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Urgent Need for Proper Assessment of Risks of Transgene Flow from Bt Brinjal

THIRD WORLD NETWORK BIOSAFETY INFORMATION SERVICE

Dear Friends and Colleagues

Re: Urgent Need for Proper Assessment of Risks of Transgene Flow from Bt Brinjal

Two papers by Dr. John Samuels of the Novel Solanaceae Crops Project, U.K., tackle growing concerns over the risk of transgene flow from Bt brinjal. Bt brinjal is a genetically engineered insect-resistant brinjal/eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) that has been recently granted commercial approval in Bangladesh and has been field tested in the Philippines. Although a moratorium on the release of Bt brinjal was declared in 2010 in India, the goverment is under pressure to review this decision and allow the commercialization of the crop.

In his report entitled “Genetically Engineered Bt brinjal and the Implications for Plant Biodiversity – Revisited” and journal article “Transgene flow from Bt brinjal: A Real Risk?”, Samuels highlights that hybridization between Bt brinjal and some of its wild, weedy or cultivated relatives is likely if Bt brinjal is cultivated. He warns that the emergence of aggressive “superweed hybrid populations” is a real possibility that has “the potential to disrupt ecological balance and biodiversity in a relatively short time…”

Samuels stresses that the very limited knowledge of the diversity and taxonomy of species related to the brinjal in South and South-East Asia present serious obstacles in making proper biosafety assessments. In particular, he highlights the few environmental risk assessments (ERA) done in India in 2003 and 2009 on Bt brinjal trangene flow and clearly cautions that “….the risk assessment on pollen-mediated transgene flow from Bt brinjal…. should not rely on the inadequate, previously undertaken ERA tests.”

He urgently calls for more detailed studies on the hybridization, gene flow, weediness and systematics of brinjal and its wild, weedy and cultivated relatives. Declaring that “The implications for plant biodiversity of the outdoor cultivation of GE Bt brinjal eggplant, including field trials and commercial growing, cannot be fully assessed in their absence”, Samuels says that commercialization of Bt brinjal should be withheld in keeping with the Precautionary Principle until such data is gathered.

The report can be downloaded from: http://www.greenpeace.org/india/PageFiles/446445/GE-Bt-brinjal-revisited.pdf. The summary, conclusions and recommendations are reproduced below. The journal article was published by Trends in Biotechnology (Volume 31, Issue 6, 332-334, 1 June 2013.doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2013.03.007) and can be purchased via
http://www.cell.com/trends/biotechnology/fulltext/S0167-7799%2813%2900068-1.

With best wishes,
Third World Network
131 Jalan Macalister
10400 Penang
Malaysia
Email: twnet@po.jaring.my
Website: https://biosafety-info.net/ and http://www.twn.my/
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GENETICALLY ENGINEERED BT BRINJAL AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PLANT BIODIVERSITY – REVISITED

Dr. John Samuels The Novel Solanaceae Crops Project Penzance, Cornwall, United Kingdom
http://www.greenpeace.org/india/PageFiles/446445/GE-Bt-brinjal-revisited.pdf

Summary

Concerns over the commercial release of genetically engineered (GE), also called genetically modified (GM), Bt brinjal, also called aubergine or talong, relate to biosafety. One major concern is the potential for transgene flow from Bt brinjal to wild, weedy and cultivated relatives. As a consequence, selective advantage gained by the Bt pest resistance gene could enable these relatives to become aggressive weeds. The potential for disruption of ecological balance and plant biodiversity is therefore considerable. Our knowledge of the diversity and taxonomy of species related to the brinjal eggplant in South and South-East Asia is limited. This includes areas where the Bt eggplant is being considered for cultivation: India, Philippines and Bangladesh. Difficulties over identification and nomenclature of brinjal relatives have caused problems with the interpretation of experimental data. There is thus a prime need to develop our understanding of the systematics of this group. A brief summary of the taxonomy and characteristics of brinjal and its closest wild relatives (part of the brinjal eggplant complex) is given, to help lessen the on- going confusion over the names, distribution and agronomic features of these closely-related taxa. Successful hybridization between untransformed brinjal and at least 10 species in Solanum subgenus Leptostemonum found in India and South-East Asia can be demonstrated, as can hybridization between Bt brinjal and one wild species. Crossing Bt brinjal and untransformed brinjal can also produce hybrids. There is a need to test several other species in subgenus Leptostemonum for crossability with both untransformed and transformed brinjal. In such future studies, standardization of experimental methodology would enable consistent interpretation of results.

