Environmental release of transgenic trees in Canada — potential benefits and assessment of biosafety

The release of new genetic materials into forest ecosystems, regardless of the method used to develop them, should be done in an environmentally responsible manner. Canada is participating with the OECD in efforts to harmonize regulatory control of products derived from biotechnology, including forest trees. Prepared under contract to the Canadian Forest Service, the purpose of this document is to facilitate a discussion within the forestry community, leading to improved direction of research and contributing to the harmonization of regulatory oversight of genetically engineered forest trees. While the focus of the paper is on transgenic trees, many of the issues raised are equally applicable to all novel products from tree breeding. Key words: biotechnology, environmental impact, genetic engineering, plants with novel traits, regulations, risk assessment, transgenic trees, tree breeding

[1]  U. Segerström,et al.  Can viable pollen carry Scots pine genes over long distances , 1995 .

[2]  Robert K. Colwell,et al.  The Planned Introduction of Genetically Engineered Organisms: Ecological Considerations and Recommendations , 1989 .

[3]  J. Fry,et al.  A simple and general method for transferring genes into plants. , 1985, Science.

[4]  J. Nap,et al.  A transgene-centered approach to the biosafety of transgenic crops: overview of selection and reporter genes , 1997 .

[5]  M. D. Block,et al.  Factors Influencing the Tissue Culture and the Agrobacterium tumefaciens-Mediated Transformation of Hybrid Aspen and Poplar Clones. , 1990 .

[6]  K. Raffa.  Genetic Engineering of Trees to Enhance Resistance to InsectsEvaluating the risks of biotype evolution and secondary pest outbreak , 1989 .

[7]  R. Wingender,et al.  Gene-transfer and plant-regeneration (techniques) , 1995 .

[8]  M. Syvanen.  Horizontal gene transfer: evidence and possible consequences. , 1994, Annual review of genetics.

[9]  R. B. Hall,et al.  Transformation of populus hybrids to study and improve pest resistance , 1993 .

[10]  A. Snow,et al.  Commercialization of Transgenic Plants: Potential Ecological Risks , 1997 .

[11]  T. Klein,et al.  DELIVERY OF SUBSTANCES INTO CELLS AND TISSUES USING A PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT PROCESS , 1987 .

[12]  D. Andow,et al.  Managing the Evolution of Insect Resistance to Transgenic Plants , 1995, Science.

[13]  A. Dandekar,et al.  Low levels of expression of wild type Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki cryIA (c) sequences in transgenic walnut somatic embryos , 1994 .

[14]  D. Karnosky,et al.  Transgenic larch expressing genes for herbicide and insect resistance , 1994 .

[15]  R. Meeusen,et al.  Insect control with genetically engineered crops , 1989 .

[16]  G. Pilate,et al.  Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of hybrid larch (Larix kaempferi T L. decidua) and transgenic plant regenerationn , 1997, Plant Cell Reports.

[17]  C. Arntzen,et al.  Transgenic plants as vaccine production systems. , 1995, Trends in biotechnology.

[18]  R. Stettler,et al.  Molecular genetics of growth and development in populus. IV. Mapping QTLs with large effects on growth, form, and phenology traits in a forest tree. , 1995, Genetics.

[19]  P. Dale.  R & D regulation and field trialling of transgenic crops , 1995 .

[20]  D. L. Rogers,et al.  Integrating biotechnology into tree improvement programs , 1990 .

[21]  M. Mindrinos,et al.  Expression of a bacterial ice nucleation gene in plants. , 1992, Plant physiology.

[22]  U. Segerström,et al.  Allergic symptoms caused by long-distance transported birch pollen , 1991 .

[23]  A. Cutler,et al.  Design and cloning of a synthetic gene for the flounder antifreeze protein and its expression in plant cells. , 1990, Gene.

[24]  G. Maessen.  Genomic stability and stability of expression in genetically modified plants , 1997 .

[25]  D. Shah,et al.  Resistance to diseases and insects in transgenic plants: progress and applications to agriculture , 1995 .

[26]  K. Eriksson,et al.  Biotechnological modification of lignin structure and composition in forest trees , 1992 .

[27]  R. Sederoff,et al.  Variation in Lignin Content and Composition (Mechanisms of Control and Implications for the Genetic Improvement of Plants) , 1996, Plant physiology.