Development of a Monitoring Plan for the Accidental Dispersal of Genetically Modified Oilseed Rape in Italy
This paper presents a pilot project conducted by ISPRA and ARPA Campania to develop a monitoring protocol to detect the presence of genetically modified (GM) oilseed rape (<i>Brassica napus</i>) plants resulting from accidental seed dispersal during transportation from entry points to st...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Seeds |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1024/4/2/20 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1839652739732209664 |
|---|---|
| author | Valentina Rastelli Valeria Giovannelli Giovanni Staiano Pietro Massimiliano Bianco Alfonso Sergio Matteo Lener |
| author_facet | Valentina Rastelli Valeria Giovannelli Giovanni Staiano Pietro Massimiliano Bianco Alfonso Sergio Matteo Lener |
| author_sort | Valentina Rastelli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper presents a pilot project conducted by ISPRA and ARPA Campania to develop a monitoring protocol to detect the presence of genetically modified (GM) oilseed rape (<i>Brassica napus</i>) plants resulting from accidental seed dispersal during transportation from entry points to storage and processing facilities; the project has been implemented in Italy’s Campania region. The unintentional dispersal of GM oilseed rape seeds and the potential establishment of feral populations have been identified as environmental concerns in various countries, even when GM oilseed rape is imported solely for processing and not for cultivation. The project activities were designed, taking into account the characteristics of the Italian environment and infrastructures. Multiple sampling campaigns were conducted in autumn 2018, spring 2019, and autumn 2019 to validate the selected transects and assess the presence of <i>Brassicaceae</i> species, with a particular focus on oilseed rape. These efforts involved direct monitoring and sample collection along transport routes from the port of Salerno to seed companies in the provinces of Benevento and Caserta. Field observations and import data revealed a decrease in oilseed rape movement at the port of Salerno in the years preceding the survey, while seed companies near Benevento remained active sites for white mustard (<i>Sinapis alba</i>). The presence of <i>S. alba</i> and the simultaneous occurrence of oilseed rape and Raphanus raphanistrum—a species with high hybridization potential—support the hypothesis that seed companies may act as hotspots for accidental seed dispersal and that potential interspecific gene flow can occur. The study also validated the adopted sampling and molecular analysis methods, including DNA extraction and PCR, for the detection of the Cruciferin A (CruA) gene in all Brassica species collected. These findings highlight the need to strengthen post-marketing monitoring plans, even when GM rapeseed is imported solely for processing, to mitigate the potential risks associated with unintended gene flow. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d3d6347d2a054e5cb5b317eae2cbee34 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2674-1024 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Seeds |
| spelling | doaj-art-d3d6347d2a054e5cb5b317eae2cbee342025-06-25T14:25:04ZengMDPI AGSeeds2674-10242025-04-01422010.3390/seeds4020020Development of a Monitoring Plan for the Accidental Dispersal of Genetically Modified Oilseed Rape in ItalyValentina Rastelli0Valeria Giovannelli1Giovanni Staiano2Pietro Massimiliano Bianco3Alfonso Sergio4Matteo Lener5Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00100 Rome, ItalyItalian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00100 Rome, ItalyItalian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00100 Rome, ItalyItalian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00100 Rome, ItalyRegional Agency for the Environmental Protection (ARPA) Campania, 80143 Naples, ItalyItalian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00100 Rome, ItalyThis paper presents a pilot project conducted by ISPRA and ARPA Campania to develop a monitoring protocol to detect the presence of genetically modified (GM) oilseed rape (<i>Brassica napus</i>) plants resulting from accidental seed dispersal during transportation from entry points to storage and processing facilities; the project has been implemented in Italy’s Campania region. The unintentional dispersal of GM oilseed rape seeds and the potential establishment of feral populations have been identified as environmental concerns in various countries, even when GM oilseed rape is imported solely for processing and not for cultivation. The project activities were designed, taking into account the characteristics of the Italian environment and infrastructures. Multiple sampling campaigns were conducted in autumn 2018, spring 2019, and autumn 2019 to validate the selected transects and assess the presence of <i>Brassicaceae</i> species, with a particular focus on oilseed rape. These efforts involved direct monitoring and sample collection along transport routes from the port of Salerno to seed companies in the provinces of Benevento and Caserta. Field observations and import data revealed a decrease in oilseed rape movement at the port of Salerno in the years preceding the survey, while seed companies near Benevento remained active sites for white mustard (<i>Sinapis alba</i>). The presence of <i>S. alba</i> and the simultaneous occurrence of oilseed rape and Raphanus raphanistrum—a species with high hybridization potential—support the hypothesis that seed companies may act as hotspots for accidental seed dispersal and that potential interspecific gene flow can occur. The study also validated the adopted sampling and molecular analysis methods, including DNA extraction and PCR, for the detection of the Cruciferin A (CruA) gene in all Brassica species collected. These findings highlight the need to strengthen post-marketing monitoring plans, even when GM rapeseed is imported solely for processing, to mitigate the potential risks associated with unintended gene flow.https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1024/4/2/20GMOenvironmental risk assessment (ERA)monitoringseed dispersaloil seed rape<i>Brassica napus</i> |
| spellingShingle | Valentina Rastelli Valeria Giovannelli Giovanni Staiano Pietro Massimiliano Bianco Alfonso Sergio Matteo Lener Development of a Monitoring Plan for the Accidental Dispersal of Genetically Modified Oilseed Rape in Italy Seeds GMO environmental risk assessment (ERA) monitoring seed dispersal oil seed rape <i>Brassica napus</i> |
| title | Development of a Monitoring Plan for the Accidental Dispersal of Genetically Modified Oilseed Rape in Italy |
| title_full | Development of a Monitoring Plan for the Accidental Dispersal of Genetically Modified Oilseed Rape in Italy |
| title_fullStr | Development of a Monitoring Plan for the Accidental Dispersal of Genetically Modified Oilseed Rape in Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of a Monitoring Plan for the Accidental Dispersal of Genetically Modified Oilseed Rape in Italy |
| title_short | Development of a Monitoring Plan for the Accidental Dispersal of Genetically Modified Oilseed Rape in Italy |
| title_sort | development of a monitoring plan for the accidental dispersal of genetically modified oilseed rape in italy |
| topic | GMO environmental risk assessment (ERA) monitoring seed dispersal oil seed rape <i>Brassica napus</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1024/4/2/20 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT valentinarastelli developmentofamonitoringplanfortheaccidentaldispersalofgeneticallymodifiedoilseedrapeinitaly AT valeriagiovannelli developmentofamonitoringplanfortheaccidentaldispersalofgeneticallymodifiedoilseedrapeinitaly AT giovannistaiano developmentofamonitoringplanfortheaccidentaldispersalofgeneticallymodifiedoilseedrapeinitaly AT pietromassimilianobianco developmentofamonitoringplanfortheaccidentaldispersalofgeneticallymodifiedoilseedrapeinitaly AT alfonsosergio developmentofamonitoringplanfortheaccidentaldispersalofgeneticallymodifiedoilseedrapeinitaly AT matteolener developmentofamonitoringplanfortheaccidentaldispersalofgeneticallymodifiedoilseedrapeinitaly |