GMO Research Programme - Reports
Quantifying landscape-scale gene flow in oilseed rape
Ref RG0216
Author's synopsis
This study aimed to improve knowledge of gene flow in oilseed rape to enable better prediction of cross-pollination on the landscape-scale. To estimate maximum cross-pollination, small groups of male-sterile plants were placed over a wide area within and around a typical oilseed rape region in E Scotland. The patterns of decline from the nearest source indicated that segregation by distance is an inefficient means of reducing cross-pollination. No upper limit to gene flow in oilseed rape was found, despite testing long distances. Estimates of cross-pollination into male-sterile oilseed rape over-estimated that into male-fertile plants by about one order of magnitude. A further reduction was encountered when the recipient plants were part of a large population of male-fertile plants. Understanding the spatial patterns of gene flow and predicting it in new situations depends on an understanding of the vectors involved. It was demonstrated that airborne pollen is relatively ineffective, and that much of the pollination taking place over a few km is vectored by bees and other insects. Predictions were made of the possible levels of gene flow in realistic situations over widely differing distances, and into different types of oilseed rape population.
Start and completion dates
September 1997 - September 2003.
Final report
Available to download in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format (580 KB).
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Other publications
Anon. [Ramsay, G., and Hillman, J.R.] (2000) Scottish Crop Research Institute Memorandum on Gene Flow and SCRI Research. Annex 1. Eighth Report of the House of Commons Select Committee on Agriculture. 'Genetically Modified Organisms and Seed Segregation'. ISBN 0 10 257400 6.
(www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199900/cmselect/cmagric/812/812ap02.htm)Ramsay, G, Thompson, CE, Neilson, SJ, and Mackay, G. (1999) Honeybees as vectors of GM oilseed rape pollen. 1999 BCPC Symposium Proceedings No 72. Gene Flow and Agriculture: Relevance for Transgenic Crops. pp. 209-214.
Squire, G.R., Augustin, N., Bown, J., Crawford, J.C., Dunlop, G., Graham, J., Hillman, J.R., Marshall, B., Marshall, D., Ramsay, G., Robinson, D.J., Russell, J., Thompson, C., and Wright, G. (1999) Gene flow in the environment: genetic pollution? SCRI Annual Report 1998/1999, pp. 45-54.
http://wwwexternal.scri.sari.ac.uk/SCRI/upload/annualreportdocuments/99Indiv/04GenPol.pdfSquire, G.R., Begg, B., Crawford, J., Gordon, S., Hawes, C., Johnstone, C., Marshall, B., Ramsay, G., Thompson, C., Wright, G., and Young, M.. (2003) Outcrossing among crops and feral descendents - geneflow. SCRI Annual Report 2001/2002. pp 176-180.
http://wwwexternal.scri.sari.ac.uk/SCRI/upload/annualreportdocuments/02Indiv/33OutCr.pdfSquire, G, Crawford, JW, Ramsay, G, Thompson, CE, and Bown, J. (1999) Gene flow at the landscape level. 1999 BCPC Symposium Proceedings No 72. Gene Flow and Agriculture: Relevance for Transgenic Crops. pp. 57-64.
Thompson, CE, Squire, G, Mackay, GR, Bradshaw, Crawford, J, and Ramsay, G. (1999) Regional patterns of gene flow and its consequence for GM oilseed rape. 1999 BCPC Symposium Proceedings No 72. Gene Flow and Agriculture: Relevance for Transgenic Crops. pp. 95-100.
Contact details
Contractors
Dr Gavin Ramsay
Scottish Crop Research Institute
Invergowrie
Dundee DD2 5DA
01382 562731
G.Ramsay@scri.sari.ac.ukDefra
Dr Nick Brickle
3/E8 Ashdown House
123 Victoria Street
London, SW1E 6DE.
020 7082 8082
gm@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Page last modified: 5 December 2003
Page published: 13 October 2003