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CSIRO Plant Industry, in collaboration with Charles Sturt University
and NSW Department of Primary Industries, established a field trial
of genetically modified (GM) rice in 2005. Application DIR 052/2004
for the GM rice trial was approved by the Office of the Gene Technology
Regulator (OGTR) on 18 February 2005, see www.ogtr.gov.au/rtf/ir/dir052notific.rtf
[RTF, 32kb].
Purpose of the trial
The GM rice trial is Australia's part of an international effort
to identify the function of each of the rice genes predicted from
the genome sequence.
Switching on or off the function of each gene, using genetic modification,
helps to identify what trait that gene is responsible for. In particular
CSIRO Plant Industry, NSW Department of Primary Industries and their
collaborators in the NSW Agricultural Genomics Centre, are hoping
to find genes that may improve nutritional value or have agronomic
importance for the Australian rice industry, such as high vigour.
Understanding rice gene function and identifying useful rice genes
could lead to breeding improved rice, including through conventional
breeding.
There are no plans to develop commercial GM rice varieties as a
result of this trial. Within the trial scientists will also look
at possible gene flow or cross pollination, if any, between GM rice
and non-GM rice.
The GM rice
The GM rice in this trial was genetically modified by randomly
inserting a gene construct. The gene construct switches off the
activity of the rice gene it 'lands' in.
For example the gene construct may land in the gene that is responsible
for causing seedling vigour. If the gene lands in the seedling vigour
gene it will switch it 'off' causing the seedling to lack vigour
and as a result grow slowly and become stunted.
In the field trial the scientists observe if the seedling lacks
vigour and work backwards to find the easily recognisable gene construct
and the seedling vigour gene it has landed in. Using this process
the scientists hope they will identify genes that may improve nutritional
value or have agronomic importance.
If the location of useful genes is known they can be 'flagged'
and used in conventional breeding to determine if individual plants
contain that particular gene and therefore the desired trait. There
are no plans to develop commercial GM rice varieties as a result
of this trial.
Herbicide and antibiotic resistance
The gene construct that has been inserted into the GM rice includes
either herbicide resistance or antibiotic resistance. This is done
to easily trace the gene construct.
The herbicide and antibiotic resistance allows for those rice plants
that have been successfully modified to be quickly and easily identified.
If the rice is sprayed with herbicide (for example) the plants that
survive are the ones that have the new gene construct.
The GM rice in this trial is not being grown for its herbicide
or antibiotic resistance and there is no intention to breed herbicide
or antibiotic resistant GM rice. The herbicide and antibiotic resistance
traits are only used in the laboratory phase of the trial.
Cross pollination
Rice is a self pollinating plant, the pollen of which is short
lived (5 minutes) and there are no known insect pollinators. It
is therefore highly unlikely cross-pollination by wind with other
rice plants outside of the trial area will occur.
Part of the trial will be used to determine if there is any gene
flow, or cross pollination between the GM rice and non-GM rice on
the trial site.
Herbicide (BASTA) resistant GM rice has been used as a pollen donor
in this gene flow experiment. Non-GM herbicide sensitive rice grown
around these GM plants has been harvested and their seed will be
tested to see if it is herbicide resistant to determine if any gene
flow has occurred.
The trial site
The trial is located at Charles Sturt University campus in Wagga
Wagga. The site is 85km from the nearest commercial rice crop and
is also geographically isolated from naturalised wild rice populations
and populations of native rice species.
The trial site is 0.03 hectares, or 3 bays of 13 metres by 7.7
metres each. It is surrounded and completely enclosed with bird
netting. It is also surrounded by mice restrictive sheeting buried
50cm deep and protruding 50cm which then attaches to the netting.
The trial is further enclosed within 2 metre boundary fence. The
site will be closely monitored during and after the trial period.
First year plantings
GM rice seedlings were raised in special water tubs at the site
and transplanted into two bays in November 2005. Conventional seed
for the gene flow experiment was also sown in one bay.
Between November 2005 and April 2006 measurements were taken and
observations made of the growing rice plants. Some of the rice planted
did show different traits which may be of agronomic interest. The
scientists are now following up with their laboratory work to determine
which genes were responsible for the changes.
In May 2006 the rice was harvested from the site and taken back
to Canberra for further research. All transport of GM material both
to and from the site was carried out in accordance with OGTR requirements
to ensure its safe containment.
Following on from the harvest the site was burnt to remove all
remaining GM plant material. The bays will also be irrigated at
least twice to encourage germination of any stray seeds in the soil.
Any volunteer seedlings will be destroyed. Monitoring of the site
for any volunteer rice seedlings will continue for at least 12 months
- so that they can be destroyed.
Findings from this research will be published in scientific journals
and made public when the research is complete.
Progress in pictures
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Setting up the fencing and enclosure in 2005.
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Setting up the plots in 2005.
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Planting the seedlings in November 2005.
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Young seedlings in December 2005.
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Trial leader Dr Narayana Upadhyaya (left) and Dr Qian-Hao
Zhu (right) inspect the trial in February 2006.
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Early flowering type.
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All the team get to work to harvest the trial
in May 2006.
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The trial site is burned to remove any plant
material in May 2006.
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This research is done as part of the NSW Agricultural
Genomics Centre under the BioFirst Initiative of the NSW Government
and has been supported by the Rural Industries Research and Development
Corporation (RIRDC).
Links:
OGTR
- approval for GM rice trial
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