The breeding system in brinjal is a combination of both inbreeding and outbreeding, with insect-pollination featuring strongly in outbreeding. These factors should be re-assessed when considering the outcrossing potential of Bt brinjal and isolation distances in field trials. Studies of gene flow and weediness in Bt brinjal that have been performed to date are limited, both in number and content. Ferality in brinjal is typical of the spiny group of solanums, and the implications for increased weediness of both Bt brinjal itself, as well as hybrids carrying the Bt transgene are significant. As these are crucial aspects of environmental risk assessment of the effects on plant biodiversity, detailed, long-term studies are required to determine the extent to which these are likely to occur. In the context of Convention on Biological Diversity biosafety and biodiversity guidance, there is an urgent need for more detailed studies on hybridization, gene flow, weediness and systematics of brinjal and its wild, weedy and cultivated relatives. The implications for plant biodiversity of the outdoor cultivation of GE Bt brinjal eggplant, including field trials and commercial growing, cannot be fully assessed in their absence.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Our knowledge of the diversity and taxonomy of the wild relatives of brinjal in South and South-East Asia is incomplete. There is thus a prime need to develop this knowledge, as a basic starting point in the understanding of the potential for transgene transfer involving GE brinjal. Hybridization between Bt brinjal and some of its wild, weedy or cultivated relatives is likely if Bt brinjal is cultivated. However, evidence as to the precise interfertility relationships amongst these species, and between these species and brinjal, is in urgent need of updating so that a more detailed view of the potential for the introgression of Bt transgenes is gained. Once such interfertility relationships are understood in more detail, we can then progress further in our evaluation of the risks to plant biodiversity. These relate to: (a) wild or weedy relatives of brinjal obtaining selective advantage via transgene transfer from Bt brinjal, (b) wild relatives of brinjal suffering reduced genetic diversity from the introgression of the Bt transgene, and (c) introgression of the Bt transgene into non-GE brinjal (Andow, 2010). In many cases, data relating to the areas of concern in (a)-(c) above have been obtained from reports that have not been formally published. There has been much controversy over the reliability of such data, and this has been a major argument for witholding commercialization of the GM crop in India. Peer review (Yadugiri, 2010) of investigative studies via publication in internationally acknowledged scientific journals would enable all data to be considered on a credible and equal basis. Only after accumulation and consideration of unbiased scientific data can a healthy debate take place (Samuels & Shanmugam, 2011).

General concerns over transgene escape were incorporated into the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD, 2000) to which Bangladesh, India and the Philippines are signatories. Early in 2010, the Indian government incurred a moratorium on the commercialization of Bt brinjal in India, which continues. At the Tenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP10) in Japan in October, 2010 a new ten-year Strategic Plan with 20 targets was constructed. Target 9 is geared towards preventing the introduction of invasive species, whilst Target 13 relates to conserving the genetic diversity of crops and their wild relatives (CBD, 2010). In accordance with COP10 guidance, and whilst the Indian moratorium continues, it is proposed here that more detailed and thorough consideration is given to the implications for plant biodiversity of the commercialization of Bt brinjal.
 

November 19th, 2013 | Category: Ecological
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Urgent Need for Proper Assessment of Risks of Transgene Flow from Bt Brinjal

GENETICALLY ENGINEERED BT BRINJAL AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PLANT BIODIVERSITY – REVISITED

Dr. John Samuels The Novel Solanaceae Crops Project Penzance, Cornwall, United Kingdom
http://www.greenpeace.org/india/PageFiles/446445/GE-Bt-brinjal-revisited.pdf

