date, he has developed several potential assisted
reproductive technologies for enhancing the reproductive efficiency in livestock. He has significantly contributed towards the development of the simple method for in vitro production
(IVF) of embryos in cattle, buffalo and goat and yak, production of embryonic stem cell lines in
buffalo, ovum pick up (OPU) - IVF technology in cattle and yak, cloning in buffalo using hand guided cloning technology. In recent times Dr. Chauhan has been actively involved in
development transgenic goat and buffaloes of pharmaceutical and agricultural use.
Dr. Chauhan has been a recipient of several research awards including the DBT Overseas Long Term Associateship, Certificate of Merit Award for Exemplary Research by Virginia Polytechnic
Institute & State University, USA, Prof. G.P. Talwar Middle Career Scientist Award and
Certificate of Recognition Award by Secretary DARE & DG, ICAR and Certificate of Appreciation by Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture on production of progeny ‘Mahima’ from a
cloned calf ‘Garima –II’. Approximately 115 research papers and approx. 70 scientific and
technical publications have been authored or co-authored by him. He has visited different laboratories in the USA, Canada and Germany.
19
MD. AZIZ ZILANI CHOWDHURY, PH.D.
Md. Aziz Zilani Chowdhury is a Chief Scientific Officer (Crops) of the Bangladesh Agricultural
Research Council, Dhaka-1215, Bangladesh. He did his Ph.D. in Genetics and Plant Breeding in
2002 from the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Bangladesh and in
2013 accomplished the post-doctoral programme in ‘Biosafety measures in crop biotechnology’
from the University of Lincoln, UK. In his 26 years of service career, he has worked 18 years at
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute in the field of crop improvement of oilseed crops. He
actively participated in varietal improvement of oilseed crops viz. rapeseed-mustard, peanut,
sesame, soybean and sunflower and developed 10 oilseed crop varieties. Two popular rapeseed-
mustard varieties BARI Mustard-14 and BARI Mustard-15, now widely cultivated throughout the
country covering about 65-70% under rapeseed-mustard cultivation area. In 2007 he joined at
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, an apex body of NARS and is contributing through
providing technical and policy support to the Ministry of Agriculture including research
management of NARS institutes.
Dr. Chowdhury has published 33 scientific papers in different journals at home and abroad, in
addition to a notable number of reviewed papers and reports published in the proceedings. At
present, he has the responsibility of Principal Investigator of one national (NATP) and one
international funded (AFACI) project. He has been selected as an evaluator of research proposals
under Sponsored Public Goods Research under National Agricultural Technology Project and
Competitive Grants Programme under Agricultural Research Foundation (KrishiGobeshona
Foundation). He has supervised four MS students of Genetics and Plant Breeding, and edited a
number of proceedings of the national workshop.
BERTRAND DAGALLIER, PH.D.
Bertrand Dagallier is the agronomist, administrator at the OECD where he has worked for 20
years in the fields of agriculture, forest, chemical risk assessment, and biosafety. Currently in his
post at the OECD Environment, Health and Safety Division which deals with the products
derived from the chemistry and biotechnology industries, he assists the “Task Force for the Safety
of Novel Foods and Feeds” and the “Working Group for the Harmonisation of Regulatory
Oversight in Biotechnology” (environmental safety). Both activities are focused on risk assessment
of transgenic organisms (GMOs) and derived products. These bodies comprise officials from the
OECD countries, non-member economies and international organizations.
In his previous positions, Bertrand worked on development projects at the UN Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO Rome) in the Seed and Plant Genetic Resources Service; at the
French Seed Agency for supervising regional certification and quality control of cereal and maize
seed; and at the Institutd’ÉconomieRurale of Bamako, Mali.
SWAPAN DATTA, PH.D.
Dr Swapan Datta is a well-known Plant Biotechnologist, Currently serving at ICAR as Deputy
Director General (Crop Science) and Rashbehari Ghosh Chair Professor at University of Calcutta,
Kolkata, India (on Leave). Dr Datta is a fellow of Indian National Science Academy (FNA) and
fellow of other 3 National Academies, recipient of several awards.
Dr. Datta served many National and International Agricultural Biotechnology science/policy
committee as Chairman/President/member. He has Published 150 + research papers in Plant
Biology, Plant Genetic Resources and Plant Biotechnology which appeared in Nature, Science,
Nature Biotechnology, Plant Biotechnology Journal etc. Dr. Datta has supervised 30+ PhD
20
students from different countries and has developed, and successfully evaluated several GM rice
in Philippines, China and India.
KEVIN GORMAN, PH.D.
Dr Gorman took up his current position with Oxitec Ltd following an academic career as an
entomologist in one of the world’s most prestigious agricultural research institutes (Rothamsted
Research, UK). With over 25 years dedicated to pest management, he has a broad project portfolio
spanning a wide range of insect species. He has authored over 60 publications within his
particular areas of research including insecticide resistance, integrated pest management, disease
vector control, sterile-insect technique, courtship behaviour, speciation, and genetics. Dr Gorman
is currently Associate Editor for the prestigious international journal ‘Pest Management Science’.
SOLAIMAN HAIDER
Mr. Haider is the Deputy Director of the Department of Environment (DoE) under the Ministry of
Environment and Forests of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. He received a
B.Sc (Hons.) and an M.Sc in Botany. He did his Professional Masters in Natural Resources
Management at the International Institute for Geo-information Science, the Netherlands. He also
received a Postgraduate Diploma in Biosafety from the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
He joined the Department of Environment in 1996 and since then has served in various capacities
in the areas of pollution management, environmental impact assessment, climate change,
biodiversity conservation and biosafety issues. He is the Member Secretary of the National
Committee on Biosafety (NCB) and Biosafety Core Committee (BCC). He has wider experiences
of attending international training, seminars, workshops, negotiation meetings on environment,
biodiversity and biosafety issues in the countries like USA, Canada, Germany, France,
Switzerland, the Netherlands, Egypt, Jordan, South Korea, Tanzania, Kenya, India, Sri Lanka,
Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and Japan. As an
environmental expert he possesses vast experiences of presenting papers as a resource person in
a various topics on environment, biodiversity and biosafety issues. As a focal person on Biosafety
issues in DoE he has been very keenly associated with the development of the Updated Biosafety
Guidelines of Bangladesh, National Biosafety Framework, Biosafety Rules of Bangladesh, Food
Safety Assessment Guidelines, SOPs for confined field trials of GE plant and Data Recording
Formats.
C. HETTIARACHCHI, PH.D.
Dr. Chamari Hettiarachchi obtained a B.Sc. Honors (Botany) in 1996 from the University of
Colombo and a Ph.D. (Plant Molecular Biology & Biochemistry) in 2003 from the International
Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru
University, New Delhi, India. She was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Cell and
Molecular Biology (2004-2006) and a Visiting Scientist at the Department of Biological and
Environmental Science, (2011-2012), University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Her specialization is in
plant molecular biology and biochemistry and she has more than fifteen publications in indexed
international journals in the area of her specialization. She is a recipient of SUSRED award 2013
on the supervision and conducting of postgraduate research degree. At present she is attached to
the University of Colombo as a senior lecturer.
21
SHAILAJA HITTALMANI, PH.D.
Dr. Shailaja Hittalmani, is a Professor of Genetics and Plant Breeding at the University of
Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India. She obtained her Ph. D. in 1984 and worked on abiotic and biotic stress tolerance in rice. She pursued post-doctoral studies in arabidopsis and rice molecular
biology at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India and in gene mapping and marker
assisted selection at the International Rice Research Institute, Philippines. She was the member scientist of Asian rice Biotechnology network.
She has extensively researched on the diversity studies in rice, gene-mapping, marker assisted
selection in rice and cereals and has developed Rice Varieties MAS 946-1, MAS 26 and Ragi variety
ML 365 that are drought tolerant and can grow in minimum water. She has recently developed
high protein Rice “Paustic 9” with 14 % grain protein and identified DNA markers associated with
protein content and identified seed storage proteins in rice. Recently she developed high zinc
content Rice HP-1 and high iron content rice HP-7 in a pioneering effort. She has included the
marker assisted selection technology in routine plant breeding programmes and designed courses
on DNA marker applications in crop improvement, including doubling haploid rice genotypes
tolerant to drought and protein are in field testing.
She has published 101 papers, 180 abstracts, 2 books and 5 book chapters in International and National Research Journals. She has been teaching Under Graduate / Post Graduate courses over the last 30 years. She has guided 41 students in obtaining their M. Sc. and Ph. D.
She is the recipient of Young Scientist Award for Rice Research in 1990 from the International Rice Research Institute, Philippines; the Significant Rice Research Publications award from International Rice Research Institute, Philippines in 1994; the Dr. C.V. Raman Award in 1999; the ICAR Hari Om Ashram Trust Award in 2009 and the IARI Rao Bahadur Dr. Vishwanath Award in 2013. She is a Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi and a Fellow of Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding, New Delhi.
SYED HUMAYUN KABIR, PH.D.
Dr. Syed Humayun Kabir received his Masters in Chemistry in 1976 from the University of
Dhaka. He had been awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Analytical
Chemistry in 1998 from the University of Dhaka. After obtaining his M.Sc., he joined the
Government Central Testing Laboratories as an Analytical Chemist in 1980. During formation of
BSTI in 1986, this organization became part of BSTI and Dr. Kabir has since then served the BSTI
(National Standards Body of Bangladesh) in many different capacities. In the National Standards
Body, his career of about 34 years had equipped him with profound experience in the core areas of
national quality infrastructure i.e. standardization, conformity assessment, accreditation and
planning and development.
Dr. Kabir received training and participated in seminars, workshops and conferences in many
difference countries and has made major contributions in raising the standards of his
organization.
Dr. Kabir has given much effort in establishing the SAARC Regional Standards Body, named the
“South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO)”, since its beginning. He has been
honored by being appointed the First Director General of SARSO with effect from 03 April 2014.
He has now been functioning for effective operationalization of SARSO.
22
J.L. KARIHALOO, PH.D.
Dr. J. L. Karihaloo is the Coordinator of the Asia-Pacific Consortium on Agricultural Biotechnology,
New Delhi (APCoAB). He completed his M. Sc. (Botany) and Ph. D. from Kashmir University,
India, and post-doctoral research in molecular diversity at University of California, Davis. He
joined the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in 1978 as scientist in the discipline of genetics
and worked in different capacities including as the Director of National Research Centre on DNA
Fingerprinting, New Delhi and as the Director, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New
Delhi. In his present position as Coordinator of the biotechnology program of Asia-Pacific
Association of Agricultural Research Institutes (APAARI), Dr. Karihaloo is engaged in promotion
of policy development, capacity building and knowledge sharing for safe application of
agricultural biotechnology for the benefit of stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific region.
Dr. Karihaloo has published over 110 research and review articles, chapters in books and books on
biosystematics, horticulture and biotechnology applications and adoption. He has been honored
with research awards in India and is a member of a number of national research management and
advisory committees on biotechnology and bioresources.
VINAY KUMAR
Vinay Kumar is the Chief Operating Officer of Digital Green, an international non-profit
development organization based in the USA and India. Digital Green’s mission is to leverage
innovative technology to amplify the effectiveness of development efforts for sustained social
change. Vinay provides leadership to program strategy, organizational development and
operations. His interests include sustainable agriculture, livelihoods and public health, and has
extensive experience in public, private and non-profit sectors.
Vinay served as a consultant to the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India where he was
instrumental in setting up Clinical Development Services Agency (CDSA) to improve the quality
of clinical trials in India. Previously, he was the India Operations Director at PATH, a Seattle based
non-profit where he contributed to its exponential growth. He was also the Regional Operations
Leader for Asia /Near East at IntraHealth International Inc., an affiliate of the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill. Vinay was Vice President at JPS Associates, a management consulting
firm and an officer at the Reserve Bank of India.
Vinay has master’s degrees in business administration and political science and an M. Phil. in
international relations.
MORVEN A. McLEAN, PH.D.
Dr. Morven McLean received her B.Sc. (Agr.) from McGill University, M.Sc. in environmental bi-
ology from the University of Guelph, and Ph.D. in molecular plant virology from the University
of British Columbia. She has held the position of Chief of Canada’s Plant Biotechnology Office,
the federal regulatory authority for the assessment and release of genetically modified plants, and
was President of AGBIOS, a consultancy that works internationally with governments, non-
governmental organizations, and the public and private sectors on issues of policy and regulation
pertaining to genetically modified foods, crops, and forest tree species. In 2009, Dr. McLean joined
the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) Research Foundation in Washington D.C. as
Director of the Center for Environmental Risk Assessment (CERA). In 2013, her responsibilities
were expanded to additionally serve as Director of the ILSI Research Foundation’s Center for
Safety Assessment of Food and Feed, and Thematic Leader for Sustainable Agriculture and
Nutrition Security across the ILSI organization internationally. Dr. McLean has served as a
technical expert on biosafety risk assessment, regulation and policy for a number of
organizations, including the FAO, the World Bank, the United States Agency for International
23
Development, and the Secretariat to the Convention on Biological Diversity, as well as many
national governments. Dr. McLean is currently serving as President of the International Society
for Biosafety Research.
CHARLES MUGOYA, PH.D.
Charles F. Mugoya is a Programme Manager, Agrobiodiversity and Biotechnology Programme
at ASARECA. Dr Mugoya received his B.Sc. in Botany and Zoology from Makerere University,
Uganda, M.Sc. in Agricultural Entomology from University of Nairobi, Kenya and Ph.D Applied
Entomology from Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. He
started his career as a resident scientist for ICIPE in Zambia from 1992 to 1995, after which he joined
the National Council of Science and Technology in Uganda from 1996-2004, as an Associate
Executive Secretary. During the same period, he coordinated the regional initiative known as the
East African Research Network for Biotechnology, Biosafety and Biopolicy Network (BIOEARN)
which played a pioneering role in the training of 20 Ph.D. students in different fields of
biotechnology, biosafety and biotechnology policy development. Dr. Mugoya also served as the
National Project Manager, Uganda for the UNEP/GEF Project for the development and
implementation of the Uganda National Biosafety Framework from 1998-2002. Dr. Mugoya has
served on several advisory committees and bodies including BecANet, the Scientific Advisory
Committee for a Bill Gates funded Project on Disease Diagnostics for Sustainable Cassava
Productivity in Africa, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (UK); the Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation (USA) and Department for International Development (UK), Chair
RUFORUM Procurement committee, member, ATPS Regional Steering Committee for
Intellectual Property Policy and Legal Framework, Mentor in the Gender and Diversity
Programme of the CGIAR – AWARD Programme. He has a passion for farming and is a proud
owner of a 50 acre mixed commercial family farm in Uganda where he spends his spare time
testing out principles of agricultural intensification.
ANWAR NASIM, Ph.D.
Dr. Anwar Nasim is a renowned name in the field of science in Pakistan. Currently working as
Secretary General, Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Dr. Nasim has been actively involved in the
socio-economic development of Pakistan and of other Islamic countries. His main areas of interest
are molecular biology, biotechnology and genetics engineering. He was awarded a Gold Medal
for securing the first position in the M.Sc. Botany Examination by the Punjab University,
Pakistan and later on got a Ph.D. in Biochemical Genetics from the University of Edinburgh, UK.
His brilliant academic achievements provided him with a very solid foundation on which he built
his outstanding professional career.
Dr. Nasim has over 100 scientific publications in prestigious international journals to his credit,
which puts him in the elite class of researchers. Dr. Nasim has also been an author of eight quality
books, two manuals of International workshops and is a member of the Editorial Boards of six
science magazines.
In recognition of his educational, scientific and administrative achievements, Dr. Anwar Nasim
has earned a number of awards. Starting from the Gold Medal in M.Sc. Botany, he has to his credit
the Pride of Performance (Molecular Genetics, 1995) awarded by the President of Pakistan, and
Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Molecular Genetics, 1999). He was also awarded the Overseas Pakistanis’ Institute
(OPI) award for outstanding services for promotion of science in Pakistan (1995). He is an elected
fellow of such esteemed organizations as World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Islamic World
Academy of Sciences (IAS), and the Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS).
24
Dr. Anwar Nasim has worked in close contact with academic institutions. During his stay in
Canada, he worked as an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa, and at Carleton
University, Ottawa, Canada. He had the honor of working (while on a Sabbatical Leave) at the
Max Planck Institute, Germany, and Stanford University, USA. He gained rich experience while
working at the National Research Council of Canada and at the Atomic Energy Commission of
Canada from 1966 to 1989. He worked as Principal Scientist and Head of the Biology and Medical
Research Department, King Faisal Hospital, Saudi Arabia, from 1989-1993.
Dr. Nasim was nominated the first Chairman of National Commission on Biotechnology of
Pakistan, and the Convener National Core Group in Life Sciences (NCGLS) of Higher Education
Commission (HEC) of Pakistan. Besides Dr. Nasim is also a Chairman of the Task Force on
Biosafety and Biosecurity constituted by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Pakistan
and represented Pakistan in several Biological Weapons Convention meetings in the world. He
was elected Founding President of the Federation of Asian Biotech Associations (FABA) in 2007
and has been awarded Bio-Asia Award for his services in biotechnology in the Asia Region.
PRABHAKAR PATIL, PH.D.
Dr. Prabhakargouda B. Patil is a Research Scientist at GBIT Limited, Jalna, Maharashtra State,
India. Dr. Patil obtained his Doctorate degree in Zoology from Karnatak University, Dharwad,
Karnataka State, India and has earlier done his Masters of Science and Masters of Philosophy in
Zoology from the same university. During his research career, he has worked on control aspect of
mosquitoes using plant derived products (botanical insecticides) for his Ph.D. thesis entitled
“Effect of Certain Plant Products against Mosquitoes”. He has worked as a teaching assistant in
t he Department of Zoology, Karnatak University, Dharwad, Karnataka State, India for 3 years
(2005 – 2008) during his research period for his Ph.D. degree. After completion of his Ph.D., he
then joined GBIT Limited as a Research Scientist. He has published seven research papers in
journals of international repute and has presented several papers in national/international
conferences in India, and has attended national/international workshops. He is a life member of
the National Academy of Vector Borne Diseases (NAVBD) and the Laboratory Animal Scientist
Association (LASA). Over the last six years, he has been engaged in a project entitled “Sustainable
Dengue Prevention” using RIDL® (Release of Insects Carrying Dominant Lethal) technology, in
collaboration with Oxitec Ltd., UK.
