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

<p style="text-align: justify;">The pollen flow / out crossing study conducted in 2003 using Bt Event-1 revealed that out-crossing occurred only upto 2 meters, and only 1% of the pollen reached a distance of 2 meters and beyond 2mt distance no plants were out crossed with transgenic pollen. As the cotton pollen is heavy and sticky, the range of pollen transfer is limited because it was observed that the pollen out crossing taken place upto the distance of 1 mt in East and North direction and 2mt in west direction of experimental site. Since the Bt gene is incorporated into tetraploid species and the native Indian cottons are of diploids and are not crossable to tetroploids, there is no chance that the Bt gene will transfer from cultivated tetraploid species to near relatives such as traditionally cultivated diploid species.</p>

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

<p style="text-align: justify;">The potential weediness of JK Bt Cotton Event-1 was assessed in comparison with non transgenic line of same by testing its vigor and the rate of germination in laboratory test as well in soil. The results demonstrated that there are no significant differences observed between Bt and non-Bt cotton for germination and vigor. This indicates that the Bt and non-Bt cotton are not different in regard to their weediness potential. In general the cotton plants are not having the potential weediness characteristics such as seed dormancy, soil persistence, germination under diverse environmental conditions, rapid vegetative growth, short life cycle or high seed out put and dispersal.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Potential Impacts on Non-Target Organisms</b></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">The studies conducted on non-target organisms and beneficial insects during the multi-location and large scale field trials of JK- Bt Cotton Event &ndash;1 revealed that the Bt cotton hybrids do not have any toxic effects on the non-target species, namely sucking pests (aphids, jassids, white fly and mites). The population of secondary lepidopteran pests (<i>Spodoptera litura</i>) remained negligible during the study period in both Bt and non-Bt hybrids. The movement of beneficial insects populations (Chrysopa, Coccinellids, Syrphids and Spider) are equal and remained active over both Bt and non Bt cotton plots.</p>

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

<p style="text-align: justify;">Studies were conducted to assess the possible risk of accumulation of Bt protein in the soil as exudates from the roots of Bt Cotton. The soil samples from the Bt plots of different locations were subjected to quantify the Bt protein and the results showed that it was not detected in soil samples. This indicates that Bt protein is rapidly degraded in the soil on which Bt cotton is grown. This study showed that the Cry 1AC protein was rapidly degraded in the soil in both the purified form of the protein and as part of the cotton plant tissue. The half-life for the purified protein was less than 20 days. The half-life of the Cry 1AC protein in plant tissue was calculated to 41 days which is comparable to the degradation rates reported for microbial formulations of Bt.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Potential Impacts on Soil Microflora</b></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">This Study was conducted in 2004 and 2005 to evaluate any impact of Bt protein exudated by roots of Bt cotton on the soil micro-flora. There was no significant difference in population of microbes and soil invertebrates like earthworm and Gllembola between Bt and non-Bt plant rhizosphere soil samples.</p>
