Bhubaneswar, March 10: The Seed Testing Laboratory (STL) here is set to create a DNA fingerprinting database of 900 rice varieties to identify the genetic peculiarities of individual types for research, reference and development of new, high-yielding grains.

DNA fingerprinting has become a common term of reference for criminal investigation and paternity identification where the DNA (deoxy-ribose nucleic acid) or the genetic material of a human being can be matched with a sample.

Scientists of STL will do similar molecular analysis on rice plants to know their genetic composition, DNA sequence and study the nature of these sequences.

As genes determine the characteristics of a plant, this information would aid research work for other scientists who are working in fields such as breeding programmes to produce high-yielding, drug, flood, stress and drought-resistant rice varieties.

State director of agriculture R.S. Gopalan told The Telegraph: “DNA fingerprints are just like human thumb impressions in that they are unique and never resemble one another. For example, we have found local variety kala champa from western Odisha, which is of more high-yield than the high-yielding varieties developed by rice scientists. If we have the DNA fingerprint of this rice with us and get it registered, the same genetic material used to produce a seed by any company or an institution can be challenged.”

Gopalan said traditional farmers having ownership rights on their “land race” or local varieties can file for compensation under the provision of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act (PPVRA), 2001.

Under the Act, the ownership of the rice varieties lies with the farmers.

“From the collection of the rice varieties at STL we will produce seedlings. Chemical extracts from their leaves undergo the DNA fingerprinting tests. The tests are done through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines, which produce bar codes similar to the bar code we see on the price tags on goods at departmental stores. The sequencing of the DNA fragments in the genetic material of the rice varieties will appear as a series of bar codes on the PCR machine’s report,” said assistant agriculture officer-cum-seed analyst Chakradhar Panda at STL.

“With DNA fingerprinting, we will also attach the bar code sequences that indicate the genetic materials of the rice varieties. This will help farmers identify the molecular characteristics of the varieties they own for future authentication. The new lab for fingerprinting of rice varieties will start within a week,” Panda said.

Satya Ranjan Das, professor emeritus at Odisha University of Agriculture Technology and a well-known rice breeder, said: “DNA fingerprinting, in a way, is like patenting the traditional varieties. As Odisha is home to several unique rice varieties, farmers and traditional growers will have the genetic identification of their rice varieties.”