SRIYANI PEIRIS, PH.D.
Dr. Sriyani E. Peiris is a Senior Professor attached to the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of
Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. She obtained her B.Sc. degree in
Agriculture from the University of Peradeniya, M.SC in Agronomy from Pennsylvania State
University, USA and her Ph.D. in Horticulture from University of London, UK.
Research interests of Prof. Peiris are biotechnological applications on plants and low cost tissue
culture techniques. She has authored about 75 publications and has won 9 awards including the
presidential award for the research projects carried out.
Prof. Peiris has been involved in government and private sector organizations on biotechnological
applications such as micropropagation of ornamental plants, cut flowers, bamboo and banana.
Her low cost micropropagation technique known as CSUP (sisap) is being used by the
commercial and domestic levels of growers to produce ornamental plants, cut flower species and
banana.
25
ATHULA PERERA, PH.D.
Prof. Athula Perera is an Emeritus Professor in University of Peradeniya, Colombo. Prof. Perera
holds a Ph.D. from UK in 1985 and D.Sc. (Honoris cause) in 2012. He is presently the Co-
Chairman, National Council for Biotechnology, Ministry of Scientific Affairs Biosafety Expert,
National Experts Committee, Ministry of Environment, Chairman, Biotechnology and Bioethics
Committee, National Science Foundation National Consultant in Biosafety (FAO). Dr. Perera has
represented Sri Lanka a member of several delegation on biosafety. He has been the member and
Chairman of the committee to establish t he National Biotechnology Policy of Sri Lanka,
Member and Chairman of the committee to establish National Biosafety Policy of Sri Lanka and
t h e UN Consultant on Biosafety to the Maldives – 2006. He has published more than 150
scientific publications and presentations (both national and international), books and manuals
and has been a keynote speaker at several international and national scientific sessions in
biotechnology and biosafety. He has won several national and international awards.
P. J. RAJU, PH.D.
Dr. P.J. Raju received his M. Sc. in Zoology with specialization in Molecular Biology and a
Ph.D. in Silkworm Breeding and Genetics from the University of Mysore, Mysore. He joined as
the Scientific Officer at Karnataka State Sericulture Research and Development Institute,
Bangalore, India during 1992 – 2009. Presently working as the Director of Andhra Pradesh State
Sericulture Research and Development Institute, he is involved in research and development in
sericulture, especially in the development of new silkworm breeds/hybrids with reference to
disease resistance including abiotic stress. He is associated with the Centre of Excellence for
Genetics and Genomics of Silkmoths in collaboration with Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and
Diagnostics, Hyderabad, India in developing transgenic silkworm stocks. He has to his credit,
several silkworm hybrids developed by him that have been authorized by Central Silk Board,
Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India and some of these hybrids are under commercial exploitation.
He was instrumental in designing several projects under research and development including
transfer of technology components with direct relevance to the sericulture industry.
Dr. Raju has a large number of publications and presentations both at national and international
level. He has published four books which have been well received by the farming community and
as well the technical staff of the Department of Sericulture.
Currently, Dr. Raju is Coordinator/ Principal Investigator for several of the projects sanctioned by
Dept. of Science and Technology, Dept. of Bio-technology, Govt. of India, NABARD, RKVY, ICAR,
New Delhi and Central Silk Board, Bangalore, India.
ZEBA ISLAM SERAJ, PH.D.
Professor Zeba I. Seraj has been teaching in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology since 1988. Her courses include plant molecular biology with an emphasis on stress
biology, plant biochemistry as well as plant biotechnology. She received her training in molecular
genetics and molecular biology at the Universities of Glasgow, where she received her Ph.D. in
1986 and the University of Liverpool, where she did a short Postdoc. After joining the University
of Dhaka in Bangladesh in 1988, she has been mainly working on the Molecular Biology of Rice
salinity tolerance. She also did some work on Jute regeneration and transformation. Recently she
has started work on characterization of constitutive and stress-inducible promoters. She has
published more than 44 research articles in peer-reviewed international as well as local journals.
Zeba has been collaborating with the International Rice Research Institute as a visiting scientist.
26
Currently she is affiliated with UT, Austin as a Research Scholar (2013-2015) under a USAID-NSF
funded PEER project on identifying the salt tolerant determinants of the rice landrace Horkuch
using DNA and RNA sequencing technologies. Apart from teaching and research included, she
is member of the editorial panel of the Journal Bangladesh Association of Plant Tissue Culture
and Biotechnology and member of the Core Committee on Biosafety of the Department of
Environment, Ministry of Environment, Government of Bangladesh, since 2009 to date.
Her achievements include establishing use of DNA markers in order to increase the efficiency of
breeding salt tolerant rice in collaboration with the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute as well as
(IRRI). Salt tolerant versions of farmer-popular BR11 and BRRIdhan28 are undergoing field trials.
She is also transforming rice to produce their salt tolerant versions. She is working on production
of recombinant proteins in the rice endosperm in collaboration with ICDDRB. She has recently
been involved in the development of an online course in bioinformatics, which is an upcoming
subject and involves the computational management of the huge biological data being generated
by DNA sequencing.
KIRAN SHARMA, PH.D.
Dr. K. Sharma is a Principal Scientist in Biotechnology at ICRISAT. He holds a Ph.D. degree in Botany from the University of Delhi with a distinguished career spanning over twenty five years
focusing on using genetic engineering tools for crop improvement. He has been a thorough
professional with a proactive attitude, capable of thinking in and out of the box, performing multidisciplinary research and has a thorough understanding of the global agricultural R&D
trends, needs and challenges. The vast knowledge acquired over the years has led to the
development and application of genetic engineering technology for use in ICRISAT’s global crop improvement research programs. Dr. Sharma has led several projects with multiple partners and
has been proactively involved in policy and regulatory issues related to biotechnology and
intellectual property rights in India and the region. He has supervised several M.SC. and Ph.D. students and has over 130 publications to his credit.
Dr. Sharma has been instrumental in establishing a unique Platform funded by the Department
of Biotechnology for Translational Research in Transgenic Crops (PTTC), with a suite of facilities to translate the genetic engineering technologies to value added products. He played a key role in
establishing an Agri-Business Incubator@ ICRISAT in 2003 with support from the Department of
Science and Technology, Government of India that has won several accolades as a very successful model for public-private sector partnerships and entrepreneurship development. This initiative
has resulted in the Network of Indian Agribusiness Incubators (NIABI) that includes the
establishment and handholding of 22 Agribusiness incubators in State Agricultural Universities and ICAR system in India. More recently, his group is involved with setting up of several
Agribusiness incubators and Foot Testing Laboratories in Africa with support from various
donors. Currently, he is also responsible for the Agribusiness and Innovation Platform at ICRISAT as its Chief Executive Officer.
B. K. TYAGI, PH.D.
Born on 23rd July, 1951, Dr. B.K. Tyagi, PhD, is currently serving as the Scientist ‘G’ and Director in-
charge of the Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (ICMR), Madurai, India. A recipient of
WHO’s First Prize in a worldwide competition (2005-06) and the ICMR’s Dr. MOT Iyengar
Memorial Award (2007) for outstanding biomedical research, Dr. Tyagi has served in most of the
states and union territories of the country during past nearly 35 years of his highly distinguished
research career. A widely travelled scientist, he represents many Indian Government
organizations/ institutes as a member of their various scientific and administrative committees.
27
Dr. Tyagi has over 550 scientific titles to his credit. He has written (authored/edited) 20 books on
varied subjects of vector-borne diseases. He is an editor or referee for over two dozen scientific
journals across the world. He has to a patent on developing a ‘mosquito sampler’ and has
registered another ‘design’ for patent through ICMR for Aedes aegypti/albopictustrap.
Dr. Tyagi has enormous experience in dengue/chikungunya research in south India’s Western
Ghat region where he discovered the principal role of Aedes albopictus in transmitting dengue in
Kerala State in early 2002 even without the presence of Aedes aegypti, and in malaria in The Thar
Desert in western India where he propounded a theory of ‘Desert Malaria’.
Dr. Tyagi has also popularized the discipline of Medical Arthropodology in India by annually
organizing a serial conference since 2007. He has most successfully conducted as the Director of
the WHO-TDR’s Asian Centre for training courses on biosafety related to genetically modified
Aedes aegypti (2008-11) and is currently accomplishing the task on preparing a biosafety manual
on the subject.
LIBBY WILLIAMS
Mrs. Libby Williams received her B.Sc. in Nursing from the University of Virginia. She held the
position of Registered Nurse at Georgetown University Hospital on the pediatric transplant unit
where she provided care to high acuity patients. In 2008, she joined ESI International, a company
specializing in project and program management training. As the Customer Relations Manager,
Mrs. Williams served as the primary point of contact for customer feedback and ensuring
satisfaction. She fostered collaborative partnerships with cross functional departments and
managed three frontlines teams. She transitioned to the role of Project Manager of Government
Markets in 2012, where she managed business unit programs, focused on creating new business
relationships, winning new common use contracts, identifying process improvements and
documenting best practices. She analyzed data and business requirements to formulate client
solutions and more efficient knowledge sharing. In 2013, Mrs. Williams joined the Center for
Environmental Risk Assessment (CERA). Her responsibilities include managing CERA’s
newsletters, social media, e-Learning platforms and website, www.cera-gmc.org. She coordinates
and updates CERA’s extensive portfolio of online capacity building and other outreach materials,
ensuring that content is in alignment with project requirements and quality standards.
Mrs. Williams was awarded the Finest Young Professionals Award by the Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation based on professional, charitable and influential accomplishments. She remains an
active member of the University of Virginia and Bishop Denis J. O’Connell High School alumni
committees.
JEFF WOLT, PH.D.
Jeff Wolt is a risk analyst with Iowa State University where he specializes in research, teaching, and outreach activities relating to risks and benefits of modern plant agriculture. He obtained his doctorate at Auburn University and spent his early career on the faculty of the University of Tennessee and in industry. At ISU, Jeff is a member of the faculties of agronomy, toxicology and environmental sciences and serves on the advisory council of the Crop Bioengineering Consortium. He additionally maintains an adjunct appointment in epidemiology at the University of Iowa. Dr. Wolt has extensive experience in global and national risk assessment and issues management in relation to the commercialization and use of genetically engineered crops. Jeff’s diverse research interests encompass environmental fate and effects, food safety, and non-target risk assessment in relation to crop production and use. He is additionally interested in globally
28
harmonized principles for biotechnology risk assessment. Jeff currently serves on the U.S. National Academy of Sciences committee to evaluate pesticide risk assessment methods for the state of California. Dr. Wolt is a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy and the author of the text Soil Solution Chemistry.
TASHI YANGZOM
Ms. Tashi Yangzom currently serves as the Regulatory and Quarantine Officer at Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Thimphu, Bhutan. Tashi has a background in Food Science and is involved in activities towards ensuring food safety and biosecurity. She coordinates the implementation of food safety capacity building and advocacy programmes. With the implementation of National Biosafety framework Project, UNEP-GEF Biosafety Project, she was involved in the development of biosafety legislations as well as administrative and technical guidelines. She also serves as the coordinator for the Technical Working Group on Biosafety functioning as the technical advisory group on biosafety issues in Bhutan.
LAREEF ZUBAIR, PH.D.
Lareef Zubair is a Scientist at the Foundation for Environment, Climate and Technology (FECT -
www.climate.lk) in Kandy, Sri Lanka. He is also attached to the Department of Economics at the
University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and the Department of Environmental Engineering at
Columbia University in New York. He undertakes research on tropical climate diagnostics,
climate modeling, climate impact analysis, and climate adaptation around the Indian Ocean. At
present, he is leading the Agricultural Model Inter-Comparison and Improvement Project
(AgMIP) project for Sri Lanka, the US National Academy of Sciences project on Intra-seasonal
climate prediction for water resources management in Sri Lanka and Maldives and co-leading
projects to assess climate change impacts on droughts in Sri Lanka and Maldives and the
MacArthur Foundation project to set up a Masters on Sustainable Development at the University
of Peradeniya. He has previously undertaken climate adaptation projects on river basin
management, rice and plantation agriculture, malaria, human-elephant conflict, natural hazards,
and coastal inlets.
Prior to his present roles he was a Scientist at the International Research Institute for Climate and
Society in New York, a Post-Doctoral Associate at the University Consortium for Atmospheric
Research, Colorado, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Peradeniya, a Research Fellow at the
Institute of Fundamental Studies in Sri Lanka and a Post-Doctoral Associate at Yale University,
Connecticut. He received his Bachelors from the University of Peradeniya and his Masters and
Doctorate from Yale University.
29
ABSTRACTS
BIOSAFETY REGULATIONS IN SRI LANKA: A STATUS UPDATE
Prof. Athula Perera – National Science Council, Sri Lanka, Email: [email protected]
Sri Lanka is a ‘small’ island nation, a biodiversity ‘hot spot’, with a large amount of endemic spe-
cies (National Red List of threatened fauna & flora, 2012). At present, research and development in
the production of GMO/FFPs is yet in the laboratory stage as scientists are awaiting the proposed
Biosafety Act to be implemented in order to progress further.
Sri Lanka signed the Cartagena Protocol on 24 May 2000 and ratified it on 28 April 2004, the Min-
istry of Environment being the National Focal Point for biosafety matters. As an obligation to
ratification, Sri Lanka established the National Biosafety Framework in 2005, which contained the
5 elements, a Regulatory Regime, an Administrative System, a Risk Assessment & Management
procedure, a means for Public Participation and the National Biosafety Policy
In the proposed Biosafety Act of Sri Lanka, all GMO/FFPs will be included under one cover, based
on the Advanced Informed Agreement and a process of risk assessment and management.
In accordance with the recommendation of the framework, the National Biosafety Act is now be-
ing finalized. Until such time that it is enacted, the Ministry of Health has enforced regulations in
the Food Act to regulate all GM food items, including mandatory labeling. [Food (Control of Im-
port, Sale and Labeling of Genetically Modified Foods) Regulations 2006. (Published in Gazette
No 1456/22 – August 03, 2006)].
The Chief Food Authority receives the completed application, which is forwarded to the Food Ad-
visory Committee (FAC), from where it is sent to the Technical Evaluation Committee that carries
out a scientific Risk Assessment and Management procedure. Its report will be sent to the CFA,
after which it will be sent to FAC for recommendation/s. On receiving the recommendation/s, the
CFA will inform the applicant of its final decision. If allowed, the food item will have to be labeled
before marketing. An appeal procedure is also available.
The National Biosafety Act is expected to come into force soon (Figure below). All applications for
importation of GMO/FFPs will have to be made to the National Focal Point (National Competent
Authority), i.e. The Director/Biosafety. Accordingly, as per item to be imported, the application
will be sent to the relevant Sectoral Competent Authority who will carry out a scientific risk as-
sessment and management process. The report will be sent to the National Competent Authority
who will take a decision after receiving the recommendation from the Advisory Committee. The
applicant will be notified accordingly. There is an opportunity to obtain public opinion before
the final decision is made and an opportunity for appeal. If permitted, risk management will be
conducted by the relevant SCA.
30
Sri Lanka has applied for and is expecting support from GEF to assist in implementing its National Biosafety Framework. This proposed project has four main activities through which it is expected to achieve many objectives including the following.
1. Establishing the National Biosafety Act including relevant regulations and the National Bi-
osafety Master Plan; preparation of guidelines to support tasks of the National Competent
Authority (NCA) and the Sectoral Competent Authorities (SCA) and training of staff in the
above tasks; establishing an enhanced website and training of stakeholders to access and
share information through the national BCH.
2. Establishing methodologies for Risk Assessment (RA), Risk Management (RM) and Risk
Communication (RC) and training of staff; preparing technical guidelines and manuals for
RA, RM and RC.
3. Upgrading and accreditation of key laboratories for GM detection based on international
standards; training of personnel in GM detection.
4. Establishing public awareness and participation activities.
5. Preparing a Postgraduate programme (Diploma) in Biosafety; introduce relevant biosafety
related material in school and university curricula.
Sri Lanka is moving forward to make use of modern biotechnology in a safe manner so as to con-
tribute significantly to economic growth and well-being of the people.
PERSPECTIVES ON THE REGULATION OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED
ORGANISMS IN SOUTH ASIA: BANGLADESH PERSPECTIVE
Mr. Mohammed SolaimanHaider – Deputy Director, Department of Environment (DOE) & Mem-
ber Secretary, National Committee on Biosafety (NCB), Email: [email protected]
To address the issues of public and environmental safety associated with modern biotechnology,
Bangladesh has already put in place the biosafety regulatory systems in accordance with the obli-
gations under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to CBD. The country is a party to the Protocol as
it was ratified on 24 May 2000. The Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) is the designated
National Competent Authority and the Focal Point for implementing the Protocol.
The biosafety system in Bangladesh has been built upon transparent procedures for receiving ap-
31
plications, evaluation and decision making. A mechanism for monitoring, enforcement and a sys- tem for providing information to the stakeholders as well as public awareness and participation has also been incorporated in the national biosafety framework. The biosafety system is comprised of various authorities, mainly, the National Committee on Biosafety (NCB), Biosafety Core Com- mittee (BCC) and the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). The Biosafety Guidelines of Bangla- desh have been drawn out to safeguard the interests of Bangladesh in relation to the potential risks associated with the use of GMOs and their introduction into the country. Biosafety guidelines have become a legal document upon enactment of Biosafety Rules of Bangladesh.
MoEF has already institutionalized the NCB that is responsible for decision making and oversee-
ing biosafety of GMOs. The biosafety core committee (BCC) has also been operationalized toward
assisting the NCB in terms of safe management of biotechnology activities in the laboratories and
in the field as well as during the commercialization of biotech products. Institutional biosafety
committee (IBC) and biological safety officers (BSO) are in place in the research establishments.
