Evidence of gene flow between transgenic and non-transgenic maize in Colombia
Maize (Zea mays) is an important crop worldwide and is essential for industry. Many transgenic cultivars of maize have been developed over the years from this species, producing cultivars resistant to herbicides and insects, among other things. However, little is known about the gene flow processes...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Centro Editorial of Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
2015-09-01
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| Series: | Agronomía Colombiana |
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| Online Access: | https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/agrocol/article/view/51501 |
| _version_ | 1811263263233540096 |
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| author | Alejandro Chaparro-Giraldo Jennifer Teresa Blanco M. Silvio Alejandro López-Pazos |
| author_facet | Alejandro Chaparro-Giraldo Jennifer Teresa Blanco M. Silvio Alejandro López-Pazos |
| author_sort | Alejandro Chaparro-Giraldo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Maize (Zea mays) is an important crop worldwide and is essential for industry. Many transgenic cultivars of maize have been developed over the years from this species, producing cultivars resistant to herbicides and insects, among other things. However, little is known about the gene flow processes that affect maize fields in Colombia, which is near the center of diversity for cultivated maize. We analyzed the gene flow phenomenon of 60 randomly chosen plots of maize, including farmer field landraces or other conventional varieties such as non-transgenic hybrids in Valle de San Juan (Colombia) using Inmunostrip®, PCR and ELISA tests on leaves (seed gene flow) and seeds (pollen gene flow). More than 88% of the plots were positive with the Inmunostrip® and PCR tests (35S promoter, Nos terminator and cry1F gene), using the leaves, while the remaining seven plots (12%) were positive for transgenic sequences in the seeds. The results indicated a significant level of overall transgene existence, which is consistent with gene flow from transgenic events. All of the field types (conventional maize, buffer zones, refuge, and Colombian landraces) showed evidence of a transgene presence. There are many problems that could increase the gene flow potential in Valle de San Juan, such as little respect for regulations (Colombian Decree 4525 on transgenic crops and biosafety), distance between transgenic and non-transgenic maize or use of refuge and/or buffer zones, high seed reuse and exchange and low technical assistance. Every policy decision must be made in light of scientific standards of judgment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T19:42:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f8a10703ba60485d951f487d052f2ebf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0120-9965 2357-3732 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T19:42:38Z |
| publishDate | 2015-09-01 |
| publisher | Centro Editorial of Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomía Colombiana |
| spelling | doaj.art-f8a10703ba60485d951f487d052f2ebf2022-12-22T03:19:03ZengCentro Editorial of Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de ColombiaAgronomía Colombiana0120-99652357-37322015-09-0133329730410.15446/agron.colomb.v33n3.5150140320Evidence of gene flow between transgenic and non-transgenic maize in ColombiaAlejandro Chaparro-Giraldo0Jennifer Teresa Blanco M.1Silvio Alejandro López-Pazos2Genetic Engineering of Plants Group, Biology Department and Genetics Institute, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. BogotaGenetic Engineering of Plants Group, Biology Department and Genetics Institute, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. BogotaFaculty of Sciences, Universidad Antonio Nariño. BogotaMaize (Zea mays) is an important crop worldwide and is essential for industry. Many transgenic cultivars of maize have been developed over the years from this species, producing cultivars resistant to herbicides and insects, among other things. However, little is known about the gene flow processes that affect maize fields in Colombia, which is near the center of diversity for cultivated maize. We analyzed the gene flow phenomenon of 60 randomly chosen plots of maize, including farmer field landraces or other conventional varieties such as non-transgenic hybrids in Valle de San Juan (Colombia) using Inmunostrip®, PCR and ELISA tests on leaves (seed gene flow) and seeds (pollen gene flow). More than 88% of the plots were positive with the Inmunostrip® and PCR tests (35S promoter, Nos terminator and cry1F gene), using the leaves, while the remaining seven plots (12%) were positive for transgenic sequences in the seeds. The results indicated a significant level of overall transgene existence, which is consistent with gene flow from transgenic events. All of the field types (conventional maize, buffer zones, refuge, and Colombian landraces) showed evidence of a transgene presence. There are many problems that could increase the gene flow potential in Valle de San Juan, such as little respect for regulations (Colombian Decree 4525 on transgenic crops and biosafety), distance between transgenic and non-transgenic maize or use of refuge and/or buffer zones, high seed reuse and exchange and low technical assistance. Every policy decision must be made in light of scientific standards of judgment.https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/agrocol/article/view/51501genetically modified cropgene flowZea maysconventional varietylandraceintroduced varietieslegal frameworks |
| spellingShingle | Alejandro Chaparro-Giraldo Jennifer Teresa Blanco M. Silvio Alejandro López-Pazos Evidence of gene flow between transgenic and non-transgenic maize in Colombia Agronomía Colombiana genetically modified crop gene flow Zea mays conventional variety landrace introduced varieties legal frameworks |
| title | Evidence of gene flow between transgenic and non-transgenic maize in Colombia |
| title_full | Evidence of gene flow between transgenic and non-transgenic maize in Colombia |
| title_fullStr | Evidence of gene flow between transgenic and non-transgenic maize in Colombia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evidence of gene flow between transgenic and non-transgenic maize in Colombia |
| title_short | Evidence of gene flow between transgenic and non-transgenic maize in Colombia |
| title_sort | evidence of gene flow between transgenic and non transgenic maize in colombia |
| topic | genetically modified crop gene flow Zea mays conventional variety landrace introduced varieties legal frameworks |
| url | https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/agrocol/article/view/51501 |
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