<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Field Testing</b></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">The canola line HCN92 was field tested in Canada from 1990 to 1994. Agronomic and adaptation characteristics such as vegetative vigour, seed production and dormancy were within the normal range of expression of characteristics in unmodified counterparts. Seed morphology and average seed weight did not change, indicating that seed dispersal potential was not altered. Stress adaptation was evaluated, including resistance to major <i>B. napus</i> pests and pathogens (<i>e.g.</i>, blackleg, sclerotinia, flea beetles) and determined to fall within the ranges currently displayed by commercial varieties. The only significant difference between HCN92 canola and the parental non-transformed variety was its resistance to glufosinate ammonium. Overall the field data reports demonstrated that canola HCN92 has no potential to pose a plant pest risk.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Outcrossing</b></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><i>B. napus</i> plants, including HCN92, are known to outcross up to 30% with other plants of the same species, and potentially with plants of related species <i>B. rapa</i>, <i>B. juncea</i>, <i>B. carinata</i>, <i>B. nigra</i>, <i>Diplotaxis muralis</i>, <i>Raphanus raphanistrum</i>, and <i>Erucastrum gallicum</i>. Previous studies have demonstrated that gene flow is most likely to occur with <i>B. rapa</i>.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">The genes coding for glufosinate ammonium and aminoglycoside resistance were not expected to confer an ecological advantage to potential hybrid offspring. If glufosinate ammonium-tolerant individuals arose through interspecific or intergeneric hybridization, the novel traits would confer no competitive advantage to these plants unless challenged by glufosinate ammonium. This may occur in managed ecosystems where glufosinate ammonium was applied for broad spectrum weed control, or when used to control weeds in plant varieties developed for tolerance to Liberty&reg;. In the event that a glufosinate ammonium tolerant <i>B. napus</i> survived, these herbicide-tolerant individuals would be easily controlled using mechanical and other available chemical means. The use of good crop management practices should prevent the occurrence of persistent resistant hybrids. It was concluded that gene flow from the transgenic line HCN92 to canola relatives was possible, but would not result in increased weediness or invasiveness of these relatives.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Secondary and Non-Target Adverse Effects</b></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">It was determined that genetically modified canola line HCN92 did not have a significant adverse impact on organisms beneficial to plants or agriculture, nontarget organisms, and was not expected to impact on threatened or endangered species. For example, studies on honey bees foraging in HCN92 and observations on brood development determined that there were no negative impacts on bees. Plant residue studies were conducted to determine whether successive crops were affected by residues from transgenic HCN92. Results indicated that there were no differences between HCN92 and unmodified canola, indirectly demonstrating that soil bacteria were not negatively affected by plant residues from HCN92. Overall, the PAT enzyme responsible for glufosinate ammonium tolerance has very specific enzymatic activity, does not possess proteolytic or heat stability typical of toxic compounds, and does not affect the metabolism of the plant. Both the PAT enzyme and NPTII proteins are ubiquitous in nature and no adverse effects have been reported to be associated with either enzyme.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Impact on Biodiversity</b></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">HCN92 has no novel phenotypic characteristics which would extend its use beyond the current geographic range of canola production. Since outcross species are only found in disturbed habitats, transfer of novel traits would not impact unmanaged environments. Studies demonstrated that HCN92 was not invasive of natural habitats, and that it was no more competitive than its unmodified counterparts, both in natural and managed ecosystems. It was concluded that the potential impact on biodiversity of HCN92 was equivalent to that of currently commercialized canola lines.</p>
