Field assessment of outcrossing from transgenic pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants

The frequency of outcrossing from a transgenic line of peas into three cultivars ('Carneval', 'Montana', 'Tipu') was studied in the field in 1997 and 1999. Two dominant traits, normal leaf form and a highly-expressed beta-glucuronidase (gusA) gene, were used as markers of pollen transfer. Because of heterogeneity in the commercial seed sources, leaf form alone was unreliable for assessing pollen migration into 'trap' plants. Of approximately 9000 offspring tested, only five plants scored positive for the presence of both markers. All five were located in 'trap' plots situated near the transgenic line. This represents a mean outcrossing rate of 0.07%.