Summary

Concerns over the commercial release of genetically engineered (GE), also called genetically modified (GM), Bt brinjal, also called aubergine or talong, relate to biosafety. One major concern is the potential for transgene flow from Bt brinjal to wild, weedy and cultivated relatives. As a consequence, selective advantage gained by the Bt pest resistance gene could enable these relatives to become aggressive weeds. The potential for disruption of ecological balance and plant biodiversity is therefore considerable. Our knowledge of the diversity and taxonomy of species related to the brinjal eggplant in South and South-East Asia is limited. This includes areas where the Bt eggplant is being considered for cultivation: India, Philippines and Bangladesh. Difficulties over identification and nomenclature of brinjal relatives have caused problems with the interpretation of experimental data. There is thus a prime need to develop our understanding of the systematics of this group. A brief summary of the taxonomy and characteristics of brinjal and its closest wild relatives (part of the brinjal eggplant complex) is given, to help lessen the on- going confusion over the names, distribution and agronomic features of these closely-related taxa. Successful hybridization between untransformed brinjal and at least 10 species in Solanum subgenus Leptostemonum found in India and South-East Asia can be demonstrated, as can hybridization between Bt brinjal and one wild species. Crossing Bt brinjal and untransformed brinjal can also produce hybrids. There is a need to test several other species in subgenus Leptostemonum for crossability with both untransformed and transformed brinjal. In such future studies, standardization of experimental methodology would enable consistent interpretation of results.

The breeding system in brinjal is a combination of both inbreeding and outbreeding, with insect-pollination featuring strongly in outbreeding. These factors should be re-assessed when considering the outcrossing potential of Bt brinjal and isolation distances in field trials. Studies of gene flow and weediness in Bt brinjal that have been performed to date are limited, both in number and content. Ferality in brinjal is typical of the spiny group of solanums, and the implications for increased weediness of both Bt brinjal itself, as well as hybrids carrying the Bt transgene are significant. As these are crucial aspects of environmental risk assessment of the effects on plant biodiversity, detailed, long-term studies are required to determine the extent to which these are likely to occur. In the context of Convention on Biological Diversity biosafety and biodiversity guidance, there is an urgent need for more detailed studies on hybridization, gene flow, weediness and systematics of brinjal and its wild, weedy and cultivated relatives. The implications for plant biodiversity of the outdoor cultivation of GE Bt brinjal eggplant, including field trials and commercial growing, cannot be fully assessed in their absence.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Our knowledge of the diversity and taxonomy of the wild relatives of brinjal in South and South-East Asia is incomplete. There is thus a prime need to develop this knowledge, as a basic starting point in the understanding of the potential for transgene transfer involving GE brinjal. Hybridization between Bt brinjal and some of its wild, weedy or cultivated relatives is likely if Bt brinjal is cultivated. However, evidence as to the precise interfertility relationships amongst these species, and between these species and brinjal, is in urgent need of updating so that a more detailed view of the potential for the introgression of Bt transgenes is gained. Once such interfertility relationships are understood in more detail, we can then progress further in our evaluation of the risks to plant biodiversity. These relate to: (a) wild or weedy relatives of brinjal obtaining selective advantage via transgene transfer from Bt brinjal, (b) wild relatives of brinjal suffering reduced genetic diversity from the introgression of the Bt transgene, and (c) introgression of the Bt transgene into non-GE brinjal (Andow, 2010). In many cases, data relating to the areas of concern in (a)-(c) above have been obtained from reports that have not been formally published. There has been much controversy over the reliability of such data, and this has been a major argument for witholding commercialization of the GM crop in India. Peer review (Yadugiri, 2010) of investigative studies via publication in internationally acknowledged scientific journals would enable all data to be considered on a credible and equal basis. Only after accumulation and consideration of unbiased scientific data can a healthy debate take place (Samuels & Shanmugam, 2011).

General concerns over transgene escape were incorporated into the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD, 2000) to which Bangladesh, India and the Philippines are signatories. Early in 2010, the Indian government incurred a moratorium on the commercialization of Bt brinjal in India, which continues. At the Tenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP10) in Japan in October, 2010 a new ten-year Strategic Plan with 20 targets was constructed. Target 9 is geared towards preventing the introduction of invasive species, whilst Target 13 relates to conserving the genetic diversity of crops and their wild relatives (CBD, 2010). In accordance with COP10 guidance, and whilst the Indian moratorium continues, it is proposed here that more detailed and thorough consideration is given to the implications for plant biodiversity of the commercialization of Bt brinjal.
 

November 19th, 2013 | Category: Assessment & Impacts
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