Backcrosses to Brassica napus of hybrids between B. juncea and B. napus as a source of herbicide-resistant volunteer-like feral populations

Journal or Publishing Institution: Plant Science

Study: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168945210001925

Author(s): Liu, Y.B., Wei, W., Ma, K.P. and Darmency, H.

Article Type: Peer Reviewed Study

Record ID: 1438

Abstract: Introgression between genetically modified (GM) crops and wild relatives is considered to potentially modify the genetic background of the wild species. The emergence of volunteer-like feral populations through backcross of hybrids to the crop is also a concern. The progeny of spontaneous hybrids between mutant herbicide-resistant oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and wild B. juncea was obtained. Parents, F₂ and BC₁ to B. napus were planted together in the field so as to study their performance. The chromosome number of BC₁ followed a Normal distribution. Mendelian ratio of the herbicide-resistance gene was found. The F₂ produced less seeds than B. napus, and BC₁ had intermediate production. Herbicide-resistant BC₁ were not different of their susceptible counterparts for plant weight, seed weight and seed number, but most of them exhibited B. napus morphology and larger flowers than the susceptible BC₁. They displayed an important genetic variability allowing further adaptation and propagation of the herbicide-resistance gene. Pollen flow to susceptible plants within the mixed stand was observed. As a consequence, the resistant BC₁ produced with B. napus pollen could frequently occur and easily establish as a false feral crop population within fields and along roadsides.

Keywords: Feral crop population, Mutant herbicide-resistant, Introgression, Pollen flow, Seed production, Oilseed rape; Brassica napus, Brassica Juncea, Wild Relatives, Transgenic Plants, Gene Flow, Introgression, Backcrossing, Broadleaf Weeds, Chromosome Number, Gene Segregation, Mendelian Inheritance, Seed Set, Dry Matter Accumulation, Plant Morphology, Flowers, Genetic Variation, Plant Adaptation, Herbicide Resistance, Herbicide-Resistant Weeds, Pollen Flow; Introgression, Weedy Relatives, Seed Set, Feral Plants, Crop Weeds As Plants, Volunteer Crops; Brassica napus var. oleifera, Brassicales, Plants; Adaptation, Backcrosses, Chromosome Number, Chromosomes, Crosses, Genes, Genetic Engineering, Genetic Transformation, Genetically Engineered Organisms, Genetically Modified Plants, Genotypic Variability, Genotypic Variation, GEOs, GMOs, Rai, Transgenic Organisms, Weedicides, Weedkillers

Citation: Liu, Y.B., Wei, W., Ma, K.P. and Darmency, H., 2010. Backcrosses to Brassica napus of hybrids between B. juncea and B. napus as a source of herbicide-resistant volunteer-like feral populations. Plant Science, 179(5), pp.459-465.