Figure 1. Development of golden mosaic disease in the common bean lines engineered forresistance to Bean golden mosaic virus mediated RNAi (T), compared to non-transgenicvarieties (NT). Two transgenic lines presented similar resistance curves. Plants werecultivated in the field in 2007 and 2008. Disease evaluation was done visually by recordingthe first date of vein clearing.

Rice Tungro Disease

From IRRI

Improving the Human Condition through Plant Science

Resistance to Cassava Virusesfor Africa

Resistance against cassava Geminiviruses via the ‘G5 protein and siRNAs; CP siRNA for a potyvirus (cassava brown streak)

against ACMV against EACMV against CBSV

G5

against ACMV & EACMV

CsVMV promoter

siRNA siRNA siRNA protein

35S promoter

PTGS -mediated protein -mediated

Improving the Human Condition through Plant Science

Progress in developing transgenic plants of farmer-preferred cassava cultivars

• Cultivars selected based on farmer input in West and East Africa

• To date 8 farmer preferred cultivars produce transgenic tissues

• 5 cultivars yielded transgenic plantlets (to date), examples below:

GFP expressing roots & leaves

Transgenic plant of Ugandan cv. Ebwanateraka

GFP expressing roots

Transgenic plant of Nigerian cv. TME117

Improving the Human Condition through Plant Science

Cassava Field Trials

Kenya• The VIRCA confined field test (CFT)

application is currently at the IBC stage.• This is being split into two applications.

One for each technical approach.

• The BioCassava Plus (BC+) CFT is currently at the IBC stage.

• The second version of the application was resubmitted to the IBC in March.

Uganda• The VIRCA CFT was approved by the NBC in January.• The import permit was applied for in early April and is expected during May.• Best case scenario is planting in August.

Uganda, NaCRRI Infrastructure Improvements

CFT Site Biosafety Level II Screenhouse

Tissue Culture Facility

Improving the Human Condition through Plant Science

Advances in Controlling Insects: Beyond Cotton and Maize

• Insect resistant cowpea

• Insect resistant brinjal/eggplant

• Insect resistant potato

• Most popular vegetable in India after potato • Meaty texture, so staple in vegetarian diets • 25 calories per serving, with no fat!

Bt brinjal

Common Vegetable

Grown in all vegetable-growing zones in India but prominently in 8 States: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal

25 - 80 rounds of pesticides sprayed on brinjal crop during each growing season

IIVRVaranasiIIVR

Varanasi

Cash benefit of Rs 16,000-19,000 per acre and Rs 2,000 crore to our nation

Non-Bt

Non-Bt

Benefits to farmers

Bt