Androgenesis is a phenomenon in which microspores are made to bypass the sexual pathway and follow the sporophytic mode of development to generate new plants without the intervention of fertilization under specialized in vitro conditions. Microspore culture provides an ideal system, with a large, relatively uniform population of haploid cells, for use in mutant selection, genetic transformation and in studies on the molecular mechanism of induction of androgenesis and embryogenesis. This paper involves a study on establishing a reproducible and efficient protocol for microspore embryogenesis in various varieties of Brassica juncea. The genotype had a pronounced effect on androgenic response in microspore cultures. The cultivar Rajat exhibited the most response, producing around 3500 embryos/100 buds. The microspores of B. juncea cv. PR-45 from ed plants maintained at a day/night temperature of 10°C/5°C form embryos with suspensors with varied morphology. The microspore embryos germinated to produce plants with frequencies. These plants exhibited 52% survival and 74% fertility.Abbreviations: ABA -abscisic acid; DAPI -4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; DMRT -duncanÕs multiple range test; GA 3 -giberrelic acid

Sesame ( Sesamum indicum ) is one of the oldest crops in the world and is a valuable source of vegetable oil. It has one of the highest oil content (up to 60%) among oil crops and one of the most stable oils due to the presence of a number of antioxidants. A major part of the sesame production is found in developing countries with the largest areas in India, Myanmar, China, Sudan, Nigeria, and Uganda. In comparison with soybean, rapeseed, or sunflower, sesame is a minor oil crop in the world and one of the reasons is insufficient breeding. Crop development programs for sesame, either small or nonexistent, have only involved conventional breeding, and little progress has been made during the past years. Various diseases and insect pests cause considerable damage and reduce the yield. Indeterminate flowering and dehiscent capsules are also important factors limiting sesame production. A revitalization of sesame research using modern plant breeding technologies can greatly improve the crop. Over the past 10 years, genetic engineering has greatly influenced the development of most of the predominant crops in the world. A biotechnological approach could definitely play an important role in genetic amelioration of sesame.

Genetically modified (GM) mustard line (V4) with increased carotenoid content was compared with native mustard to find the difference in allergenic potential, if any. Simulated gastric fluid (SGF) digestibility of crude protein extract from GM as well as its native counterpart mustard crop was envisaged to understand the intended or unintended changes in GM crop along with IgE immunoblotting. BALB/c mice were used as model for allergenicity studies for monitoring total and specific IgE, specific IgG1, histamine level, histopathology, and systemic anaphylaxis score. Allergenicity of mustard was checked in humans by clinical history, skin prick test and IgE levels. Similar results were evident by significant increase in total IgE, specific IgE, IgG1, histamine levels, in GM and native mustard in comparison to control group. Prominent anaphylactic symptoms (score 2: 60%; score 3: 20%; score 4: 20% in native mustard and score 2: 40%; score 3: 40%; score 4: 20% in GM mustard) and eruptive histopathological changes were observed in both GM and native mustard when compared with controls. One protein of approximately 16 kDa was found stable up to 1 h in both GM as well as non GM mustard. IgE immunoblotting detected three protein components of approximately 29, 24 and 16 kDa in both GM and non GM varieties. Collectively, our data demonstrate substantially equivalent allergic responses against GM as well as its native counterpart. Therefore, the GM mustard may be as safe as its native counterpart with reference to allergenic responses.

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