Open AccessA large‐scale field study of transgene flow from cultivated rice ( Oryza sativa ) to common wild rice ( O. rufipogon ) and barnyard grass ( Echinochloa crusgalli )
Author(s) -
Wang Feng,
Yuan QianHua,
Shi Lei,
Qian Qian,
Liu WuGe,
Kuang BaGeng,
Zeng DaLi,
Liao YiLong,
Cao Bin,
Jia ShiRong
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
plant biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.525
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1467-7652
pISSN - 1467-7644
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-7652.2006.00210.x
Subject(s) - oryza rufipogon , introgression , gene flow , biology , genetically modified rice , oryza sativa , transgene , oryza , agronomy , pollen , genetically modified crops , gene , botany , genetics , genetic variation
Summary The introgression of transgenes into wild relatives or weeds through pollen‐mediated gene flow is a major concern in environmental risk assessment of transgenic crops. A large‐scale (1.3–1.8 ha) rice gene flow study was conducted using transgenic rice containing the bar gene as a pollen donor and Oryza rufipogon as a recipient. There was a high frequency of transgene flow (11%−18%) at 0–1 m, with a steep decline with increasing distance to a detection limit of 0.01% by 250 m. To our knowledge, this is the highest frequency and longest distance of gene flow from transgenic rice to O. rufipogon reported so far. On the basis of these data, an adequate isolation distance from both conventional and transgenic rice should be taken for in situ conservation of common wild rice. Meanwhile, there is no evidence of transgene introgression into barnyard grass, even when it has coexisted with transgenic rice containing the bar gene for five successive years. Thus, the environmental risk of gene flow to this weedy species is of little concern.