ICAR Launches World’s First Genome-Edited Rice: Kamala & Pusa DST Rice 1

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Genome-Edited Rice Latest News
• Genome Editing (GE) in Plants and GM Crops
• ICAR Develops Two Genome-Edited Rice Varieties
• Practical Benefits of ICAR’s New Genome-Edited Rice Varieties
• Significance of the Breakthrough in Genome-Edited Paddy
• India’s Push for Genome Editing in Agriculture
• Genome-Edited Rice FAQs

Genome-Edited Rice Latest News

• ICAR has developed the world’s first genome-edited rice varieties featuring higher yields, drought and salinity tolerance, and improved nitrogen-use efficiency, making them climate-resilient and water-conserving.

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Genome Editing (GE) in Plants and GM Crops

• Genome editing in plants refers to making precise, targeted changes to a plant’s DNA without introducing foreign genetic material.
  • It uses technologies like CRISPR-Cas9 to edit specific DNA sequences within a plant’s existing genome. 
  • This can involve deleting, inserting, or modifying DNA at precise locations.
• On the other hand, GM crops involve inserting genes from other organisms into the plant’s genome.
• In essence, genome editing modifies existing DNA, while GM crops introduce new DNA.
• India has exempted GE crops from biosafety regulations under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986. 
  • These regulations govern both field trials and release for commercial cultivation in the case of GM crops. 

ICAR Develops Two Genome-Edited Rice Varieties

• ICAR has developed the world’s first genome-edited rice varieties—DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala) and Pusa DST Rice 1—to enhance yield, drought and salinity tolerance, and nitrogen-use efficiency, without using any foreign DNA.

DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala)

• Developed by: ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research (ICAR-IIRR), Hyderabad
• Parent Variety: Samba Mahsuri (BPT 5204)
• Gene Targeted:Cytokinin Oxidase 2 (CKX2 or Gn1a)
• Technology Used: Site Directed Nuclease 1 (SDN1) genome editing
  • SDN1 uses DNA-cutting enzymes (nucleases) to create a targeted break in the DNA at a specific location. 
• Key Traits:
  • Early maturity (~130 days; 20 days earlier than parent)
  • Drought tolerance
  • High nitrogen-use efficiency
• Superior yield:
  • 5.37 tonnes/ha (vs. 4.5 t/ha for parent) – 19% increase
  • Up to 9 t/ha under optimal conditions
  • Retains the grain and cooking quality of Samba Mahsuri
• Recommended Zones: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala (Zone VII), Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh (Zone V), Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal (Zone III).

Pusa DST Rice 1

• Developed by: ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI), New Delhi
• Parent Variety: MTU1010
• Gene Targeted:Drought and Salt Tolerance (DST) gene
• Technology Used: SDN1 genome editing
• Key Traits:
  • Drought and salinity tolerance
  • Enhanced yield under stress conditions:
    • Inland salinity: 3,508 kg/ha (9.66% higher than MTU1010)
    • Alkaline soils: 3,731 kg/ha (14.66% higher)
    • Coastal salinity: 2,493 kg/ha (30.4% higher)
  • Contains no foreign DNA, comparable to conventional varieties
• Recommended Zones: Same as Kamala – major rice-growing states across India

Practical Benefits of ICAR’s New Genome-Edited Rice Varieties

• Higher Yields, Lower Emissions
  • Cultivating DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala) and Pusa DST Rice 1 over 5 million hectares can:
    • Increase paddy production by 4.5 million tonnes
    • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32,000 tonnes (approx. 20%)
• Significant Water Savings
  • Kamala’s shorter maturity period allows for:
    • Three fewer irrigations
    • Savings of 7,500 million cubic metres of irrigation water, which can benefit other crops
• Use of Safe and Award-Winning Technology
  • Developed using CRISPR-Cas9 genome-editing technology, awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
  • No foreign DNA used; only native gene edits to enhance traits
  • Follows Site Directed Nuclease 1 (SDN1) and SDN2 methods — considered equivalent to natural mutations
• Exempt from Stringent GMO Regulations
  • Under India’s Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, SDN1 and SDN2 crops are:
    • Exempt from strict GMO rules (Rules 7–11)
    • Classified as genome-edited, not genetically modified
• Regulatory Clearances Granted
  • Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBC) of ICAR approved the lines
  • Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) cleared them in May 2023
  • Declared safe under India’s simplified regulatory framework for genome-edited crops
• IPR Concerns Being Addressed
  • Some concerns exist about the Intellectual Property Rights of the genome-editing technology, but ICAR has assured they are being looked into and will be resolved in due course

Significance of the Breakthrough in Genome-Edited Paddy

• Paddy: India’s Most Critical Foodgrain Crop
  • Paddy is the main kharif crop and occupies one-third of India’s foodgrain cultivation area.
  • It contributes about 40% to the total foodgrain basket, making it essential for national food security.
  • Major paddy-growing states include: West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and Assam.
• India’s Paddy Production Paradox
  • India had the largest area under paddy cultivation (45 million ha) globally in 2020.
  • But in production, India ranked second (186.5 million tonnes) after China (211 million tonnes).
  • The gap is due to lower yield in India:
    • India: 4,138 kg/ha
    • World average: 4,717 kg/ha
    • China: 7,043 kg/ha
    • Indonesia: 5,128 kg/ha
    • Bangladesh: 4,809 kg/ha

India’s Push for Genome Editing in Agriculture

• Beyond Rice: Genome Editing in Other Crops
  • Genome-editing research is underway for oilseeds and pulses.
  • The University of Delhi has already developed a genome-edited mustard variety.
• Government Support and Funding
  • The Indian government has allocated ₹500 crore for genome-editing research in agricultural crops to boost yield and climate resilience.

Genome-Edited Rice FAQs

Q1. What is genome-edited rice?

Ans. Genome-edited rice involves precise gene changes using CRISPR, improving traits without introducing foreign DNA.

Q2. Which are ICAR’s new genome-edited rice varieties?

Ans. DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala) and Pusa DST Rice 1 are ICAR’s newly developed genome-edited rice varieties.

Q3. What traits do Kamala and Pusa DST Rice 1 offer?

Ans. They offer higher yield, drought and salinity tolerance, and better nitrogen-use efficiency.

Q4. How is genome editing different from GM crops?

Ans. Genome editing modifies native DNA; GM crops insert foreign genes from other organisms.

Q5. Are genome-edited rice varieties regulated like GMOs in India?

Ans. No, they are exempt from GMO regulations under India’s Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Source: IE | ICAR | ToI