About The Illinois State Water Survey

Climate and Atmospheric Science

Pollination competition effects on gene flow


Pollination Competition Effects on Gene-Flow Estimation: Using Regular vs. Male-Sterile Bait Plants

Junming Wang, Xiusheng Yang, Yi Li, and Phillip F. Elliott

Agronomy Journal 98:1060-1064

ABSTRACT. Pollen-mediated gene flow from transgenic crops is a concern of the scientific community as well as the general public. Although a common practice, the use of male-sterile bait plants in field trials to demonstrate rates of gene transfer has been questioned due to the lack of pollination competition. However, little direct evidence has been published. Field experiments of male-sterile and male-fertile corn bait plants were conducted in 2001 and 2002, respectively, to evaluate the effects of pollination competition on gene-flow assessment. Male-sterile bait plants exhibited a significantly higher rate of outcrossing than malefertile plants. The results obtained from this study suggest that actual gene flow from transgenic plants to their wild-type cultivars or relatives is likely to be lower than estimates reported in previous studies using male-sterile bait plants, and that male-fertile that is, normal, bait plants should be used in future studies attempting to estimate gene flow.

Schematic of sampling locations

Illinois State Water Survey

2204 Griffith Dr., MC-674
Champaign, IL 61820-7463
217-333-2210
Email us with questions or comments.

 

© 2024 University of Illinois Board of Trustees. All rights reserved.
For permissions information, contact the Illinois State Water Survey.
 Terms of use | Privacy Policy | Web Administrator