ICAR scientists decode pomegranate gene

  • September 28, 2022
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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ICAR scientists decode pomegranate gene

Subject :Science

Context:

Scientists of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), have for the first time in the country cracked the genetic code of the Bhagwa variety of pomegranate.

Significance of the genome sequencing:

  • Assist the breeders in developing resistant varieties against major biotic and abiotic stresses. Eg: Bacterial Blight disease.
  • Helps in increasing the yield and the shelf life.
  • It will assist pomegranate genetic improvement programmes through genomics assisted trait mapping, breeding and genome editing applications to develop improved varieties.
  • Lack of resistant pomegranate varieties against major pests and diseases has led to high dependence on chemical pesticides. Genome sequence will help in growing much better and safer varieties for human nutritional needs at a much faster rate.

Bhagwa variety of Pomegranate 

  • It has good shelf-life due to thick rind and under room conditions can be marketed up to 7-10 days after plucking.
  • Under cold store conditions of 5°C at 95 percent relative humidity, it can be stored for 45 days.
  • It covers more than 85 percent of 2.78 lakh hectares area under pomegranate cultivation (2021-22).

The genome sequencing experiment was executed at Nucleome Informatics, a Hyderabad-based genomics lab, which is affiliated with the world’s largest genomics programme ‘The Vertebrate Genome Project’.

Genome sequencing:

All organisms (bacteria, vegetables, mammals) have a unique genetic code, or genome, that is composed of nucleotide bases (A, T, C, and G). Identifying the  sequence of the bases in an organism, helps in identifying its unique DNA fingerprint, or pattern. Determining the order of bases is called sequencing. Whole genome sequencing is a laboratory procedure that determines the order of bases in the genome of an organism in one process.

The Vertebrate Genome Project (VGP):

VGP aims to generate high-quality, complete reference genomes of 70000 vertebrate species.

It is an international cooperation project with members from more than 50 separate institutions and was launched in February 2017.

In 2022, VGP partnered with the Human Genome Project and the African BioGenome Project for sequencing research.

ICAR scientists decode pomegranate gene Science