Environmental biosafety of genetically engineered camelina [Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz.] for use as a bio-product crop

• Author / Creator

  Walsh, Kimberly Dawn

• Camelina is currently being evaluated as bioindustrial platform crop on the
  Canadian Prairies. Prior to unconfined release of genetically engineered (GE)
  camelina, an environmental risk assessment must be conducted.
  Camelina pollen-mediated gene flow (PMGF) was assessed using a
  dominant DsRed seed-expressed transgene in small and large plot experiments.
  Intraspecific small plot PMGF examined approximately 8 M seeds. Outcrossing
  was low, ranging from 0.09 to 0.28% at up to 0.6 m distance. Large plot
  assessment screened over 19 M seeds and detected a maximum PMGF of 0.78%
  immediately adjacent to the pollen source. However, PMGF rapidly declined by
  99% at 9.99 m (± 0.18 m) from the pollen source with rare events (≤ 0.001%) at
  20 m. Interspecific PMGF to weedy relative shepherd’s purse was examined
  under greenhouse and small plot conditions. Zero hybrids were detected in
  103,000 and 30,000 seeds respectively which corresponds to PMGF at or below
  0.1 and 0.025%. Camelina is self-fertile with a low propensity for interspecific
  gene flow that should not constrain novel cultivar development.
  A study of camelina seed-mediated gene flow quantified seed bank
  inputs, longevity, and emergence in growers fields. Seed losses incurred at
  harvest were high and variable (1,202 to 43,430 viable seeds m-2). Seed banks
  became 99% depleted within 15 months. In the year following production,
  camelina volunteer populations were initially high (1,208 plants m-2) but declined
  to nearly extinct (0.6 plants m-2) by two years post-production. While seed bank
  inputs can be high, camelina’s brief persistence limits weediness in agricultural areas.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Bioindustrial platform crops
  • Camelina
  • Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz
  • Environmental risk assessment

• Graduation date

  Fall 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Doctor of Philosophy

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3659V

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.