Wind tunnel and field assessment of pollen dispersal in Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]

Abstract

Although genetically modified (GM) soybean has never been cultivated commercially in Japan, it is essential to set up the isolation distance required to prevent out-crossing between GM and conventional soybean in preparation for any future possibility of pollen transfer. The airborne soybean pollen was sampled using some Durham pollen samplers located in the range of 20 m from the field edge. In addition, the dispersal distance was assessed in a wind tunnel under constant air flow and then it was compared with the anticipated distances based on the pollen diameter. In the field, the maximum pollen density per day observed was 1.235 grains cm(-2) day(-1) at three observation points within 2.5 m from the field and inside the field the mean density did not reach the rate of 1 grain cm(-2 )day(-1) during 19 flowering days. The results of the wind tunnel experiment also showed that the plants had almost no airborne release of pollen and the dispersal distance was shorter than theoretical value due to clustered dispersal. This study showed little airborne pollen in and around the soybean field and the dispersal is restricted to a small area. Therefore, wind-mediated pollination appears to be negligible.

Scientific Opinion on an application (EFSA‐GMO‐NL‐2005‐24) for the placing on the market of the herbicide tolerant genetically modified soybean 40‐3‐2 for cultivation under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Monsanto

“…Pollinators such as honeybees are thought to mediate pollination, though soybeans are not as attractive to insects as many other plants (Jaycox, 1970;Erickson, 1975aErickson, ,b, 1984Abrams et al, 1978;Erickson et al, 1978;Ortiz-Perez et al, 2006. 26 Based on field trial data and a wind tunnel experiment, Yoshimura (2011) appears to be negligible, as little airborne pollen was observed in and around a soybean field. Most cross-pollination events occur within a few meters of the pollen source, and decrease rapidly with increasing distance from the pollen source (Caviness, 1966;Yoshimura et al, 2006;Abud et al, 2007).…”

Gene flow from transgenic soybean, developed to obtain recombinant proteins for use in the skin care industry, to non-transgenic soybean

“…Horak et al [53] reported that pollen grain diameter of transgenic and non-transgenic soybean ranged from 21.6 to 23.7 μm, which was slightly smaller than that found in our study. Mean pollen diameters of soybean as large as 27.3 μm and 30.4 μm are also reported [10].…”

“…Moreover, much higher rates were observed in male sterile soybean lines [8,9]. Because the airborne release of soybean pollen is very limited, soybean pollination is not mediated by wind [10]. Insect pollinators, particularly many bee species, play important roles in soybean pollination [11][12][13][14][15].…”

Scientific Opinion on application (EFSA‐GMO‐NL‐2009‐64) for the placing on the market of herbicide‐tolerant genetically modified soybean BPS‐CV127‐9 for food and feed uses, import and processing under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from BASF Plant Science

“…Pollinators such as honeybees are thought to mediate pollination, although soybeans are not as attractive to insects as many other plants (Jaycox, 1970;Erickson, 1975aErickson, , b, 1984Abrams et al, 1978;Erickson et al, 1978;Ortiz-Perez et al, 2006. Based on field trial data and a wind tunnel experiment, Yoshimura (2011) concluded that wind-mediated pollination appears to be negligible, as little airborne pollen was observed in and around a soybean field. Most cross-pollination events occur within a few metres of the pollen source, and decrease rapidly as the distance from the pollen source increases (Caviness, 1966;Yoshimura et al, 2006;Abud et al, 2007).…”