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GERMAN CHEMICALS GIANT BASF and Cibus, a US plant trait development company, say they have produced herbicide-resistant forms of oilseed rape using a new technique that manipulates the plants’ own DNA rather than inserting genes from other species.

Winter oilseed rape and spring canola plants resistant to BASF’s Clearfield pesticide were bred using Cibus’ Rapid Trait Development System (RTDS) using what they term “directed mutagenesis”. Cibus’ patented technology causes DNA repair enzymes within the cell to change specific genes, so producing the desired trait without the need to insert foreign DNA. The company claim it is faster and more efficient than either standard genetic modification techniques, which insert genes at random locations, or traditional forms of mutagenesis, which use radiation or chemicals to produce changes, some of which can be desirable, some not. BASF agrees – the process to create Clearfield-resistant oilseed rape and canola using RTDS has taken just one year, rather than the 5–10 years which might be expected.

Initial trials of the new variants both in greenhouses and in the field have been successful and the companies are on track for a commercial launch of Clearfield-resistant oilseed rape and canola seeds by 2013. As the plants are non-transgenic, regulations in place for genetically-modified transgenic crops do not apply, so the product can be launched much faster.

Cibus chairman Stephen Evans-Freke says: “This innovative new technology adds further confirmation that valuable traits can be developed in plants without the insertion of foreign DNA into plants. This is a milestone development for Cibus and BASF.”

BASF’s Clearfield system, involving matching various mutagenic crops, including sunflowers, wheat and lentils, to custom pesticides has been available since 1995, but this is the first time RTDS has been used.

Cibus vice president of commercial development David Voss tells tce: “RTDS technology is adaptable to every crop. The company is developing other traits such as healthier produce, more valuable products, enhanced quality and better yields. As well as canola, other crops we are working on include rice, potato and grain sorghum.”

The company believe RTDS could also produce more efficient biofuels.