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Herbicide resistance spreads from GE crop to weed
10 Aug 2005
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A single herbicide resistant “superweed” has been found growing on the site of a former GE crop trial in the UK.
The charlock plant, a distant relative of canola, was cross-fertilised by GE canola plants, the Guardian reported.
Like the GE canola crop, the charlock plant was resistant to glufosinate-ammonium herbicide.
Scientists from the environment department had previously said this was virtually impossible, because the plants were too distantly related.
Seeds from the single charlock plant were not believed to be fertile, however the GE trait could potentially be spread to other charlock plants through pollen.
Geneticists said even a very rare event such as this one was highly significant, as the plant would have a massive advantage when the herbicide was sprayed and could spread rapidly.
Former UK environment minister Michael Meacher called for a ban on planting any GE crops which have wild relatives growing in the countryside.
"It means we just cannot afford to take the risk that GM crops will not cross-contaminate wild plants in unpredictable and unforeseeable ways,” he told the Guardian newspaper.
Guardian: “Weed discovery brings calls for GM ban”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1536010,00.html#article_continue
Guardian: “GM crops created superweed, say scientists”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1535363,00.html#article_continue
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