The field level biosafety committee (FBC) has been formed for specific cases of confined trials with
GM crops.
The concerned ministries which are working with research and development of GMOs have oper-
ationalized National Technical Committees (NTC) on respective area of biotechnology. Such tech-
nical committees could review the technical merits of the applications and forward it to the NCB
for final consideration.
Besides Biosafety Guidelines, Biosafety Rules and National Biosafety Framework,Bangladesh
has also developed the guidelines for the safety assessment of foods derived from GE crops,
regulatory documents (Inspector ’s manual, data recording formats, etc.) for the confined field tri-
als of GE plants.
REGULATION OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED ORGANISMS IN BHUTAN
Ms. Tashi Yangzom – Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority, Bhutan, Email: tashi-
Bhutan ratified the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) in 2002 and as fulfillment of obligation
to the Protocol; the National Biosafety Framework of Bhutan 2006 and the Biosafety Bill of Bhutan
2014 has been drafted with financial and technical support from UNEP-GEF. Bhutan Agriculture
and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA) is the National Competent Authority for implementing
biosafety related activities.
The application of economic potentials of modern biotechnology in agriculture, health, energy
and environment are relatively new to Bhutan. However, some biotechnological applications are
modestly used in various departments within the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests to address
issues in agriculture and livestock sector. Bhutan’s major concern is ensuring safety of the citizens
and safeguarding its pristine environment. To address the biosafety concerns, biosafety regulato-
ry frameworks have been developed and technical advisory group to address national biosafety
concerns have been instituted.
The Biosafety Bill was drafted after elaborate consultations with all relevant stakeholders and was
introduced to the Parliament of Bhutan in January 2014. The Bill has been cautiously drafted after
critically assessing the Kingdom’s current scenario and keeping in view the country’s food secu-
rity needs. The Biosafety Bill addresses the regulation of GE organisms and GE products in the
Kingdom. It addresses the safe introduction, handling and use of modern biotechnology through
regulations, guidelines, manuals and procedures.
The presentation provides an overview of the regulatory frameworks for regulation of GE or-
ganisms in Bhutan with background information on the biotechnology, biosafety scenario and
the progress in the development of legislations, application handling and administrative system,
technical guidelines and capacity building programmes.
32
AN UPDATE ON REGULATION OF GMOs IN INDIA
Dr. Vibha Ahuja – Chief General Manager, Biotech Consortium India Limited, Email:vibhaahuja.
Presently all genetically modified organisms and products thereof are regulated in India as per
“Rules for the manufacture, use, import, export and storage of hazardous microorganisms, ge-
netically engineered organisms or cells, 1989” notified under the Environment (Protection) Act,
1986. These rules and regulations, commonly referred as Rules 1989 cover areas of research as
well as large scale applications of GMOs and its products. The rules are implemented by Ministry
of Environment and Forests, Department of Biotechnology and State Governments through six
Competent i.e Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RDAC, institutional Biosafety Commit-
tees (IBSC), review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM),Genetic Engineering Appraisal
Committee (GEAC),State Biosafety Coordination Committees (SBCC) and District Level Commit-
tees (DLC). Since the notification of these rules, there have been significant developments in the
country including release of Bt cotton and extensive research and development activities. Series
of guidelines have been prepared and also expert committees have been constituted to deal with
evolving situations. This paper will provide an update on regulatory system for GMOs in India
with a focus on initiatives underway for strenghtneningvarios key elements..
BIOSAFETY REGULATORY SYSTEMS IN PAKISTAN
Dr. Anwar Nasim – Secretary General, Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Email: [email protected]
Pakistan is an agricultural country where more than 70% of the population depends on Agricul-
ture for their livelihood. The country also earns large amount of money on exporting some of the
corps like cotton. In view of this a very strong infrastructure exists for research in biotechnology
and genetic engineering. The process started in 1981 with a course on Genetic Engineering held in
Nuclear Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (NIAB). The number of Biotechnology Institutes
and University departments is presently nearly 42. The process for Regulation started back in
2000 with active involvement of National Commission on Biotechnology. After several years of
discussions and international workshops the National Biotechnology guidelines were developed
in 2005. This document which uses three tier approach is the basis for the Regulatory process. To
implement this Institutional Biosafety Committee, Technical Advisory Committee and National
Biosafety Committees have been setup. These Committees include experts from Academic Insti-
tutes, Research Laboratories and Civil Society. Well defined guidelines have been developed for
Laboratory work, commercial release of LMOs/GMOs, and field work. Number of GM crops have
been developed with major emphasis on Bt cotton and some work on Rice and Maze. There has
been continuing efforts for capacity building with an active cooperation with the international
organizations like CERA, ILSI, and ICLS.
Whereas comprehensive documents and well defined guidelines have been developed as a result
of the active involvement of the scientific community, the major difficulties are the result of admin-
istrative approaches and lack of decisions by concerned authorities. The current scenario contin-
ues to be confusing due to the questions of the control on Biosafety procedures by the provincial
or federal level. Some of the examples of the cases examined by the National Biosafety Committee
will be presented.
TRANSGENIC CROP RESEARCH AT ICRISAT: FROM PRODUCT
DEVELOPMENT TO DEPLOYMENT
Kiran K. Sharma and Pooja Bhatnagar Mathur – Platform for Translational Research on Trans-
genic Crops (PTTC), International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT),
Patancheru 502324, Telangana, India, Email: [email protected]
Transgenic technology has gained significance in the recent years due to increasing demand for
33
efficient agricultural production to provide sufficient food for the growing population, which is estimated to increase by 3 Bn over the next 50 years. While conventional breeding, involving ex- change of genes between two plants to produce offspring that have desired traits, is limited to
exchanges between the same or very closely related species, transgenic technology enables com- bining of useful genes from a wide range of living sources and at a relatively shorter time. Agricul-
tural biotechnology has the potential to reduce crop losses from pests and diseases; improve the nutrient efficiency of food and animal feeds; extend the post-harvest life of fruits and vegetables; and to increase the stress tolerance of crop plants allowing them to tolerate various environmental
extremes. Transgenic technology has the potential to revitalize the agricultural sector and increase the profitability of farming, especially n the developing countries. Scientific solutions to improve
crop productivity, where biotechnology can play an important role, can empower the rural sector by boosting food production, enhancing income for the small farmer, and improving nutritional security. As with every new emerging technology, GM crop technology needs utmost compliance
in terms of biosafety, regulatory, intellectual property, etc. that are extremely important to be con- sidered while developing transgenic crops. With this in view, an entity - Platform for Translation-
al Research on Transgenic Crops (PTTC) – a joint initiative of ICRISAT and the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, has been established that serves to evaluate potential new
genetic engineering options with utmost global compliance. PTTC facilitates a collaborative and coordinated approach for the translation of genetic engineering technologies to the development of transgenic crop varieties, which can be efficiently taken through product development to com-
mercialization. ICRISAT’s approach to develop and deploy genetically engineered crops, their cur- rent status and future prospects will be discussed.
APPLICATION OF REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR
IMPROVEMENT OF DAIRY ANIMAL PRODUCTIVITY
Dr. M.S. Chauhan – Animal Biotechnology Centre, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, In-
dia, Email: [email protected]
Biotechnology represents a potential sector of economic growth and an important component in
Indian agriculture system. India is gearing up to become an international player in the dairy sec-
tor, powered by its recent economic growth, milk production and a desire to add biotechnology
to its portfolio. Here, we present the current status of biotechnology being emphasized and to be
used for improvement of livestock productivity. To fulfill its aspirations, India’s greatest challenge
will be in developing effective technology for improvement of dairy animal productivity, keeping
the local problems in mind, to be used in farm and farmer ’s door.
Recent advances in assisted reproductive technologies, including in vitro embryo production
methodologies, offer enormous opportunities to not only improve productivity, but also to use
livestock to produce novel products for applications to human health and nutrition. The use of
molecular genomics will undoubtedly advance these technologies for their large scale application
and resolve the key problems currently associated with advanced reproductive techniques, such
as animal cloning, stem cell technology and transgenesis.
Reproductive biotechnology contributes to animal production by improving the environmental
component of the production systems as well as by improving the genetic make-up of livestock.
Among agricultural and allied fields, animal production and health have probably benefited the
most from biotechnology. Successful application of biotechnology has generally been limited to
developed countries. In our laboratory, we have developed methodology for In vitro production of
buffalo embryos, embryonic stem cell culture system, and also established cloning technology us-
ing hand guided method, suitable for developing countries. Preliminary success in the application
of modern reproductive technologies warrants further research at the cellular and molecular levels
before their commercial exploitation in livestock breeding programs. In my deliberation I will dis-
cuss the recent advances of reproductive technologies, developed by us, for improvement of dairy
34
animal productivity with special reference to their adoptability by the South Asian countries.
Part of the work to be presented by me is funded by DBT (Govt. of India), ICAR, New Delhi.
GENETIC MODIFICATION OF SEVERAL PLANT SPECIES BY
TRANSFORMATION OF GAI MUTANT DWARFING GENE FOR IMPROVED
ORNAMENTAL QUALITIES
Dr. Sriyani E. Peiris– Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeni-
ya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, Email: [email protected]
Sri Lanka is one of the biodiversity hot spots in the world and there are many plant varieties which can be introduced to the floriculture industry as potted plants with little modification. Out of many available, three plant species namely, Clerodendrum philippinum Schauer,Osbeckia octandra(L.) Dc Prodr. and Hemidesmus indicus(L) R. Br. were used in this study with the objective of producing potted plants possessing acceptable morphology by transferring the gai mutant gene. As the first step optimization of in vitro regeneration from leaf explants was carried out. The gibberellic acid inhibitor (gai) mutant dwarfing gene in the plasmid pJIT 60 which has been constructed to ex- press gai gene under the control of the 35S CaMV promoter containing ampicilin resistant marker and the beta- glucuronidase(GUS) reporter gene was incorporated through particle bombardment technique using the Biolistic PDS-1000/He particle delivery system (Bio-Rad).
Results of transferring the gai mutant gene to in vitro leaves of C. philippinum revealed that the highest plant regeneration could be achieved at 9 cm micro-carrier flying distance. Callus initia- tion took place 28 days after establishment of leaf pieces exposed to gene transfer and the shoot initiation was observed after 75 days in 1.5 mg/L thidiazuron:N-phenyl N’ 1,2,3-thidiazol-5-yl urea (TDZ ) in MS medium.Leaf tissues of regenerated plants positively responded for the GUS assay. The regenerated shoots were rooted and successfully acclimatized. Transgenic plants pro- duced flowers at the height of 30 cm. Leaf explants of O. octandra(L.) exposed to gene transfer produced callus and shoots on MS medium supplemented with 4 mg/L kinetin. The regenerated shoots of the leaf explants from the 6cm microcarrier flight distance was positive for GUS assay. The highest plant regeneration in H. indicus leaf explants subjected to gene transferwas achieved at 9 cm microcarrier flight distance. Embryogenic callus was produced in the MS medium supple- mented with 1mg/L Napthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) in the total darkness after four weeks. Embryo germination took place in four weeks after transferring to hormone free 1/4 strength MS medium. Recovered plants were propagated into healthy plants on hormone free MS basal medium. Plants did not express much dwarfism.
Flight distance of 9 cm for C. philippinum and H. indicus was successful in transferring gai gene and success in O. octandra was at 6 cm.
Keywords: Clerodendrum philippinum Osbeckia octandra Hemidesmus indicus Particl bombardment,
gai dwarf gene Microcarrier flight distance
CURRENT STATUS OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF GENETICALLY
ENGINEERED PLANTS IN BANGLADESH
Md. Aziz Zilani Chowdhury – Chief Scientific Officer (Crops), Bangladesh Agricultural Research
Council, Email: [email protected]
Agriculture is one of the important sector of economic growth and development of Bangladesh.
More than 60 percent of the total population are directly or indirectly involved in agriculture and
provides 65 percent employment opportunity in the rural area. The share of agriculture to the
total GDP is about 18.7 percent and growth rate is around 5 percent. But the country is facing
challenges of increased food production for its growing population of about 160 million under
natural resources shrinking condition.
35
Current technologies are not sufficient enough to meet the future challenges of increased food
demand. The use of modern biotechnology in agriculture may provide effective solution, where
traditional technology has no answer or less effective. Modern biotechnological research and de-
velopment activities got priority especially in the field of agriculture due to its imminent potential
benefits. In the recent past research at molecular level and development of genetically modified
crops have been initiated at some leading research institutes and universities. Bangladesh signed
the Cartagena Protocol in February 2005. The National Technical Committee on Crop Biotech-
nology has already approved the importation of some biotech products for contained GM trials.
In 2013 Bangladesh has released four Btbringal variety for cultivation namely BARI Bt Brinjal-1
(Uttara), BARI Bt Brinjal -2 (Kajla), BARI Bt Brinjal -3 (Nayontara) and BARI Bt Brinjal -4 (ISD006)
conferring resistant to brinjal shoot and fruit borer (BSFB). Research on late blight resistance po-
tato and Vitamin A rich golden rice is ongoing in confined condition. Characterization of tomato
leaf curl viruses are completed towards development of virus resistant variety. Besides, to improve
stress tolerance of rice (submergence, cold and salinity) molecular breeding techniques (marker
aided selection) is employed. Through this approach two submergence tolerant rice (BRRI dhan 51
and BRRI dhan 52) and three saline tolerant rice varieties (BRRI dhan 47, BRRI dhan 53 and BRRI
dhan 54) are already released. Screening of transgenic potato production for salinity and drought
resistance has been carried out. Bangladesh is in the process of improving both infrastructure
and human capacity for modern biotechnology research. A group of dedicated research scientists
and policy personnel are involved in the process of improvement of biotechnology and biosafety
research and development in the country. Most of the research institutes have developed at least
moderate grade lab and glass house facilities to conduct such frontier research. However, a long
way is ahead in developing climate resilient and quality crop for sustainable production under
changing environment.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE GAINED FROM STUDIES OF ARABIDOPSIS
THALIANA TO AGRICULTURALLY IMPORTANT CROPS
Dr. C. Hettiarachchi – University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Email: [email protected]
Light is one of the most important factors that regulate plant growth and development. Arabidopsis
BBX21 protein can activate light dependent transcription and positively regulate light mediated development of plants. It has been shown; the productivity of crop plants may be enhanced by
over-expressing central regulators of light signaling pathways. The quality and the productivity of
Bg 250 Sri Lankan rice varieties was improved by transforming Arabidopsis BBX21 gene via Agro- bacterium mediated transformation. The transgenic BBX21 rice plants were grown on soil until it
produced seeds. The T0Bg 250 putative transgenic plants were screened for the presence of BBX21
gene by PCR and the PCR positive rice plants were further grown to obtain seeds. Transcript anal- ysis was conducted with T1 BBX21 transgenic plants and results showed a high degree of expres-
sion of the BBX21 gene. Phenotypic studies of T1 generation plants showed increased plant height,
leaf length, leaf area and bushy appearance due to increased number of tillers when compared with non-transgenic plants.
Light stimulates germination of Arabidopsis seeds whereas the phytohormone Abscisic acid (ABA)
inhibits germination. We have already identified the B-box encoding transcriptional regulator BBX21 as a positive regulator of light signaling during seedling development and it interacts both
genetically and physically with COP1 and HY5 in photomorphogenesis. We have recently found
that the bbx21 null mutant is hypersensitive to ABA a drought and salt stress regulating hormone, and to NaCl in germination and root growth assay. Hence BBX21 is a positive regulator of the light
signals and appear to act as a negative regulator of ABA signals suggesting that this protein might
integrate these opposing signaling pathways in plants.Genetic and expression analysis of double mutants between bbx21 and four key regulators of ABA signaling showed that the expression
of key regulators of ABA signaling is altered in the bbx21 mutant indicating that the BBX21 gene
plays an important role in response to drought and salinity. At present research is being conducted to apply this knowledge to Sri Lankan rice varieties to obtain drought tolerant rice that could give
higher yields per Hectare per year.
36
VIRUS RESISTANT, TRANSGENIC SILKWORM: DEVELOPMENT, EFFICACY, AND
BIOSAFETY CONSIDERATIONS FOR COMMERCIAL SCALE PRODUCTION
Dr. P. J. Raju – Director, Andhra Pradesh State Sericulture Research and Development Institute,
Email: [email protected]
The baculovirus, Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) causes major loss to the silk in-
dustry hampering cocoon production. Effective treatment against this virus has been elusive due
to its sturdy nature and the lack of proper measures. Since the biology of the virus is well under-
stood, multiple essential viral genes (ie1, lef1, lef3 and p74) have been used in the construction of
the vector. Transgenic silkworms resistant to baculovirus infection have been generated using the
technique of piggyBac mediated germlinetransgenesis. The BmNPV virus resistant property in the
Nistari genetic background has been successfully transferred to a commercial high yielding, dia-
pausing, baculovirus susceptible, CSR2 silkworm strain through marker assisted repeated back-
cross strategy. Subsequently, several transgenic hybrids were generated by crossing transgenic
lines with various commercial breeds of India. The best performing hybrids were selected for
multilocational field trials based on their survival rate upon BmNPV infection and cocoon quality
traits. Significantly, the virus derived from transgenic silkworms showed reduced infectivity and
replication conferring an added advantage for large scale trials. As silkworm is the first genetically
modified insect that is being considered for commercial scale production in India, there is a need
for a thorough risk assessment before its release. A tiered approach for risk assessment is being
adopted during field trials, wherein the transgenicswill be tested at various sericulture centres
across India in two phases. The potential risks that need to be studied during rearing and grain-
age of transgenic silkworms in the trials, safety parameters related to disposal of bed refuse, dead
larvae, marketing of harvested cocoons, and guidelines related to toxicity will be addressed. In
future, application of this transgenic technology would provide opportunities for alleviating one
of the major constraints to silk productivity.
