title: Rapeseed species and environmental concerns related to loss of seeds of genetically modified oilseed rape in Japan.
abstract: Feral rapeseed in Japan consists of Brassica rapa, B. juncea and B. napus, mostly produced by escape from crops. Brassica rapa and B. juncea were introduced from abroad long ago as leaf and root vegetables and as an oil crop and breeders have developed various cultivars. Brassica napus was introduced in the late 1800s, mainly as an oil crop. Rapeseed production in Japan is low, and most demand is met by imports from Canada (94.4% of the 2009 trade volume). Recently, spontaneous B. napus, including genetically modified (GM) herbicide-resistant individuals, has been detected along Japanese roads, probably originating from seeds lost during transportation of imports. As GM oilseed production increases abroad, the probability of escape of GM oilseed rape in Japan will increase, raising environmental biosafety concerns related to the impact of feral rapeseed on heirloom brassicaceous crops. In this paper, we review the history of rapeseed introduction in Japan and future concerns.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Biology Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa, Tsukuba, Japan.
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishizawa
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tamaoki
authors.forename: Mitsuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aono
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Hikaru
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saji
authors.forename: Nobuyoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakajima
mesh_terms: D001937:Brassica / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029688:Brassica napus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029741:Brassica rapa / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D004782:Environmental Health; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D000074262:Rapeseed Oil; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D010938:Plant Oils; D000074262:Rapeseed Oil