Altered Wheat May Pose a Risk

By Shannon Gombos: link to article

Genetically engineered wheat when subjected to changing environmental conditions was more prone to disease and produced half as much yields as unmodified wheat.

A recent study from Switzerland tracks some abnormal effects in genetically engineered wheat. According to the data, the wheat grew normally in a greenhouse environment. Under these same conditions, the wheat also had better resistance to various fungal diseases that pose significant threats to the crop. But when the wheat was introduced to changing environmental conditions, the metabolism of the plant showed an unusual reaction. The wheat became extremely affected by ergot disease, a toxic fungal disease. The genetically engineered wheat yield, under changing environmental conditions, was also 50% lower than the control, unmodified wheat crops.