Cisgenesis, a New Tool for Traditional Plant Breeding, Should be Exempted from the Regulation on Genetically Modified Organisms in a Step by Step Approach

Abstract

Modern potato breeding requires over 100,000 seedlings per new variety. Main reasons are (1) the increasing number of traits that have to be combined in this tetraploid vegetatively propagated crop, and (2) an increasing number of traits (e.g., resistance to biotic stress) originates from wild species. Pre-breeding by introgression or induced translocation is an expensive way of transferring single traits (such as R-genes, coding for resistance to biotic stress) to the cultivated plant. The most important obstacle is simultaneous transfer of undesired neighbouring alien alleles as linkage drag. Stacking several genes from different wild sources is increasing this linkage drag problem tremendously. Biotechnology has enabled transformation of alien genes into the plant. Initially, transgenes were originating mainly from microorganisms, viruses or non-crossable plant species, or they were chimeric. Moreover, selection markers coding for antibiotic resistance or herbicide resistance were needed. Transgenes are a new gene source for plant breeding and, therefore, additional regulations like the EU Directive 2001/18/EC were developed. Because of a strong opposition against genetic modification of plants in Europe, the application of this Directive is strict, very expensive, hampering the introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops and the use of this technology by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Currently, GM crops are almost the exclusive domain of multinationals. Meanwhile, not only transgenes but also natural genes from the plant species itself or from crossable plant species, called cisgenes, are available and the alien selection genes can be avoided in the end product. This opens the way for cisgenic crops without alien genes. The existing EU directive for GM organisms is not designed for this new development. The cisgenes belong to the existing breeders' gene pool. The use of this classical gene pool has been regulated already in Potato Research (2008) agreements regarding breeders' rights. We are proposing a step by step approach starting with a crop and gene specific derogation and monitoring towards a general exemption of cisgenic plants from the Directive. Two examples, i.e. development of cisgenic potato for resistance to Phytophthora infestans and cisgenic apple for resistance to Venturia inaequalis are discussed shortly for illustration of the importance of cisgenesis as a new tool for traditional plant breeding. Cisgenesis is simplifying introgression and induced translocation breeding tremendously and is highly recommended for SMEs and developing countries.

Commentary: Genetic modification through oligonucleotide-mediated mutagenesis. A GMO regulatory challenge?

“…There have been for example a number of scientific papers arguing for the exemption of cisgenic plants from the scope of the EU Directives (see e.g. Jacobsen and Schouten, 2008). Answering this kind of question is of course of utmost importance especially for developers of novel organisms, given the complexity and associated costs of applying the GMO legislation.…”

Debate on the Exploitation of Natural Plant Diversity to Create Late Blight Resistance in Potato

“…This involves a new paradigm of what durable resistance may imply (see also above) and how it can be used in combination with new ways to strategically manage resistance at the field, cropping system and landscape level. Many scientists claim that genetic modification of potato is a significant part of a breeding strategy aiming at the final solution of the late blight problem, preferably with cisgenes (Jacobsen and Schouten 2008), although there is significant resistance especially from organic agriculture where the late blight problem is most severe (Lammerts van Bueren et al 2008). This is further elaborated below.…”

“…Many scientists have the opinion that cisgenesis is more likely to be acceptable than transgenesis (e.g., Jochemsen 2008). Some even argue that with the advent of cisgenesis a reconsideration of the rules for GMOs as described in Directive 2001/18/EC (Anonymous 2001) is necessary (Jacobsen and Schouten 2008) and that cisgenic plants should be exempted from the timely and costly procedures in testing GMOs, simply because there are no alien genes in the end product. At this stage the positions of the different groups of stakeholders are moving into the direction of accepting cisgenic approaches as part of traditional breeding.…”

GMO 2.0: novi naziv – stari problem

“…U intragenezi umetnuti genski slijed je kompozitni, sastavljen od sekvenci i elemenata iz različitih gena jednog ili više usko srodnih vrsta. Stoga ne čudi da mnogi zagovornici ove tehnike predlažu kako nije potrebno regulirati cisgenezu i intragenezu kao transgenezu (Jacobsen i Schouten, 2008). Kada govorimo o neželjenim promjena i rizicima nevažno je dolazi li sekvenca DNK iz iste ili srodnih vrsta, proces genetskog inženjeringa je isti kao i kod transgeneze, te uključuje iste rizike i nepredvidljivosti.…”