Why in the news?
India is set to begin large-scale cultivation of imidazolinone-resistant (IMI-resistant) mustard hybrids during the 2026-27 rabi season to tackle the parasitic weed Orobanche (Phelipanche), which significantly reduces mustard yields.
Key Highlights
- Mustard is a major oilseed crop in India.
- India imported around:
- 16 million tonnes of edible oil
- Worth nearly ₹1.6 lakh crore in 2024-25.
- The new hybrids are resistant to:
- IMI herbicides
- Main target:
- Orobanche/Phelipanche, a root parasitic weed.
What is Orobanche?
- A parasitic weed that:
- Attaches to mustard roots
- Draws water and nutrients from the host plant
- Causes major yield losses in mustard cultivation.
- Difficult to remove manually because it grows below the soil surface.
What are IMI-Resistant Mustard Hybrids?
- These are mustard varieties resistant to imidazolinone herbicides.
- Developed Through: Mutation Breeding
- Not a genetically modified (GM) crop.
- Scientists select and preserve naturally occurring mutations.
Scientific Basis
- The resistance is linked to changes in the: Acetolactate Synthase (ALS) enzyme
- Normally:
- IMI herbicides inhibit ALS enzyme.
- Plant dies.
In resistant hybrids:
- A DNA mutation changes ALS structure.
- Herbicide cannot inhibit the enzyme.
- Crop survives while weeds die.
Advantages
- Effective control of Orobanche.
- Reduces labour requirement for manual weeding.
- Helps improve mustard productivity.
- Supports reduction in edible oil imports.
- Useful in labour-scarce periods during the rabi season.
[2018] With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements :
1. GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that give the plant the property of pest-resistance to a wide variety of pests.
2. GM mustard has the genes that allow the plant cross-pollination and hybridise.
3. GM mustard has been developed jointly by the IARI and Punjab Agricultural University.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] 1 and 3 only
[B] 2 only
[C] 2 and 3
[D] 1, 2 and 3