Environmental release of transgenic trees in Canada — potential benefits and assessment of biosafety

Mullin, T. J.; Bertrand, Samuel

doi:10.5558/tfc74203-2

Cited by 31 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 71 publications

(64 reference statements)

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“…However, the engagement of academic and government scientists with industries wishing to commercialize transgenic trees is likely to be essential to convince a wary public that scientific assessments and plantation monitoring programs have been conducted responsibly (James et al 1998;Mullin and Bertrand 1998). Another significant hurdle for use of transgenic technology in forestry is the intellectual property right that dominates the biotechnology sector (Lucier et al 2001).…”

Section: Limitations and Changes Of Technologies In Relation To Genetmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Transgenic super trees possess all the characteristics of a good weed and risk becoming invasives, and very fast growing, nutrient-demanding plantations operated on short rotations could drive inappropriate plantation development. Many in the forestry industry, as well as academic researchers, are interested in genetically engineering trees but are proceeding cautiously as they evaluate the technology's environmental consequences and gauge how consumers will react to products made from genetically modified trees (Rogers and Parkes 1995;Mullin and Bertrand 1998;Fenning and Gershenzon 2002).…”

Section: Problems Of Regulations and Public Acceptancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, representatives from industry, academia, and environmental groups are expected to ask critical questions such as whether the benefits of developing genetically engineered trees outweigh any potential environmental risks, how broader historical and sociological factors play into the debate, whether current forestry practices will meet or exceed market demand for wood and paper products, and whether there should be changes in the regulatory process specific to the introduction of genetically engineered trees (Mullin and Bertrand 1998;Strauss and Bradshaw 2001), although questions about the potential ecological risks of introducing genetically engineered trees into the environment have been very complicated. In addition to examining the potential benefits and risks associated with genetically engineered trees, we also need to follow the current laws and regulatory practices that apply to the technology (James et al 1998;Fenning and Gershenzon 2002).…”

Section: Problems Of Regulations and Public Acceptancementioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetic transformation of conifers and its application in forest biotechnology

Tang

Newton

2003

Plant Cell Reports

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Genetic modification of conifers through gene transfer technology is now an important field in forest biotechnology. Two basic methodologies, particle bombardment and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, have been used on conifers. The use of particle bombardment has produced stable transgenic plants in Picea abies, P. glauca, P. mariana, and Pinus radiata. Transgenic plants have been produced from Larix decidua, Picea abies, P. glauca, P. mariana, Pinus strobus, P. taeda, and P. radiata via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation has advantages over particle bombardment such as a simpler integration pattern and a limited rearrangement in the introduced DNA. At present, genetic transformation of conifers has been directed toward improving growth rate, wood properties and quality, pest resistance, stress tolerance, and herbicide resistance, which will drive forestry to enter a new era of productivity and quality.

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Section: Limitations and Changes Of Technologies In Relation To Genetmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Problems Of Regulations and Public Acceptancementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Problems Of Regulations and Public Acceptancementioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetic transformation of conifers and its application in forest biotechnology

Tang

Newton

2003

Plant Cell Reports

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“…( MULLIN and BERTRAND, 1998). However, in addition to these concerns, the special purposes for which these trees are genetically modified will almost certainly have effects on their eventual deployment and acceptance by the general public.…”

Section: Ethical and Social Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Engineering Forest Trees with Heavy Metal Resistance Genes

