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[SANET-MG] THE EFFECT OF WIND DIRECTION ON CROSS-POLLINATION IN WIND-POLLINATED GM CROPS
Ecological Applications
Volume 17, Issue 4 (June 2007)
Article: pp. 1234–1243
THE EFFECT OF WIND DIRECTION ON CROSS-POLLINATION IN WIND-POLLINATED GM
CROPS
Martin Hoyle and James E. Cresswell
School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4
4PS UK
In Europe, regulatory thresholds restrict adventitious GM (genetically
modified) presence in conventional crops. Minimum distances for the
spatial separation of fields are often recommended to reduce
field-to-field cross-pollination to an acceptable level. Field trials
are typically the basis for setting separation distances. However, using
records of wind direction and speed from weather stations across Europe,
we predict theoretically that field-to-field windborne cross-pollination
in maize, oilseed rape, sugar beet, and rice varies greatly according to
the relative orientation of the GM and non-GM fields. Furthermore, at a
given site and orientation from a GM field, we predict that the
cross-pollination rate varies substantially from year to year.
Consequently, even replicated field trials may inaccurately estimate
typical levels of cross-pollination and therefore distort our perception
of the separation distances required to achieve sub-threshold
adventitious GM presence! . We propose methods to predict the likely
range in levels of cross-pollination based on the limited data typically
available from field trials. Additionally, we suggest suitable time lags
between peak flowering in adjacent fields that could be introduced to
reduce cross-pollination to a specified level.
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