THE IMPACT OF HYBRIDS BETWEEN GENETICALLY-MODIFIED CROP PLANTS AND THEIR RELATED SPECIES - GENERAL-CONSIDERATIONS

Factors influencing the fate and impact of hybrids between crop plants and their related species operate from the early zygote, through to p lant establishment in different habitats, to their ability to form sel f-sustaining populations. Many of the classes of genes being introduce d by modern methods of genetic modification are similar to those manip ulated by conventional plant breeding. In assessing the impact of tran sgenes in hybrids between crops and related species, therefore, it is important to be informed about the consequences of hybridization betwe en conventionally bred varieties and their relatives. Some transgenes will have novel effects (e.g. production of pharmaceutical substances or certain fatty acids) on plants, and are likely to need specific ass essment studies to determine their impact on hybrids. This will be par ticularly important if there is the possibility of these transgenes be coming established in wild populations. Some recommendations for furth er research are outlined.