BIOSAFETY, REGULATORY ASPECTS AND PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF
TRANSGENIC OX513A STRAIN OF AEDES AEGYPTI L. IN INDIA
Prabhakargouda B Patil, K V Seshu Reddy, Shirish R Barwale and Usha B Zehr – GBIT Limited,
Email: [email protected]
Studies on genetically-engineered transgenic insects require essential biosafety and regulatory
considerations to successfully fit in the existing integrated insect pest and vector control programs.
The OX513A, a transgenic Aedes aegypti L. mosquito strain was imported in 2011 under the guid-
ance of Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBSC), an internal committee setup as per the guidelines
by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India (GoI). The culture was initiated in
Arthropod Containment Level II (ACL II) laboratory facility approved by the RCGM (Review
Committee for Genetic Manipulation), DBT, GoI, India. OX513A Ae. aegypti RIDL® (Release of
Insects Carrying Dominant Lethal) strain is a genetically-engineered transgenic strain carrying a
dominantly inherited repressible gene construct developed by Oxitec limited, UK, which confers
lethality in heterozygous progeny in the absence of a specific antidote tetracycline during devel-
opmental stages. This RIDL® strain has been widely tested under the laboratory and open field
conditions around the world for its potentiality to control dengue vector Ae. aegypti. The OX513A
strain was tested for lethal gene expression in the heterozygous progeny, life-table parameters
and mating competitiveness with those of laboratory reared wild strains of New Delhi (DEL) and
Aurangabad (AWD), India. Laboratory observations on the lethality in homozygous and hete-
rozygous progeny reared in the absence of tetracycline exhibited mortality during larval and pu-
pal stages and a small percentage during adult stage. Homozygous and heterozygous progeny
reared in the absence of tetracycline exhibited mortality of 99.97% and 98.3% during immature
stages and life span of emerged adults was significantly reduced with low fitness as compared to
37
wild type counterpart. Assessment of life-table parameters revealed consistency in almost all the parameters compared with those of wild strains. The developmental parameters from first instar to adult emergence were slightly but significantly differed between the OX513A (10.7±0.04 days), DEL (9.4±0.04 days) and AWD (9.1±0.04 days) strains. Other longevity, reproductive and popula- tion growth parameters were found to be significantly similar between the strains. Analyses of the mating competitiveness revealed mating proportions of the DEL females versus males of OX513A and DEL strains to be 0.52 and 0.48 respectively and were significantly similar. The performance of OX513A strain in the laboratory was found to be at par in terms of fitness parameters and mating competition indicating the strain to be a potential candidate for further evaluation in open field suppression trial of wild Ae. aegypti population. Also, an immediate need for the development of regulatory frame work especially for genetically modified mosquitoes for field evaluation in India is necessary.
DENGUE VECTOR MOSQUITO CONTROL IN SRI LANKA: STRATEGIES
AND CHALLENGES USING BIOTECHNOLOGY
Prof. Wimal Abeyewickreme – University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
Email: [email protected]
Since the first outbreak in 1989, dengue has been a leading cause of morbidity and mortality par- ticularly in the urban settings of Sri Lanka in a cyclic manner at 4-5 year intervals. After the mas- sive outbreak in 2009 during which over 45,000 people got infected reporting a case fatality rate of around 1%, for the last five years it has been a continuous problem with around 25,000 – 35,000 cases being reported every year with a mortality rate ranging from 0.01% - 1%. According the lat- est statistics over 30,200 cases have been reported during this year up to now.
For dengue to become the most important vector borne disease of the country it is believed that there are many factors attributed to the failure of disease control efforts. With rapid unplanned urbanization and change in peoples’ food habits, many packing materials, both polythene and plastics are discarded in to the environment giving the container breeder Aedes aegypti more opportunities to breed in large numbers. The better breeding opportunities so afforded give rise to outbreaks during monsoon rains and for Aedes albopictus to thrive in natural breeding habi- tats such as plant axils in ornamental plants and agricultural plantations to maintain/spread the disease. Other factors associated may be the shifting of serotypes during and between outbreaks, mutation of the virus to become a more virulent form, changes in herd immunity, the virus becom- ing more adapted to the vectors, presence of more vector species than the incriminated ones and vectors becoming resistant to insecticides currently being used for control.
In view of the current outbreaks which may lead to an epidemic situation, people become pan- ic-stricken especially when young children get fever and as a result both public and private sector hospitals are becoming overcrowded. Today, the dengue menace has become a huge economic burden to the country.
A National Research Council funded Target- Oriented Project has been started in selected high dengue risk MOH areas (five each) in Colombo, Gampha and Kandy Districts for a period of five years from 2015- 2019. Entomological monitoring will be carried out in these three districts to pre- pare a prediction model for transmission of dengue. Levels of dengue virus transmission by differ- ent vector mosquito vector species also studied in order to incriminate vector species transmission of dengue in selected areas for the study using molecular techniques. In this study vector control interventions including development of biological (Volbachia and Copepodes) and chemical con- trol agents (IGR-pyroproxifen, Bti) , new mechanical devices (nano- treated bed nets and curtains etc) and modified dengue vector mosquitoes (by genetic modification and sterile-male technique) will be used in selected study areas to identify site specific control methods.
New tools for vector control and early rapid definitive diagnosis of dengue patients at the field set-
ting is very important in control of dengue. The study will include development of new products
such as impregnated net material for control of dengue vector mosquitoes and test kits for early
38
rapid diagnosis of dengue patients.
The highest numbers of dengue cases are recorded in the District of Colombo. In view of this situ-
ation, a study is planned on Eco-Bio- Social aspects in relation to transmission of the disease. The
study will focus on effects of dengue on livelihoods transformation of people living in endemic ar-
eas while understanding the ecological, cultural, social, economical and biological factors relating
to transmission of the disease. The potential measures for intervention for the prevention and con-
trol of the disease will be identified. Needs for improvements in the knowledge base of the active
stakeholders, building research capacity and methods to be adopted for potential interventions
and the problems to be encountered will also be studied. Further, presenting and analysis of data
using the Geographical Information System (GIS) will be performed. In this study, professionals
from various sectors will work together with the health professionals to control of dengue. There-
fore, this proposed project will focus on development an operational model to control dengue in
Sri Lanka.
PROGRESS ON THE OECD CONSENSUS DOCUMENT ON THE BIOLOGY OF
AEDES AEGYPTI: TAXONOMY, SYSTEMATICS AND DISTRIBUTION
Dr. B. K. Tyagi– Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (ICMR), Email: [email protected];
The ‘Yellow Fever Mosquito’ Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus), the principal vector for dengue, chikungun-
ya and yellow fever across the world, is originally a native of Africa where it exists in at least two
forms; the type form A. aegypti aegypti (the worldwide urban form) and the subspecies Ae. aegypti
formosus (the original wild type found in Africa). Even though the taxonomy of the species, Ae.
aegypti, is rather intricate, bearing a long list of synonyms, it has nevertheless been simplified, to
comprehend the extant members of the taxon worldwide. Like all other mosquitoes, Ae. aegypti too
has four stages of in its life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult. The egg of Ae. aegypti are constitut-
ed in such a manner that these remain viable even under harsh ecological stresses, withstanding
desiccation over long periods of time, and hatch on the return of suitable climate. In this manner
the eggs get widely distributed through tyres and other artefacts of a large number of variety.
The eggs are deposited in artificial containers or phytotelmata either just above the water level or
on the surface of the water. Larvae feed and are temperature as well as light sensitive, and have
characteristic wriggling, serpentine movements. Pupa does not feed but is motile. Adults normally
emerge in 5-7 days in tropics since the eggs were laid. The adult females are wary in feeding, often
attacking around the ankles and rear part of the neck. They may even crawl short distances under
the clothing to find a favourable spot to feed. Feeding generally takes place in the shade during the
daytime, but the females will feed in lighted rooms at night. Human blood seems to be preferred
to that of domestic animals. The adults frequently rest inside houses on varied hangings, in closets,
cupboards, cabinets, behind doors, and even behind picture frames, and probably never fly more
than a few hundred feet from the water container in which the immature stages developed. Aedesa
egyptihas developed in Ae. albopictus a very strong competitor in as far as feeding, breeding and
resting domains are concerned. In many places, in fact, Ae. aegypti has been potentially threatened
to be replaced by Ae. albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito. Soon following the discovery of genome
for Aedes aegypti in 1990s, themosquito has been genetically manipulated to develop a transgen-
ic strain which is considered a viable tool in man’s fight against the deadly and/or debilitating
diseases like dengue and chikungunya against which neither a vaccine nor a specific drug is yet
available.
39
PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD RELEASE OF TRANSGENIC MOSQUITOS
Kevin Gorman and Dr. Camilla Beech, – Oxitec Limited, Email: [email protected]; camil- [email protected]
Field evaluations of male releases of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus), carrying a lethal (also known as autocidal) transgene have been ongoing since 2009. The studies have taken place across several countries to include the Cayman Islands, Malaysia, Brazil, and Panama. The experimental objectives have not only been to examine efficacy as a tool for suppressing wild pest populations of Ae. aegypti, but also to study a suite of parameters related to environmental biosafe- ty. Biosafety data pertaining to biological characteristics of the released strain (e.g. insect longev- ity, migration, and mating performance), have been supplemented with assessments of relevant ecological (e.g. transgene dispersal, penetrance, and persistence) and operational (e.g. potential for females to be released) impact. To date, all data generated are in accordance with laboratory-based studies. In addition, these evaluations have demonstrated effective self-limitation in the environ- ment, the ability to track and trace released mosquitoes, and short-term persistence post-release. No unmanaged risks were identified and releases proceeded without adverse effects on human health and the environment. A distillation of these data is presented and the implications for wider deployment discussed.
RISK ASSESSMENT OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED RIDL AEDES AEGYPTI
Dr. Paulo Paes de Andrade – Dept. Genetics/ Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil
Email: [email protected]
Dengue is transmitted by several species of mosquito within the genus Aedes, principally A. ae-
gypti. Vector control has been carried out by combating both larva and adult forms with the use of chemical and biological insecticides or by eliminating breeding places. The complexity of the
logistics involved in this multi-approach fight has led to a general failure in the control programs,
forcing health departments worldwide to seek new alternatives. The possibility of using the ster- ile male technique to control vector populations was opened by the development of a genetically
modified A.aegypti strain displaying a conditional lethal trait. Risk assessment of the OX513a A.
aegypti strain was conducted by the Brazilian National Biosafety Technical Commission, follow- ing the internationally methodology accepted by most government agencies. The protection goals
that could be threatened by GM mosquitoes were identified, the introduced genetic constructs
were evaluated and in particular transgene expression in various tissues was evaluated. Espe- cial emphasis was given to the study of any phenotypic and behavior change due to the genetic
modification. For each potential hazard a pathway to harm was constructed comprising a series
of scientifically plausible assumptions leading from hazard to damage. The pathways allowed an estimation of likelihoods for each hazard materializing in harm. The main hazards identified were
a) failure to express the lethal trait, either due to gene mutation or to the presence of tetracycline in
the environment; b) allergenicity of saliva components. For the two hazards risks were considered negligible, as the likelihoods were very small for both and the harms marginal and minor (for haz-
ards (a) and (b), respectively). A hazard associated with the technology, but not directly with the
GM strain, was the possibility of A. albopictus occupying the niches left vacant by a successful con- trol campaign using OX513a: although benefits were considered much larger than costs, CTNBio
asked for a post release monitoring of this vector population change. Overall, CTNBio considered
that OX513a presents no novel risks when compared to the conventional non GM A. aegypti.
NEW MEDIA FOR SCIENCE COMMUNICATION
Mr. Amit Agarwal– Digital Inspiration, Email: [email protected]
The Internet has given the power of a printing press to all of us. You put your your thoughts in
writing, hit the publish button and they they are instantly broadcasted to the world. There are no
40
barriers to entry in the blogging and social world, the tools are free and available to all and require no technical skill. Publishing online has become as easy as writing an email and this session will discuss how you can leverage the various social tools to your advantage.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA: TWITTER 101
Mrs. Libby Williams- Center for Environmental Risk Assessment, Washington, DC USA,
Email: [email protected]
Social media has become a powerful communications tool used by billions of people around the
world. While there are over 300 different social media platforms to choose from, Twitter,
Facebook and LinkedIn have become the platforms of choice in the scientific community with
645 million, 1.23 billion and 277 million users respectively. Scientists are using these platforms
to promote their research programs, share key findings, crowd source ideas and feedback,
advertise publications and expand their networks in real time. Knowing how to effectively use
social media can be overwhelming. Being active, clear and to the point are essential to
successfully getting your message out. Interacting with others and providing information that
add value is important to build credibility and followers. Sharing quick snapshots of
information takes the guess work out of what your audience needs to know.
In this presentation, we will explore best practices for using Twitter as an effective tool in
science communication. Topics will include: using social media to add value to communication
plans; learning how to use Twitter to get messages across in a 140 character headline; creating
content calendars etc. Participants will be exposed to real life examples of effective and
ineffective tweets as well as resources on social media.
DIGITAL GREEN – AN INNOVATIVE DIGITAL STORY TELLING PLATFORM
FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
Mr. Vinay Kumar–Digital Green, India, Email: [email protected]
Digital Green is a not for profit international development organization that uses an innovative
digital platform for community engagement to improve livelihoods of rural communities across
the developing world. Digital Green partners with local public, private and civil society organi-
zations to share knowledge on improved agricultural practices, livelihoods, health, and nutrition,
using locally produced videos and human mediated dissemination. In a controlled evaluation, the
approach was found to be ten times more cost-effective and uptake of new practices seven times
higher compared to traditional extension services. Till date, Digital Green has produced over 3,100
videos in more than 20 languages, reached 3,000 villages and over 330,000 farmers. Digital Green
currently implements projects in eight states in India and in select areas in Ethiopia, Ghana, Mo-
zambique and Tanzania in Africa in partnership with over forty partners.
Digital Green engages with and empowers rural communities to produce participatory localized
videos, leveraging pre-existing group structures to disseminate these videos through human me-
diation. These videos are of the community, by the community and for the community. The ap-
proach includes: (1) a participatory process for video production on improved livelihood practic-
es, (2) a human- mediated learning model for video dissemination and training, (3) a hardware
and software technology platform for data management customized to limited or intermittent
Internet and electrical grid connectivity, and (4) an iterative model to progressively address the
needs and interests of the community with analytical tools. Our data management software called
Connect Online | Connect Offline (COCO) and Analytics dashboard suite customized to low re-
source settings are used to collect and analyze near real-time data on dissemination, adoption, and
community interest.
41
PUTTING COMMUNICATIONS THEORY INTO PRACTICE: SECURING SPACE FOR
COMMUNICATING RISKS, SAFETY AND SECURITY ISSUES IN BIO-SAFETY
PROGRAMME
Dr. Gita Bamezai–Indian Institute of Mass Communication, India, Email:[email protected]
This paper provides a communication framework to analyse public perceptions and debates in the
area of Biosafety in India. We interrogate how scientific innovations, if limited to technical jargon and jugglery, can confound public understanding of safety, health risks and protection of genetic
biological resources issues. In recent past the public space has been transmuted into a contesting
arena in media with a resultant controversial than beneficial aspects of Biosafety measures and policies. We look at what theoretical perspectives can improve practices in the area of Biosafety
communication? The theoretical approach can provide perspective on how media can advocate
effective public knowledge regarding implementation of Cartagena Protocol. There is a need to sit- uate scientific know-how of food safety, risks and contamination issues in the popular perception
to eschew misconceptions and myths. The contesting space between the scientists and the society
assumes a conflict if the approach to scientific enquiry is seen as distinct from public good. The de- bate surrounding Bio safety and innovation in agriculture have been mired in controversy because
the communication process has been restrictive. While mass media is a good source of creating
awareness and knowledge; interpersonal communication is effective in changing attitudes and be- haviours. Diffusion of innovations in bringing change in agriculture technologies and the farming
practices in 60s has shown limitations of the vertical communication model in effecting changes
in participation of communities. The democratization process has mandated policy-makers to use participatory communication channels for informed decision-making and participation. The new media technologies have created networked virtual communities with potential to advocate ide- as about impact of LMOs. Risk and crisis communication concepts provide an understanding of managing communication flow to streamline dialogue and sharing of information with stakehold- ers, especially communities. Safe transfer, handling and use of LMOs require addressing public perception and working with communities as partners. Working with a conceptual clarity can provide a perspective in articulating the risks and benefits as part of the Biosafety programme.
THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY
IN SOUTH ASIA
Dr. Lareef Zubair– Foundation for Environment, Climate and Technology, Sri Lanka, Email: la- [email protected]
This presentation shall provide an overview of climate and climate change assessments, and cli- mate impacts and adaptation in South Asia. Climate change assessments may be made based on historical records or climate indicators such as tree rings or be from projections from global climate models. The character of these projections for South Asia of late shall be described. The impacts of climate variability on agriculture shall be illustrated with examples - inferences shall be drawn about the impact of climate change. The skillfulness of these climate models when used with con- temporary crop models to assess agricultural productivity shall be described through examples. Through this presentation and interactions, my hope is to develop a sharper understanding of what is known, the information needs, the gaps in available information and the limitations within which impact assessment of agricultural productivity due to climate change is likely to be under- taken.
42
PRODUCTIVITY CONSTRAINTS CAUSED BY CHANGING CLIMATE:
THE ROLE OF AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
Dr. Swapan K Datta– University of Calcutta, Kolkata & ICAR, New Delhi, India, Email: swpndat-
Climate change with enhanced CO2 ,high temperature and uncertain rainfall caused considerable damage to the environment where crops grow. Change of night temperature (1-2 may cause 5-20% yield loss in cereals. Root crops may enhance yield at the initial phase with high day tem-
perature but at later stage may decline the yield. Enhanced CO2 at the level of >500 PPM against the current CO2 level (380 PPM) may disrupt the plant defence related metabolic pathways, e.g.
salicylic and jasmonic acid pathways resulting crops more amenable to disease and pests. There
are livestock and germplasm available globally which may have genes/QTLs allowing animals/ plants survive under adverse and in changing environmental scenario. Agricultural Biotechnol-
ogy may play an important role to identify the climate resilient crops, use the gene discovery to
integrate in adaptive cultivars using modern genomics tools: Genome Wide Association Mapping (GWAS), Marker Assisted Section (MAS), and Genotyping to Phenotyping, and Genetic Engineer-
ing leading to value added GM crops for drought, terminal heat tolerant or biotic stress tolerant crops. A few successful case studies would be discussed.
