Kajian Pendahuluan: Perpindahan Gen dari Tanaman Kentang Transgenik Katahdin RB ke Tanaman Kentang Non Transgenik

Preliminary study: Gene transfer from transgenic potato Katahdin RB to non transgenic potato. One of the concerns associated with the release of transgenic crops, is the possibility of the gene flow from transgenic crops to neighboring crops of the same species or to related species. In plants, gene flow is a routine process occur through the natural hybridization. The opportunity for gene flow occur depends principally on two factors, the degree of sexual compatibility between donor and recipient species, and the physical distance between the two. The experiment was conducted to determine whether the gene flow from transgenic potato Katahdin RB to non transgenic was occurred, based on selection using a 50 mg/l kanamycin, and to estimate gene flow mediated by natural hybridization at different isolation distances. Preliminary result indicated that a rapid and simple method using MS0 liquid media with kanamycin 50 mg/l was effective for screening the seeds. There was a gene flow from transgenic potato Katahdin RB to non transgenic, based on a rapid and simple selection method using 50 mg/l of kanamycin as selectable marker. The isolation distance used in the study were 0.8, 1.6, 2.4, 3.2, 4.0, 4.8, 5.6, 6.4, 7.2, 8.0, 8.8, 9.6, 10.4, and 11.2 m from the row of transgenic potato Katahdin RB. The gene flow through natural hybridization at a isolation distances of (0.8 - 1.6 m), (2.4 ? 4 m), and (4.8 ? 6.4 m) from transgenic to non transgenic plants were 13.78, 10.92, and 3.82%, respectively. At a distance of 7.2 ? 8 m, the frequency of gene flow was declined to 0%. The frequency of gene flow from transgenic potatoes to non transgenic potatoes markedly decreased by increasing the isolation distance, and was negligible at 7.2 m