Scientists Change Mutants of Six Paddy Species of Chhattisgarh

• 08 Nov 2022

Why in News?

• On November 6, 2022, Dr RK Vats, chairman of the Public Awareness Division of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, said that the scientists at the centre have reduced the height of plants by changing the mutants of six paddy species found in Chhattisgarh. In such a situation, rain, hailstorm and thunderstorm will not have much effect on crops.

Key Points

• It is known that an exhibition of new species of paddy has been organized by the scientists of Bhabha Atomic Research Center in the Akash Tattva Conference held at Uttaranchal University in Dehradun. In the first phase, scientists at the institute have changed mutants of six paddy species found in Chhattisgarh.
• Similarly, scientists have also created new species by changing the mutants of eight species of moong.
• The species whose mutants have been changed to new species have been developed on the request of the Government of Chhattisgarh are CG Javaphool, TKR Kolam, Trombay Chhattisgarh Sonagakshi Mutant (TCBM), Trambe Chhattisgarh Dubraj Mutant (TCDM), Vikram TCR, Trambe Chhattisgarh Vishnubhog Mutant (TCVM) are included.
• According to Dr. RK Vats, scientist of the center, the mutants of paddy species have been modified through gamma radiation. After this a new variety of paddy was developed, which is different from the earlier one.
• It is worth mentioning that about 40 thousand species of paddy are found in the country. Of these, the highest number of 23230 species are found in Chhattisgarh, which is called paddy bowl.