In a global first, India has released two genome-edited rice varieties – ‘Kamala’ (DRR Dhan-100) and ‘Pusa DST Rice 1’—designed to improve crop yields by up to 30% and reduce maturation time by 15–20 days. Announced by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the new varieties are also water-efficient and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Unlike genetically modified (GM) crops, gene-edited plants do not contain foreign genes, making them more acceptable and faster to regulate. India had previously exempted SDN1 and SDN2 gene-edited plants from stringent GM regulations, expediting development.
ICAR Boosts Rice Yields with Resilient Genome-Edited Varieties
The new varieties, developed by ICAR scientists, were created through genome editing of two widely grown Indian rice types—Samba Mahsuri (BPT5204) and MTU1010 (Cottondora Sannalu). While Samba Mahsuri is known for fine grain quality, it lacked resilience and had long maturation periods. MTU1010 offered early maturity but was sensitive to climate stresses. Genome editing retained their strengths while boosting yield and resilience.
DRR Dhan-100 (Kamala) showed a 19% yield increase over Samba Mahsuri, reaching 5.37 tonnes/hectare, and maintained the grain quality loved by consumers. Pusa DST Rice 1 achieved 9–30% higher yields, depending on soil conditions. These varieties are recommended for wide cultivation across multiple Indian agro-climatic zones, including states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Odisha, and West Bengal.
India Fast-Tracks Gene-Edited Seeds with ₹500 Crore Push
Although it will take 4–5 years for these seeds to reach farmers, the government aims to fast-track availability. Initially, the seeds will be distributed through state-run agencies, and India will pursue IPR registration for them. The ₹500 crore genome editing initiative announced in the 2023–24 Union Budget has also helped accelerate research in over 24 food crops and 15 horticulture crops, ensuring more gene-edited varieties may follow soon.
Summary:
India has launched two genome-edited rice varieties—Kamala and Pusa DST Rice 1—offering up to 30% higher yields and faster maturation. Developed by ICAR, these water-efficient, climate-resilient crops avoid foreign genes, easing regulations. Backed by ₹500 crore funding, more gene-edited food and horticulture crops are in development nationwide.
