Satellite Symposium 5: Molecular Breeding
Description
In Australia, comprehensive environmental risk assessments must be performed on transgenic plants (GMOs) prior to their commercial release. A key element is the determination of whether the release of a particular GMO poses any weediness threat to the environment or other agricultural systems, which can occur by means of direct invasion or by introgression of transgenes into wild populations of the same or closely related species. For transgenic pasture plants this question could be of added importance because many of these species have been selected for traits encouraging long-term persistence and competitiveness in complex plant communities (Godfree et al., 2004a). In situations where native vegetation is of high conservation value, such as Australia, the potential for transgenic pasture plants to invade native plant communities must therefore be quantified and analysed within a rigorous risk assessment framework. Over the past three years we have investigated the level of risk posed by transgenic virus-resistant (VR) Trifolium repens (white clover) to native grasslands and woodlands in the subalpine and montane regions of southeastern Australia. We have focused on identifying the viruses present in white clover populations in the subalpine zone, on determining the floristic composition of the communities that are most at risk, and on quantifying the likely selective advantage of VR T. repens in these environments.
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Assessing the Risk Posed by Transgenic Virus-Resistant Trifolium Repens to Native Grasslands in Southeast Australia
In Australia, comprehensive environmental risk assessments must be performed on transgenic plants (GMOs) prior to their commercial release. A key element is the determination of whether the release of a particular GMO poses any weediness threat to the environment or other agricultural systems, which can occur by means of direct invasion or by introgression of transgenes into wild populations of the same or closely related species. For transgenic pasture plants this question could be of added importance because many of these species have been selected for traits encouraging long-term persistence and competitiveness in complex plant communities (Godfree et al., 2004a). In situations where native vegetation is of high conservation value, such as Australia, the potential for transgenic pasture plants to invade native plant communities must therefore be quantified and analysed within a rigorous risk assessment framework. Over the past three years we have investigated the level of risk posed by transgenic virus-resistant (VR) Trifolium repens (white clover) to native grasslands and woodlands in the subalpine and montane regions of southeastern Australia. We have focused on identifying the viruses present in white clover populations in the subalpine zone, on determining the floristic composition of the communities that are most at risk, and on quantifying the likely selective advantage of VR T. repens in these environments.
