Potential Hybridization of Flax with Weedy and Wild Relatives: An Avenue for Movement of Engineered Genes?

Abstract

Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is being evaluated as a crop platform for the production of bio‐industrial and nutraceutical products. An important consideration for the release of any novel trait is the potential for gene flow to wild or weedy relatives and the impact it may have on their populations. The potential for gene introgression from transgenic flax to wild relatives, the occurrence, the phylogeny of flax wild relatives and reported interspecific hybridization was reviewed to initiate the evaluation of environmental risk of novel flax in Canada. The genus Linum contains approximately 230 species which are distributed in many parts of the world and may grow in sympatry with cultivated flax. Interspecific hybridization and cytogenetic studies between flax and congeneric species demonstrated that cultivated flax has the ability to hybridize and form viable F1 plants with at least nine species of Linum (L. africanum, L. angustifolium, L. corymbiferum, L. decumbens, L. floccosum, L. hirsutum, L nervosum, L. pallescens, and L. tenue). Hybridization of flax with many other wild relatives has either not been studied or reported. However, based on the evidence of reported hybridization with wild or weedy relatives, gene flow from flax to wild or weedy relatives is possible in several species native to North America, depending on species distribution, sympatry, concurrent flowering, ploidy level, and sexual compatibility.

Characterization of novel genic SSR markers in Linum usitatissimum (L.) and their transferability across eleven Linum species

“…Hybridization between inter botanical sections have also been reported; i.e. L.usitatissimum (n = 15, Linum) x L. hirsutum (n = 9, Dasyllinum) and L.usitatissimum (n = 15, Linum) x L. strictum (n = 9, Linastrum) (Jhala et al 2008). These species disclosed 58.5% and 78% of transferability, respectively.…”

Pollen-mediated gene flow in flax (Linum usitatissimum L.): can genetically engineered and organic flax coexist?

“…Although this research does not specifically address isolation distances, we suggest isolations be increased and routine testing of certified flax seed should be implemented (Jhala et al, 2008). For coexistence of GE, conventional and organic flax, the use of non-GE buffer zone around GE flax fields and discarding buffer zones around organic flax fields after flowering should be considered (Jhala et al, 2009).…”

Phylogenetic network of Linum species as revealed by non-coding chloroplast DNA sequences

“…Gill (1987) continued the effort by determining the chromosome counts of 41 Linum species, ranging from 2n = 16 to 80. These efforts, along with early research on interspecific hybridization among cultivated and wild species (e.g., see Gill and Yermanos 1967), have played an important role in the search for and introgression of desired traits of economic importance from closely related wild species into cultivated flax (Diederichsen and Hammer 1995;Diederichsen 2007;Jhala et al 2008). …”