title: Assessing the value of imperfect biocontainment nationally: rapeseed in the United Kingdom as an exemplar.
abstract: Paternal biocontainment methods (PBMs) act by preventing pollen-mediated transgene flow. They are compromised by transgene escape via the crop-maternal line. We therefore assess the efficacy of PBMs for transgenic rapeseed (Brassica napus) biocontainment across the United Kingdom by estimating crop-maternal hybridization with its two progenitor species. We used remote sensing, field surveys, agricultural statistics, and meta-analysis to determine the extent of sympatry between the crop and populations of riparian and weedy B. rapa and B. oleracea. We then estimated the incidence of crop-maternal hybridization across all settings to predict the efficacy of PBMs. Evidence of crop chloroplast capture by the progenitors was expanded to a national scale, revealing that crop-maternal gene flow occurs at widely variable rates and is dependent on both the recipient and setting. We use these data to explore the value that this kind of biocontainment can bring to genetic modification (GM) risk management in terms of reducing the impact that hybrids have on the environment rather than preventing or reducing hybrid abundance per se.
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA, 5064, Australia.
authors.forename: Caroline S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Biomedical and Analytical Sciences, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK.
authors.forename: Joël
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Allainguillaume
authors.affiliation: Department of International Affairs, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tzu-Yu Richard
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AS, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mitchley
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA, 5064, Australia.
authors.forename: Mike J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
mesh_terms: D029741:Brassica rapa / Q000235:genetics*; D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000378:metabolism; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000235:genetics; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D005843:Geography; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D057685:Plant Weeds / Q000235:genetics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D061350:Sympatry; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Brassica napus; Brassica oleracea; Brassica rapa; chloroplast capture; gene flow; genetic modification (GM); paternal biocontainment methods (PBMs); rapeseed