Does flax have the answer to the GM mix-up?

Wilkinson, M. J.

doi:10.1038/hdy.2010.135

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 9 publications

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“…The presence of exotic hybrids producing viable seed over long periods is significant. Seed-mediated gene flow is often underappreciated and may result in a greater impact than pollen-mediated gene flow rates (Chandler and Dunwell 2008 ; Jhala et al 2011 ; Wilkinson 2011 ; Talbot et al 2012 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fitness dynamics within a poplar hybrid zone: II. Impact of exotic sex on native poplars in an urban jungle

Roe

MacQuarrie

Gros‐Louis

et al. 2014

Ecology and Evolution

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Trees bearing novel or exotic gene components are poised to contribute to the bioeconomy for a variety of purposes such as bioenergy production, phytoremediation, and carbon sequestration within the forestry sector, but sustainable release of trees with novel traits in large-scale plantations requires the quantification of risks posed to native tree populations. Over the last century, exotic hybrid poplars produced through artificial crosses were planted throughout eastern Canada as ornamentals or windbreaks and these exotics provide a proxy by which to examine the fitness of exotic poplar traits within the natural environment to assess risk of exotic gene escape, establishment, and spread into native gene pools. We assessed postzygotic fitness traits of native and exotic poplars within a naturally regenerated stand in eastern Canada (Quebec City, QC). Pure natives (P. balsamifera and P. deltoides spp. deltoides), native hybrids (P. deltoides × P. balsamifera), and exotic hybrids (trees bearing Populus nigra and P. maximowiczii genetic components) were screened for reproductive biomass, yield, seed germination, and fungal disease susceptibility. Exotic hybrids expressed fitness traits intermediate to pure species and were not significantly different from native hybrids. They formed fully viable seed and backcrossed predominantly with P. balsamifera. These data show that exotic hybrids were not unfit and were capable of establishing and competing within the native stand. Future research will seek to examine the impact of exotic gene regions on associated biotic communities to fully quantify the risk exotic poplars pose to native poplar forests.

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