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

ICAR unveils the first genome-edited rice with high yield, drought and salinity tolerance, boosting climate resilience and water savings.

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.

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

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