Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Presently, in the rest of the world, very few transgenic trees have been
commercially planted, only virus resistant papaya in Hawa¨ and insect resis-
tant poplar trees in China. At the present time, a few biotech companies, such
as ArborGen and Futuragen, still invest in biotech trees, mostly but not only,
on eucalyptus, and communicate on a foreseen release of GM eucalyptus to
be commercially planted within a few years, in United States, Brazil, China,
South Africa and Australia. For ArborGen, the freeze tolerant transgenic
eucalyptus EH1-427 is currently the subject of a petition for deregulation in
the United States ( Hinchee et al., 2011 ), whereas objectives for lignin modifi-
cation are targeted to C4H downregulation and F5H over-expression
( Hinchee, 2011 ). Futuragen has not yet communicated on their objectives
in the area, while the company announced a decision to run several field
platforms in different parts of the world with more than 1000 ha of GM
eucalyptus.
In conclusion, the results of 20 years of research on transgenic tree field
trials have amply demonstrated the necessity to perform such assays, to fully
evaluate the effects (wanted or unwanted) of genetic modifications, and at
least to keep up to date with developments in this area. It seems to us very
important that such evaluations continue to be done by public institutions in
order to provide society with fully objective advice on the possibility of using
transgenic trees to fulfil the needs of humankind. Several efforts are presently
underway to collectively organize the compilation and analysis of the knowl-
edge gained from transgenic tree field trials and to communicate on the
interests of pursuing these actions in order to give the stakeholders the
knowledge necessary for them to provide adapted regulations: this is the
aim, for example, in Europe of the COST (Cooperation in Science and
Technology) Action FP0905, entitled ''Biosafety of forest transgenic trees:
improving the scientific basis for safe tree development and implementation
of EU policy directives'' (see http://www.cost-action-fp0905.eu/ ) . This issue
is even more important now that we foresee the optimization of wood
production for new uses such as biofuel production may not be fully effective
without biotech trees.
REFERENCES
Axelsson, E., Hj¨ lt´n, J., Leroy, C., Julkunen-Tiitto, R., Wennstr¨m, A. and
Pilate, G. (2010). Can leaf litter from genetically modified trees affect
aquatic ecosystems? Ecosystems 13, 1049-1059.
Baucher, M., Chabbert, B., Pilate, G., Vandoorsselaere, J., Tollier, M. T.,
Petitconil, M., Cornu, D., Monties, B., Vanmontagu, M., Inze, D.,
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