[APWG] NEWS: Conservation Strategies Must Shift with Global Environmental Change

[Jennifer Kalt]

Below is a summary of another example of contamination of other plants 
by genetically modified plants. The genetically engineered bentgrass 
(Agrostis stolonifera) escaped trial fields, and its genes have been 
documented in native bentgrass in the Crooked River National Grassland 
near Bend, Oregon, 3.8 km from the trial field.

I wrote this overview for our chapter's newsletter in February 2007.

Jennifer Kalt
Conservation Chair
North Coast Chapter
California Native Plant Society
P.O. Box 1067
Arcata, CA  95518
http://northcoastcnps.org/

The California Native Plant Society's mission is to preserve and protect 
native plants in their natural habitats.

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Field Tests of Genetically-Engineered Turfgrass Blocked Due to 
Inadequate Environmental Review

The vast majority of corn and soybeans grown in the U.S. are now 
genetically-engineered (“GE”). These field-grown GE crops have been 
found to pose threats to  native plants (through hybridization and 
changes to vegetation) and native pollinators (which may be impacted by 
foraging on GE pollen). A recent study found that 22 of the 25 most 
important crop species are known to hybridize with wild relatives (Wolfe 
and Blair 2007). For these reasons, much of the attention on 
environmental impacts of GE plants has focused on agricultural crops, 
but a proposed use of GE turfgrasses for golf courses and landscaping 
has been found to threaten native grasses.

A federal judge ruled in February that the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) must halt approval of all new field trials of 
genetically-engineered organisms until more rigorous environmental 
reviews are conducted. USDA’s Animal Plant Health and Inspection Service 
(APHIS) allowed Scotts Miracle Gro, Inc. to conduct a series of open-air 
field tests without any review of potential environmental affects. Tests 
of “Roundup-ready” turfgrass were conducted on over 2,000 acres at sites 
across the U.S, beginning in 2002.

Environmental contamination from the GE creeping bentgrass (Agrostis 
stolonifera) was discovered in the Crooked River National Grassland near 
Bend, Oregon. EPA researchers found multiple instances in which pollen 
from GE-bentgrass traveled several miles and transferred its traits to 
three native bentgrass species via hybridization. Genetic contamination 
of native species was found up to 3.8 kilometers from a 421-acre test 
plot managed by the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

A lawsuit was filed in 2003 by several non-profit groups, including the 
Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center based in Ashland, Oregon. Plaintiffs 
argued that hybridization of Roundup-ready non-native bentgrass with 
native bentgrass could alter native vegetation, leading to diminished 
aesthetic and recreational value of natural areas.  Defendants argue 
that even if GE-bentgrass became established in areas of concern, 
plaintiffs would suffer no aesthetic harm, because unless they 
encountered a bentgrass plant and sprayed it with Roundup, they would 
not be able to tell the difference between a genetically-engineered 
plant and a native plant. Researchers concluded that selective pressure 
from direct application or drift of glyphosate herbicide could enhance 
movement of genes into native grass populations, and that obligatory 
outcrossing and vegetative spread could further contribute to 
persistence of transgenes in wild Agrostis populations, both in the 
presence or absence of herbicide selection (Reichman et al. 2006).

APHIS is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in response 
to Scotts’
Petition for Deregulation of Genetically Engineered Glyphosate-Tolerant 
Creeping Bentgrass. This non-native grass is naturalized in every county 
in California, and open field trials of GE bentgrass has the potential 
to hybridize with both non-native and native bentgrass species. Several 
rare bentgrass species occur in California, and open field trials pose a 
threat to these rare species in particular. The Dorothy King Young 
Chapter submitted comments regarding concerns that GE-bentgrass could 
impact the rare Agrostis blasdalei along the Mendocino coast. CNPS will 
continue to monitor agency actions related to GE plants that could 
impact native plants and vegetation.

For more information:

Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center, P.O. Box 102, Ashland, OR. 
www.ks.wild.org

International Center for Technology Assessment, et al., Plaintiffs, v. 
Mike Johanns, Secretary, U. S. Department of Agriculture, et al., 
Defendants, and the Scotts Company, Defendant-Intervenor. Civil Action 
03-00020 (HHK)
  http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/GTBC_Doc_94_Opinion%202-5-07.pdf

Reichman, J. R. et al. 2006. Establishment of transgenic 
herbicide-resistant creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) in 
nonagronomic habitats. Molecular Ecology 15: 4243.

Wolfe, L. N. and A. C. Blair. 2007. Born to run: competition enhances 
the spread of genes from crops to wild relatives. New Phytologist 173:3, 
450–452.


Gena Fleming wrote:
> Hi Jil:
> 
> Thank you for your email.  You ask the following question:
> 
> "Would you please provide me some examples of the genetic modification you
> refer to? I would like to learn more about it and compile examples of well
> documented incidences of this."