Genome discrimination in progeny of interspecific hybrids between Brassica napus and Raphanus raphanistrum.

Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) applied to the F1 interspecific hybrid between oilseed rape (Brassica napus, AACC, 2n = 38) and wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum, RrRr, 2n = 18) showed the predicted 19 chromosomes from B. napus and 9 chromosomes from R. raphanistrum. The very low female fertility of these interspecific hybrids when backcrossed to R. raphanistrum led to only two descendants. Their chromosome number varied between 45 and 48. Both of these progenies showed only 9 chromosomes from R. raphanistrum and 36-39 chromosomes from B. napus. These results indicate the efficiency and limits of GISH as a suitable tool to assess and interpret the behavior of chromosomes after such interspecific crosses. The unexpected chromosome combination is discussed.

Emergence and growth of hybrids between Brassica napus and Raphanus raphanistrum.

• Risk assessment studies of transgenic crops have recently brought evidence of a low spontaneous hybridization frequency of Brassica napus with Raphanus raphanistrum. The fate of the first generation hybrids is crucial to determine the initial rate of spread of transgenes. • This work aims to compare the fitness components of parents and F1 hybrids at the first step of the life cycle. The ability to emerge, establish seedling, cover the soil and develop adult plant was examined in controlled and field conditions, alone or in competition. • The F1 hybrids showed a lower seedling emergence, a significant delay of emergence, and a lower survival than for both parents. Rosette diameter and dry matter of hybrid plants were very reduced compared with those of both parents, especially when they grew in the field and under competition conditions. • The relevance of these results to gene flow and possible impact to agriculture and environment is discussed.

Fitness of backcross six of hybrids between transgenic oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum).

The process of introgression between a transgenic crop modified for better agronomic characters and a wild relative could lead potentially to increased weediness and adaptation to the environment of the wild species. However, the formation of hybrid and hybrid progeny could be associated with functional imbalance and low fitness, which reduces the risk of gene escape and establishment of the wild species in the field. Our work compares the fitness components of parents and different types of backcross in the sixth generation of hybrids between transgenic oilseed rape (Brassica napus, AACC, 2n = 38) resistant to the herbicide glufosinate and wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum, RrRr, 2n = 18). The backcross with oilseed rape cytoplasm (OBC) has a fitness value 100 times lower than that of the backcross with wild radish cytoplasm (RBC). The herbicide-resistant RBC has similar growth to the susceptible RBC, but final male and female fitness values are two times lower. In turn, susceptible RBC exhibit similar fitness to the control wild radishes. The relative fitnesses of the different types are the same whether or not they grow under competitive conditions. The consequence on fitness of the chromosome location of the transgene conferring resistance and the relevance of these results to the impact of gene flow on the environment are discussed.