Abstract
This chapter was initiated from a symposium and workshop on the scientific advances, issues and bioethics of gene confinement in genetically modified grasses conducted on 13–14 May 2005 at Yale University in New Haven, CT. Genetic modification of dedicated bioenergy crops such as switchgrass will play a major role in crop improvement for a wide range of beneficial traits specific to biofuels. One obstacle that arises regarding transgenic improvement of perennials used for biofuels is the propensity of these plants to be open pollinated, with the undesirable capacity of outcrossing to non-transgenic and wild relative species. We examine previous work on pollen-mediated and seed-mediated gene flow of genetically modified grasses, in particular herbicide resistant traits, relevant to gene flow in grasses providing a perspective on the implementation of this technology for improvement of perennial bioenergy crops.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Aldhous P (2003) Time to choose. Nature 425:655
AOSA (2002) Rules for testing seeds. Association of Official Seed Analysts, Stillwater, OK
Bae TW, Vanjildorj E, Song SY, Nishiguchi S, Yang SS, Song IJ, Chandrasekhar T, Kang TW, Kim JI, Koh YJ, Park SY, Lee J, Lee Y-E, Ryu KH, Riu KZ, Song P-S, Lee HY (2008) Environmental risk assessment of genetically engineered herbicide-tolerant Zoysia japonica. J Environ Qual 37:207–218
Belanger FC, Meagher TR, Day PR, Plumley K, Meyer WA (2003) Interspecific hybridization between Agrostis stolonifera and related Agrostis species under field conditions. Crop Sci 43: 240–246
Bucchini L, Goldman LR (2002) Starlink corn: a risk analysis. Environ Health Perspect 110: 5–13
Christoffer PM (2003) Transgenic glyphosate resistant creeping bentgrass: studies in pollen-mediated transgene flow. Masters Thesis, Washington State University
Colwell RK, Norse EA, Pimentel D, Sharples FE, Simberloff D (1985) Genetic engineering in agriculture. Science 229:111–112
Dale PJ, Clarke B, Fontes EMG (2002) Potential for the environmental impact of transgenic crops. Nat Biotechnol 20:567–574
Daniell H (2002) Molecular strategies for gene containment in transgenic crops. Nat Biotechnol 20:581–586
Eastham K, Sweet J (2002) Genetically modified organisms (GEOs): the significance of gene flow through pollen transfer. European Environment Agency, Copenhagen
Ellstrand NC, Hoffman CA (1990) Hybridization as an avenue of escape for engineered genes—strategies for risk reduction. Bioscience 40:438–442
Ellstrand NC, Prentice HC, Hancock JF (1999) Gene flow and introgression from domesticated plants into their wild relatives. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 40:434–437
Fei S, Nelson E (2003) Estimation of pollen viability, shedding pattern, and longevity of creeping bentgrass on artificial media. Crop Sci 43:2177–2181
Fei S, Nelson E (2004) Greenhouse evaluation of fitness-related reproductive traits in Roundup®-tolerant transgenic creeping bentgrass (Agrostis Stolonifera L.). In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Plant 40:266–273
Giles J (2003) Damned if they do, damned if they don’t. Nature 425:656–657
Luo K, Duan H, Zhao D, Zheng X, Deng W, Chen Y, Stewart CN, McAvoy R, Jiang X, Wu Y, He A, Pei Y, Li Y (2007) ’GE-gene-deletor’: fused loxP-FRT recognition sequences dramatically improve the efficiency of FLP or CRE recombinase on transgene excision from pollen and seed of tobacco plants. Plant Biotechnol J 5:263–374
Macilwain C (2005) US launches probe into sales of unapproved transgenic corn. Nature 434:423
Mallory-Smith C, Zapiola ML (2008) Gene flow from glyphosate-resistant crops. Pest Manag Sci 64:428–440
Marvier M, Acker RCV (2005) Can crop transgenes be kept on a leash? Front Ecol Environ 3:99–106
