Far-reaching Deleterious Impacts of Regulations on Research and Environmental Studies of Recombinant DNA-modified Perennial Biofuel Crops in the United States

Strauss, Steven H.; Kershen, Drew L.; Bouton, J. H.; Redick, Thomas P.; Tan, Huimin; Sedjo, Roger A.

doi:10.1525/bio.2010.60.9.10

Cited by 34 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The non‐flowering group II transgenic plants might also prove to be valuable for ultimate deployment because in addition to higher yield and lower recalcitrance, they would enable biocontainment of transgenes. As an outcrossing species, pollen‐mediated transgene flow is a major concern for field release of transgenic bioenergy crops (Stewart, 2007; Strauss et al. , 2010; Ge et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overexpression of miR156 in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) results in various morphological alterations and leads to improved biomass production

Sunkar

Zhou

et al. 2012

Plant Biotechnology Journal

270

281

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Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has been developed into a dedicated herbaceous bioenergy crop. Biomass yield is a major target trait for genetic improvement of switchgrass. microRNAs have emerged as a prominent class of gene regulatory factors that has the potential to improve complex traits such as biomass yield. A miR156b precursor was overexpressed in switchgrass. The effects of miR156 overexpression on SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN LIKE (SPL) genes were revealed by microarray and quantitative RT-PCR analyses. Morphological alterations, biomass yield, saccharification efficiency and forage digestibility of the transgenic plants were characterized. miR156 controls apical dominance and floral transition in switchgrass by suppressing its target SPL genes. Relatively low levels of miR156 overexpression were sufficient to increase biomass yield while producing plants with normal flowering time. Moderate levels of miR156 led to improved biomass but the plants were non-flowering. These two groups of plants produced 58%–101% more biomass yield compared with the control. However, high miR156 levels resulted in severely stunted growth. The degree of morphological alterations of the transgenic switchgrass depends on miR156 level. Compared with floral transition, a lower miR156 level is required to disrupt apical dominance. The improvement in biomass yield was mainly because of the increase in tiller number. Targeted overexpression of miR156 also improved solubilized sugar yield and forage digestibility, and offered an effective approach for transgene containment.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overexpression of miR156 in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) results in various morphological alterations and leads to improved biomass production

Sunkar

Zhou

et al. 2012

Plant Biotechnology Journal

270

281

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“…Unfortunately, the stringent regulation of all forms of direct genetic modification that are in place around the world makes even small field trials very difficult and, in many cases, impossible to carry out (Viswanath et al 2012). The development of robust containment technology would therefore benefit not only from additional laboratory research, but from more discriminating regulatory systems that are based on trait risks and benefits, not on a presumed hazard due to use of recombinant DNA methods (Strauss et al 2010;Meilan et al 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A tapetal ablation transgene induces stable male sterility and slows field growth in Populus

Elorriaga

Meilan

et al. 2014

Tree Genetics & Genomes

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The field performance of genetic containment technologies-considered important for certain uses of transgenic trees in forestry-is poorly known. We tested the efficiency of a barnase gene driven by the TA29 tapetum-dominant promoter for influencing growth rate and inducing male sterility in a field trial of transgenic hybrid poplar (Populus tremula× Populus tremuloides). When the growth of 18 transgenic insertion events with the sterility transgene were compared to non-transgenic controls after two growing seasons, they grew 40 % more slowly in stem volume, and all but one transgenic event grew significantly more slowly than the control. In contrast, when we compared the growth of transgenic trees containing four kinds of β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene constructs to non-transgenic trees-all of which had been produced using the same transformation method and poplar clone and grown at the same field site-there were no statistically significant differences in growth after three growing seasons. In 2 years where gross pollen release from catkins was monitored and found to be abundant in the control, no pollen was visible in the transgenic trees; microscopy suggested the cause was tapetal collapse and revealed the presence of a very few normal-sized pollen grains of unknown viability. In two additional years when viable, well-formed pollen was microscopically documented in controls, and no pollen could be observed in any transgenic trees. We conclude that this construct resulted in robust and possibly complete male sterility that was stable over 4 years in the field.

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“…In practice, however, the regulatory triggers have become predominantly method-based and have drifted far from the intent of their authorizing statutes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates pest-resistant genetically engineered plants as pesticide-producers even if they produce no novel or broadly toxic pesticides (and may regulate genetically engineered plants with genes that are simply growth regulators) ( 7). The U.S. Department of Agriculture uses plant pest sequences that, on their own, are of no consequence to plant pest risk or that use a former plant pathogen as a vector (now disarmed), as triggers for regulation.…”

Section: Method-focused and Misguidedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetically engineered trees: Paralysis from good intentions

Strauss

Costanza²,

Séguin

2015

Science

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Far-reaching Deleterious Impacts of Regulations on Research and Environmental Studies of Recombinant DNA-modified Perennial Biofuel Crops in the United States

Cited by 34 publications

References 32 publications

Overexpression of miR156 in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) results in various morphological alterations and leads to improved biomass production

Overexpression of miR156 in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) results in various morphological alterations and leads to improved biomass production

A tapetal ablation transgene induces stable male sterility and slows field growth in Populus

Genetically engineered trees: Paralysis from good intentions

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