Potential Environmental Concerns vis-a-vis the Introduction of a Specific Trait: Experiences with Potatoes Engineered to Express Insect or Virus Resistance

The paper addresses environmental concerns raised for transgenic potatoes with increased resistance to insects or viruses and discusses whether transgenic potato cultivars are different from traditionally bred cultivars. Iftransgenic potatoes are cultivated in regions with interfertile species, gene transfer to wild relatives will occur. This has implications on the potential for increasedfitness ofwild relatives due to the introgression oftransgenes coding for insect and virus-resistance. An examination of the risks in relation to the benefits ofthese improved crops is calledfor. Considerations need to include the possibility ofgene escape, the ecological effects of this gene escape, and the consequence of transferred genes in the cultivar itself. Scientists can draw upon the extensive experiencesfrom traditional breeding to establish a baseline prediction ofthe behavior ofa transgenic potato. It is important that Latin America develop a uniform set of biosafety regulations for the development, transfer andfield testing oftransgenic plants.