Difference from the recipient organism or the species to which the recipient
organism belongs
30
1) Specific contents of physiological or ecological characteristics that were
accompanied by the expression of replication products of transferred nucleic acid
This recombinant maize is given the tolerance to aryloxyalkanoate herbicide due
35 to the expression of the modified AAD-1 protein which is derived from the
transferred modified aad-1 gene. Cultivation of this recombinant maize given the
tolerance to aryloxyalkanoate herbicide offers the cultivating farmers increased
options of usable herbicides and helps control the weeds which have acquired the
tolerance to the other herbicides.
40
In the isolated field tests conducted in 2009 at Nasu Research Station of National
Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, National Agriculture and Food
Research Organization (hereinafter referred to as “National Institute of Livestock
and Grassland Science”), this recombinant maize and the non-recombinant control
45 maize were examined for tolerance to herbicide Quizalofop. About two (2) weeks
after germination, twenty-five (25) individuals of each of this recombinant maize
11
and the non-recombinant control maize were sprayed with the herbicide
Quizalofop (brand name: Portoflowable) diluted by a factor of 250-fold. One (1)
week after spraying, the non-recombinant control maize was found all withered,
while this recombinant maize all exhibited satisfactory herbicide tolerance without
5 any injury (“Isolated Field Test Results Report,” Figure 1, p.2).
As a result of acute toxicity test for possible effects of 2,4-DCP on the aquatic
organisms, a decomposition product of herbicide 2,4-D, LC50 (50% lethal
concentration) was found 1.7 mg/L for freshwater fish and 1.4 mg/L for water flea
10 (Daphnia magna), and EC50 (50% effective concentration) for duckweed was
found 1.5 mg/L. In addition, as a result of chronic toxicity test, NOEC (no
observed effect concentration) was found 0.14 mg/L for duckweed and 0.21 mg/L
for Daphnia magna. Furthermore, regarding possible effects on the land life, LC50
for earthworm was found 125 mg/kg, and EC10 (10% effective concentration) for
15 Folsomia candida was found 0.7 mg/kg (Reference 13).
On the other hand, regarding the effects of 2,4-D on the aquatic organisms, LC50
as a result of acute toxicity test was found 0.26 mg/L for freshwater fish and 2.2
mg/L for Daphnia magna, and EC50 for duckweed was 0.2992 mg/L. In addition,
20 as a result of chronic toxicity test, NOEC was found 0.0476 mg/L for duckweed
and 0.20 mg/L for Daphnia magna (Reference 14).
As can be seen from the above findings, the 2,4-DCP, a decomposition product of
2,4-D, is less toxic compared to the 2,4-D.
25
Furthermore, this recombinant maize was sprayed with the 2,4-D at the upper
limit level of optimum dosage range to identify the residual concentration of
2,4-DCP in the grains and as a result, the residual level was found below the limit
of quantitation (0.01 ppm) (Reference 15).
30
2) With respect to the physiological or ecological characteristics listed below,
presence or absence of difference between genetically modified agricultural
products and the taxonomic species to which the recipient organism belongs, and
the degree of difference, if present
35
In 2009, isolated field test was conducted at the National Institute of Livestock
and Grassland Science to examine any differences between this recombinant
maize and the non-recombinant control maize (See “Isolated Field Test Results
Report.”).
40
(a) Morphological and growth characteristics
For the morphological and growth characteristics, comparison was made
regarding the uniformity of germination, germination rate, time of tasseling, time
45 of silking, culm length, plant type, tiller number, height of ear, yellow ripe stage,
number of ears, number of productive ears, ear length, ear diameter, row number
per ear, grain number per row, grain color, 100-kernel weight, grain shape, and
12
fresh weight of above ground part at harvesting time between this recombinant
maize and the non-recombinant control maize. Due to the low temperatures at the
late stage of growth, the recombinant and non-recombinant plants in the fields
both failed to reach full maturity. For this reason, for examination regarding ear
5 length, ear diameter, row number per ear, grain number per row, grain color,
100-kernel weight and grain shape, in November 15, 2009, two (2) individuals
each of this recombinant maize and the non-recombinant control maize from each
plot were transferred to a plastic greenhouse (without heating) and then their fully
matured ears were used. In addition, at the point of time when this recombinant
10 maize and the non-recombinant control maize were transferred to the plastic
greenhouse, their growth was found arrested and thus, it is considered that the ear
length, ear diameter, row number per ear, grain number per row, and grain shape
remain unchanged even after the transfer to the greenhouse.
15 This recombinant maize and the non-recombinant control maize both exhibited
good uniformity of germination, and no difference was observed regarding time of
tasseling and time of silking between the both plants. This recombinant maize and
the non-recombinant control maize both have the upright plant type, and no tiller
was observed and no difference was observed in yellow ripe stage between the
20 both plants. This recombinant maize and the non-recombinant control maize both
have one (1) ear and one (1) productive ear, showing no difference between the
both plants. In addition, this recombinant maize and the non-recombinant control
maize both feature yellow-colored wedge-shaped grains regarding the grain color
and grain shape, showing no difference. Furthermore, also regarding the
25 germination rate, culm length, height of ear, ear length, ear diameter, row number
per ear, grain number per row, 100-kernel weight and fresh weight of above
ground part at harvesting time, no statistically significant difference was observed
between this recombinant maize and the non-recombinant control maize (Table 5,
p.11).
30
Table 5 Comparison of morphological and growth characteristics between this
recombinant maize and the non-recombinant control maize
Confidential: Not made available or disclosed to unauthorized person