Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Genome sequencing of ragi to boost crop yield -Niranjan Kaggere

Genome sequencing of ragi to boost crop yield -Niranjan Kaggere

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Aug 7, 2014   modified Modified on Aug 7, 2014
-Bangalore Mirror


The process will be done by universities with assistance from the state's agriculture department

The spurt in the number of diabetics has led to an increase in consumption of ragi (finger millet). However, the state's agriculture department is at its wits end as the yield and cultivation of ragi has plummeted over the years. To bridge the gap between demand and supply, it has hit on the idea of genome sequencing ragi. Genome sequencing is the procedure of determining the order of base pairs in a section of DNA.

Agriculture commissioner Subodh Yadav told Bangalore Mirror, "Genome sequencing of ragi will help identify the gene responsible for better yield. By studying genes in every variety of ragi, we can understand reasons for low yield and resolve them. Genome sequencing will not only help the department introduce good quality ragi seeds, but also varieties resistant to diseases and other climatic conditions."

He clarified that the agriculture department would not get into genome sequencing. "It will only assist universities and organisations that take up the task with funds - which will give us better seeds," he said.

Karnataka is the leading producer of ragi in India, accounting for 53.36 per cent of the total production in the country. According to nutrition experts, ragi is rich in calcium and fibre in comparison to millets. It has 10 times more calcium than rice or wheat. Ragi is consumed in the form of Ragi balls (ragi mudde), dosas, biscuits, rusks and malt.

However, ragi yield per hectare in India is very poor compared to other developing countries. Agriculture minister Krishna Byre Gowda explained, "Besides bringing land under cultivation, we need to adopt scientific measures like genome sequencing to boost our production on par with global standards. Besides ragi, we also plan to sequence jowar."

Groundnut sequence done

Giving thrust to oil seed production in the state, scientists at the International Crops Research Institute for Semi Arid Crops (ICRISAT) have successfully sequenced the genome structure of groundnut. "We have already distributed it to farmers and are awaiting their response," Gowda said. "If other developing countries yield 18 to 20 quintals per acre, we get only 12 to 13 quintals per acre. In developed countries, the yield is up to 25 quintals per acre."


The Bangalore Mirror, 4 August, 2014, http://www.bangaloremirror.com/bangalore/others/Genome-sequencing-of-ragi-to-boost-crop-yield/articleshow/39564380.cms


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close