When growing different transgenic herbicide-resistant oilseed rape cultivars
side by side, seeds with multiple herbicide resistance can arise, possibly
causing problems for the management of volunteer plants. Large-scale field
experiments were performed in the years 1999/2000 and 2000/2001 in order to
investigate the frequencies and the consequences of the transfer of
herbicide resistance genes from transgenic oilseed rape to cultivars grown
on neighboring agricultural fields. Transgenic oilseed rape with resistance
to glufosinate-ammonium (LibertyLink, LL) and with glyphosate resistance
(RoundupReady, RR), respectively, was sown in adjacent 0.5 ha plots,
surrounded by about 8 ha non-transgenic oilseed rape. The plots and the
field were either in direct contact (0.5 m gap width) or they were separated
by 10 m of fallow land. Seed samples taken during harvest in the transgenic
plots at different distances were investigated for progeny with resistance
to the respective other herbicide. It was found that outcrossing frequencies
were reduced to different extents by a 10 m isolation distance. In addition
to pollen-mediated transgene flow as a result of outcrossing, we found
considerable seed-mediated gene flow by adventitious dispersal of transgenic
seeds through the harvesting machine. Volunteer plants with double herbicide
resistance emerging in the transgenic plots after harvest were selected by
suitable applications of the complementary herbicides Basta® and Roundup
Ultra®. In both years, double-resistant volunteers were largely restricted
to the inner edges of the plots. Expression analysis under controlled
laboratory conditions of double-resistant plants generated by manual crosses
revealed stability of transgene expression even at elevated temperatures.
Greenhouse tests with double-resistant oilseed rape plants gave no
indication that the sensitivity to a range of different herbicides is
changed as compared to non-transgenic oilseed rape.