Failsafe mechanisms for preventing gene flow and organism dispersal of enhanced microbial biocontrol agents

Abstract

A science-based regulatory system is expected to have three key elements in requirements for enhanced biocontrol agents: no off-site dispersal, poor long-term environmental persistence, and limited possibility of recombination with other pathogens. These can be achieved by using appropriate combinations of some of the following elements: synergists that are present for a single generation; organisms that are permanently asporogenic; and by inserting genes in tandem with virulence-enhancing genes that would render recombined offspring to be unfit to compete in the environment. © 2007 Springer.