GM rice trial planted

Scientists have planted a genetically modified (GM) rice trial at Wagga Wagga to identify useful genes for breeding improved conventional rice varieties.

Researchers at CSIRO Plant Industry, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Charles Sturt University hope to find rice genes that improve nutritional value or have agronomic value.

There are no plans to develop commercial GM rice varieties as a result of the trial.

The GM rice has been genetically modified by inserting a gene construct that switches off the rice gene it lands in.

In the field trial the team, led by CSIRO Plant Industry's Dr Narayana Upadhyaya, will observe the GM rice plants to see if they are different.

If a seedling lacks vigour, for example, they will know that a gene involved in seedling vigour has been switched off. By tracking down the gene construct they can find the seedling vigour gene, which can then be used in conventional breeding.

The trial will also be used to investigate gene flow or cross pollination, if any, between GM rice and non-GM rice.

The trial has been approved by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator and is fully enclosed and isolated from other rice plants.

This research is done as part of the NSW Agricultural Genomics Centre under the BioFirst Initiative of the NSW Government and has been supported by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC).

MORE DETAILS