New groundnut variety for trial

The variety is being developed  at the Patancheru-based Platform for Translational Research on Transgenic Crops (PTTC) which is an intitiative of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).

Dr Kiran K Sharma, director of the PTTC, said here that even though efforts were on to create genetically improved legumes, including chickpea and pigeon pea, there was an urgent need for high yielding groundnut for its oil and also pigeon pea.

“More than half-a-dozen firms have shown interests in the pigeon pea hybrid technology being developed by ICRISAT scientists. However, there is a lack of interest from private firms in transgenic research in Chickpea,” he added.

Dr William D Dar, Director-General ICRISAT, said transgenics might be holding the key to increased food production and reduce production costs in dryland tropics in Asia and Africa.