GM sub-clover no greater weed threat

A Canberra based study led by CSIRO Plant Industry's Dr Bob Godfree, as part of the Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, has assessed the environmental risk of GM subterranean clover (sub-clover) as a potential weed in native grasslands.

Both field and glasshouse trials showed that the invasiveness and competitiveness of GM sub-clover were no greater than conventional sub-clover and at higher densities GM sub-clover performed less well.

Conventional sub-clover is a common pasture plant that occurs as a weed in native grasslands in Australia. To improve its nutritional quality researchers have added a sunflower gene to increase its protein levels.

Performance was determined by comparing seed germination rates, plant growth, seed production, seed weight and seed hardness between a GM and conventional non-GM sub-clover.

Overall it was clear that in native grasslands GM sub-clover populations would decline over time.

There are no plans to generally release the GM sub-clover. This study helps improve the understanding of the ecology of GM plants and how they may differ from their conventional counterparts.

All gene technology research at CSIRO is carried out with the approval of the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator.

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