Commercialization and Marketing

An Analysis of Transgenic Field Trials in the United States
       See Trial Slides for additional information

Pollen Flow in Alfalfa
In collaboration with industry sponsors and UC researchers, the SBC conducted a study on pollen movement in alfalfa seed production using honeybees. Herbicide tolerance (HT) was used as a marker for pollen flow between HT and herbicide-susceptible alfalfa up to 2.5 miles away in two directions. Pollen flow decreased exponentially with increasing distance, being less than 1% at about 0.5 miles and less than 0.5% at approximately 1 mile from the source. These initial data will be combined with data from future honeybee-pollinated field studies to guide seed production nagement recommendations so that seed producers may achieve specific seed quality goals.

For more information see:

Roundup Ready Alfalfa: An Emerging Technology ANR Publicaton 8153.

Van Deynze, A.E., Fitzpatrick, S., Hammon, R., McCaslin, M.H., Putnam, D.H., Teuber, L.R., and Undersander, D.J. 2008. Gene Flow in Alfalfa: Biology, Mitigation, and Potential Impact on Production. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology.
         See Alfalfa Gene Flow in Alfalfa – CAST Press Release

Pollen Flow in Cotton 
In collaboration with California Crop Improvement Association and industry sponsors, the SBC conducted a study on pollen movement to verify current isolation distances for cottonseed production. This study was conducted over two years in two field locations, one with natural pollinators and one with the addition of honeybees. Additional samples also were collected over three seasons from commercial fields up to 1 mile from the pollen source. The data from this study are being analyzed and a finalreport will be released during the next year.

See publicaion in Crop Science, Volume 45, July-August 2005

Pollen-Mediated Gene Flow in California Cotton Depends on Pollinator Activity