Biotech to protect 60pc loss of pulses output

The introduction of biotechnology in cultivation of three varieties of pulses - lentil, chickpea and mungbean - may protect 60 per cent production loss, said researchers, reports BSS.
Quoting the findings of their research work they said lentil, chickpea and mungbean have become resistant to diseases like fungus, virus and pests after introduction of disease resistant gene in them.
The researchers were addressing a workshop on "Improvement of Grain Legumes through Transformation," a research project funded by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), at the auditorium of Botany Department of Dhaka University on Friday.
Education Secretary Md. Nazrul Islam Khan, who addressed the workshop as the chief guest, called upon the teachers and researchers to come up with a big research projects for increasing food production and protecting endangered animals and plants.
"There is lack of initiative to conduct study and research. I will arrange money if you come up with research projects about protecting endangered animals and plants," he told the workshop.
Chaired by the Chairman of department of Botany Professor Dr. Moniruzzaman Khondker, the workshop was also addressed, among others, by Professor Dr. M. Imdadul Hoque and Professor Dr. Rakha Hari Sarker.
Three research papers were presented at the workshop by three Ph. D students. Subroto Kumar Das presented research paper on "Development of Disease Resistance in Lentil through Transformation," Sujoy Kumar Bhajon on "Improvement of Mungbean through Transformation" and Md. Hazrat Ali on "Development of disease resistance in Chickpea through Transformation."
The research findings said the diseases caused by different fungus, virus and pests at various stages of growth are responsible for 60 per cent loss of reduction of lentil, chickpea and mungbean.
But, the improvement of the said pulses can be achieved by conventional breeding technique and genetic transformation, the findings said.