You are here:
DEVELOPMENT OF MOLECULAR MONITORING TECHNOLOGIES TO MEASURE TRANSGENE FLOW AND INTROGRESSION IN CROP AND NON-CROP PLANT SPECIES
Citation:
REICHMAN, J. R. AND L. S. WATRUD. DEVELOPMENT OF MOLECULAR MONITORING TECHNOLOGIES TO MEASURE TRANSGENE FLOW AND INTROGRESSION IN CROP AND NON-CROP PLANT SPECIES. Presented at RCT & HRB, Surpukhov, Moscow District, RUSSIA, May 17, 2005.
Description:
The Gene Flow Project at the US Environmental Protection Agency, Western Ecology Division is developing methodologies for ecological risk assessments of transgene flow using Agrostis and Brassica engineered with CP4 EPSPS genes that confer resistance to glyphosate herbicide. In 2004, we reported gene flow on a landscape level from agronomic fields Agrostis stolonifera. Most of the gene flow occurred within 2 km of the source fields in the direction of prevailing winds, however, gene flow up to 21 km was observed. Evidence for transgene gene flow to sentinel and resident Agrostis plants was based on seedling progeny survival after spraying with glyphosate in greenhouse assays, positive TraitChek, PCR, and sequencing results. On going research is currently monitoring for Agrostis plants expressing the CP4 EPSPS marker that have become established in the wild. This includes development of species level molecular markers for Agrostis that could be used to improve identification of species, hybrids, and potentially compatible recipients. Such markers are needed to track potential introgression of genes from genetically engineered or non-engineered A. stolonifera. In addition, microsatellite (simple sequence repeat i.e., SSR) studies are underway to measure gene flow between engineered and non-engineered Brassica varieties. Microarray technology also is being applied to identify potential differential genomic responses of transgenic Brassica to environmental stresses that may affect ecological fitness traits.