Assessing Invasiveness of Genetically Modified Soybean Expressing Human Epidermal Growth Factor Gene

Do Young Kim1   Min Sik Eom1,2   Hye Jin Kim1,2   In-Soon Pack1   Jung-Ho Park1   Kee Woong Park2,*   Kyong-Hee Nam3   Sung-Dug Oh4   Jae Kwang Kim5   Ju Seok Seo6   Chang-Gi Kim1,*   

1Bio-Evaluation Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience & Biotechnology, Cheongju 28116, Korea
2Department of Crop Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
3LMO Research Team, National Institute of Ecology, Seocheon 33657, Korea
4Biosafety Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Jeonju 54874, Korea
5Division of Life Sciences, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Korea
6CELLTRION, Incheon 22014, Korea

Abstract

The invasiveness or weediness of genetically modified (GM) crops is considered as one of the major environmental concerns regarding the cultivation of these crops. This study was conducted to evaluate whether three events of GM soybeans expressing human epidermal growth factor gene (egf, igf-1, or trx) can persist in the environment without cultivation management and to determine the viability of their seeds buried in soil. Seeds of GM and non-GM soybean were sown in June 2017, and the number of soybean plants grown in the plots was counted. During the study period, water and pest management were not applied in the plots. Both GM and non-GM soybean plants were able to grow and produce seeds; however, they maintained their populations only for up to 17 months. The GM and non-GM soybean seeds were buried in November 2017, and their viability was measured 4, 6, 8, and 10 months after seed burial. Both GM and non-GM soybean seeds were able to overwinter. However, they lost viability within 6 months. GM and non-GM soybeans could not be successfully established in the environment, and short-lived soybean seeds could form only a transient soil seed bank. Therefore, GM soybean events are highly unlikely to become invasive plants or weeds in the ecosystem.

Figures & Tables

Fig. 1. Representative photographs of the field plots for assessing the persistence of genetically modified (GM) soybean expressing human epidermal growth factor gene. The photos were taken on (A) 20 July 2017, (B) 30 August 2017, (C) 31 July 2018, and (D) 23 October 2019, respectively.