Brinjal or baigan, is a very important common man’s vegetable in India. Low in calories and high in nutritional value. Brinjal is prone to attack from insect pests and diseases, the most serious and destructive of which is the fruit and shoot borer (FSB) Leucinodes orbonalis. There is no existing brinjal varieties with adequate resistance to FSB in India.
Keeping all the above points in mind Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company (Mahyco) has developed Bt brinjal using a transformation process similar to one used in development of Bt- cotton.
According to the latest press release Explore came to know that Mahyco is awaiting the decision of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) for environmental release of insect-resistant Bt brinjal. According to a resource person who spoke to Explore, Mahyco looks forward to a positive decision because it will help millions of our brinjal farmers who have been suffering from the havoc caused by the Brinjal Fruit and Shoot Borer (BFSB). Bt brinjal will help them tackle this pest in an environment-friendly manner and increase yields and farm income.
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