Improved Samba Mashuri (ISM) Rice Variety

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Through Marker Assisted selection (MAS) developed Improved Samba Mahsuri(ISM) rice variety, a bacterial blight resistant derivative of Samba Mahsuri that retains the quality and yield characteristics of the parent. Improved Samba Mahsuri is one of the first rice varieties, developed through use of biotechnological tools  for commercial cultivation in India. However, it is important to note that Improved Samba Mahsuri is not a transgenic plant. Improved samba Mahsuri was developed using MAS, which is a very effective biotechnological tool for crop improvement. MAS involves use of variations in DNA sequences as flagposts to make selections of varieties that have new and advantageous combinations of genes. 

• A major advantage of MAS is that it comes without the biosafety concerns associated with transgenic crops. During the development of Improved Samba Mahsuri, three genes for bacterial blight resistance have been transferred into Samba Mahsuri. 
• Bacterial Blight Resistant (BBR) variety with yield and fine quality characteristics of Samba Mahsuri, helps farmers from crop loss.