Detection of feral transgenic oilseed rape with multiple-herbicide resistance in Japan

Environ Biosafety Res. 2006 Apr-Jun;5(2):77-87. doi: 10.1051/ebr:2006017. Epub 2006 Dec 8.

Abstract

Repeated monitoring for escaped transgenic crop plants is sometimes necessary, especially in cases when the crop has not been approved for release into the environment. Transgenic oilseed rape (Brassica napus) was detected along roadsides in central Japan in a previous study. The goal of the current study was to monitor the distribution of transgenic oilseed rape and occurrence of hybridization of transgenic B. napus with feral populations of its closely related species (B. rapa and B. juncea) in the west of Japan in 2005. The progenies of 50 B. napus, 82 B. rapa and 283 B. juncea maternal plants from 95 sampling sites in seven port areas were screened for herbicide-resistance. Transgenic herbicide-resistant seeds were detected from 12 B. napus maternal plants growing at seven sampling sites in two port areas. A portion of the progeny from two transgenic B. napus plants had both glyphosate-resistance and glufosinate-resistance transgenes. Therefore, two types of transgenic B. napus plants are likely to have outcrossed with each other, since the double-herbicide-resistant transgenic strain of oilseed rape has not been developed intentionally for commercial purposes. As found in the previous study, no transgenic seeds were detected from B. rapa or B. juncea, and more extensive sampling is needed to determine whether introgression into these wild species has occurred.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Brassica napus / genetics*
  • Brassica rapa / genetics
  • Brassica rapa / physiology
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Gene Flow
  • Genotype
  • Geography
  • Herbicide Resistance / genetics*
  • Hybridization, Genetic
  • Japan
  • Mustard Plant / genetics
  • Mustard Plant / physiology
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / drug effects
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / physiology*
  • Pollen / genetics
  • Pollen / physiology
  • Transgenes