Date of publication: March 25, 2004
Source:
http://gmoinfo.jrc.it/gmp_browse_geninf.asp
Notification
report
General information
Notification Number:
B/IT/04/01
Member State:Italy
Date of Acknowledgement:08/03/2004
Title of the Project:
"Safety Assessment in Food and Environment - S:A:F:E"
"Studio delle interazioni tra piante di melanzana (Solanum
melongena L.) transgenica esprimente la tossina Cry3B e
l'artropodofauna presente nell'agroecosistema"
Proposed period of release From:31/05/2004
To:30/10/2004
Name of the Institute(s) or Company(ies): Metapontum
Agrobios s.c.a r.l.;
3. Is the same GMPt release planned elsewhere in the
Community?
No
4 - Has the same GMPt been notified elsewhere by the same
notifier?
No
Genetically
modified plant
1. Complete name of the
recipient or parental plant(s)
|
Common Name |
Family Name |
Genus |
Species |
Subspecies |
Cultivar/breeding line |
| eggplant
|
solanaceae
|
solanum
|
solanum
melongena |
|
linea
DH-LVBt H # 7 |
2. Description of the traits and characteristics which have
been introduced or modified, including marker genes and previous
modifications:
Genetically modified eggplants bring the following genes into
the genomic DNA which encode for proteins with different
function: a Bacillus thuringensis Cry3B gene expressing a
d-endotoxin, active against coleopteran; the enzyme neomycin
acetyl-phosphotransferase II which confers resistance to the
antibiotics neomycin and kanamycin.
Thus the GMPs display the following traits: kanamycin
resistance, determined either as the ability of plants to grow
on kanamycin containing medium or to detoxify the antibiotic
after spraying it on leaves of young plant which do not show any
chlorotic symptom; resistance to coleopteran tested through
insect bioassays and field trials, due to the presence of the
d-endotoxin within the tissue of the GMPs (identified by Elisa
and Western blot).
GMPs do not show any other phenotypical difference compared to
untransformed wild type eggplant.
Genetic
modification
3. Type of genetic
modification:
Insertion;
4. In case of insertion of genetic material, give the source
and intended function of each constituent fragment of the region
to be inserted:
The inserted DNA region corresponds to the Agrobacterium
plasmid pLVBtHBin T-DNA which includes two physically linked
expression cassettes:
- a 3,5 Kb chimeric cassette, conferring the insect resistance
phenotype, obtained by a transcriptional fusion of the 35S
promoter of cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) which allows
constitutive expression in transgenic tissues, the tobacco
mosaic virus (TMV) W leader sequence, the CryH genes which
codifies for a coleoptera-specific d-endotoxin from B.
thuringiensis and the OCS terminator of the octopine synthetase
gene of A. tumefaciens, as transcription termination signal. The
CryH gene represent a synthetic gene codifying a Cry3B protein
which confers resistance to Colorado Potato Beetle.
- a 1.4 Kb chimeric cassette, conferring kanamycin resistance
phenotype, obtained by the insertion of the neomycin
phosphotransferase (NPTII) gene, obtained from Escherichia coli.
which codifies for the detoxifying enzyme, between the NOS
promoter and the NOS terminator from the nopaline synthase gene
of A. tumefaciens.
6. Brief description of the method used for the genetic
modification:
Genetic transformation was achieved by in vitro infection of
leaf, cotyledon and hypocotyl explants (Rotino & Gleddie, 1990
Plant Cell Rep 9: 26-29; Rotino et al., 1992 VIII Eucarpia Meet.
"Genetics and Breeding on Capsicum and Eggplant" Roma
7-10/9/1992: 295-300) with the disarmed strain LBA4404 of
Agrobacterium tumefaciens carrying the binary plasmid pLVBtHBin
which harbors the chimeric T-DNA. Transgenic plants were
selected on kanamycin containing medium and were analysed by
molecular techniques for exogenous DNA integration.
7. If the recipient or parental plant is a forest tree
species, describe ways and extent of dissemination and specific
factors affecting dissemination:
The GMPt of this release is not a forest tree.
Experimental
Release
1. Purpose of the release:
The main objectives of this field experiment are:
- To determine the biodiversity of pollinator guilds in
transgenic fields using specific sampling procedures.
- To assess the effects of the transgenic Bt-crop plants on
biodiversity of non-target insects, in the field.
2. Geographical location of the site:
Farm, which belongs to Basilicata Region Local Government
(Regione Basilicata) 100 meters far the "Metapontum Agrobios"
Research Centre (S.S. Jonica 106, Km 448.2, Metaponto (MT),
ITALY.
3. Size of the site (m2):
2200 m2.
4. Relevant data regarding previous releases carried out with
the same GM-plant, if any, specifically related to the potential
environmental and human health impacts from the release:
No previous release were carried out with this GM-plant.
Environmental
Impact and Risk Management
Summary of the potential
environmental impact from the release of the GMPts:
In the release area eggplant can only cross-pollinate plants
of the same species. The assessment of possible effect by Cry
toxins expressed in transgenic plants on non target organisms is
the main objective of the present study. Cross pollination with
wild species is not possible because in this environment no wild
type species compatible with eggplant are present. Crosses of
the transgenic pollen with eggplant commercial field will be
avoided since the plot will be surrounded by maize and the
experimental field is fairly distant from other eggplant fields.
Brief description of any measures taken for the management of
risks:
Due to the safety measures taken, no uncontrollable spreading
of GMP genetic material is expected.
The field trial will take place on one small plot on
agricultural land in the Basilicata (ITALY). The site will
provide adequate physical security. Site monitoring of the field
trial and agronomic management practices creating controlled
environment are expected to provide the necessary degree of both
biological and physical containment. Pollen dispersal will be
avoided by maize, which will surround the entire field. After
sample collection and fruit harvesting, the remaining plants or
parts will be removed, autoclaved and/or burned and finally
disposed off. Possible plant residues left on the field will be
harvested and burned on site. The test area will be marked to
monitor re-emergence of volunteer eggplant plants during the
following seasons. The plots will not be planted the following
season but will be checked several times to destroy any plant
material.
Summary of foreseen field trial studies focused to gain new
data on environmental and human health impact from the release:
The aim of the current notification is to study of
relationships between transgenic eggplants and non-target
insects in the agroecosystems. |
