Genetically altered rice tested in Asia

Genetically altered rice tested in Asia

MANILA (Reuters): Asia can look forward to a new generation of
genetically altered rice, resistant to pests, floods and
bacteria, following the success of field tests, a scientist at
the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) said.

Swapan Datta, plant biotechnologist at the world's premier
rice research institute, told Reuters late on Wednesday field
experiments on the IR-72 and MH-63 rice plant types were the
first in the region.

The IR-72 variety was found resistant to the bacterial blight
test in China while the MH-63 variety was resistant to both
stemborer -- a kind of insect pest -- and leaf folder tests.

In both cases, the tests yielded "extremely good" results,
Datta said.

India also recently approved limited field testing of another
transgenic rice plant variety developed by IRRI which can thrive
under water or in flood-prone areas, he said.

Scientists in the Philippines are also seeking government
approval to test genetically modified rice from IRRI. Other
countries in the region had also expressed interest in
experiments on transgenic rice, Datta said.

"We have plenty of transgenic plants (available for field
testing)," he said.

IRRI has developed hundreds of high-yield plant types through
conventional cross-breeding in its nearly four decades of
research. The bulk of the world's rice paddies are believed to be
planted with varieties developed by IRRI.

The introduction of genetically modified organisms in new
varieties could boost production in Asia in the coming years,
Datta said.

"Through genetic engineering you can enhance the yield," he
said, adding 10 percent of annual global rice production was lost
to pest infestation.

Seventeen of the world's 25 major rice-growing nations are in
Asia, in a crescent running from Pakistan to Japan. IRRI says 90
percent of the world's annual rice production of 375 million
tons comes from Asia.