Transgenic crops for herbicide resistance

Abstract

A year after the introduction of the first commercial transgenic crop (Flavr Savr™ tomato with a longer shelf life) in 1994, transgenic, herbicide-resistant crops (HRCs) were introduced (Table 3.1) with the introduction of bromoxynil- (3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzonitrile) resistant cotton and glufosinate- [2-amino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)butanoic acid] resistant canola. Bromoxynil resistance had little market penetration during the years when it was available. The next year, 1996, marked the introduction of the first glyphosate- [N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine] resistant (GR) crop (soybean). Other GR and glufosinate-resistant crops were introduced in the subsequent years. GR crops now represent well over 80% of all transgenic crops grown worldwide (James 2008). Accordingly, this chapter will deal primarily with GR crops. Several reviews (e.g., Duke 2005; Duke and Cerdeira 2005; Cerdeira and Duke 2006) and two books (McClean and Evans 1995; Duke 1996) are available on the topic of HRCs, but this rapidly evolving topic requires timely updates.