36 Bt cotton varieties approved for commercial planting by GEAC

New Delhi, May 26 (UNI) The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), under the Ministry of Environment and Forests(MoEF) has approved the commercial release of 36 more varieties of transgenic Bt cotton crop for North, Central and South zones of the country.

Eight hybrids are for North Zone, 12 hybrids for Central zone and 16 for South zone, a GEAC release said here yesterday.

These varieties are in addition to Bt hybrids containing the Cry 1 Ac gene (MON 531 event), which was earlier approved by the GEAC and is in commercial cultivation since 2002.

The GEAC approved hybrids with three new gene/event namely Bt hybrids expressing encoding fusion genes (cry 1Ab+Cry Ac) GFM developed by M/s Nath Seeds, Bt hybrids expressing cry 1Ac gene (Event-1) by M/s JK Seeds Ltd and Bt hybrids expressing stacked genes Cry1 Ac and Cry 2Ab (MON 15985 event)BG-II by M/s Mahyco.

Besides, the GEAC has also approved large scale trials of Bt Cotton hybrids in the North, Central and South zones. For North Zone-- 16 hybrids containing cry 1 Ac (Mon 531 event ) and 21 hybrids expressing new gene events.

For Central Zone -- 20 hybrids containing cry 1 Ac (Mon 531 event) and 12 hybrids expressing new gene events.

As many as 25 hybrids containing cry 1 Ac (Mon 531 event) and 27 hybrids expressing new gene are earmarked for South Zone.

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