Gene flow from transgenic oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) to cruciferous weeds under mentor pollen inducement

The alien gene flow between genetically modified glyphosate-resistant rapeseed variety Q3 (Brassica napus L.) and four cruciferous weeds was studied under mentor pollen inducement. The results showed that when Thlaspi arvense L., Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medic, Cardamine hirsute L. and Rorippa palustris (L.) Besser were pollinated with mentor pollen, the mixed Q3 and the weed, pollen grains aggregated largely and germinated quickly, and the numbers of pollen tubes penetrating into the style and the ovary were greatly increased as compared with corresponding self-pollination groups. Twenty four to forty eight hours after pollination, several pollen tubes were observed to penetrate into the ovule via micropyle in each mentor combination. However, when the mentor progenies were analyzed by PCR, all of them showed negative for the Q3 herbicide-resistant gene. Collectively, these results indicated that crossing between T. arvense, C. bursa-pastoris, C. hirsuta, R. palustris (as female) and Q3 (as male) was highly incompatible and the herbicide-resistant gene could not flow from Q3 to these four weeds.     

Gene flow from genetically modified herbicide-resistant rapeseed to cruciferous weeds

The sexual compatibility between genetically modified (GM) glyphosate-resistant rapeseed variety Q3 (Brassica napus L.) and 5 cruciferous weeds is studied through the observation of fluorescence microscopy and cross-fertility after manual pollination. The results indicated that Q3 (as male) was highly incompatible with Thlaspi arvense L., Capsella bursa?pastoris (L.) Medic, Cardamine hirsuta L. and Rorippa palustris (L.) Besser (as female). Fluorescence microscopic observation showed that growing of pollen tubes terminated on the stigma surface or at the upper 1/3 part of the style. However, B. juncea×Q3 was compatible, and the compatibility index was 1.65. Under the neighboring growth and natural pollination conditions, the rates of gene flow from Q3 to T. arvense, C. bursa-pastoris, C. hirsute and R. palustris were all 0, while it was 0.86% for B. juncea. These results indicate that there is difference in the rate of gene flow between GM rapeseed and cruciferous wild weeds, and frequency of gene flow is highly correlated with sexual compatibility.     

Assessment on alien herbicide-resistant gene flow among crucifers by sexual compatibility

Cross-pollination and high cross-compatibility are frequently found in many cruciferous plants, which implies that there might be potential risk of alien gene flow among crucifers. In this work, the alien glyphosate-resistant gene flow between GM （Genetically modified） rapeseed variety Q3 （Brassica napus） and 6 varieties from 5 cruciferous species was assessed by sexual compatibility through aniline blue fluorescence observation, manual cross, mentor pollination with the mixture pollen and DNA identification. The results indicated that the compatibility indices of two B. napus varieties, B. juncea vat. multiceps Tsen et Lee and Chinese cabbage （B. chinensis） （as female） with Q3 （as male） were 16.15, 12.77, 2.345 and 0.85, respectively. FI plants were examined by PCR and all of these samples were confirmed as positive. Crossing between Orychophragmus violaceus, Descurainia sophia （as female） and Q3 （as male） expressed high cross-incompatibility. Fluorescence microscope observation indicated that growing of pollen tube terminated at the upper 1/3 part of the style of O. violaceus and on the stigma surface of D. sophia. The mentor plants were further analyzed by PCR and all were shown to be negative. Under the neighboring growth and natural pollination conditions, the rates of gene flow to two B. napus varieties were 2.3278% and 2.1487%, respectively, B. juncea var. multiceps Tsen et Lee and Chinese cabbage were 1.0157% and 0.9236%, respectively. No gene flow was observed in O. violaceus and D. sophia. Frequency of gene flow was highly correlated with sexual compatibility. Due to possible alien gene flow among crucifers, special consideration and care should be taken to grow GM rapeseed.