Broadly useful patents for seed hybrids

Avesthagen develops male sterile technology for hybrid seed

- Moneycontrol.com (India), Sept. 19, 2007

This item reports that that Avestha Gengraine Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (Avesthagen), one of India's leading biotechnology companies based in Bangalore, today announced that the Australian Patent Office has granted a patent to the company on "A process for generating cytoplasmic male sterile line in rice and other crops by RNA editing'. This patent will revolutionize the agricultural industry and bring succor to the sector.

This invention promises to open up opportunities in developing hybrids in crops where conventional male sterility is not available or feasible. This technology would allow hybrid seed programs to be developed without narrowing the diversity of germplasm. Avesthagen assists farmers by creating innovative solutions that will benefit their production.

Avesthagen has provided a crucial breakthrough with this program for the agricultural industry, since it opens up many crops for hybrid seed production. Moreover, it can be transferred to any other crop within a short time span, as the technology is not crop specific...continues