Anand Agri-varsity to develop GM Isabgol

In a latest development in the field of crop biotechnology, Gujarat-based Anand Agriculture University (AAU) is developing a genetically modified Psyllium (Isabgol) husk, which will be resistant to the fungal disease called 'downy mildew' and will provide higher yield. "We are trying to increase the genetic reactibility of the plant, which will make it resistant to downy mildew fungal disease. This disease reduces the quality of the crop and also the yield. The transgenic process is being carried out under the marker assisted selection (MAS), wherein we have successfully identified the DNA marker for the plant," said R S Phogat, professor and head, department of agri-biotechnology, Anand Agriculture University. The university took up the research after the complaints from the farmers with regard to the disease and lower yield. "Many farmers from north Gujarat had raised the issue of poor crop quality and reduced yield for psyllium, better known as isabgol. We have taken up the research for this crop and expect to come out with a GM seed that protects the plant from diseases and improves quality and quantity of the crop," added Phogat. Commenting about the safety of the new isabgol seed, Phogat informed, "The transgenic technology that we are using by infusing genes into plants directly, is safer than that is used for BT crops, which has genes infused via bacteria," he said adding that the research will take around 5-7 years to complete.

India produces around 90,000 to 100,000 tonnes of Isabgol every year of which Gujarat accounts for around 22-26 per cent share. The productivity of the crop has remained in the range of 632 kg to 672 kg per hectare in the state. Other major producing states in India are Rajasthan, MP and Harayana.

Isabgol has been an important cash crop for foreign trades. The husk of the grain isabgol has vast applications including medicines. It is also used as a stabilising agent for ice creams besides being an effective laxative. The country dominates the world market in the production and export of isabgol with about 80 per cent of the global supplies. According to the latest data provided by the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), India exported isabgol husk to the tune of 20,658 tonnes valuing Rs 381 crore fur the year 2009-10. In the current year 2010-11, (April - June) total exports of isabgol husk were registered at 19,726 tonnes worth Rs 125 crore. Gujarat holds around 35 per cent share in the country's total production of Psyllium Husk.

Around 90 per cent of the total production of Isabgol in the country is exported, of which 93 per cent is of husk. Major export destinations for husks and industrial powders are US, some European countries including the UK, Japan, Indonesia, Australia, Pakistan and Gulf countries. The US alone buys around 75 per cent of the total supplies from India.

The area under isabgol cultivation is going down at a rapid pace due to climatic adversaries and farmers are shifting to other crops like jeera and fennel seeds or saunf. "Last year, the returns from Saunf and jeera was much higher than isabgol, therefore many farmers have shifted from isabgol to these crops. This has reduced the isabgol acreage almost by 50 per cent over last year. More over, this year, the climatic extremities increased risk from isabgol farming," said a trader in Nagor near Jodhpur in Rajasthan. This has sparked off prices of isabgol. The prices in the spot markets have increased from Rs 4,650 per quintal in the beginning of January to Rs 5,050 per quintal by the end of the month. In last one week alone, the price increased by around Rs 500 per quintal to Rs 5,400 per quintal.