Controlling the release of pollen from genetically modified maize and increasing its grain yield by growing mixtures of male-sterile and male-fertile plants

Abstract

There is public concern about the consequences of pollen dispersal from genetically modified (GM) crops. There lease of viable pollen from GM maize can be controlled by growing mixtures of cytoplasmic male-sterile plants and male-fertile non-transformed pollinator plants. Our experiments indicate that such associations can bring about grain yields as high or even higher than those produced by pure male-fertile maize crops, especially when the male-sterile component is pollinated non-isogenically. The grain yield benefits from cytoplasmic malesterility and xenia as well as the fact that seed of male-sterile varieties can be produced cheaply and reliably in large quantities would facilitate the implementation of the proposed system in agricultural practice.