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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Crop Science Research Laboratory » Corn Host Plant Resistance Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #214436
Title: An empirically derived model of field-scale gene flow in winter wheat

Author
item GAINES, T - COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
item BYRNE, P - COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
item WESTRA, P - COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
item NISSEN, S - COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
item Henry, William
item Shaner, Dale

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/4/2007
Publication Date: 11/1/2007
Citation: Gaines, T.A., Byrne, P.F., Westra, P., Nissen, S.J., Henry, W.B., Shaner, D.L., Chapman, P.L. 2007. An empirically derived model of field-scale gene flow in winter wheat. Crop Science. 47:2308-2316.

Interpretive Summary: The purpose of this study was to measure the rate of gene flow from transgenic wheat into other wheat varieties. Gene flow occurs when pollen from one variety pollinates a plant of a different variety. The resulting hybrid plant may contain unwanted traits from the pollen donor parent. Studies were conducted on large field scale plots and smaller experimental plots located at a research station in Colorado. The study was conducted in a total of 56 commercial field locations in eastern Colorado in 2003, 2004, and 2005. Gene flow was detected in every field tested. The closer a plant was to the pollen source, the more likely gene flow was to occur. The highest gene flow was 5.3% recorded at 0.23 m. Gene flow was also detected up to 61 m away although at a much lower rate, 0.25%. In order to assure a 95% probability of avoiding gene flow, wheat varieties should be planted a minimum distance of 41 m apart. This distance should represent the highest levels of gene flow expected to occur in winter wheat in the west-central Great Plains and should be useful for determining biotechnology regulations.

Technical Abstract: The potential introduction of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars with transgenic traits has generated increased interest in pollen-mediated gene flow (PMGF). The objectives of this study were to estimate wheat PMGF between commercial fields across multiple years and locations, and to compare estimates from large fields to those from smaller experimental plots. The study was conducted in a total of 56 commercial field locations in eastern Colorado in 2003, 2004, and 2005. We measured PMGF by tracking the movement of an imidazolinone herbicide resistance gene from resistant to susceptible cultivars, sampled at distances of 0.23 to 61 m. At least one sample from all 56 fields and from all 18 evaluated cultivars had detectable PMGF. The highest observed PMGF was 5.3% at 0.23 m. The farthest distance at which PMGF was detected was 61 m and the highest PMGF at that distance was 0.25%. Higher levels and greater distances of PMGF were detected in commercial fields than in experimental plots. Based on estimates from a generalized linear mixed model with a random location effect, the distance required to ensure 95% confidence that 95% of locations have PMGF less than 0.9% is 41.1 m for cultivars heading earlier than the pollen source and 0.7 m for cultivars heading later than the pollen source. These confidence limits should represent the highest levels of PMGF expected to occur in winter wheat in the west-central Great Plains and will be useful for wheat biotechnology regulation.