<p style="text-align: justify;">LLCotton25 x MON15985 (OECD identifier: ACS- GH&Oslash;&Oslash;1-3 x MON-15985-7) cotton is the product of the cross-breeding of the herbicide-tolerant cotton line LLCotton25 (OECD: ACS-GH&Oslash;&Oslash;1-3) with the insect-resistant cotton line 15985 (MON-15985-7). This stacked cotton line is a product of traditional plant breeding, and therefore is not automatically subject to regulation in all jurisdictions as are transgenic plants resulting from recombinant DNA technologies. Certain jurisdictions may request notification in advance of the release of a stacked hybrid, or may request information to conduct an environmental and food safety assessment. Examples of jurisdictions that require either notification or information about stacked hybrids prior to their release into the environment, and for use in human food and livestock feed are Japan and the Philippines.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">The stacked cotton line LLCotton25 x MON15985 expresses three novel proteins: the enzyme phosphinothricin acetyl-transferase (PAT) and the delta-endotoxins Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab, both of which confer resistance to the lepidopteran pests of cotton, such as the cotton bollworm, pink bollworm and tobacco budworm. The insecticidal proteins Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab are produced by the <i>cry</i>1Ac and <i>cry</i>2Ab genes respectively, both of which were originally isolated from <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> and are derived from MON15985. The <i>bar</i> gene, which codes for the production of PAT, is derived from LLCotton25. This enzyme acetylates glufosinate ammonium, rendering it inactive in the plant. The expression of the <i>bar</i> gene in LLCotton25 allows it to survive the otherwise lethal application of glufosinate ammonium. The bar gene was isolated from <i>Streptomyces hygroscopius</i>, a gram-positive soil bacterium. The novel traits of each parental line have been combined, through traditional plant breeding, to produce this new cotton line. For a full description of each parental line please refer to the individual product descriptions in the crop database for LLCotton25 and MON15985.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">The inserted genes and their gene products have a history of safe use, and have undergone review and approval by several regulatory agencies. No interactions among the gene products or negative synergistic effects are expected in the stacked hybrid. Since neither Cry1Ac, nor Cry2Ab are enzymes, these proteins have no effect on plant metabolism. PAT has high affinity for its substrate L-Phosphinothricin, the active ingredient in glufosinate ammonium. PAT, Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab are therefore not expected to interact within, nor affect the metabolism of the stacked line.</p>
