An assessment of gene transfer by pollen from field-grown transgenic potatoes to non-transgenic potatoes and related species |
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Authors: | Helen C McPartlan Philip J Dale |
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Institution: | (1) John Innes Centre, Colney Lane, NR4 7UJ Norwich, UK;(2) Present address: Victoria Institute of Animal Science, 475-485 Mickelham Rd, 3049 Attwood, Victoria, Australia |
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Abstract: | Information on the extent of transgene dispersal by pollen to adjacent potato plots and to related weed species is an important
requisite for risk assessment; a procedure followed before novel transgenic plants are evaluated under field conditions. The
purpose of the investigation was to determine the frequency of cross-pollination between potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants at different distances, using a kanamycin resistnace transgene (nptII) as a selectable marker. All potato plants were from the variety Désirée. Non-transgenic potato plants, used as potential
recipients of transgene-containing pollen, were planted in 12 sub-plots, at distances of 0–20 m from the nearest transgenic
potato plants. Seeds harvested from the non-transgenic plants were screened for resistance to kanamycin, and molecular methods
were used to confirm that resistant progeny contained thenptII gene. Where transgenic and non-transgenic potato plants were in alternate rows (leaves touching), 24% of seedlings from the
non-transgenic parent plants were kanamycin-resistant. Comparable seedlings from plants at up to 3 m distance had a resistance
frequency of 2%, at 10 m the frequency was 0.017% and at 20 m no resistant progeny were observed. Plants of the weed speciesS. dulcamara andS. nigrum were also planted close to the transgenic potatoes to test for evidence of hybridization, and no kanamycin-resistant seedlings
were observed among progeny fromS. dulcamara andS. nigrum. This investigation provided evidence that the extent of gene dispersal from transgenic potatoes to non-transgenic potatoes
falls markedly with increasing distance, and is negligible at 10 m. There was, also, no evidence of transgene movement from
potato toS. dulcamara andS. nigrum under field conditions. These data will be valuable in defining genetic isolation procedures for the early field evaluation
and the use of novel transgenic potato genotypes. |
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Keywords: | Solanum tuberosum genetic modification transformation gene transfer genetic isolation risk assessment |
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