Merkle

2006

Silvae Genetica

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Pollution of soil and water with heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium and arsenic, is a worldwide problem. Phytoremediation, the use of plants to remove, sequester or detoxify pollutants, including heavy metals, offers an environmentally-friendly alternative to engineering-based methods for remediation. Forest trees have multiple features that make them particularly useful for removal of toxic heavy metals, especially if they can be engineered with genes allowing them to handle high levels of these elements. Although still in its infancy, research with transgenic trees carrying genes allowing them to detoxify or sequester some heavy metals has already made promising progress. Most of the work to date has been performed using poplar species and hybrids, although other woody species could be equally as useful. Trees have been engineered with genes for the handling of mercury, cadmium, copper and arsenic following two main approaches, phytoextraction and phytotransformation /phytovolatilizaton. In vitro studies have shown the transgenic trees to have enhanced abilities to tolerate and/or accumulate these metals, and preliminary results from field tests indicate that the trees are functioning. New combinations of genes involved in metal transport or conversion may further enhance the heavy metal remediation capabilities of the transgenic trees. Given the environmentally friendly application, forest trees engineered for phytoremediation may be some of the first transgenic forest trees approved for operational deployment.

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“…Escape of herbicidetolerant trees could lead to reduced control options for other growers, and may force them to rely on less effective or less environmentally benign herbicides for poplar control. Transgenic sterility is likely to dramatically reduce the problem, both quantitatively and spatially, though is unlikely to provide perfect containment in the immediate future (Mullin and Bertrand 1998).…”

Section: Herbicide Tolerancementioning

confidence: 99%

Genetically modified poplars in context

Strauss¹,

DiFazio²,

Meilan³

2001

The Forestry Chronicle

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Poplars (genus Populus) have emerged as a model organism for forest biotechnology, and genetic modification (GM: asexual gene transfer) is more advanced for this genus than for any other tree. The goal of this paper is to consider the benefits expected from the use of GM poplar trees, and the most significant claims made for environmental harm, by comparing them to impacts and uncertainties that are generally accepted as part of intensive tree culture. We focus on the four traits with greatest commercialization potential in the near term: wood modification, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, and flowering control. After field trials and selection of the top performing trees, similar to that during conventional poplar breeding, GM poplars appear vigorous and express their new traits reliably. The ecological issues expected from use of GM poplars appear similar in scope to those managed routinely during conventional plantation culture, which includes the use of exotic and hybrid genotypes, short rotations, intensive weed control, fertilization, and density control. The single-gene traits under consideration for commercial use are unlikely to cause a significant expansion in ecological niche, and thus to substantially alter poplar's ability to "invade" wild populations. We conclude that the ecological risks posed by GM poplars are similar in magnitude, though not in detail, to those of routine poplar culture. We also argue that the tangible economic and environmental benefits of GM poplars for some uses warrant their near-term adoption-if coupled with adaptive research and monitoring-so that their economic and ecological benefits, and safety, can be studied on commercially and ecologically relevant scales. We believe that the growing demand for both wood products and ecological services of forests justifies vigorous efforts to increase wood production on land socially zoned for tree agriculture, plantations, or horticulture. This is the key reason for poplar biotechnology: the combination of economic efficiency with reduction of farm and forestry impact on the landscape.Key words: biotechnology, environmental risk assessment, forestry, genetic engineering, Populus Le peuplier (du genre Populus) est devenu un organisme modble en biotechnologie forestibre, et la modification gCnCtique (MG : un transfert asexuC de gkne) est plus avanck pour ce genre que pour tout autre arbre. L'objectif de cet article vise 21 considerer les MnCfices attendus de l'utilisation des peupliers MG, et d'Ctudier les plus importantes prktentions rattachCes aux dommages environnementaux, en les comparant aux impacts et aux incertitudes qui sont gtneralement acceptkes en tant qu'61tments de la culture intensive d'arbres. Nous nous centrons sur les quartes grands aspects qui ont le plus grand potentiel de commercialisation dans un proche avenir : la modification du bois, la tolCrance aux phytocides, la rtsistance aux insectes et le contr6le de la floraison. Aprks les essais sur le terrain et la sC1ection des arbres les plus performants, com...

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Environmental release of transgenic trees in Canada — potential benefits and assessment of biosafety

Cited by 31 publications

References 71 publications

Genetic transformation of conifers and its application in forest biotechnology

Genetic transformation of conifers and its application in forest biotechnology

Engineering Forest Trees with Heavy Metal Resistance Genes

Genetically modified poplars in context

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