Environmental risk evaluation of transgenic strawberry expressing a rice chitinase gene

An environmental risk evaluation of a transgenic strawberry expressing a rice chitinase gene was carried out in a closed greenhouse, a semi-closed greenhouse, and an isolated field. The transgenic strawberry did not produce any specific products, for example compounds secreted from the roots or volatile compounds released from the plant. The influence of transgenic strawberry cultivation on the growth of other plants and soil microflora was investigated in a semi-closed green house. It was concluded that the effect of the transgenic strawberry on other plants (radish and spinach) and microflora (fungi, bacteria, and actinomycetes) was no different from that of a non-transgenic strawberry. Furthermore, there was no difference between the transgenic and the non-transgenic strawberries in terms of morphological characteristics and yield except for disease resistance.