Bhalerao, Rishikesh P.
- Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
Genetically modified hybrid aspens (Populus tremula L. x P. tremuloides Michx.), selected for increased growth under controlled conditions, have been grown in highly replicated field trials to evaluate how the target trait (growth) translated to natural conditions. Moreover, the variation was compared among genotypes of ecologically important non-target traits: number of shoots, bud set, pathogen infection, amount of insect herbivory, composition of the insect herbivore community and flower bud induction. This variation was compared with the variation in a population of randomly selected natural accessions of P. tremula grown in common garden trials, to estimate how the "unintended variation" present in transgenic trees, which in the future may be commercialized, compares with natural variation. The natural variation in the traits was found to be typically significantly greater. The data suggest that when authorities evaluate the potential risks associated with a field experiment or commercial introduction of transgenic trees, risk evaluation should focus on target traits and that unintentional variation in non-target traits is of less concern.
Keywords
Non-target traits; Genetically modified; Natural variation; Hybrid aspen; European aspen; Field experiment
Published in
New Biotechnology
2021, volume: 64, pages: 27-36
Publisher: ELSEVIER
SLU Authors
Nilsson, Ove
- Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Associated SLU-program
SLU Plant Protection Network
UKÄ Subject classification
Agricultural Science
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbt.2021.05.005
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/112962