NEW PLANT TECHNOLOGIES TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE:
OPPORTUNITIES FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AND CHALLENGES
FOR REGULATION
Dr. Jeffrey D. Wolt– Department of Agronomy and Biosafety Institute for Genetically Modified
Agricultural Products, Iowa State University, USA, Email: [email protected]
The emerging reality of climate change requires rapid innovation to deploy crops that can both
withstand stresses brought about by climate change and ameliorate climate change conditions. Existing plant development technologies reliant on recombinant DNA afford opportunities for crops that are both stress tolerant and that can positively impact the balance of greenhouse gas emissions. Unfortunately, current regulatory hurdles for these transgenic crops means high costs and long development times greatly restricting the pace and scope by which this technology can provide crop innovations to combat climate change. Developments in new breeding technologies that utilize a host of novel gene editing techniques allow for changes in the native plant genome through non-homologous repair to rapidly generate unique phenotypes for crop improvement. Proof of concept for economically consequential crops has been shown by gene editing using oligonucleotide-mediated mutagenesis in canola, zinc-fingers nucleases in maize, and TALENS and CRISPRs in rice. Gene-editing techniques allow for rapid phenotyping and gene discovery. And when linked with screening to identify null-segregant lines, they represent a reduced regu- latory burden for biosafety approval and, therefore, reduced costs and time for development. The degree to which gene editing technologies represent novel and effective tools for crop improve- ment will depend in large part on whether this genetic engineering technology remains differen- tiated from GMOs.
INCREASING ABIOTIC STRESS TOLERANCE FOR RICE IMPROVEMENT IN
BANGLADESH
Dr. Zeba I. Seraj– Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
Out of a total of 9 million hectares of cultivable land, salinity affects 1.2, drought 2.6 and
43
submergence 1.8 in Bangladesh. Previous work has shown marker-assisted backcrossing (MABC)
to be very successful for flash-flood submergence because the introgressed fragment was a major QTL and turned out contain a segment coding for ethylene responsive gene regulators.
We however could produce only a moderate level of salt tolerance while using MABC to
introgress the Saltol QTL into the mega rice varieties, BR11 and BRRIdhan28. Additional QTLs are likely needed for stronger salt tolerance or this could be achieved by introgressing or
transforming regulatory genes. Transgenic approaches using the regulatory Helicase gene from
Pea produced strong tol- erance in a traditional rice landrace and this event has been used to backcross the transgene into BRRIdhan28, 29 and 47. The latter rice show a high level of salt
tolerance at the seedling stage, even though the transgene amplifies at later cycles compared to the
original event in real time PCR tests. Permission for reproductive stage confined screening at BRRI has been sought. Transcrip- tion factor genes like SNAC1 and HARDY, known to confer
both salt and drought tolerance have been cloned from Pokkali and Arabidopsis, respectively, and transformed into several farmer-pop- ular rice varieties using the constitutive promoter CaMV35.
Transgenic lines in advanced gener- ations show promising levels of tolerance to both stresses.
The stress-inducible promoter RD29A has also been used to drive SNAC1 in transgenics. We are comparing the performance of these lines with those produced using the constitutive promoter.
We are also co-transforming rice with RD29A-plasma membrane Na/H antiporter gene and the
CaMV35S-vacuolar Na/H one to achieve durable salt tolerance with the expected cooperative action of these two.
BIOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE
CHALLENGES FOR AGRICULTURE
Dr. Shailaja Hittalmani–Professor & Lead, DNA Marker Assisted Selection Laboratory, Depart-
ment of Genetics and Plant Breeding , University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India
Email: [email protected]
Climate change is a reality and is here to stay. The effects of climate change are being felt signif-
icantly in last few years in many ways. The rapid changes that are thrown out are being felt and
seen affecting humans, animals, micro-organism and on crops. India, with its vast population is
mostly agriculturally dependant with 67 percent of the population practicing agriculture and is vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The not so friendly effects of climate change affect- ing agriculture are irregular, non timely postponed rains or no rains affecting crop production. Increased emissions from soil and atmosphere, salinity, temperature variations, spurt of new mi- croorganisms and insects causing various diseases, or escalating the diseases to the extent that drastically reduce the yield in quantum causing concern for food security. To address such changes and loss both quantitatively and qualitatively it is essential that the solutions be provided quickly. Biotechnology and its tools can play a crucial role in such context as the ‘control measures’ to be addressed need to be quick to mitigate the challenges. Immediate significant concern is the avail- ability of crop varieties for the changing climate. In this view developing varieties quickly and in anticipation is required. To meet this emergency, biotechnology tools greatly assist the exist- ing conventional methodologies such as transgenic crop development, distant hybridization and pre-breeding, doubled haploidy, gene identification and isolation and deployment of Molecular markers come in handy to generate varieties quickly. The tools help to counter the negative effects of dynamic-change and step-up the speed and support to sustain the Agricultural production in- spite of adversities. Among the biotechnology tools, ‘Safe’ tools like DNA markers and marker as- sisted selection provide solution to develop new varieties faster than others, unlike those that may have to go through elaborate bio-safety formalities. Thus, causing delay in reaching out to growers and consumers. Integration of modern biotechnologies and conventional methodologies will sig- nificantly address the need for the issues of drought, salinity, cold tolerance etc. and qualitative losses suffered by major crops like rice. The need for applying biotechnology to step up the speed by developing important agricultural product-input like varieties for the ever dynamic climate is crucial now than ever before. The gains achieved or expected to achieve by deploying biotech tools
44
available together with others can be a gain to agricultural production and sustainability.
In this paper the DNA marker assisted selection in developing varieties, accelerating breeding
programs, characterizing the pathogens and address in the water scarcity faced due to climate
change is discussed with special reference to rice.
THE ROLE OF THE OECD IN FACILITATING REGULATORY HARMONISATION
IN RISK ASSESSMENT OF BIOTECH PRODUCTS
Dr. Bertrand Dagallier–OECD, France, Email: [email protected]
The OECD helps authorities and stakeholders involved in biosafety of genetically-engineered or-
ganisms (plants, animals, micro-organisms) by developing documents used in safety assessment.
It provides a platform for countries and Organisations to discuss these issues and harmonize prac-
tices. Aspects considered are: 1) Safety in the environment; and 2) Composition of foods/feeds
issued from GE products. Then the Biotrack Product Database summarizes regulatory information
on approved GE products.
REGIONAL HARMONIZATION: REFLECTIONS ON THE REGULATION OF
GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
Dr. Hans Bergmans– Senior Risk Assessor (retired), Bilthoven, The Netherlands, Email: hansberg-
The need for harmonization is apparent in contacts between countries, for instance when genet-
ically modified organisms are transferred between countries for marketing purposes. Within the
European Union (EU) there exist extensive, harmonized rules for quality assurance, including
phytosanitary considerations, for market introduction of new plant varieties that result from tra-
ditional breeding. New varieties derived by means of genetic modification have to be accepted for
the market according to the same procedures, but are scrutinized in addition as to their environ-
mental safety when they are released into the environment, in accordance with the EU Directive
2001/18/EC. The rules of this Directive have to be implemented into the legislation of the member
states of the EU; the aim of the Directive is to harmonize the way that environmental risk
assessment of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is performed between the member
states. For transboundary movement of GMOs from the EU to other countries, the exporter has
to abide by the rules for the performance of risk assessment in Directive 2001/18/EC as well as
those in the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB, implemented in Regulation (EU) No.
1946/2003).
The Directive and the Regulation aim to lead to harmonization of environmental risk assessment
of GMOs. In practice, however, we see very divergent opinions about the biosafety of GMOs.
There appear to be various reasons for this divergence.
Although the rules for risk assessment are clear both from Directive 2001/18/EC and from the CPB,
the interpretation of these rules differs between stakeholders. The European Food Safety Author-
ity (EFSA), that provides opinions to the European Commission, the central legal authority in the
EU, also about environmental safety of GMOs, clarifies these interpretations in its various guid-
ance documents, and in its opinions about concrete cases. But the opinions of EFSA about concrete
cases are disputed, almost without exception, by the different stakeholders.
Risk assessment research could be expected to also contribute to harmonization, providing that
the research is focusing on relevant and useful questions, and provided that there are contacts and
collaboration between researchers in different member states.
In the end, the best we can expect from all these discussions is that they lead to harmonization
of our views on environmental risk. But also other discussions are needed about acceptability
of GMOs, from other points of view, such as socio-economic considerations. These discussions
should not interfere with the discussions about risk assessment, or vice versa.
45
PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMON
MARKET FOR EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA (COMESA) POLICY ON
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOSAFETY
Dr. Charles F. Mugoya–Programme Manager, ASARECA Agrobiodiversity and Biotechnology
Programme, Email:[email protected]
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) stands out as the largest region-
al trade block on the African continent with 19 member states and population of about 490 million
people. As early as 2003, the member states cognizant of the critical role that agriculture played
in their national economies got concerned that the diffusion of GMOs was likely to impact trade
and access to emergency food aid. Furthermore, they noted with great concern that regulatory re-
quirements for trade in GM crop commodities amongst themselves were unclear. Hence, a process
to advance cooperation on risk assessment of GM crops in the region was deemed inevitable and
urgent. Consequently, the COMESA Ministers of Agriculture launched the Regional Approach
on Biotechnology and Biosafety policy in Eastern and Southern Africa (RABESA) Project in 2003
to facilitate an orderly introduction and trans-boundary movements of GM crops. For 10 years,
the project backstopped through partnership with the Association for Strengthening Agricultur-
al Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), International Food Policy Research Insti-
tute / Program for Biosafety Systems (IFPRI/PBS), the International Service for the Acquisition of
Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA) and the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) em-
barked on an intensively consultative, participatory and inclusive process with key stakeholders
to generate consensus that would lead to a region-wide functional biosafety regulatory regime. A
major achievement of the RABESA project was the drafting of the regional policy on cultivation
on GM crops, trade and emergency food aid with GM content crops. The draft policy has been
approved by regulatory authorities and technical experts, and adopted by the COMESA Council
of Ministers. Member states are now embarking on the implementation of the policy. The paper
will present the RABESA Project experiences, challenges and lessons learned over the last 10 year
period.
HARMONIZING IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC - VIEWS FROM RECENT MEETINGS OF
THE ASIA-PACIFIC ASSOCIATION OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN-
STITUTIONS (APAARI)
Dr. J. L. Karihaloo– Asia-Pacific Consortium on Agricultural Biotechnology, Asia-Pacific Associa-
tion of Agricultural Research Institutions, New Delhi, Email: [email protected]
Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI) is an association of na-
tional agricultural research systems (NARS) of Asia-Pacific countries with the mission to promote
the development of NARS through facilitation of inter-regional, inter-institutional and interna-
tional partnerships. APAARI has a membership of 55 organizations including regional NARS,
CG centres, universities and private seed sector. The biotechnology programme of APAARI, the
Asia-Pacific Consortium on Agricultural Biotechnology (APCoAB), serves as a neutral forum to
deliberate on policy issues in biotechnology and biosafety, promote public awareness, and facili-
tate human resource development for meaningful application of biotechnology to enhance agri-
cultural productivity as well as product quality for the welfare of farmers and consumers.
During recent years, APAARI has organized expert consultations/brainstorming session on a
range of topics related to agricultural biotechnology and biosafety involving diverse stakeholders
comprising scientific experts, policy makers, biotechnology product developers, NGOs and farm-
er organizations. The objective of these meetings has been to discuss relevance of biotechnology to
agricultural development of the region, review progress in adoption of biotechnology and biosafe-
ty, identify constraints and suggest national and regional level actions for facilitating safe adoption
46
of various biotechnologies for the benefit of farmers and consumers in the region. These meetings
have also discussed issues of biosafety harmonization in the region.
An important outcome of these meetings has been the widespread view that GM technology is one
important tool to help Asia-Pacific countries to meet the challenges arising from increasing food
needs, climate change and natural resource constraints. Expeditious exchange of GM technologies
and their products among countries of the regions has been a consistent view expressed in these
meetings. Cooperation in biosafety implementation and harmonization of biosafety requirements
is recognized as an important step in facilitating such exchange. However, serious efforts towards
regional harmonization are constrained by a number of factors, including limited GM research
and product development and lack of a well-developed biosafety regulatory system in many
countries. Establishment of a regional biosafety regulatory system on the lines of European Food
Safety Authority is not considered as feasible due to these reasons as well as large socio-economic
and political diversity of the region. Need has also been expressed for alignment of policies and
synergy under different competent authorities within countries. However, harmonization of risk
assessment criteria and information requirements seems to be a more practical option. Capacity
development in risk assessment and other aspects of biosafety implementation are the consistent
needs expresses in APAARI meetings on biotechnology and biosafety.
UPDATE FROM THE SOUTH ASIA REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON BIOSAFETY
IN BHUTAN
Ms. Tashi Yangzom–Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority, Bhutan
Email: [email protected]
The presentation provides an update on the three days South Asian Regional Workshop on Bi-
osafety held during May 2014 at Paro, Bhutan on the theme “Ensuring Biosafety Through Legal
and Regulatory Instruments”. The workshop was hosted by Bhutan Agriculture and Food Reg-
ulatory Authority, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests through its on-going National Biosafety
Framework Project, UNEP-GEF funded biosafety project. The workshop had participants from
Food and Agriculture Organization, SAARC Agriculture Center, Bangladesh and six SAARC
member states namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The workshop emphasized on the importance of regional collaboration and cooperation in taking forward the implementation of national biosafety framework. The initiative was seen as an op- portunity to bring regional experts from SAARC member states to provide regional perspectives, discourse and potential directions towards identifying key areas for regional harmonization and collaboration on biosafety measures. The workshop was also seen as an opportunity to understand the existing biosafety regulations in SAARC region and also to understand important regional issues related to biosafety.
Through the presentation, the outcome of the workshop, the identified key areas for regional har-
monization and collaboration on biosafety measures will be presented.
RISK ASSESSMENT HARMONIZATION: LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE SOUTH ASIA BIOSAFETY PROGRAMME
Dr. Vibha Ahuja – Chief General Manager, Biotech Consortium India Limited, Email: vibhaahuja.
The South Asia Biosafety Program (SABP) is a capacity building initiative active in India and Bang-
ladesh since 2005 and in Pakistan since 2012. The programme is implemented by CERA and IFPRI
in association with local partners in each country and with support from the United States Agency
for International Development (USAID). SABP is dedicated to assisting in further strengthening
47
institutional governance of biotechnology in these countries and builds on existing capacity build-
ing efforts to provide science based information, advice and support for enhancing and stream-
lining regulatory systems in the area of agricultural biotechnology. SABP activities are designed
keeping in view the local needs particularly the existing regulatory, communications and policy
capacities within partner countries. At the same time SABP ensures that that the stakeholders are
informed about the international best practices in the area of safety assessment. SABP also facili-
tate regular interactions for sharing of information among partner countries.
This presentation will highlight some examples of how consistent efforts in this direction have
facilitated development of harmonized guidance for risk assessment of genetically engineered
plants.
PROMOTION OF SAARC REGIONAL HARMONIZATION OF STANDARDS
Dr. Syed HumayunKabir– Director General, SARSO, Email: [email protected]
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established on 8 December
1985 through signing of its Charter by Heads of the state or the Government of Bangladesh, Bhu- tan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan became a member of SAARC during the 14th SAARC summit held in Delhi, India in April 2007. China, Japan, Republic of Ko- rea, USA, Iran, Mauritius, Australia, Myanmar and the European Union have joined SAARC as Observers.
SAARC aims to promote the welfare of the people of South Asia and to improve the quality of
their life by developing to a sustainable economy, social progress and improving the cultural en-
vironment.
During the fifteenth SAARC summit held on 02-03 April 2008 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to achieve
and enhance coordination and cooperation among the SAARC Member states in the fields of
Standardization and Conformity Assessment and to develop harmonized standards for the region
to facilitate intra -SAARC trade and to have access in the international market the Heads of the
state or the Government had agreed of establish the “South Asian Regional Standards Organiza-
tion(SARSO)” through signing of its Agreement. This Agreement has entered into force with effect
from 25 August 2011 after its ratification by all Member States of SAARC. //SARSO Head quarter
is located in Dhaka Since 03 April 2014 it has become fully functional in its own building at 116/A,
Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208.//The Governing Board of SARSO has been formed by nom- inating members from all member states and it first and second meetings were held in December 2011 and April 2014 respectively. The Technical Management Board (TMB) had also been formed and its first meeting was held in March 2014. Meanwhile, five Sectorial Technical Committees had been constituted and as of today nine meetings of three committees were held where a good num- ber product standards, common in all member states have been discussed and some of them are at the stage of final draft. Under SARSO an Expert Group on Accreditation had been formed and as of today its three meeting had been held where too many important decisions were made .SAARC regional harmonization of standards has been progressing in an accelerated speed and efforts.
48
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCING REGIONAL APPROACHES FOR
BIOSAFETY RISK ASSESSMENT AND REGULATION
Dr. Morven A. McLean– Director, Center for Environmental Risk Assessment, ILSI Research
Foundation, Washington DC, USA, Email: [email protected]
Many governments have recognized that development of a comprehensive national capacity in
biosafety regulation is neither feasible nor desirable if cooperation in harmonizing risk assessment
criteria, information requirements, evaluation standards, and to some extent, legal and regulatory
systems provides a more sustainable alternative. Negotiations within a regional group of coun-
tries, particularly when they share economic and development goals, may be a more tractable ap-
proach to achieving harmonization than efforts to do so internationally. Regional harmonization
could include recognition of scientific opinions arising from risk assessments by other regulatory
authorities, establishing regional approaches to risk assessment or, more ambitiously, adopting
decisions taken by other governments. Harmonization of risk assessment requirements and pro-
cesses between a regional block of countries could also serve as an enticement for product devel-
opers to invest in the resulting common market, and regulatory harmonization may also be the
most effective means of mitigating the trade consequences of asynchronous approvals.
