INDIA’s Rubber Board and Rubber Research Institute (RRI) have signed Memoramdum of Agreements (MoUs)for two research programmes that will include developing of high yielding disease resistant varieties of rubber and for rubber based mountings for use in indigenously built submarines at Mazagon Dock Ltd, Mumbai.
Officially launched by the Rubber Board Chairman Smt. Sheela Thomas, the first project involves de novo sequencing, assembly and annotation of the whole genome of rubber to develop a database of genes and molecular markers linked to high latex yield, disease resistance, timber yield and resilience to adverse climatic conditions.
Initiationg the programme is RRII, in collaboration with an external agency that will undertake nucleotide sequencing work for which a non-disclosure agreement has been signed. Availability of annotated whole genome sequence of rubber is expected to open up new vistas in clone research. Genetic database will help in speedy development of elite clones with superior yield and adaptability to stressful environmental conditions. There is at least one group, each working on genome sequencing of rubber in Malaysia, UK and China. India is expected to catch up with the rest of the rubber world in this cutting edge area of research, according to a statement of Rubber Board.
Meanwhile, the second MoU has been signed with the National Institute for Research and Development in Defence Ship Building , Kozhikode. This is for developing rubber based mountings for use in indigenously built subamarines at Mazagon Dock Ltd. Mumbai. It is part of the ongoing efforts of RRII to take rubber technology research findings to the Indian rubber industry.