Low weight not a negative for GM mustard DMH-11, says Deepak Pental

Says yield as against ICAR's check variety not comparable as parent gene same

The low weight of the seed of DMH-11, the genetically modified (GM) mustard hybrid that was under trial at six sites last season, is not a big negative factor because in many mandis mustard is now being bought and sold on the basis of oil content and not the seed size or weight, according to Deepak Pental, former vice-chancellor of Delhi University and the brain behind DMH-11.

“Earlier the seed size was considered an important trait because there was a feeling that a bigger seed would have more oil. But that is not true because size and oil content are