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West Australian scientists say escape of genetically modified herbicide-resistant seeds into native bushland and roadsides can occur, but it is an easily manageable situation.
Publishing in the journal Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, the University of Western Australia’s Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative’s Professor Stephen Powles and Dr Roberto Busi studied populations of escaped seeds. . .
The researchers knew from previous studies in Canada, Europe, Japan and the USA that it was possible for GM canola seeds to establish along roadsides, but no similar work had been done in Australia. . .
In one area of native bushland near the Quairading crop, Professor Powles said GM canola completely failed to establish beyond the first generation. . .
On roadsides, where it is common for landowners and councils to use glyphosate to control weeds, the GM canola had a better chance of establishing because competition from other plants was eliminated.
But Professor Powles said controlling the canola was simply a matter of mixing alternative herbicides together.
“Seeds can persist if glyphosate is used on roadsides on its own, but if it is in a mixture with something else, then there is no issue because it is still susceptible to a wide range of herbicides.”
Read full, original post: Study finds glyphosate-resistant canola unlikely to become invasive, escaped seeds easily controlled
