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TRACKING GENE FLOW FROM A GENETICALLY MODIFIED CREEPING BENTGRASS -- METHODS, MEASURES AND LESSONS LEARNED
Citation:
WATRUD, L. S. TRACKING GENE FLOW FROM A GENETICALLY MODIFIED CREEPING BENTGRASS -- METHODS, MEASURES AND LESSONS LEARNED. Presented at University of Arkansas, Department of Biology, Fayetteville, AR, April 26, 2007.
Description:
Creeping bentgrass (CBG) expressing an engineered gene for resistance to glyphosate herbicide is one of the first genetically modified (GM) perennial crops to undergo regulatory review for commercial release by the US Department of Agriculture Animal Plant Health and Inspection Service. The initial flowering of experimental fields of the wind-pollinated GM plants in central Oregon in 2003 afforded researchers a unique opportunity to track gene flow from the GM crop to potted sentinel plants and also to wild resident plants. Using a variety of field, greenhouse and molecular biology techniques, pollen-mediated gene flow from the GM crop fields to compatible relatives was documented on a landscape level. Follow-up studies in 2004-2005 demonstrated establishment of GM crop/wild plant hybrids and feral GM seed establishment in non-agronomic environments. Potential implications of the findings on practices used in field testing of experimental GM crops and research needs to identify the potential ecological consequences of gene flow to non-target plants will be discussed.