World’s 1st genetically modified ‘kadyos’ bred

Next in the research pipeline: genetically modified pigeonpea.

The world’s first transgenic pigeonpea, known among Filipinos as "kadyos", has been developed by the India-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).

It is now undergoing field trials, reported ICRISAT director general William D. Dar, former Philippine Agriculture Secretary.

Dr. Dar said the GM pigeonpea is resistant to the destructive insect pest legume pod borer (Hilicoverpa armigera).

Records show that during the 1997-1998 cropping season, the pod borer caused crop losses in India amount to $475 million, despite the use of insecticides worth $211 million.

The successful genetic modification of pigeonpea, enabling it to resist Hilicoverpa attack, signifies a major scientific breakthrough, Dr. Dar said.

He stressed: "This is an important step that addresses the specific needs of the resource-poor farmers of the semi-arid tropics through an effective biotechnological intervention. Pigeonpea is an important crop that supports the livelihood of farm families living in these rainfed areas."

Though on a limited scale, "kadyos" is being grown in some dry areas in the Philippines, particularly in the Ilocos where it is called "kardis".

Over the past few years, ICRISAT and the Los Baños-based Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) have been conducting joint R&D projects on the crop.

Recently, too, an India-sourced new pigeonpea variety introduced by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-DAR) headed by Director William C. Medrano had been found to thrive under local conditions.

Dr. Dar said that after the contained field trial of the new GM pigeonpea, it will g through a second season of contained trial at ICRISAT.

"Once successful, ICRISAT will collaborate with its national agricultural research partners to implement open field trials," he said.

ICRISAT had earlier developed the world’s first GM groundnut. The GM peanut trials are currently being repeated for the confirmation of the positive results, Dr. Dar reported. – Rudy A. Fernandez