49
POSTERS
NUTRIENT DYNAMICS, MICROBIAL AND ENZYMATIC ACTIVITIES AS
AFFECTED BY BT AND NON-BT COTTON RHIZOSPHERES
Fiaz Ahmad*; Hafiz NaeemAsghar**; SanaullahYasin**; Asia Perveena*; Zahir Ahmad Zahir** and Rafiq Islam*** *Physiology/Chemistry Section, Central Cotton Research Institute, Multan (asiaahs@ yahoo.com) **Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad ([email protected];[email protected]) *** Ohio State University South Centers at Pike- ton - Soil and Water Resources, Piketon, OH, USA ([email protected])
Cropping area under Bt cotton has increased tremendously over the years and Bt cotton has occu- pied almost 95% area of the cotton belt in Pakistan. The popularization of Bt cotton, due to its inbuilt resistance, has minimized the use of lepidopterous specific pesticides resulting in improved eco- nomic returns by lowering cost of production and higher yields. However, the non-target effects of Bt gene (e.g. Cry1Ac) derived from Bacillus thuringiensis still need to be explored. The Bt-toxins, introduced through biomass incorporation and root exudates, can accumulate and persist in soil due to their binding ability on soil components thereby affecting the soil chemistry, biodiversity and microbial activity in the soil. The present study was conducted to find out potential impacts of Bt cotton on nutrient dynamics, substrate use efficiency, microbial and enzyme activities. For this purpose soil samples were collected, by doing extensive fields surveys, from Bt and non-Bt cotton rhizospheres planted in different agro-ecological zones of South Punjab, Pakistan. Furthermore, to minimize sample variation, replicated field trials were also conducted by planting Bt and non- Bt cotton varieties at four selected sites of the sampled area. Study of the soil samples from field trials revealed that organic matter content, total nitrogen, extractable-K, DTPA-Fe and Zn were significantly higher while soil-P (total and extractable) was lower in Bt cotton rhizospheres. The activity of dehydrogenase enzyme was found to be higher while phosphatase enzyme activity was lower in Bt-cotton rhizosphere as compared to non-Btrhizosphere. Moreover, significantly higher numbers of viable and culturable bacteria were observed in the Btrhizosphere in comparison to non Bt-cotton rhizosphere. Analyses of soil samples from the field surveys also showed similar results. These results suggest that Bt cotton cultivation may have positive influence on most of the soil nutrients, microbial processes and dehydrogenase activity in the soil.
EFFECT OF SULPHUR, ZINC AND BORON ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF
RAINFED RICE IN CALCAREOUS SOILS OF BANGLADESH
Dr. M. Nurul Alam*; M Abdul Momin and Dr. M. Aminul Hoque1 Department of Crop Science and Technology; 1Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh. Email: [email protected]
High temperature with humidity and rainfall, Intensive cropping, imbalanced fertilization and less use of organic manures have resulted the depletion of soil fertility in Bangladesh. A field ex- periment was conducted in High Ganges River Floodplain Soils (AEZ-11) to study the effect of S, Zn and B on growth and yield of rainfed transplant Aman rice (cv. BR-4 and BRRI dhan-28). There were eight treatments consisting of T1= S0Zn0B0 (control), T2= S20, T3= Zn4, T4= B2, T5= S20Zn4, T6= S20B2, T7= Zn4B2 & T8= S20Zn4B2, where S and Zn subscripts in kg/ha and B2 represents 2 g H3BO3/L and NPK were used as basal dose. The treatments were laid out in RCBD with three replications. Application of S, Zn and B responded significantly on growth and yield of rice. The maximum plant height, number of effective tillers/hill, panicle length, filled grains/panicle and 1000-grain weight was found by the application of S20Zn3B2 (T8). The highest grain yield (4.727
50
ton/ha in BR-4 and 5.152 ton/ha in BRRI dhan-28) and straw yield (6.208 ton/ha in BR-4 and 6.495 ton/ha in BRRI dhan-28) were recorded in S20Zn3B2 treatment (T8). The control treatment pro- duced the lowest grain yield (3.537 ton/ha in BR-4 and 3.645 ton/ha in BRRI dhan-28) and straw yield (4.712 ton/ha in BR-4 and 4.921 ton/ha in BRRI dhan-28). The treatment S20Zn3B2 gave the best performance to growth and yield of rice. The response of S, Zn and B in calcareous soils was by the order of B>S>Zn. It can be suggested that B should be used only as foliar application (2 g H3BO3/L) at three times on rice crop. Whereas, the broadcast application of B in soils may cause over growth of rice plant and reduced grain yield for submerged condition. For upland crops, B can be used as broadcast application in soils.
POTENTIAL RISK FOR CROSS RESISTANCE DEVELOPMENT IN COTTON
GROWING AREAS OF PAKISTAN
Shaukat Ali, Aamir Rana, Arshad Iqbal, Muhammad Amir Zia and Ghulam Muhammad Ali Na- tional Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB), Pakistan Agricultural Re- search Council, Islamabad, Pakistan, Email: [email protected]
Since the introduction of genetically modified Bt cotton in Pakistan, low Cry toxin level has been alarming issue. Aim of the present study was to evaluate Cry1Ac toxin levels in Pakistani Bt cotton varieties under water deficit conditions & and toxin expression profiling in cotton fields of south- ern Punjab during the year 2013-14. Glasshouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of water deficit conditions on Cry toxin level. Bt gene product was quantified through sandwich ELISA using leaf tissue. Two different water deficit levels (10 -20%) were maintained at three dis- tinct growth stages i.e. 70, 85 and 120 days after sowing (DAS). For biophysical survey, 60 farmer plots in five districts were visited twice and sample (leaf and boll) tissues were collected from same labelled plants at 70 and 120 DAS. Heliothusarmigera cultures were collected from various cotton grown areas for bio-assay studies. Immunostrip and PCR analysis revealed that only Cry1Ac gene (Mon531) exists in all varieties released since 2010. At normal stage under glasshouse, mean toxin 3.565 µg/g was recorded and simultaneous reduction in toxin appeared in drought stress levels. At 20% moisture level, mean value of 2.669 µg/g was recorded which was reduced to 1.099 µg/g at 10% moisture level. Regarding biophysical survey results, data of 70 DAS showed average plant toxin 0.9779µg/g in leaves. Similarly data of 120 DAS showed average plant toxin 0.8211µg/g in leaves. The toxin levels in field grown cotton is still far below level (1.8µg/g) than reported for durable resistance. Initial results of bio-assay revealed that Heliothusarmigera cultures showed sensitivity (70-75% mortality) to 0.5 µg/g even. The toxin level in field grown cotton of Southern Punjab can be further lower (20-30%) under water stress conditions. However, there is still not cross resistance development in the major target insect pest even at 50% less toxin level than re- ported from field at 120 DAS.
GENETIC TRANSFORMATION OF TOMATO (SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM L.)
WITH ANTISENSE BANANA ACC OXIDASE GENE FOR DELAYED RIPENING
Jyoti Bahurupe, Email: [email protected]
Tomato cultivar “Dhanshree” was transformed with antisense construct of banana acc oxidase gene. Highest transformation efficiency (11.47 %) was obtained using shoot tip explant obtained from 7 days old in vitro grown seedling. Shoot tip and hypocotyl explants were cultured for one day on the MSB5 medium containing 2 mg/l zeatin and 0.1 mg/l IAA. Then it wear co cultivated with Agrobacterium for 3 days then transfer to shooting medium supplemented with 2 mg/l zea- tin, 0.1 mg/l IAA, 250 mg/l cefotaxime and 250 mg/l carbenicillin for a week. These explants were maintained for 4-5 weeks. Rooting was done on hormone free MS basal medium. Selected kana- mycin-resistant putative transformed tomato lines were evaluated by positive PCR amplification with gene specific primers. Fruits from these transformed plants exhibit delayed ripening and extended shelf life for ~30 days.
51
ASSESSING AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND
EXTERNALITIES OF BT COTTON PLANTATION IN PAKISTANI PUNJAB
Khuda Bakhsh, Institution and Address: Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS Insti- tute of Information Technology, Vehari, Pakistan, E-mail: [email protected]
Purpose Purpose of the present study is to explore information on agricultural practices followed by cotton growers, to determine the most important and visible arthropod abundance in and around Bt cot- ton farmers’ fields and to explore external effects of Bt cotton seed on bollworms pressure in crops adjoining to Bt cotton fields.
Methods We employ multiple regression method to estimate determinants of arthropod abundance and estimating externalities of Bt cotton seed, in addition to using descriptive analysis.
The study comprises two types of data sets. One is socioeconomic survey and other is collecting information on target and non-target insects. To explore farm operations and practices, three dis- tricts are selected randomly. In order to study the impacts of Bt cotton on non-target arthropods and pest pressure on adjoining crops, one farmer from each village will be selected randomly. A total of 20 farmers’ fields are selected from each district. Abundance of the most important and visible arthropods namely ladybirds, lacewings and spiders in cotton fields is determined using Mario method and pheromone traps.
Results Pest scouting has been conducted in two districts and results show that farmers selected in two districts plant Bt cotton only while adjoining crops include rice, sugarcane and maize. Further, population of non-target insects is higher in Bt cotton fields. Using Mario method, very few boll- worms are found in Bt cotton fields. However, counting of pheromone traps show adults of boll- worms in Bt cotton fields.
Conclusions
As evident in the literature, we find that Bt cotton has beneficial impact on population of non-tar- get insects in Bt cotton fields. It also results in absence of bollworms in the field of Bt cotton and adjoining crops as very little number of bollworms is found.
CURRENT STATUS OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF GENETICALLY
ENGINEERED PLANTS IN BANGLADESH
Md. Aziz Zilani Chowdhury, Chief Scientific Officer (Crops), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, Email: [email protected]
Agriculture is one of the important sector of economic growth and development of Bangladesh. More than 60 percent of the total population are directly or indirectly involved in agriculture and provides 65 percent employment opportunity in the rural area. The share of agriculture to the total GDP is about 18.7 percent and growth rate is around 5 percent. But the country is facing chal- lenges of increased food production for its growing population of about 160 million under natural resources shrinking condition.
Current technologies are not sufficient enough to meet the future challenges of increased food demand. The use of modern biotechnology in agriculture may provide effective solution, where traditional technology has no answer or less effective. Modern biotechnological research and
52
development activities got priority especially in the field of agriculture due to its imminent potential benefits. In the recent past research at molecular level and development of genetically modified crops have been initiated at some leading research institutes and universities. Bangladesh signed the Cartagena Protocol in February 2005. The National Technical Committee on Crop Biotech- nology has already approved the importation of some biotech products for contained GM trials. In 2013 Bangladesh has released four Btbringal variety for cultivation namely BARI Bt Brinjal-1 (Uttara), BARI Bt Brinjal -2 (Kajla), BARI Bt Brinjal -3 (Nayontara) and BARI Bt Brinjal -4 (ISD006) conferring resistant to brinjal shoot and fruit borer (BSFB). Research on late blight resistance po- tato and Vitamin A rich golden rice is ongoing in confined condition. Characterization of tomato leaf curl viruses are completed towards development of virus resistant variety. Besides, to improve stress tolerance of rice (submergence, cold and salinity) molecular breeding techniques (marker aided selection) is employed. Through this approach two submergence tolerant rice (BRRI dhan 51 and BRRI dhan 52) and three saline tolerant rice varieties (BRRI dhan 47, BRRI dhan 53 and BRRI dhan 54) are already released. Screening of transgenic potato production for salinity and drought resistance has been carried out. Bangladesh is in the process of improving both infrastructure and human capacity for modern biotechnology research. A group of dedicated research scientists and policy personnel are involved in the process of improvement of biotechnology and biosafety research and development in the country. Most of the research institutes have developed at least moderate grade lab and glass house facilities to conduct such frontier research. However, a long way is ahead in developing climate resilient and quality crop for sustainable production under changing environment.
DNA FINGERPRINTING AS A TOOL FOR GENETIC PURITY IN RICE
Pusha, C, Rame Gowda and Nethra, N, National Seed Project (Crops), University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, INDIA, Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Identification of parental lines / hybrid and determination of genetic purity represent important objective for seed certification and for the control of seed in trade to assure the seed quality to the consumers. DNA fingerprinting is becoming the powerful tool in the seed industry for the quick assessment of genetic purity of hybrid seed lots. With the objective of identifying informative SSR markers for rice hybrid KRH-4, a set of 54 SSR primers which are specific to rice genotypes availa- ble in the data bank were used in the study during 2014 at our seed technology research laboratory. DNA fingerprinting the profile of these markers revealed that fifteen primers viz., RM206, RM276, RM202, RM204, RM263, RM216, RM219, RM6844, RM1385, RM228, RM6696, RM21 RM209, RM7279, and RM336 found polymorphic. RM21 and RM1385 are found to be unique informative markers for KRH-4 hybrid. RM 21 can be used for testing the genetic purity of KRH-4 seed lot. Therefore, it is suggested that SSR markers can be used as an effective tool in hybrid seed purity analysis since the technique is simple to use, more accurate, moreover the results are repeatable and not affected by environment when compared with Grow-out Test., a conventional method to detect the genetic purity of seed lots. Key words: Hybrid Rice, Genetic purity, DNA fingerprinting, Polymorphic SSR markers, Grow Out Test (GOT)
OPTIMIZING THE YIELD OF RICE (TWIN RICE, BR-11, BRRI DHAN 28)
THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF MAGIC GROWTH AND THE
TRANSFORMATION OF AEROMATIC FLAVOUR AT LEVEL BARIND
TRACT (AEZ- 25) TO ENSURE FOOD SECURITY
Professor M. Aminul Hoque,Chairman,Dept of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agriculture,
University of Rajshahi,Rajshahi-6205,Bangladesh, Email:[email protected]
Bangladesh is an agro-based country. The economy of Bangladesh is mainly depends on agricul-
53
ture. About 62% people of this country maintain their livelihood through agriculture and rice in Bangladesh, 76% of the people’s average caloric intake and 66% of protein intake comes from rice (FAO, 2000). Geographical and agro climatic condition of Bangladesh are favorable for rice culti- vation but the average yield of rice in Bangladesh is very low, only 2.45 t ha-1 (BRRI, 2007). This average yield is almost less than 50% of the world average rice grain. On the other hand, rice production area is decreasing day by day due to high population pressure. The agricultural land of Bangladesh is being reduced by about 1% per annum (Hossain et al. 2006) while the population is increasing at an alarming rate of 1.43% (Economic Review, 2006). Twin rice is a drought tolerance new variety with two grains (Karnels) in a single rice was found by Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension, Rajshahi University. Although these varieties are more or less present in some region in Bangladesh but no research have not yet been conducted with this varieties. So optimization of productivities and yield performance including aeromaticflavour is urgent neces- sary to increase average yield of twin rice in dry areas. On the other hand the grain size is small and narrow which one is demandable in market and only necessary to introduce aeromaticflavour through the genetic transformation. Research result shows higher (5%) growth and yield perfor- mance than BRRI dhan 28 last boro season. Research on aeromaticflavour transformation in twin rice going on at Kagawa University, Japan. Other comparative experiment on growth, productiv- ities and yield performance with the existing BRRI dhan and local varieties are going in the Dept of Agronomy, University of Rajshahi. In the Barind Tract (AEZ-25) due to lack of soil moisture rice does not given optimum yield but twin rice is a drought tolerant variety, it gives optimum yield in drought condition and application of magic growth showed the better performance with the save of 40% urea. So this variety has great contribution to meet the increasing food demand and also demand for aeromatic fine grain in Barind-Tract as well as nationwide. Keywords : Twin rice, magic growth, aeromaticflavour transformation, drought tolerant
QUANTITATIVE ELISA (CRY1 AC) AND INSECT BIOASSEY AGAINST
HELICOVERPAARMIGERA AT VARIOUS MATURITY PHASES OF UPLAND
COTTON (GOSSYPIUMHIRSUTUM L.)
Khadim Hussain, Central cotton Research Institute, Multan Pakistan [email protected]; Mu- hammad Afzal, Central cotton Research Institute, Multan Pakistan [email protected]; Rabia Saeed, Central cotton Research Institute, Multan Pakistan [email protected]; Tahir Jan, Cen- tral cotton Research Institute, Multan Pakistan [email protected];
The amount of Cry1Ac δ-endotoxin in GM cotton varies among commercial cultivars. These differ- ences in expression have been correlated with control of H. armigera indicating that all Bollguard cultivars do not provide the same level of control. The objective of this study was to determine the differences in overall expression among commercial GM (Cry1Ac) cotton cultivars at different growth stages and bioassey against Helicoverpaarmigera. These results could give the picture to the breeders for selection of parents for their breeding program for efficient insect control in ad- dition to agronomic traits. Eight Genotypes were used to quantify the toxin level at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after planting (DAP). The plants of all verities were grown in green house. The amount of Cry1Ac was quantified using a commercial ELISA kit (Krishgen Bio System USA). Variances within the varieties were highly significant because of genetic diversity for Cry1Ac expression. Analysis of variance showed that differences due to DAP were also highly significant while the interaction effect of DAP X Genotypes was none significant. Results revealed significant impact of transgenic varieties on percentage mortality of H. armigera. Maximum mortality was observed when larva fed on 90 DAP leaves. Genotype CIM-598 showed maximum resistance against H. armigera. Positive and significant correlation found between mortality percentage and Bt toxin concentration.
