Addressing the fears of the natural rubber supply chain regarding the dissemination of genetically modified rubber trees

The development of genetic engineering in Hevea is designed to speed up the breeding process for traits that are essential to the sustainable production of natural rubber. By using cisgenesis, rather than the transgenesis generally used for commercial varieties resistant to herbicides and insect pests, researchers are seeking to regulate genes already present in Hevea in order to improve the best recommended clones. Faced with the concerns of the natural rubber supply chain regarding the dissemination of transgenes via pollen and the use of genes responsible for antibiotic tolerance, research has been launched to find solutions. The first work set out to target genetic modifications outside the reproductive organs, or to induce rubber tree sterility to prevent dissemination via pollen. The second involved a genetic modification method using a selection process other than by the antibiotics needed to identify genetically modified cells. Lastly, with cisgenesis it is possible, among other things, to activate natural defences in the rubber tree or plug some potential deficiencies of certain clones with supernumerary genes taken from Hevea. In order to improve a complex trait such as natural rubber production, research is focused on modifying regulation factors coordinating a set of genes. Thus, a whole metabolic pathway, such as rubber biosynthesis, could be modified by controlling a single gene or just a few genes. In most countries, the remit of public research organizations includes studies on the phenomena linked to GMO use. Armed with research on gene flows, gene regulation network modelling and gene transfer techniques, studies could be conducted to evaluate the risks and potential advantages of genetically modified rubber trees that are giving concern to the natural rubber supply chain. These studies should help the public authorities decide what applications should be accorded to biotechnologies. (Résumé d'auteur