Tamás Lelley, Ervin Balázs, Mark Tepfer (Eds.) EcologicalEcological ImpactImpact ofof GMOGMO DisseminationDissemination inin Agro-EcosystemsAgro-Ecosystems ISBN 3-85076-631-4 ,!7ID8F0-hggdbj! www.facultas.at T. Lelley, E. Balázs, and M. Tepfer (Eds.) Ecological Impact of GMO Dissemination in Agro-Ecosystems Ecological Impact of GMO Dissemination in Agro-Ecosystems This publication is based on presentations at an International OECD Workshop held in Grossrussbach, Austria September 27-28, 2002 Edited by Tamás Lelley, Ervin Balázs, and Mark Tepfer TULLN Facultas Bibliografische Information Der Deutschen Bibliothek Die Deutsche Bibliothek verzeichnet diese Publikation in der Deutschen Nationalbibliografie; detaillierte bibliografische Daten sind im Internet über http://dnb.ddb.de abrufbar. Copyright © 2003 Facultas Verlags- und Buchhandels AG, Berggasse 5, A-1090 Wien Facultas Universitätsverlag Alle Rechte, insbesondere das Recht der Vervielfältigung und der Verbreitung sowie der Übersetzung sind vorbehalten. Druck: Facultas Verlags- und Buchhandels AG Printed in Austria ISBN 3-85076-631-4 PREFACE These Proceedings evolved from the OECD Cooperative Research programme workshop on "Ecological impact of GMO Dissemination in Agro-ecosystems", held at Grossrussbach, Austria on 27-28 September 2002. The OECD Cooperative research programme for "Biological Resource Management" has existed since 1990. It focuses on work in four specific areas, one of which is "New agricultural products for sustainable farming and industry" (Theme 1). This theme includes new approaches and possibilities for production of valuable materials and substances within agricultural systems, which could have large-scale effect at the farm level and for farming communities as a whole. It proposes to widen the variety of goods offered by the agricultural producers, and to encourage and increase opportunities to manage engineered crops, including raw materials for the fine chemical industry. The topic areas include: transgenic organisms in agriculture new plant protection strategies for sustainable agriculture engineered non-food crops energy crops production of specialty crops with potential wide-scale importance novel ways to utilise and recycle agricultural wastes molecular farming for speciality products. The other themes are "Quality of animal products and safety of food", "Enhancing environmental quality in agricultural systems" and "Connecting scientific progress to sustainable and integrated agro-food systems". The activities promoted by this programme are post-doctoral fellowships (announced annually) and the organisation of expert workshops (1-2 workshops per Theme per year). Currently participating countries in the programme are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States. For further information about the OECD program, contact Dr. Françoise Coudert, Head of the Programme, Directorate for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, OECD, 2 rue André-Pascal, F-75775, Paris Cedex France (e-mail: [email protected]), or consult the Internet site of the OECD (http//www.oecd.org/agr/prog)/. 5 The workshop on the dissemination of GMOs in agro-ecosystems was motivated by the increasing use of genetically modified organisms both in contained use and in deliberate releases. GMO use in agricultural settings is spectacularly increasing at the global scale (19 % in 2001 up to 51.7 million hectares), yet controversy remains concerning their potential impact in agro- ecosystems. One of the points that many believe requires further enquiry is the question of the fate of GMOs, and more precisely of the transgenes they bear, in the environment. Our major concern was to convene those experts who are world-wide most actively working in this field, in the expectation that on the basis of their latest results we will be able to separate facts from fictions, anticipating that this will be of use to the decision makers and legislators responsible for releases. Grossrussbach, September 27, 2002. Ervin Balázs (Theme 1 Coordinator) Agricultural Biotechnology Center Environmental Biosafety Research Institute Szent-Györgyi A street 4. H-2101 Gödöllö, Hungary 6 PREFACE.……………………………………………………………………...5 E. Balázs Contents……………………………… ……………………………...7 Genetically modified microbes DESIGNING IMPROVED GM BACTERIA FOR APPLICATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY.……………………...……………...11 G. L. Mark, J. P. Morrissey, and F. O’Gara IMPACT OF MARKER AND FUNCTIONAL GENES ON SOILS AND PLANTS……………………………………………….....……25 J. M. Lynch DISSEMINATION OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MICROORGANISMS IN TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS – CASE STUDIES FOR IDENTIFYING RISK POTENTIALS ……………………………………………..………….…31 Ch. C. Tebbe WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM 24 FIELD RELEASES OF GMMS IN ITALY?