54
ECOLOGICAL IMPACT OF TRANSGENIC BT COTTON HYBRIDS ON SOIL
BIOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES OF VARYING AGRICULTURAL SOILS IN PAKISTAN
Sabir Hussain*; Muhammad Saleem Akhtar; Muhammad Abubakar Siddiqui; Tanvir Shahzad; Muhammad Saleem Arif, Email: [email protected]
Department of Environmental Sciences, G.C. University, Allama Iqbal Road, 38000 Faisalabad, Pakistan
During the recent years, a large scale adoption of genetically modified Bt-transgenic cotton hy- brids has been observed because of their immediate financial gains resulting from their effective resistance against a number of insect larva. Despite the fact that they are being adopted on a large-scale, there are concerns regarding the cultivation of such transgenic crops due to the release of Bt toxin which might affect different components of the soil ecosystems. Although the Bt toxin has been found to affect the soil biota, however, very little is known about the specific impacts of Bt cotton on the functional microbial communities involved in different biogeochemical cycles. Moreover, the intensity of the comparative impacts of Bt cotton on the microbial communities in varying agricultural soils is relatively less documented. In this regard, the present research project is being conducted to assess the impact of Bt cotton on dynamics of the soil biological attributes in three varying agricultural soils in Pakistan i.e. sandy loam, sandy clay loam and loam. The pot experiment has been started on three soil types using three Bt-transgenic cotton hybrids along with three non-transgenic Bt cotton varieties. At the end of the experiment, the soils from different treatments will be analyzed for different biological parameters including abundance and diversity of microbial communities, potential nitrification activity, abundance of nitrogen fixing and phos- phorus solubilizing bacterial populations, and activity of urease, dehydrogenase and phosphatase enzymes
BACTERIA AS A REMEDIATION TOOL FOR HEALTH HAZARDOUS PEPTIDES
Sumaiya Idroos, Department of Zoology, University of Sri jayewardenepura, sumaiyaidroos@ gmail.com; Pathmalal Manage, Department of Zoology, University of Sri jayewardenepura, path- [email protected]; B.G.D.N.K.De Silva , Department of Zoology, University of Sri jaye- wardenepura,
Environmental bacteria show degradation potential against xenobiotics, natural hazardous and harmful compounds. Microcystins (MCs) are such typical compounds produced by cyanobac- teria, such as Microcystis, Anabaena and Planktothrix. MCs are cyclic heptapeptides and show potent hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and tumor promoting activity. There are over 70 analogues of MCs and among them MC-LR is recorded to be the dominant type in Sri Lankan water bodies. The WHO has recommended a guideline value of 1µg/l as maximum concentration of MC-LR in drinking water. Moreover, Nodularin is also a potent hepatotoxin and may cause serious damage to the liver. The present study records the use of BIOLOG MT2 assay to screen potential degraders of MCs and nodularin. MC-degrading bacterial strains 12GK, 13UL and 4B4 were isolated from drinking water bodies; Girandurukotte reservoir, Ulhitiya reservoir and a rec- reational water body Beira lake respectively. All three strains showed a promising potential for the degradation of hepatotoxins MC-LR,-RR,-LW,-LF and nodularin. Based on phylogenetic analysis of the 16SrRNA gene sequences, the strains were identified as Bacillus cereus (12GK), Rahnel- laaquatilis (13UL) and Strentrophomonasmaltophilia (4B4). MC-LR degradation rates of bacteri- al strains Bacillus cereus, Rahnellaaquatilis and Strentrophomonasmaltophilia were recorded as: 1.96±0.05µg/day ,0.98±0.05µg/day and 1.48±0.17µg/day respectively. Moreover, MC-RR,-LW,-LF and nodularin degradation rates were recorded as: 0.35±0.01µg/day, 1.36±0.15µg/day, 0.33±0.08µg/ day and 0.32±0.03µg/day in Bacillus cereus ;0.29±0.01µg/day, 0.28±0.05µg/day, 0.35±0.02µg/day and 0.29±0.07µg/day in Rahnellaaquatilis; 0.4±0.03µg/day,0.36±0.05µg/day , 0.36±0.02µg/day and 0.39±0.05µg/day in Strentrophomonasmaltophilia. The products resulted by degradation of MCs and nodularin were recorded to be non toxic. Therefore future studies focus on incorporating these bacterial strains into water treatment process. Key words: Microcystins, Nodularins, Bacillus cereus, Rahnellaaquatilis, Strentrophomonasmaltophilia
55
PREPARING FOR TRANSGENESIS IN A CLEISOTOGAMOUS CROP: PEANUT
(ARACHISHYPOGAEA L.) ISLAM, APARNA
Aparna Islam; Shahana Chowdhury; Kashmery Khan; SreosheeRafiq; and Iftekhar Mahmud Chowdhury Biotechnology Programme, Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, BRAC University, 66 Mahakhali C/A, Dhaka1212, Bangladesh Email: [email protected] ; aparnai20@ yahoo.com
Improvement of crops against abiotic stresses is very important under the projected climate change scenarios. Among the oil seed crops, peanut is extensively grown on the southern coast of Bangladesh. Increased soil salinity of this region demands genetic improvement of peanut to sustain its cultivation. Being strictly self-pollinated, peanut is difficult to improve through conventional methods, like breeding. Biological confinement of peanut due to cleistogamy, however, makes transformation as an attractive approach for improvement. Transgenesis requires a regenera- tion protocol to begin with. In vitro regeneration of several local varieties has been studied using decapitated half-embryo and leaflets as explants. Among the varieties tested the BINA varieties showed better response towards regeneration than the BARI varieties. Leaflet explants showed both direct and indirect regeneration, while decapitated half-embryo gave direct regeneration. Transformation factors were analyzed with the BINA varieties using Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 harboring pBI121 having uidA and nptII marker genes. Response of 1-day old embryos was better than that of 2 or 3-day old embryos. Optimum optical density (OD600) re- quired was at least 1.0 with minimum 1 hr of infection, followed by at least 2 days of co-cultivation for leaflet explants of all BINA varieties. Decapitated half-embryos exhibited maximum transient transformation frequency with 1 hr infection and 3 days of co-cultivation period for the same bacterial density. Antibiotic sensitivity test of regenerated plants showed intolerance to 50 mg kan- amycin/l. This regeneration and optimized transformation methodology will be used to develop transgenic peanut tolerant to saline condition.
Prevalence of Insect Pests, Predator, Parasitoids and its Survival in GE Corn in
Pakistan
Dr. Habib Iqbal Javed, PSO/PL (IPMP), DPEP, NARC Islamabad; Dr. Ehsan-ul-Haq, PSO (IPMP), DPEP, NARC Islamabad; Mr. Javed Khan, SSO (IPMP), DPEP, NARC Islamabad; Dr. JavedFateh, PSO (VPMP)), NARC Islamabad; Dr. Shaukat Ali, PSO/Director (NIGAB), NARC, Islamabad; Mu- hammad AfzaalNaseem, Dy. Director, National Biosafety Centre Islamabad ([email protected])
Specific Objectives:
• To save the maize crop from the damage due to insect pests.
• To assess adverse effects on predators and parasites.
• To assess the requirement of insecticides that could be injurious to human being and animals
Methodology: For field studies, Germplasm used was transgenic corn and their isogenic hybrids available with Pioneer planted by them in containment area at four sites in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. A set of conventional hybrids were planted in the field of MSM&F field at NARC. The artificial stress was given at 4-5 leaf stage of the plants by releasing 15 newly hatched larvae per plant near whorls in the crop planted in MSM&F field. For Lab Studies, thirty2nd, 3rd, 4th instars larvae of C. partellus were released in each jar having leaves and stems of conventional hybrids, used four jars/replication/instar, replicated 4 times, arranged in CRD de- sign. After 4 days feeding, the larvae were counted and transferred in jars separately where Chrys- operla carnea and Cotesia flavipes were released. The survival and predatory potential of C. carnea and C. flavipes was observed. The growth and development of C. partellus, C. carnea and C. flavipes were observed.
56
Results (Objective 1 and 3): The damage due to C. partellus in conventional hybrids without any insecticide had higher damage with higher intensity. It also damaged the plants having insecti- cide application but could not damage the plants in transgenic hybrids. Insecticides reduced the damage but could not save the crop completely and hazardous to human, animal and biocontrol agents. Larvae transferred from plant to plant in conventional maize hybrids even where insecti- cide applied but could not shift to transgenic plants. Transgenic maize saved the maize crop from C. partellus damage completely without application of insecticides.
Objective 2: There was no mortality of bio-control agents and other useful insects in transgenic maize but mortality occurred in chemically controlled crop. All instars of C. carnea showed more survival duration on 3rd instar of C. partellus than on its 4th instar. Predatory potential of 1st, 2nd and 3rdinstars of C. carnea was increased as instar (size) increased but predatory potential decreased as the size (instar) of C. partellus increased. Parasitism of C. flavipes was higher in 3rd compared to 4thinstar of C. partellus but cocoon formed and adult emergence was more in 4th instar.
Conclusion: For safety of maize crop from C. partellus, transgenic maize can save the maize crop from C. partellus damage completely and need no insecticide.
ASSESSMENT OF LEAKY MATERNAL INHERITANCE IN TRANSPLASTOMIC
TOBACCO AS A SERIOUS BIOSAFETY CONCERN
Faiz Ahmad Joyia1*; Shahid Nazir2; Ghulam Mustafa1and Muhammad Sarwar Khan1
1.Centre of Agricultural Biochemistry and Biotechnology (CABB), University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
2.Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI), Faisalabad, Pakistan.
*Lead presenter: [email protected]
Background
Crops and weeds have been exchanging genes for centuries; however, introduction of transgenics has instigated the apprehensions about transgene flow. The advent of transplastomic technology reduced the probability of transgene dispersal by virtue of maternal inheritance as plastids are excluded from pollens, ensuring biosafety of transplastomic plants. This is true as far as the trans- gene escape through pollens of transplastomic plants is concerned. While assuming this situation i.e. maternal inheritance as a way of transgene containment, little or no consideration has been giv- en to the pollination of transplastomic crops by weedy relatives. It may result an unsolicited, spon- taneous weedy hybrid which may serve as a maternal donor in next generation, so the transgene will be no more contained. Various investigators have studied the extent of paternal inheritance of transgene but there is no study focusing this so-called ‘leaky maternal inheritance’ as a source of transgene escape.
Purpose
Transplastomic tobacco, engineered to prevent transgene escape due to maternal inheritance, will be used to study the potential of transgene escape to a wild relative that is found in Pakistan.
Methodology
Transplastomic tobacco Nicotiana tabacum will be regenerated in vitro and propagated in green house with its wild relative Nicotiana plumbaginifolia. Reciprocal crosses in both directions (crop to wild and wild to crop) will be done and evaluation of paternal/maternal transmission of transgene in F1 and F2 (after selfing of F1) will be accomplished through Molecular analyses and Tracking fluorescent protein (GFP).
57
Possible Outcomes:
If the results indicate that transgene is being inherited and expressed in wild relative, then regu- lators will have to take this into consideration for approvals of such plants, but will still have to consider the crops on a case-by-case basis, since it will depend on the biology of the crop and how they are propagated.
Potential Pitfalls and Limitations:
Sexual compatibility of the two plants may indeed prove to be a pitfall for the project.
TRANSGENIC PLANTS WITH ABIOTIC STRESS TOLERANCE GENES AND
CHALLENGES IN ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT
1) Sayyar Khan Kazi; 2) Kazuo N. Watanabe 1) Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (IBGE), The University of Agriculture, Peshawar 25000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, pakistan. Email: [email protected] 2) School of Life and Environmental Science, Department of Bioin- dustrial Science, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
Abiotic stresses affect plants physiological and developmental processes, mainly by imposing os- motic, oxidative and ionic stresses. Abiotic stress response in plants is a complex process that involves expression of a large number of genes. In recent years, transgenic plants with improved salt and drought stress have been developed with a large number of abiotic stress-related genes. Among these, the most extensively used genes are the glycine betaine biosynthetic codA gene, the DREB transcription factors, and vacuolar membrane Na+/H+ antiporters. The use of codA, DREBs, and Na+/H+ antiporters for genetic engineering of plants has conferred significant stress tolerance. However, their future deployment and commercialization depends on their safety to the environ- ment. Addressing concerns over environmental risk assessment of these genes is a serious chal- lenge for scientists. The current risk assessment procedures, based on the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, have been used for insect resistance and herbicide tolerance traits. The nature of abiotic stress tolerance genes is different from that of insect resistance Bt genes. Therefore, questions arise, 1) whether abiotic stress tolerance genes need additional considerations and new measurements in risk assessment and, 2) whether these genes will have effects on weediness and invasiveness potential of transgenic plants. In the present work, we discussed environmental concerns based on the specific nature of abiotic stress tolerance trait. Based on our analysis, we conclude that the use of these genes in crop plants are safe for the environment; however risk assessment should be con- ducted on a case-by-case basis taking into account the nature of the transgene, specific trait, host plat biology and the potential receiving environment. As compared to the more domesticated crop plants, the grasses have more weediness potential. Based on this potential, the risk assessment should focus on the problem formulation step and careful plant characterization in the potential receiving environment.
EARIAS SPP SURVIVAL TO TRANSGENIC BT-COTTON STRAINS HAVING
DIFFERENT PROTEIN LEVELS
M. Naveed, M. Rafiq, J. Tahir, S. Rabia, A. Ishfaq, H. Khadim, R. Abbass,*. and W. Shabana Central Cotton Research Institute, Old Shujabad Road, Multan Pakistan * Punjab Agriculture Extension Department, Qadir Pur Rawan, Pakistan, Email: [email protected]
In Pakistan, area under transgenic cotton is rapidly increasing albeit most of the varieties are unap- proved by the regulatory authorities. Since the toxin “Cry protein” in Bt cotton grown in the coun- try being highly variable. This variability in toxin may result in better survival and development of target pests, escaping direct or high doses of the toxin.A major challenge for planting Bt cotton for pest control is the potential for insects to evolve resistance to Bt toxins. If the insect resistance occurs to Bt cotton, it would be most catastrophic crisis to 1.3 million cotton farmers in Pakistan in
58
future. Research was conducted to correlate the development of the Eariasspp (Eariasinsulana& E. vittella) synonymously known as spotted bollworms on seven transgenic cotton cultivars that contained different levels of the Cry1Ac endotoxin from the soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringien- sis Berliner and two non transgenic cultivars. Spotted bollworm larvae were collected from Okra and reared on Okra and artificial diet. Forty hours old larvae of F1 was exposed to leave, square, flower and small bolls @ 50-70, 80-100, 110-130 days after seedling emergence. An inverse relation- ship between the amount of Cry1Ac among cultivars versus the weight of bollworm larvae was observed (≈ 58% less weight compared to non transgenic cultivars). Larvae that were recovered from cultivar expressing lower Cry1Ac weighed significantly more than larvae collected from the higher expressing cultivar. Initially all the transgenic cultivars proved effective against the spotted bollworm within a single population. After that, spotted bollworm larvae were highly variable in their survival when feeding on transgenic strains having different level of endotoxin gene expres- sion. The implications of variability in Cry1Ac expression and the seasonal decline on bollworm management are discussed.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND GM CROPS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
OF REGULATIONS ON RISK AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK IN
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
S. K. Balashanmugam, M. Padmavati, S. R. Subramanian Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Prop- erty Law, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal – 721 302, India, Email: mpad- [email protected]
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is the primary international agreement which provides the framework on risk assessment for facilitating transboundary trade of GM crops. Since the com- mercialization of GM crops from the year 1996, there has been an increase in crop production. In 2013, 175.2 million hectares of land has been utilised for GM cultivation by 27 countries around the globe. The leading report suggests a double stretch increase in global food production with the crop biotechnology in 2020. Developing countries produce 47% of global biotech crops in ap- proximately 82.7 million hectares of land and they are also the major exporter of GM crops. In relation to trade, the producers and the importing countries will need to consider the appropriate framework on risk assessment. It is a vital procedure for examining the safety of GM crops during its pre-market approval. Technology and regulation are the two key aspects of commercialisation of GM crops worldwide. Agriculture biotech industries practising GM are adopting standards in relation to assessing risk and ensure safety. At the national level specific regulatory framework in relation to risk assessment is still in development. Developing countries have differing norms on risk assessment and the institutional framework for performing risk assessment. In 2008, an Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group and Open ended Online Forum was established for developing a road map on risk assessment and framing guidelines related to traits and types of GM in relation to risk assessment. In June 2014, an operational plan was adopted to find out the specific aspects of risk assessment for the development of guidance documents. It is expected that revisions and guidance documents would be presented at the 8th meeting of COP MOP. The development of guidance documents on risk assessment and their applicability in a transboundary context, de- fining the administrative pathway for marketing approvals are key challenges that need to be addressed in the developing countries scenario. The present study attempts to identify the extent of development of risk assessment framework, administrative structure and implementation in relation to developing countries.
