Weediness in the light of new transgenic crops and their potential hybrids

Abstract

The concept of transgenic gene transfer from crops to closely related weeds is considered, using the example of a crop with transformed disease resistance. Definitions of weeds, their characteristics and their origins, with emphasis on crops displaying weed characteristics, using case studies of rape and sugarbeet, and the reversion of crops to wild types are introduced. Weeds evolving from hybridizations between crops and related wild species, herbicide tolerant weeds and the concept of enhanced weediness in transgenic crops are considered.