Sweet and Sour: A Scientific and Legal Look at Herbicide-Tolerant Sugar Beet

Meyer, Mary Hockenberry; Smith, Alan G.

doi:10.1105/tpc.110.077198

Cited by 14 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…In addition, botanical references typically have no information about the co-occurrence of closely related species that could favor interspecific gene flow. This information is critical for the design of geographic exclusion zones, regions where specific GE crops are not permitted because of potential for crop-to-wild gene flow (McGinnis et al 2010). Our project was designed to provide information about the distribution, habitat types, and plant communities for two grass species that have been modified through traditional breeding and biotechnology to create novel traits for the U.S. market: A. stolonifera (creeping bentgrass) and Panicum virgatum (switchgrass).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The intersection of ecological risk assessment and plant communities: an analysis of Agrostis and Panicum species in the northeastern U.S.

2011

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Ecological risk assessments for grass species with novel traits are advisable, or required, in order to identify potential environmental harms prior to large-scale cultivation. Credible risk assessments are built upon knowledge of the communities that could be negatively affected by crop-to-wild gene flow, new weeds, or invasive plants. This study focused on two cultivated grasses with different life histories: the exotic, weedy Agrostis stolonifera (creeping bentgrass) and the native Panicum virgatum (switchgrass). Vascular plant communities were analyzed in 190 transects (50 m) in ten habitat types across two ecoregions (inland and coastal) in the northeastern U.S. Ordination plots and dendrogram analysis showed clustering of inland plant community assemblages within habitat types, while coastal plant communities were similar across the habitats studied. Agrostis and Panicum species had unequal distribution across the habitat types and ecoregions. Agrostis species were more common in the inland ecoregion and habitats receiving moderate management or disturbance events. In both ecoregions, A. stolonifera had high co-occurrence values with other exotic Agrostis species, suggesting potential for interspecific gene flow. P. virgatum was most common in inland roadside and wasteland habitats, but was distributed equally in the three coastal habitats. Co-occurrence between P. virgatum and congenerics was infrequent, although one transect had both P. virgatum and the state-listed coastal species Panicum amarum. This is the first study to characterize Agrostis and Panicum plant communities and distribution providing the basis for ecological risk assessments, coexistencestrategies, and geographic exclusion zones.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The intersection of ecological risk assessment and plant communities: an analysis of Agrostis and Panicum species in the northeastern U.S.

2011

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“…Similarly, wheat fields are frequently infested by the sexually compatible jointed goatgrass ( Aegilops cylindrical ) and the transfer of the non-transgenic imidazolinone-resistance has been observed under natural field conditions. 75,76 A comparable situation concerns sugar beet where herbicide tolerant GM plants have been grown commercially since 2009, 77 although wild beet species may be present within sugar beet fields and transgene flow is almost unavoidable. 78 The ban of GM sugar beet planting in regions with high chance of introgression is only second choice compared to a beet modified in such a way to exclude gene flow.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transgene flow: Facts, speculations and possible countermeasures

Ryffel

2014

GM Crops & Food

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Convincing evidence has accumulated that unintended transgene escape occurs in oilseed rape, maize, cotton and creeping bentgrass. The escaped transgenes are found in variant cultivars, in wild type plants as well as in hybrids of sexually compatible species. The fact that in some cases stacked events are present that have not been planted commercially, implies unintended recombination of transgenic traits. As the consequences of this continuous transgene escape for the ecosystem cannot be reliably predicted, I propose to use more sophisticated approaches of gene technology in future. If possible GM plants should be constructed using either site-directed mutagenesis or cisgenic strategies to avoid the problem of transgene escape. In cases where a transgenic trait is needed, efficient containment should be the standard approach. Various strategies available or in development are discussed. Such a cautious approach in developing novel types of GM crops will enhance the sustainable potential of GM crops and thus increase the public trust in green gene technology.

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“…Since sugar beets have evolved from red beets, re-crossing red beets with sugar beets may produce intermediary types of plants useful for bio-fuel. Another ecological issue is the use of genetically modi fi ed plants, and the problem in beets is the ease with which lateral gene-fl ow occurs (McGinnis et al 2010 ) . However, in in vitro cultures such as hairy roots, the cultures are mostly con fi ned to the aseptic environment grown in laboratory conditions, avoiding transgene or pharmacologically active protein dissemination into other organisms or to the environment.…”

Section: Ecological Bene Fi Ts Of Modern Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Techno-commercial Aspects of Relevance to Red Beet

Neelwarne

2012

Red Beet Biotechnology

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While Chap. 1 of this book provides an overview of what has been researched in red beet, this chapter tries to put red beet into the newer arena of diverting its current progress towards newer technologies and applications. Beets have unlimited applications, from food, fodder, fuel and pharmaceutical to ornamentals and environmental cleansing agents; this means that the allied technologies span from moderate to very high-tech ventures. Scienti fi cally, as a model system, beet has contributed continuously to our knowledge of cellular physiologies of primary metabolism, energy conservation in the form of sugar synthesis and sequestration processes of primary and secondary metabolites. In the fi eld of genetics, their ever-diversifying nature and amazing adaptability to newer environments have mesmerized scientists. Red beet occupies a position among the top ten vegetables for its antioxidant capacity, cancer-prevention activities and instant blood pressure control. However, it is essential to supplement the current knowledge with innovative scienti fi c methods in terms of validation, characterization and further onward integration of processes through advanced mechanotronics to develop mainstream food products. Treating in vitro cultures and normal beet plant with innovative biotechnologies such as metabolic engineering and genetic modi fi cation is expected to signi fi cantly improve the sustainable production of a wide array of food, pharmaceuticals and bio-energy products. To realize these potentials, the probable technological leaps that are needed are discussed in this chapter.

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Sweet and Sour: A Scientific and Legal Look at Herbicide-Tolerant Sugar Beet

Cited by 14 publications

References 13 publications

The intersection of ecological risk assessment and plant communities: an analysis of Agrostis and Panicum species in the northeastern U.S.

The intersection of ecological risk assessment and plant communities: an analysis of Agrostis and Panicum species in the northeastern U.S.

Transgene flow: Facts, speculations and possible countermeasures

Techno-commercial Aspects of Relevance to Red Beet

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