59
LABORATORY EVALUATION OF TRANSGENIC OX513A STRAIN AND
SURVEILLANCE OF WILD AEDESA EGYPTI L. MOSQUITO IN VILLAGES OF
JALNA DISTRICT, MAHARASHTRA STATE, INDIA
Prabhakargouda B Patil, GBIT Limited, Jalna-Aurangabad Road, P.O.Box-76, At: Dawalwadi, Tq: Badnapur, Jalna-431203, Maharashtra State, India, Email - [email protected]; Kevin Gorman, Oxitec Limited, 71 Innovation Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 4RQ, United Kingdom, Email - [email protected]; B Prasad Rao, GBIT Limited, Email - b.pras- [email protected]; K V Seshu Reddy, GBIT Limited, Email - [email protected]; Shirish R Barwale, GBIT Limited, Email - [email protected] and Usha B Zehr, GBIT Limited,E- mail - [email protected]
Transgenic OX513A Aedesa egypti L., a genetically-engineered mosquito strain with a dominantly inherited repressible lethal gene construct, was tested for lethal gene expression during develop- mental stages and for mating competitiveness between wild and OX513A male adults against wild females under laboratory conditions. In order to evaluate OX513A strain under field conditions, a survey of wild Ae. aegypti strain was conducted in ten villages of Maharashtra State, for base- line data collection. Methods: Sixty wild Ae. aegypti adult females were allowed to mate with 30 homozygous OX513A strain adults in cages for 24 hours along with control groups of respective strains. Heterozygous eggs obtained from the outcross were allowed to hatch and reared without tetracycline, along with control groups. Mating experiments were conducted between male adults of each strain by releasing into cages for mating with wild type female adult mosquitoes at a pro- portion of 5:5:5 respectively for 24 hours. Surveillance of Ae. aegypti was conducted by placing 30 to 40 ovitraps inside and around the randomly selected houses. The eggs laid paper strips from the ovitraps, collected on every 7th day were allowed to hatch and reared for confirmation of the species during larval/adult stages and ovitrap index calculation. Results: Homozygous and hete- rozygous progeny reared in the absence of tetracycline exhibited a mortality of 99.97% and 98.3% during immature stages and life span of emerged adults was significantly reduced. The propor- tions of wild females mated by males of OX513A or wild strains were 0.52 and 0.48, respectively. Field surveillance of wild Ae. aegypti revealed the presence of population throughout surveillance period with a high ovitrap index between 30 to 70%. Conclusions: Our results support the OX513A transgenic mosquito strain for further evaluation under open field conditions.
GENETIC TRANSFORMATION OF TOMATO (SOLANUMLYCOPERSICUM L.)
WITH CRYIAABC GENE FOR RESISTANCE AGAINST FRUIT BORER
HELICOVERPAARMIGERA
BhausahebPawar, Email :[email protected]
Transgenic of tomato cultivar “Dhanshree” expressing cry I Aabc gene driven by the CaMV35S promoter were developed against fruit borer Helicoverpaarmigera a destructive pest in tomato. Highest transformation efficiency was obtained using 7-14 days old cotyledon which was precul- tured for one day on the MSB5 medium containing 2 mg/l zeatin and 0.2 mg/l IAA. Then it was co cultivated with Agrobacterium for 3 days then transfer to shooting medium supplemented with 2 mg/l zeatin, 0.2 mg/l IAA, 250 mg/l cephotaxime and 250 mg/l carbenicillin for a week. Initiated shoots were transfer to elongation medium supplemented with 1 mg/l zeatin, 0.2 mg/l zeatinribo- side, 50 mg/l kanamycin, 250 mg/l cephotaxime and 250 mg/l carbenicillin. These explants were maintained for 4-5 weeks. Rooting was on hormone free MS basal medium. Selected kanamycin resistant putative transformed tomato lines were evaluated by positive PCR amplification of 1800 bp with cry1Aabc gene specific primers. Stable integration and transmission of the transgene in T1 generation plants were confirmed by PCR analysis.
60
BRASSINOSTEROID-MEDIATED INCREASE IN SEED YIELD AND
ENHANCED ABIOTIC STRESS TOLERANCE IN SAFFLOWER
Bishun Deo Prasad1, Sangita Sahni2, Vikash Kumar1 1Department of Plant Breeding and Genet- ics, Bihar Agricultural College, Sabour 2Department of Plant Pathology,T.C.A, Dholi, Email: dev. [email protected]
Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a group of plant steroidal hormones that are structurally similar to animal and insect steroids. BRs are ubiquitous in the plant kingdom and regulate a wide range of physiological processes such as cell elongation, photomorphogenesis, xylem differentiation, seed germination, and stress responses, including high and low temperatures, drought, salini- ty and pathogen attack. The AtDWF4 gene encodes a cytochrome P450 enzyme (CYP90B1/C-22 hydroxylase) that mediates a rate-limiting step in BR biosynthesis (conversion of campestanol/ 6-oxocampastanol to 6-deoxocathasterone/cathasterone). Previously, we have overexpressed the Arabidopsis BR biosynthesis gene AtDWF4 in the oilseed plant Brassica napus. The transgenic B. napus plants, in addition to increased seed yield, have also shown better tolerance to dehydration and heat stress compared to wild type plants. These results suggest a net positive impact on plant productivity and performance by manipulation of a single BR biosynthesis gene, emphasizing a higher-level control of these traits by BR. In India, safflower is an important oilseed crop and pro- duces high quality oil rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and has recently emerged as a broadacre platform for the production of transgenic products, including modified oils and pharmaceutically active proteins. But, unfortunately, the full potential of the crop is far from being exploited and the yield levels of this crop in India is the lowest in the world due to several reasons such as oc- casional adverse climatic conditions, poor agronomic methods of cultivation, biotic and abiotic stresses. In order to increase the seed yield as well as tolerance to different environmental stresses, AtDWF4 gene was overexpressed in Safflower using Agrobacterium mediated transformation. Transformed plants were selected on kanamycin and transferred to pot containing coco pit for Primary hardening. Putative safflower transformants were screened for the presence of CaMV35S promoter and AtDWF4 gene using PCR.
IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF THE TRANSGENIC SUGARCANE OVER
EXPRESSING ANTIFUNGAL PROTEINS ON ENDOPHYTIC AND
RHIZOSPHERIC MICROORGANISMS
Iqrar Ahmad Rana1; Adnan Hameed1; Abdul Wakeel2; ShinawerWaseem Ali3; and
Abdur Rehman4
1Centre of Agricultural Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
38040 Pakistan 2Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 3Institute of Agricultural Sciences, University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan 4Department of Plant Pathology, University of Agriclture, Faisalabad Pakistan:
Pakistan is the 5th largest grower of sugarcane worldwide but lags behind in production from many, mainly because traditional breeding is not available in our region as natural sugarcane flowering is not possible (Ijaz et al., 2012). Under the circumstances, non traditional breeding such as genetic engineering with genes targeted to improve agronomic traits is one of the serious op- tions. Two antifungal proteins “Chitinase” and “Chitosanase” from Trichoderma harzianum were expressed into a disease susceptible sugarcane genotype. The transgenics achieved showed en- hanced resistance against Colletotrichum falcatum which is causal organism Red Rot disease. This disease is a serious threat to sugarcane production in subcontinent.
We have been targeting to check the impact of transgenic sugarcane on the rhizospheric and en- dophytic microrganisms. The logic behind this activity is that the said protein are anti microbial and may prove harmful to beneficial endophytes and rhizospheric microorganisms due to the
61
exudates released through the roots or upon decomposition of the plant material in soil. Trans- genic plants along with the non transgenics and control genotypes were grown in fresh silt mixed with 25% of farm yard manure. Soil samples were taken from the root zone of sugarcane plants at 6” depth with an interval of 3 months for one year. The samples from the four replicates were used to isolate soil metagenomic DNA using commercial kits. These DNA were used to amplify rDNA using universal primers for bacteria and fungi. Same soil samples were dissolved in double distilled water and plated on LB and PDA media for bacteria and fungi respectively. Our results indicate that rDNA showed identical amplification whether taken from transgenic or non trans- genic plant pots or control genotypes. Sometimes the pattern looked different but that was due to experimental variation in the soil samples, not due to transgene. The major amplificates were cloned and sequenced. The sequences were BLASTed which showed either novelty or similarity to non culturable microorganisms. The cultured organisms showed similar pattern for all the sam- ples. In conclusion the transgenic do not have an impact on microrganisms.
Key Words: Transgenics; Metagenomics; sugarcane; rDNA
VIRUS RESISTANT, TRANSGENIC SILKWORM: DEVELOPMENT, EFFICACY,
AND BIOSAFETY CONSIDERA- TIONS FOR COMMERCIAL SCALE
PRODUCTION
V. V. Satyavathi, Centre of Excellence for Genetics and Genomics of Silkmoths, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad 500001, India, Email: [email protected] (Lead Pre- senter); P. J. Raju, Andhra Pradesh State Sericulture Research and Development Institute, Kirikera, Hindupur, Andhra Pradesh, India, Email: [email protected]; K. Ibrahim Basha, Andhra Pradesh State Sericulture Research and Development Institute, Kirikera, Hindupur, Andhra Pradesh, India, Email: [email protected]; H.K. Basavaraja, Andhra Pradesh State Sericulture Research and Development Institute, Kirikera, Hindupur, Andhra Pradesh, India, Email: [email protected]
The baculovirus, Bombyx mori nucleopoly hedrovirus (BmNPV) causes major loss to the silk indus- try hampering cocoon production in Asia. Effective treatment against the virus has been elusive due to its sturdy nature and the lack of control strategies. Since the biology of the virus is well un- derstood, multiple essential viral genes (ie1, lef1, lef3 and p74) have been used in the construction of the vector. Transgenic silkworms resistant to baculovirus infection have been generated using the technique of piggyBac mediated germlinetransgenesis. The BmNPV virus resistant property in the Nistari genetic background has been successfully transferred to a high yielding, commer- cial diapausing, baculovirus susceptible, CSR2 silkworm strain through marker assisted repeated backcross strategy. Subsequently, several transgenic hybrids were generated by crossing transgen- ic lines with various commercial breeds of India. The best performing hybrids were selected for multilocational field trials based on their survival rate upon BmNPV infection and cocoon quality traits. Interestingly, the virus derived from transgenic silkworms showed reduced infectivity and replication conferring an added advantage for large scale trials. As silkworm is the first genetically modified insect that is being considered for commercial scale production in India, there is a need for a thorough risk assessment before its release. A tiered approach for risk assessment is being adopted during field trials, wherein the transgenics will be tested at various sericulture centres across India in two phases. The potential risks that need to be studied during rearing and grain- age of transgenic silkworms in the trials, safety parameters related to disposal of bed refuse, dead larvae, marketing of harvested cocoons, and guidelines related to toxicity will be addressed. In future, application of this transgenic technology would provide opportunities for alleviating one of the major constraints to silk productivity.
62
IMPACT OF RHIZODEPOSITION AND INCORPORATION OF RESIDUES
FROM BT-COTTON ON SOIL C AND N CYCLING
Tanvir Shahzad, M. Saleem Arif, Sabir Hussain, Maryam Zahoor, Khadeeja Rehman, Faiza Anwer Bt cotton has been found to release Bt toxins in soil through root exudates and the decomposition of its residues. The release of toxins in soil may pose risk to the soil ecosystem. The aim of this re- search project is to assess the environmental risk of these toxin-laden additions of labile carbon (C) for the stability of old C stocks and nutrients’ cycling. The extent and the direction of the changes induced in C mineralization by Bt cotton may determine soil C stocks and climate feedback from arable systems under transgenic cotton over long term. Previously the differences in organic mat- ter decomposition between Bt- and non-Bt plants have been attributed to biochemical differences of the residues especially lignin content. In this context, we will differentiate between organic matter decomposition between Bt- and non-Bt-cotton plants by distinguishing soil-derived CO2 from plant-derived on the basis of their 13C ratios. Two experiments have been set up. First, a pot experiment has been set up with one Bt-variety and one non-Bt isoline and two non-isoline non-Bt cotton plants on a soil whose δ 13C is 18‰. The δ 13C of organic compounds from cotton would be ‾ 25‰. Soil respiration from pot-part will be measured periodically and differentiated using the difference in isotopic signature of soil-derived and plant-derived CO2-C. Similarly, the leaves and stem residues have been incubated in the same soil under lab conditions. The two experiments would complement each other. In the end the soil analyses would be done to determine the total organic carbon, dissolved organic carbon and microbial biomass. Moreover, lignin content of plant residues would be determined. It is expected that the differences in organic matter decomposition determined by measuring soil respiration on the basis of δ 13C would reveal the true influence of Cry-proteins on organic matter decomposition irrespective of the biochemical differences in residues.
STANDARDIZATION OF IN VITRO REGENERATION AND GENETIC
TRANSFORMATION PROTOCOL IN PIGEONPEA (CAJANUSCAJAN(L.)
MILLISP) FOR POD BORER RESISTANCE
U. V. Mahadkar, S.V. Sawardekar, N. B. Gokhale, I.S. Katageri and P. Ananda Kumar
Plant Biotechnology Centre, College of Agriculture, Dapoli Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli. 415 712( MS) INDIA
Konkan Tur-1 is a popular genotype of pigeonpea which is drought tolerant but susceptible to
the pod borer insect. For successful transfer of cry genes, reliable and efficient plant regeneration
system is a pre-requisite. In view of this, investigation was carried out for high frequency in vitro
regenerations in pigeonpea cv. Konkan Tur-1. Among the three explants, embryo axes with single
cotyledon was found superior over embryo axes and shoot tip for multiple shoot induction re-
sponse (72.31%) irrespective of medium in direct regeneration. The BAP at the concentration of 2
mg/l showed maximum shoot induction (65.59%) efficiency as well as more number of shoots per
explant (17.56). High frequency of rooting was observed in ½ MS + 0.1 mg/l NAA + 1 mg/l IBA.
The disarmed hyper virulent Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA 105 harboring pBinBt3 was used
as vector system for in vitro transformation. Plasmid pBinBt3 contains cryIIAa gene linked to the
Cauliflower Mosaic Virus (CaMV) 35S promoter and neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII) gene
under the control of napoline synthase (nos) promoter and terminator. In the present investigation,
infection of explants for longer period of colonization (20 min) and 7 days co-cultivation reduced
regeneration and survivability (31.66%). However, mild injury with 15 min. colonization and 2
days co-cultivation showed 61.33 per cent regeneration while injection of bacterial suspension to
growing buds of plants showed 31 per cent regeneration. It was observed that dose of kanamycin
for effective selection depends on age and type of tissue used for screening.
63
At the higher concentration non transgenic tissues completely became albino and confirm the
integration of transgenic in green and healthy tissues. The highest numbers (12) of kanamycin
resistant plants were obtained in MT4 method of transformation. Among the different methods
followed, MT4 method produced 4.21% transformation frequency which was detected through
PCR assay.
GENETIC TRANSFORMATION OF CHICKPEA (CICERARIETINUML.) FOR
POD BORER RESISTANCE
S.V. Sawardekar, I.S. Katageri1, P. M. Salimath1 , P. Anandkumar2, N. B. Gokhale and U. V. Ma- hadkar, Plant Biotechnology Centre, Dr. B. S. KonkanKrishiVidyapeeth, Dapoli, Maharashtra,415 712. India
1. Agril. Research station, Dharwad, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka. 580 005 India
2. National Research Centre for Plant Biotechnology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important grain legume of the 40 countries and major source of proteins for the population of developing countries shows high incidence of pest and fungal attack. Among these, gram pod borer ( Heliothis armigera) has been reported to cause losses rang- ing from 20-80 % in different parts of country. Here, we report the establishment of an efficient Agrobacterium- mediated genetic transformation in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) using cryIIAa gene of Bacillus thuringenesis for development of resistance against pod borer. Pre-cultured single cotyledonary node along with embryo axes (EA1C) were injected by Agrobacterium suspension of OD 600 = 0.3-0.5, co-cultivated for 48 hrs on precultured medium containing 0.5 mg/l TDZ and 400 mg/l cefotaxime without selection pressure. For the selection of transformants 1000 mg/l kanamycin was employed on well establish plants by using different explants from putatively transgenic plants. PCR amplification results obtained from kanamycin resistant plants showed that all putatively transformed plants with PBinBt3 plasmid produce amplified fragments of 1.2 kb, the expected size of PCR product with CryIIAa specific primers while control plants showed no amplification. The percentage of the kanamycin resistant plants was varied from 6.62 to 16.12%. The results of PCR, RT-PCR and further Southern blotting of genomic DNA of kanamycin resistant plants showed that the synthetic gene cryIIAa had been integrated into the genome of transformed plants. The transgenic plants with cryIIAa gene of Bacillus thuriengenesis showed improved toler- ance than the controls by insect bioassay. cryIIAa gene inherited in some transgenic lines as Men- delian segregation pattern. The results of the present study indicate that, highest transformation frequency (15.05%) could be achieved by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.
64
EXPRESSION, EFFICACY AND RISK ASSESSMENT OF FIRST BATCH OF
APPROVED BT COTTON VARIETIES IN PAKISTAN
Inaam Ullah1,2 Lead Presenter (Email: [email protected]) ;
Mazhar Hussain Ranjha1 (Email: [email protected]) ;
Muhammad Asif2 (Email: [email protected]);
1Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Post Box 38040, Faisalabad,
Pakistan 2National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), POB#577, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Purpose:
Current study was aimed at detailed analysis of first batch of locally bred, approved Bt cotton varieties in Punjab, Pakistan.
Methods:
This study included nine Bt-cotton varieties expressing Cry1Ac protein and two hybrids express- ing a fusion of Cry1Ac and Cry1Ab proteins. Expression profiling was performed through sand- wich ELISA at four different sampling dates throughout the cotton growing season of year 2010. Detached leaf bioassays were performed using 1st instar larvae of Helicoverpa armigera (Noctuidae; Lepidoptera) to evaluate the efficacy of different Bt cotton varieties. For non-target risk assess- ment, purified Cry1Ac protein and pollens of Bt-cotton (in 0.5M sugar solution) were fed to adults of European honey bees, Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera; Apidae).
Results:
Expression of insecticidal protein Cry1Ab/1Ac was found to vary significantly (P<0.05) among varieties and across different sampling dates. The highest expression was recorded in GN-31 and Sitara-008 and the lowest in FH-113 and MG-6 while across sampling dates the highest expression was recorded at 30 days after emergence (DAE) which decreased along the season to lowest at 120 DAE. The efficacy of Bt cotton varieties was proportional to the amount of Cry1Ab/1Ac produced in them. The mortality of H. armigera varied from >95% to 70% in different varieties within 96 hours of exposure to the detached leaves. A concentration of 770 ± 25 ng Cry1Ac g-1 of fresh leaf was found to be critical for sufficient (95%) control of the H. armigera. The adults of honey bees were not adversely affected by either the purified Cry1Ac protein (10 µg mL-1) or the pollens (0.16 g mL-1) expressing it.
Conclusions:
Hence, we conclude that Bt cotton varieties are an environment friendly weapon to controlling insect pest H. armigera. However, their efficacy is greatly influenced by the level of the protein produced in vulnerable parts of the plant.