Source: CropBiotech Update

Researchers at the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity of Mexico (CONABIO) and the Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) have designed a methodology for assessing the risk to biodiversity of releasing genetically modified (GM) crops in areas where wild relatives would co-exist with the engineered variety. The methodology was developed using the genus Curcubita in Mexico as a case study. Their report is published in the March issue of the journal Agriculture, Ecosystems, and the Environment (Volume 112, Issue 4).

The protocol designed took into account available biological data on 15 taxa, including GM virus-resistant squash, standard cultivated varieties, and wild-relatives. This data was incorporated to spatial information on the distribution of these species in target sites for releasing the GM varieties. Relevant biological data included information on reproductive systems, pollination and dispersal mechanisms, genetic variability, hybridization and traits of the introduced gene, and environmental variables. The study identified localities where cultivated varieties converged with related, sexually compatible wild species. Therefore these “hot spots” for the genus represent sites where the risk of gene flow would be greatest.

The methodology is intended to provide a baseline for assessment, prevention and management of GM crops. It requires information already available in existing scientific collections and in digital cartography, is relatively inexpensive, and can be developed for any collected species. The methodology can therefore be used as a preventive tool to identify locations where there may be a conflict between biodiversity conservation and agricultural practices, and to facilitate the design of specific safety management practices required for the safe use of GM crops.

Assessing the risk of releasing transgenic Cucurbita spp. in Mexico
by Laura Arriaga, Elleli Huerta, Rafael Lira-Saade, Elizabeth Moreno and Jesús Alarcón
Abstract