Modeling Dispersal of Genetic Information in Structured Agricultural Landscapes with Partial Differential Equations

K. Lipsius, and O. Richter
Institute of Geoecology, TU Braunschweig, Germany
Published in 2008

We present a model for plant dispersal in agricultural landscapes to evaluate the gene dispersal from genetically modified (GM) plants. Dispersal from seed and pollen is modeled with partial differential equations. In scenarios, we investigated the effect of roadside application of non-selective herbicides on dispersal of herbicide tolerant oilseed rape (HT OSR). We showed that OSR growing on side of roads and lanes facilitates OSR dispersal and can help to bridge areas with unfavorable conditions for OSR growth. Herbicide application gives advantage to the HT OSR and gene dispersal is more widespread. The model can help to evaluate co-existence management measures such as spatial isolation between GM and non-GM cultivars on the adventitious presence of GM in non-GM harvest.

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