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

<p style="text-align: justify;">The canola lines MS1 and RF2, and the hybrid MS1 x RF2 were field tested in Canada from 1991 to 1994. Agronomic and adaptation characteristics such as vegetative vigour, overwintering capacity, flowering period, seed production, seed dissemination, germination and establishment, and seed dormancy were within the normal range of expression of characteristics in unmodified counterparts. As expected, seed production of the hybrid line was greater than that of unmodified counterparts. Flowers of the MS1 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 MS1 and RF2, and the hybrid MS1 x RF2 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 MS1 ensured that gene introgression from MS1 into wild or cultivated sexually-compatible plants was extremely unlikely. The MS1 plants can act as pollen recipients, but the progeny would be partially male sterile.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Transgenic line RF2 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 <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 male sterility or fertility restoration do not confer any ecological advantage to potential hybrid offspring of MS1 or RF2 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 MS1 and RF2 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 MS1, RF2 and hybrid MS1xRF2 to unmodified plants determined that the transgenic lines were not different from their counterparts in this respect. Published data showed that seed survival of transgenic seeds expressing kanamycin resistance and glufosinate ammonium tolerance was significantly lower than seed survival of unmodified counterparts, when seeded under a variety of wild conditions. Competition studies, between transgenic lines and barley sown together at various ratios, demonstrated that the transgenic lines did not confer any novel competitive advantage.</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 MS1, RF2, and hybrid MS1 x RF2 did not have a significant adverse impact on nontarget organisms or organisms beneficial to plants or agriculture, and were not expected to impact on threatened or endangered species. The <i>barnase</i> and <i>barstar</i> 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. In addition, detailed studies of pollination behavior in the field and in greenhouses showed no effects on honeybees. An avian dietary test was performed with the seed eating canary bird (<i>Serinus canaria domestica</i>) and a feeding study was performed with the domesticated rabbit (<i>Oryctolagus cuniculus</i>). Both studies determined no differences in food consumption, behavior and body weight between birds or rabbits fed with the transgenics or unmodified counterparts. Microorganisms living in the rhizosphere surrounding the roots were compared quantitatively and qualitatively and there were no differences observed between plots of transgenic plants versus plots containing unmodified <i>B. napus</i>.</p>

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

<p style="text-align: justify;">The transgenic lines MS1, RF2 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 environments. Studies have shown that these lines are not invasive of natural habitats and that they are no more competitive than the unmodified counterparts, both in natural and managed ecosystems. It was determined that the relative impact on biodiversity of MS1, RF2 and MS1xRF2 was equivalent to that of currently commercialized canola lines.</p>
