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

<p style="text-align: justify;">The transgenic canola lines MS8, RF3, and derived hybrids, have been extensively field tested in Canada (1994 to 1996), in the United States since 1997 and in Europe. Important agronomic characteristics such as germination, vegetative vigour, flowering period, time to maturity and seed production of both transgenic lines were within the normal range of expression of characteristics in unmodified <i>B. napus</i> counterparts. Flowers of the MS8 line had undeveloped anthers, slightly smaller petals and did not produce fertile pollen, but nectar production remained unchanged and normal insect pollination was observed. Stress adaptation was evaluated, including its resistance or susceptibility to major <i>B. napus</i> pests and pathogens (<i>e.g.</i>, blackleg, sclerotinia, flea beetles, diamondback moth larvae) and determined to fall within the ranges currently displayed by commercial varieties. The lines were tested under various environmental conditions, and showed no differences in agronomic performance when compared to unmodified counterparts under the same conditions. Overall the field data reports demonstrated that MS8 and RF3, and the hybrid MS8 x RF3 had no potential to pose a plant pest risk.</p>

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

<p style="text-align: justify;">The sterility of the <i>B. napus</i> line MS8 ensured that gene introgression from MS8 into wild or cultivated sexually-compatible plants was extremely unlikely. The MS8 plants can act as pollen recipients, but the progeny would be partially male sterile.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Transgenic line RF3 and hybrid plants displayed normal reproductive characteristics. <i>Brassica napus</i> plants 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 E<i>rucastrum gallicum</i>. Previous studies have demonstrated that gene flow is most likely to occur with <i>B. rapa</i>, the other major canola species, and an occasional weed of cultivated land especially in the eastern provinces of Canada.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">The genes coding for male sterility or fertility restoration do not confer any ecological advantage to potential hybrid offspring of MS8 or RF3 plants. If glufosinate ammonium tolerant individuals arose through interspecific or intergeneric hybridization, the novel traits would confer no competitive advantage to these plants unless these populations were routinely subject to herbicide treatments. 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. It was concluded that gene flow from the transgenic lines MS8 and RF3 or their hybrids to canola relatives was possible, but would not result in increased weediness or invasiveness of these relatives.</p>

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

<p style="text-align: justify;">Field studies on invasiveness and survival characteristics comparing the MS8, RF3 and hybrid MS8 x RF3 to unmodified plants determined that the transgenic lines were not different from their counterparts in these respects. It was determined that glufosinate ammonium did not confer a competitive advantage to the transgenic lines over unmodified varieties since herbicide resistance does not confer any pest resistance, alter reproductive biology or change any physiology related to survival. It was concluded that the traits controlling pollination in MS8, RF3 and their hybrid progeny had no altered weed or invasiveness potential compared to currently commercialized <i>B. napus</i> varieties and in fact, male sterility trait in MS8 would provide a competitive disadvantage.</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 lines MS8, RF3, and hybrid MS8 x RF3 did not have a significant adverse impact on organisms beneficial to plants or agriculture, nontarget organisms, and were not expected to impact on threatened or endangered species. The barnase and barstar proteins did not result in altered toxicity or allergenicity properties and are only produced in the tapetum cell layer of anthers at a specific developmental stage.</p>

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

<p style="text-align: justify;">The transgenic lines MS8, RF3 and their hybrids have no novel phenotypic characteristics which would extend their use beyond the current geographic range of canola/rapeseed production. Since outcross species are only found in disturbed habitats, transfer of novel traits would not have an impact on unmanaged natural environments. It was determined that the relative impact on biodiversity of MS8, RF3 and MS8 x RF3 was equivalent to that of currently commercialized canola lines.</p>
