GM Crop Farm-Scale Evaluations: Fact Sheets
Gene flow monitoring from GM crops to non-GM crops and wild relatives
Project Description
Gene flow is the term used to describe the movement of genetic material that occurs when plants reproduce sexually and cross-pollinate. This study is being carried out for the DETR by two research organisations. The Central Science Laboratory (CSL) is investigating gene flow from Genetically Modified Herbicide Tolerant (GMHT) oilseed rape and GMHT forage maize to equivalent non-GM crops, and The Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) is investigating gene flow from oilseed rape to wild relatives of oilseed rape.
Gene flow from GM oilseed rape and GM forage maize to non-GM equivalent crops.
This three-year study is trying to answer two questions. First, can pollen from the GM parts of the FSE fields reach the non-GM part of the field and conventional crops further away? Second, if the pollen can reach the non-GM crops, is successful cross-pollination taking place? During the first (pilot) year, FSE fields are being visited three times during the flowering period to sample whether GM pollen has reached the non-GM part of the FSE field and adjacent non-GM crops within a radius of 1000 metres. These samples are then sent back to the laboratory for molecular analysis. At the end of the growing season the fields are re-visited when the seed is ready to harvest. Seeds are collected for molecular and germination studies to see if cross-pollination between the GM and non-GM crops has actually taken place. The density of pollen and occurrence of cross-pollination is being mapped and statistically analysed using geographical information systems (GIS) and geographical positioning system (GPS). Pollen and seed samples are being analysed for GM content in the laboratory using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods.
Gene flow from GM oilseed rape to wild relatives of oilseed rape.
Oilseed rape can cross-pollinate with some related cruciferous plants. In the pilot year of this study, the 'tramlines', field margins and adjacent areas up to ten metres around the FSE fields are surveyed for wild relatives of oilseed rape. Seeds will be collected from the wild relative populations at harvest time and analysed to see if they contain genetic material from cross-pollination with the GM crop.
Page published 22 September
2000;
Page last modified
10 August, 2002