Direct and reverse pollen-mediated gene flow between GM rice and red rice weed
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Publication date
2013-11-07ISSN
2041-2851
Abstract
Potential risks of genetically modified (GM) crops must be identified before their commercialization, as
happens with all new technologies. One of the major concerns is the proper risk assessment of adventitious presence
of transgenic material in rice fields due to cross-pollination. Several studies have been conducted in order to quantify
pollen-mediated gene flow from transgenic rice (Oryza sativa) to both conventional rice and red rice weed (O. sativa
f. spontanea) under field conditions. Some of these studies reported GM pollen-donor rice transferring GM traits to
red rice. However, gene flow also occurs in the opposite direction, in a phenomenon that we have called reverse gene
flow, resulting in transgenic seeds that have incorporated the traits of wild red rice. We quantified reverse gene flow
using material from two field trials. A molecular analysis based on amplified fragment length polymorphisms was
carried out, being complemented with a phenotypic identification of red rice traits. In both field trials, the reverse
gene flow detected was greater than the direct gene flow. The rate of direct gene flow varied according to the relative
proportions of the donor (GM rice) and receptor (red rice) plants and was influenced by wind direction. The ecological
impact of reverse gene flow is limited in comparison with that of direct gene flow because non-shattered and nondormant seeds would be obtained in the first generation. Hybrid seed would remain in the spike and therefore most
of it would be removed during harvesting. Nevertheless, this phenomenon must be considered in fields used for elite
seed production and in developing countries where farmers often keep some seed for planting the following year. In
these cases, there is a higher risk of GM red rice weed infestation increasing from year to year and therefore a proper
monitoring plan needs to be established.
Document Type
Article
Document version
Published version
Language
English
Subject (CDU)
575 - General genetics. General cytogenetics
633 - Field crops and their production
Pages
12
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Is part of
AoB PLANTS
Citation
Serrat, X., R. Esteban, G. Penas, M. M. Catala, E. Mele, and J. Messeguer. 2013. "Direct And Reverse Pollen-Mediated Gene Flow Between GM Rice And Red Rice Weed". Aob PLANTS 5: plt050. doi:10.1093/aobpla/plt050.
Grant agreement number
EC/FP4/FAIR973761/EU/Engineering rice for resistance to insects/ERRI
MICYT/ /BIO2000-1682-C02-02/ES/NUEVAS ESTRATEGIAS PARA LA TRANSFORMACION DE ARROZ/
Program
Cultius Extensius Sostenibles
Genòmica i Biotecnologia
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- ARTICLES CIENTÍFICS [2555]
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Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/