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[SANET-MG] gm canola seeds persist in soil for a decade



GM canola seeds hang around in the soil a long time. The threat of GM canola pollution of organic crops seems very clear. Of course USDA has decided that GM pollution of crops should not effect organic certification but the rest of the world (except Canada) thinks differently.
Proceedings: Biological Sciences
ISSN: 0962-8452 (Paper) 1471-2954 (Online)
Issue: Volume 272, Number 1575 / September 22, 2005

Pages: 1909 - 1915
DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2005.3166
URL: Linking Options
Persistence of seeds from crops of conventional and herbicide tolerant oilseed rape (Brassica napus)

Peter J.W. Lutman A1, Kate Berry A1, Roger W. Payne A1, Euan Simpson A2, Jeremy B. Sweet A2, Gillian T. Champion A3, Mike J. May A3, Pat Wightman A4, Kerr Walker A4, Martin Lainsbury A5

A1 Rothamsted Research Harpenden Herts AL5 2JQ, UK
A2 NIAB Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0LE, UK
A3 Broom's Barn Research Station Higham, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 6NP, UK A4 The Scottish Agricultural College Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK
A5 The Arable Group Morley St Botolph, Wymondham, Norfolk NR18 9DB, UK

Abstract:

A series of rotation experiments at five sites over four years has explored the environmental and agronomic implications of growing herbicide tolerant oilseed rape and sugar beet. This paper reports on the population dynamics of volunteer rape (Brassica napus). The experiments compared four winter oilseed rape (WOSR) cultivars: a conventional cultivar (Apex) and three developmental cultivars either genetically modified (GM) to be tolerant to glyphosate or glufosinate, or conventionally bred to be tolerant to herbicides of the imidazolinone group. Seed losses at harvest averaged 3575 seedsm−2 but ranged from less than 2000 up to more than 10000 seedsm−2. There was a rapid decline in seed numbers during the first few months after harvest, resulting in a mean loss of seeds of 60%. In subsequent seasons, the seedbank declined much more slowly at four of the five sites (ca 20% per year) and the models predicted 95% seed loss after approximately 9 years. Seed decline was much faster at the fifth site. There were no clear differences between the four cultivars in either the numbers of seeds shed at harvest or in their subsequent persistence. The importance of the persistence of GM rape seeds, in the context of the coexistence of GM and non-GM crops and the role of good management practices that minimize seed persistence, are discussed.

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