Fitness of backcross six of hybrids between transgenic oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum

The process of introgression between a transgenic crop modified for better agronomic characters and a wild relative could lead potentially to increased weediness and adaptation to the environment of the wild species. However, the formation of hybrid and hybrid progeny could be associated with functional imbalance and low fitness, which reduces the risk of gene escape and establishment of the wild species in the field. Our work compares the fitness components of parents and different types of backcross in the sixth generation of hybrids between transgenic oilseed rape (Brassica napus, AACC, 2n = 38) resistant to the herbicide glufosinate and wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum, RrRr, 2n = 18)…

Gene flow from oilseed rape to weedy species

The assessment of the likelihood of transgene spread from cultivated species to their wild relatives is relevant for oilseed rape (Brassica napus, AACC, 2n=38) as it is partially allogamous and pre...

Agro-environmental impact of the cultivation of herbicide tolerant genetically modified rapeseed varieties

Last results concerning gene flow from transgenic oilseed rape to wild radish

International audience

Genetic relationships between Sicilian wild populations of Brassica analysed with RAPD markers

Brassica comprises very variable species, both morphologically and genetically. Among these species, the Sicilian populations of Brassica sect. Brassica, species related to kale crops form a complex group. The genetic relationships among 15 populations occurring in Sicily and one from Calabria, representing the existing diversity, have been investigated using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. This assay, carried out with 22 arbitrary primers, generated 236 polymorphic fragments, 21 of which were specific for single populations (mainly Brassica insularis, Brassica incana and Brassica macro-carpa). Jaccard's genetic distances were computed and the phylogenic tree was establishe…

Isozyme analysis of genetic diversity in wild Sicilian populations of Brassica sect. Brassica in view of genetic resources management

In Sicily and in the small surrounding islands the section Brassica of the genus Brassica comprises five species, B. insularis Moris, B. incana Ten., B. macrocarpa Guss., B. rupestris Raf. and B. villosa Biv. These taxa represent a genetic resource as relatives of kale crops but some populations are endangered or threatened, thus isozyme analyses were performed to assess the genetic diversity degree at population and species levels in order to assist the design of conservation management programs. Eleven loci from five enzyme systems (aconitase, leucine aminopeptidase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, phosphoglucoisomerase phosphoglucomutase) were analyzed in sixteen natural population (fi…

Consequences of gene flow between oilseed rape and wild radish

International audience; Gene flow and introgression from crops to wild species can modify the adaptive potential and weediness of arable-land plant species. It gained recent importance with the release of genetically modified (GM) crops because of the risk of transfer of herbicide-resistance genes to related weeds. It is also a permanent possibility that could have occurred in the past with any conventional variety. In order to investigate this “normal” phenomenon and its impact, we developed three approaches in the framework of the study of gene flow between oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum). First, we compared the growth and reproduction of progeny of a…