ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess

Abstract Number: 4453
Poster No. = 1918


GENE FLOW IN SELECTED SWISS CROPS AND RELATED WEEDS, RISK ASSESSMENT FOR THE FIELD RELEASE OF GMOs IN SWITZERLAND : THE CASE OF WHEAT


R.Guadagnuolo1, D.Savova Bianchi1, J.Keller Senften2, P.Rufener Al Mazyad2, K. Ammann2 and F. Felber1, 1Institute of Botany, University of Neuchâtel, Chantemerle 18, 2007 Neuchâtel, Switzerland, 2Systematisch-Geobotanisches Institut, Universität Bern, Altenbergrain21, 3013 Bern, Switzerland


Transgene escape from genetically modified crops to related wild speciescan take place during hybridisation and through dissemination of seeds.The potential gene flow between Triticum æstivum L. (wheat), T. speltaL. (spelt) and Aegilops cylindrica Host. was studied in order to evaluate the risks of cultivation of transgenic crops in Switzerland. The study was performed on non-transgenic plants of wheat and spelt and on natural populations of Ae.cylindrica. Diagnostic markers, including isozymes, RAPDs and microsatellites as well as morphological characters, distinguishing clearly the three Triticeae are presented. Analyses, performed on natural populations of A. cylindrica did not detect hybrids with wheat in natural conditions. Experimental crosses for T. æstivum, T. spelta and Ae. cylindrica in the greenhouse and in the field were carried out. 85 hybrids, in some cases fertile, were found out within 2400 plants of the progeny. The dynamics of four experimental populations of T.æstivum is under study in order to determine the possibility of the establishment of feral populations, probably unlikely in a long term. This work is funded by Swiss National Science Foundation (grant no. 5002-45025)

HTML-Version made 7. July 1999 by Kurt Stüber