Abstract
Background, aim, and scope
The possibility of gene transfer from genetically modified oilseed rape (OSR) to its cultivated or wild relatives is of concern since its commercial cultivation, because of its potential weediness and impact on the environment. Introgression of modified genes can affect conservation of agricultural crops, because there are many cultivars and wild Brassicaceae that may cross with genetically modified OSR (Brassica napus) in Japan. Japan imports more than 2 million tons of OSR a year from Canada and other countries. Since volunteers of GM OSR were found around harbors in 2004, a lot of feral GM OSR was discovered in Japan. To consider the way how to keep domestic Brassicaceae from GM contamination, we surveyed and analyzed the dispersal and persistence of GM OSR around Japanese harbors. We present the cause and abundance of GM OSR in Japan by this paper.
Materials and methods
Survey of the feral OSR was performed several times a year at different seasons when domestic OSR either grows or does not around port areas. Detection of herbicide tolerance in feral B. napus was done by test papers that cross react with the modified gene product. Two kinds of herbicide tolerance (glyphosate and glufosinate) were tested.
Results
The feral B. napus were discovered around all 13 harbors that import rapeseeds from foreign countries. Genetically modified, herbicide-tolerant OSR were frequently found in the surveyed populations. Two kinds of herbicide-tolerant OSR (glyphosate- and glufosinate-tolerant) were discovered in a natural condition 40 km from port to an oil factory where 60,000 tons of OSR seed are processed a year. The cause of voluntary growth of OSR is seed spillage during transportation by trucks from harbors to oil factories and other processing facilities. Some of the feral OSR growing along the roadsides of transport paths exhibited perennial growth spilling their seeds around the places. Alteration of the generation of feral GM OSR was discovered for the first time in Japan as a result of this study. We studied the yearly change of feral OSR abundances focusing on Yokkaichi port over the 4 years since 2004. The rate of GM OSR increases year to year, and reaches nearly 90% in 2008.
Discussion
The possibility and consequences of gene transfer from the genetically modified OSR to domestic species (B. rapa and B. juncea) were discussed in relation to impact on domestic agriculture and on environments. Evolutional meaning of the gene transfer was also discussed with respect to the gene construct of GM OSR. This study shows the importance of another pathway of modified gene transfer to non-GM relative species by seed transportation in addition to pollen transfer from commercial cultivation of genetically modified OSR.
Conclusions and recommendations
We identified unintended dispersal and persistence of GM OSR around Japanese harbors that import OSR from Canada and other countries. Both glyphosate- and glufosinate-tolerant feral B. napus were discovered. The cause of volunteer OSR is spillage of the seeds during transportation by truck to oil factory. The feral GM OSR sometimes showed perennial growth in Japanese phonological conditions which are not observed for domestic Brassicaceae. In addition, we confirmed an alteration of generations by feral GM OSR in Japan. The possibility of cross pollination and GM gene introgression to domestic varieties can occur in these environments. To improve the situation, each responsible organization, company, administration, or government should establish measures how to stop the dispersal and persistence of GM OSR in nature. Also, the GM plant developers are responsible for revising this situation.
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful to members of Associations of GMO Concerns, Chubu-district, Japan with whom we could survey many times and for 4 years in large areas around harbors in Japan. Acknowledgement is also given to Ms. Makiko Irisawa who offered us convenience of lateral flow test papers and discussion of the results. Mr. Keisuke Amagasa and his colleagues of Organization of No-GMO Campaign, Japan is acknowledged for information on the nationwide survey of OSR.
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Overview of the series, thematically oriented:
1. The variability of processes involved in transgene dispersal: case studies from Brassica and related genera Naja Steen Andersen, Tina D’Hertefeldt, Thure Hauser, Dany Hooftman, Rikke Bagger Jørgensen
2. Cumulative impact of GM herbicide tolerant cropping on arable plants assessed through species-based and functional taxonomies Geoffrey Squire, Graham Begg, Cathy Hawes, Mark Young
3. Farmer knowledge and a priori risk analysis: pre-release evaluation of genetically modified roundup ready wheat across the Canadian prairies Ian Mauro, Stéphane McLachlan, Rene C. Van Acker
4. Dispersal and persistence of genetically modified oilseed rape around Japanese harbors Masaharu Kawata, T. Ishikawa, Kikuku Murakami
5. Hazard mitigation or mitigation hazard? Would genetically modified dwarfed oilseed rape (Brassica napus) increase feral survival? Hauke Reuter, Gertrud Menzel, Hendrik Pehlke, Broder Breckling
6. How to model and simulate the effects of cropping systems on population dynamics and gene flow at the landscape level: example of oilseed rape volunteers and their role for co-existence of GM and non GM crops Nathalie Colbach
7. Hybrid regimes of knowledge? Challenges for specifying non-knowledge in the context of the GMO-debate Stefan Böschen
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Kawata, M., Murakami, K. & Ishikawa, T. Dispersal and persistence of genetically modified oilseed rape around Japanese harbors. Environ Sci Pollut Res 16, 120–126 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-008-0074-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-008-0074-4