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

<p style="text-align: justify;">Tobacco is not considered a likely candidate for any significant level of outcrossing. The plant is generally self-pollinated being possessed of tubular flowers and possible insect vectors travel only short distances. In the commercial production of tobacco, flowers are generally removed prior to anthesis and are thus not allowed to shed pollen further decreasing the risk of outcrossing. Tobacco producers do not save seed and certified seed production of Vector 21-41 will occur only in isolation.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><i>N. trigonophylla, N. repanda</i> and <i>N. bigelovii</i> are indigenous Nicotiania species that are found in the U.S. and are cross-compatible with <i>N. tabacum</i>. None of these species grows in areas in which commercial tobacco production take place.</p>

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

<p style="text-align: justify;">No competitive advantage was conferred to Vector 21-41 by the transformation. The plants were not more or less resistant to insect predation than standard tobacco. Tobacco has not shown any potential to become a noxious weed.</p>

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

<p style="text-align: justify;">The presence of nicotine in tobacco is thought to have evolved as a defense against insect predation. It is known that insects have developed resistance to nicotine, resulting in the need for multiple applications of pesticides on conventional tobacco crops. Vector 21-41 was found to have similar yields to other low alkaloid tobacco cultivars when a standard package of pesticides was applied. With no insect management both Vector 21-41 line and conventional tobacco had no commercial yield when faced with heavy insect pressure. Vector 21-41 did not result in increased pesticide application.</p>

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

<p style="text-align: justify;">There is no expected impact on biodiversity from Vector 21-41 tobacco. The line would not be grown outside the areas currently host to tobacco production and the possibility of outcrossing is extremely remote.</p>

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

<p style="text-align: justify;">The parent plant Burley 21 LA (low alkaloid) has not been grown for commercial production for some time. The cultivar has been found to have a high susceptibility to blue mold, as does Vector 21-41. As well, the parent line is susceptible to insects and this trait is also noted in Vector 21-41, however, neither line requires more stringent pest control than is normally used in tobacco cultivation.</p>