….…45 M. P. Nuti, A. Russo, A. Toffanin, S. Casella, V. Corich, A. Squartini, A. Giacomin, U. Peruch, and M. Basaglia Gene flow in genetically modified plants GENE FLOW IN HERBICIDE-RESISTANT CANOLA (BRASSICA NAPUS): THE CANADIAN EXPERIENCE……………………………………………..…57 L. Hall, A. Good, H. J. Beckie, and S. I. Warwick GENE FLOW FROM OILSEED RAPE (BRASSICA NAPUS) AND BEET (BETA VULGARIS) TO WILD RELATIVES: EFFECTS OF HERBICIDE TOLERANT CULTIVARS…………………………………………………..…..67 R. B. Jørgensen, T. P. Hauser, L. B. Hansen, H. R. Siegismund, and B. Andersen TRANSGENIC HERBICIDE-RESISTANT CROPS: WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE?…………………………………………….…….….……77 H. Darmency Genetically modified virus-resistant plants ECOLOGICAL RISKS OF TRANSGENIC VIRUS-RESISTANT CROPS………….…91 A. G. Power 7 CHARACTERISATION OF TRANSGENIC FRUIT TREES AND ANALYSES OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS………………...….101 M. Laimer ECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF GENE FLOW FROM CULTIVARS TO WILD RELATIVES: RHIZOMANIA RESISTANCE GENES IN THE GENUS BETA………………………………………………………………..115 D. Bartsch, A. Hoffmann, M. Lehnen, and U. Wehres COMMERCIALIZATION OF TRANSGENIC PAPAYA: WEIGHING BENEFITS AND POTENTIAL RISKS……………………………………………………..131 D. Gonsalves Bacillus thuringiensis INSECT RESISTANCE TO BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS TOXINS…………………141 J. Ferré BT CORN: IMPACT ON NON-TARGETS AND ADJUSTING TO LOCAL IPM SYSTEMS………………………………………………………………..….157 J. Kiss, F. Szentkirályi, F. Tóth, Á. Szénási, F. Kádár, K. Árpás, D. Szekeres, and C. R. Edwards EFFECTS OF A BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS (BT) TRANSGENE ON THE FECUNDITY AND ABUNDANCE OF WEEDS: A CASE STUDY OF SUNFLOWER………………………………………………………………..173 D. Pilson, A. A. Snow, L. H. Rieseberg, and H. M. Alexander General concepts DATA REQUIREMENTS FOR ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT OF TRANSGENIC PLANTS………………………………………………..……..193 A. Hilbeck, and D. Andow CONCLUDING REMARKS ON , ECOLOGICAL IMPACT OF GMO DISSEMINATION IN AGRO-ECOSYSTEMS …………………………………...213 M. Tepfer, E. Balázs, and T. Lelley LIST OF PARTICIPANTS…………………………………..……………...….217 8 Genetically modified microbes DESIGNING IMPROVED GM BACTERIA FOR APPLICATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY G. L. MARK, J. P. MORRISSEY, AND F. O’GARA BIOMERIT Research Centre, Microbiology Department, University College, N. U. I., Cork, Ireland; E-mail: [email protected] Abstract Rhizosphere competent fluorescent pseudomonads are ideal candidates for utilization in agri-industrial applications such as biocontrol and bioremediation. Direct links between biocontrol efficacy and production of anti-microbial compounds have emerged via utilization of recombinant DNA technology. Production of antimicrobial 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (Phl) is the central mechanism utilized by P. fluorescens F113 in biocontrol. Innovative design strategies based on reprogramming regulatory mechanisms via functional genomics can be employed to improve biocontrol efficacy of Pseudomonas inoculants. Furthermore Pseudomonads can be used as ideal carriers for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) degradative genes. Novel rhizoremediation derivatives of P. fluorescens F113 are being developed in which PCB degradative genes are regulated by specific root-exudate components to allow for controlled degradation in contaminated biosystems. However, public concerns as to the biosafety of genetically modified bacterial strains in the environment must be considered. Developments in molecular microbial technology have facilitated assessment as to the impact of bacterial inoculants on soil-borne non-target microbial communities. Genetically modified derivatives of P. fluorescens F113 had no significant influence on indigenous soil microbiota. in vivo expression technology can now be utilized to improve monitoring of both survival and activity of GM microbial inoculants in the environment. Signalling occurring between microbial population in the environment must also be considered in order to evaluate novel GM microbial inoculants. Unidentified signal molecules produced by the phytopathogen Pythium downregulate genes in P. fluorescens. A novel gene espR, influential in rhizosphere fitness has been identified in P. fluorescens. Innovative design systems based on genomic technologies can be adopted to improve GM bacteria facilitating biosafety and subsequent registration of microbial plant products used in environmental biotechnology applications such as biocontrol and bioremediation Keywords: GMOs; Secondary metabolites; Biocontrol; Bioremediation; Biosafety; Plant Protection Products (PPPs); Microbial Signalling 11 Introduction Soil exhibits a number of key environmental, social