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News: India will begin wide-scale cultivation of IMI-resistant mustard hybrids in the 2026-27 rabi season to tackle Orobanche infestation.
About Imidazolinone-resistant (IMI-resistant) Mustard Hybrids
- IMI-resistant mustard hybrids are mustard varieties developed through mutation breeding to control the parasitic weed Orobanche (also known as Phelipanche).
- Objective: The objective is to protect mustard yields from Orobanche and support oilseed production in India.
- Key Aspects:
- Problem of Orobanche: Orobanche is a destructive root parasite that attaches to mustard plants and drains water and nutrients, thereby reducing yields.
- Nature of the Hybrids: IMI-resistant mustard hybrids were developed through mutation breeding, where scientists preserve certain natural mutations.
- They are not genetically modified crops.
- ALS-Based Mechanism: The technology is based on the acetolactate synthase (ALS) enzyme, which is essential for plant growth.
- Herbicide Resistance: A single change in the plant’s DNA makes the ALS enzyme resistant to IMI herbicides.
- Effective Weed Control: The herbicide moves through the soil and the plant and can target Orobanche even in places where manual weeding cannot reach.
- Need for Careful Use: Experts have advised that long-term success requires crop rotation, different herbicides, and continued manual weeding.
- Significance: India imported around 16 million tonnes of edible oils worth about ₹1.6 lakh crore in 2024-25.
- These hybrids help protect mustard, an important oilseed crop, while reducing dependence on labour during the critical weeding period.
