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Project: FRUIT AND SHOOT BORER RESISTANT (FSBR) EGGPLANT
   
Introduction: Eggplant is one of the most nutritious and culturally important vegetables commonly consumed in South and South East Asia. Unfortunately, the production of marketable eggplant is compromised due to extreme infestation of the insect commonly known as the eggplant fruit and shoot borer. To control this insect pest, farmers often spray hazardous pesticides every other day.

The introduction of the Cry1Ac gene from the naturally occurring bacteriium (Bacillus thuringiensis) has the potential to render eggplants resistant to these insects and reduce pesticide load for the farmer. The Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) has developed an eggplant bioengineered for Cry1Ac. These eggplants demonstrate resistance to the fruit and shoot borer. Mahyco is currently conducting field trials in India to assess the commercial potential of this technology in hybrid eggplant varieties.

ABSPII is supporting Mahyco in gaining regulatory approval for the technology and the efforts of public institutions in India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines to develop and commercialize the same Bt technology. This public-private partnership with Mahyco will make affordable seed available to resource-poor farmers, help reduce the need for excessive pesticide use and dramatically increase eggplant yield.

When commercialized, the Bt eggplant has potential to benefit 700,000 farmers in India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines, a majority of whom will be resource-constrained small farmers.
   
Project Manager: K Vijayraghavan, Regional Coordinator, South Asia
   
Participating Countries : Bangladesh, India, Philippines
   
Term: 2004-2008
   
Partners:
   
Technology: Cry 1Ac, a gene from the naturally occurring bacteria, Bacillus thuringiensis, produces a protein that protects plants from some caterpillars, including the eggplant fruit and shoot borer.
   
Project Status:
  • Partnerships between private seed companies and leading research institutions in participating countries allowed promising resources to be efficiently applied to the production of FSBR Eggplant.
  • A gene (Cry1Ac) that renders eggplant resistant to the fruit and shoot borer, was transformed into Mahyco's most popular and regionally relevant eggplant varieties.
  • Data from field trials show that the bioengineered Cry1Ac technology effectively protects eggplant from fruit and shoot borer infestation.
  • In India, experiments are being conducted to confirm that the transformed eggplant is safe to eat and is environmentally sound.
  • In 2004 and 2005, our partners in India, Bangladesh and the Philippines started introducing this technology to their locally adapted varieties. The resulting varieties are undergoing biosafety and biodiversity review so they may be commercialized and made available to farmers.
  • Outreach material and other educational resources have been developed to help farmers and consumers understand the new FSBR eggplant technology.
   
Expected Benefits :
  • Resource-limited farmers stand to benefit economically from: - High quality eggplant seeds available from public-sector sources at affordable prices. - Reduced production losses from the eggplant fruit and shoot borer. - Increase in clean, marketable fruit. - Reduced production costs due to less frequent use of pesticide sprays.
  • Improved human and animal health, and less damage to the environment, as a result of less exposure to chemical pesticide sprays.
  • Improved capacity in the areas of research, licensing and communication through hands-on training, partnerships, exchange visits and workshop participation.

 

BANGLADESH
   
Economic Importance: The eggplant is cultivated in almost all areas of Bangladesh. An estimated 8 million farmers are growing eggplant. Yield loss due to damage by the eggplant fruit and shoot borer is estimated at 54% to 70%. Small, resource poor farmers, who cannot afford to spray insecticides, are the most severely affected. Since all the varieties grown in Bangladesh are susceptible to this pest, the availability of FSBR eggplant will benefit all of the 8 million farmers who grow eggplant.
   
Partners Within the Country: Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BARC)
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI)
East West Seed Ltd., Bangladesh
   
Planned Activities and Milestones:
  • Mahyco performs initial backcrosses to locally adapted varieties.
  • Backcrossing will be completed at East-West Seeds and in BARI’s greenhouses.
  • Training of Bangladeshi scientists from public institutions and from East-West Seeds to study the new varieties and to assure safety.
  • Initiate communication and outreach efforts to educate policy makers, consumers and farmers about the use and benefits of FSBR eggplant varieties.
   

 

INDIA
   
Economic Importance: Fruit and shoot borer is the most serious eggplant pest in India. Damage by this pest starts soon after transplanting and continues until the fruit is harvested. Crop loss is estimated to be between 54% to 70%. To control the pest, the use of chemical insecticides has been the most common approach. Farmers often spray once a week to control this pest. This excessive pesticide use threatens the health of farmers and consumers, and raises the cost of eggplant for consumers. In addition, the insect is becoming tolerant to the chemicals, making it more difficult to control.
   
Partners Within the Country: Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR), Varanasi
Mahyco Seed Company, India
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)
Sathguru Management Consultants, India
University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad (UAS-D)
   
Planned Activities and Milestones:
  • Support Mahyco’s efforts to complete regulatory approval.
  • Initiate communication and outreach efforts.
  • Provide public institutions access to the technology in order to extend it to varieties that are accepted by and accessible to lower income farmers.
  • Provide assistance to public institutions as they seek regulatory approval, licensing and development of additional resistant varieties.
  • Market and distribute the new varieties through private seed companies. Development of other varieties used by poor farmers will be done by public research and academic institutions who are engaged in developing and propagating varieties.
   

 

PHILIPPINES
   
Economic Importance: Eggplant production accounts for 28% of the total volume of top vegetables grown in the country. Its value is the highest among the leading vegetables. The area devoted to eggplant production is estimated to be more than 20,000 hectares with small farms ranging from 0.5- 2.0 hectares in size. The average yield of eggplant per hectare in the Philippines is 9.95 tons, which is about half that of the average yield in Asia and the world.
Damage by shoot and fruit borer is considered the most serious and devastating in terms of crop loss. As much as 50% of the fruit may be damaged in heavily infected fields. Commercial varieties with complete resistance to shoot and fruit borer do not exist in the Philippines. Farmers resort to chemical spraying to control this pest. Farmers spray as frequently as every other day, particularly when fruits are developing. Chemical application accounts for 24% of the total cost of growing eggplant.
   
Partners Within the Country: University of the Philippines, Los Baños (UPLB) - Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB)
University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) - College of Agriculture - Crop Protection Cluster (CA-CPC)
Department of Agriculture - Biotechnology Project Implementation Unit (DA-Biotech/PIU)
International Service for the Acquisition of Agribiotech Applications (ISAAA, South East Asia Center)
   
Planned Activities and Milestones:
  • Continue backcrossing the Mahyco FSB-resistant germplasm into preferred Philippine eggplant varieties.
  • Two Philippine scientists train at MAHYCO for six months to undertake the initial crossing work and undergo training in techniques and field testing procedures.
  • An ex-ante socio-economic impact study was conducted to assess the likely impact of FSBR-eggplant on stakeholders.
  • Approval has been granted for contained tests and importation.
  • Apply for approval for field tests in multiple locations.
  • Continue field trials.
  • Seek regulatory approval for propagation and licensing agreements for commercial distribution.
  • Undergo process for variety release and seed distribution.
  • Continue communication and outreach efforts to educate policy makers, consumers and farmers about the use and benefits of FSBR eggplant varieties.
   

 

  
 
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