Ortiz-García S, Ezcurra E, Schoel B, Acevedo F, Soberón J, Snow AA (2005) Absence of detectable transgenes in local landraces of maize in Oaxaca, Mexico (2003–2004). Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 102:12338–12343
Pfender W, Graw R, Bradley W, Carney M, Maxwell L (2007) Emission rates, survival, and modeled dispersal of viable pollen of creeping bentgrass. Crop Sci 47:2529–2539
Piñeyro-Nelson A, Van Heerwaarden J, Perales HR, Serratos-Herández A, Rangel A, Hufford MB, Gepts P, Garay-Arroyo A, Rivera-Bustamante R, Álvarez-Buylla ER (2009) Transgenes in Mexican maize: molecular evidence and methodological considerations for GEO detection in landrace populations. Mol Ecol 18:750–761
Quist D, Chapela IH (2001) Transgenic DNA introgressed into traditional maize landraces in Oaxaca, Mexico. Nature 414:541–543
Reichman JR, Watrud LS, Lee EH, Burdick CA, Bollman MA, Storm MJ, King GA, Mallory-Smith C (2006) Establishment of transgenic herbicide-resistant creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) in nonagronomic habitats. Mol Ecol 15:4243–4255
Rogers HJ, Parkes HC (1995) Transgenic plants and the environment. J Exp Bot 46:467–488
Snow AA (2009) Unwanted transgenes re-discovered in oaxacan maize. Mol Ecol 18:569–571
Stewart CN (2007) Biofuels and biocontainment. Nat Biotechnol 25:283–284
Tiedje JM, Colwell RK, Grossman YL, Hodson RE, Lenski RE, Mack RN, Regal PJ (1989) The release of transgenic plants into agriculture. Ecology 70:298–315
Tsuchiya T, Toriyama K, Yoshikawa M, Ejiri S-i, Hinata K (1995) Tapetum-specific expression of the gene for an endo-β-1,3-glucanase causes male sterility in transgenic tobacco. Plant Cell Physiol 36:487–494
USDA-NASS (2006) Oregon agriculture and fisheries statistics. US Department of Agriculture National Statistics Service & Oregon Department of Agriculture
Van de Water PK, Watrud LS, Lee EH, Burdick C, King GA (2007) Long-distance GE pollen movement of creeping bentgrass using modeled wind trajectory analysis. Ecol Appl 17:1244–1256
Watrud LS, Lee EH, Fairbrother A, Burdick C, Reichman JR, Bollman M, Storm M, King G, van De Water PK (2004) Evidence for landscape-level, pollen-mediated gene flow from genetically modified creeping bentgrass with CP4 EPSPS as a marker. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 101:14533–14538
Wipff JK, Fricker C (2001) Gene flow from transgenic creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Int Turfgrass Soc Res J 9:224–242
Wrubel RP, Krimsky S, Wetzler RE (1992) Field testing transgenic plants. BioScience 42:280–289
Zapiola ML, Mallory-Smith CA, Thompson JH, Rue LJ, Campbell CK, Butler MD (2007) Gene escape from glyphosate-resistant creeping bentgrass fields: past, present, and future. Proceedings of the Western Society of Weed Science, Abstract 82
Zapiola ML, Campbell CK, Butler MD, Mallory-Smith CA (2008) Escape and establishment of transgenic glyphosate-resistant creeping bentgrass Agrostis stolonifera in Oregon, USA: a 4-year study. J Appl Ecol 45:486–494
Disclaimer:
Mention of trade names does not imply endorsement of the commercial products that are mentioned nor do the views expressed herein necessarily reflect the views of USDA or USEPA.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kausch, A.P. et al. (2010). Gene Flow in Genetically Engineered Perennial Grasses: Lessons for Modification of Dedicated Bioenergy Crops. In: Mascia, P., Scheffran, J., Widholm, J. (eds) Plant Biotechnology for Sustainable Production of Energy and Co-products. Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry, vol 66. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-13440-1_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-13440-1_10
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-13439-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-13440-1
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)