IMI-Resistant Mustard Developed Through Mutation Breeding

IMI-Resistant Mustard Developed Through Mutation Breeding

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Why in News

  • India is set to begin large-scale cultivation of Imidazolinone-resistant (IMI-resistant) mustard hybrids during the 2026-27 rabi season.
  • The main goal is to fight the parasitic weed Orobanche, boost domestic oilseed production, and reduce reliance on edible oil imports.

Orobanche Threat and Economic Imperative

  • Mustard is a vital rabi oilseed crop in India, especially in arid northern regions.
  • Productivity suffers because of Orobanche (also known as Phelipanche), a destructive root-parasitic weed that attaches to the plant and drains vital water and nutrients.
  • Increasing mustard yields is crucial for fixing India's massive edible oil deficit.
  • In 2024-25, India imported roughly 16 million tonnes of edible oils, costing the exchequer around Rs 1.6 lakh crore.

Non-GM Technological Breakthrough

  • Scientists developed the new IMI-resistant mustard using mutation breeding.
  • This is a conventional technique that preserves natural mutations, making it distinct from Genetically Modified (GM) crops.
  • Normal mustard plants die when exposed to IMI herbicides because the chemical blocks Acetolactate Synthase (ALS), an enzyme essential for plant growth.
  • In the new hybrids, a natural DNA mutation alters the ALS enzyme, making the crop resistant to IMI herbicides.
  • This resistance allows farmers to spray herbicides to kill the underground Orobanche parasite without harming the mustard crop.

Mutation Breeding and Genetic Modification

  • Mutation Breeding (Mutagenesis) is a conventional technique where seeds or plant tissues face physical mutagens like X-rays or gamma rays or chemical mutagens like Ethyl Methanesulfonate (EMS).
  • This exposure accelerates natural genetic mutations, allowing scientists to select plants with desirable traits.
  • Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) involve the direct and targeted manipulation of an organism's genome using biotechnology.
  • Scientists isolate a specific gene from one organism and insert it into the DNA of the target plant using vectors like *Agrobacterium* or a gene gun.