Pollen flow

Information on pollen flow are necessary to assess the potential impact on ecosystems of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). For instance, pollen dispersal data are needed to evaluate the range within transgenic pollen could affect biodiversity and non-target species. This knowledge is also necessary to identify environmental conditions that might favour pollen movement. Additionally, information on pollen flow can be used to estimate the range of the pollen dispersal using dispersal simulation models. Our work focuses on pollen dispersal data of the following species (crops and trees) of which genetically modified variants can be commercially available in the near future: maize (Zea mays L.), oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), and poplar (Populus nigra x Populus deltoides). We used pollen traps to assess the distances covered by pollen granules of the selected species and a pollen dispersal simulation model to assess the potential contamination levels due to maize crops.