Genome-Edited Rice: India’s DRR Dhan 100 and Pusa DST Rice 1
Why in the news
The first genome-edited rice varieties were announced, with seeds expected within 6 months of clearance.
Varieties
| Variety | Parent | Traits |
|---|---|---|
| DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala) | Samba Mahsuri | Higher yield than 4.5 t/ha parent, drought tolerance, good nitrogen use, saves water and fertiliser, lowers methane |
| Pusa DST Rice 1 | MTU1010 | Gains of 9.66% (inland salinity), 14.66% (alkalinity), 30.4% (coastal salinity) |
Editing types
| Type | Status |
|---|---|
| SDN-1, SDN-2 | Not GM; no foreign gene |
| SDN-3 | Inserts foreign gene; GM |
Concerns
- Venugopal Badaravada called the claims premature and was expelled from the ICAR governing body.
- The Coalition for a GM-Free India opposes deregulation; IPR and transparency worries persist.
Exam angle
Tested in 2023-24 under the All India Coordinated Research Project on Rice.