High crop barrier reduces gene flow from transgenic to conventional maize in large fields

• We test the effectiveness of high crop barriers in reducing gene flow.
• We conduct experiments in two large fields (750 m × 750 m).
• High crop barrier decreased the cross-pollination incidence.
• High crop barrier had little effect on the maximum distance of pollen flow.
• High crop barrier reduces gene flow from transgenic to conventional crops.

To test the effectiveness of high crop barriers in reducing gene flow, we conducted experiments in two large fields (around 750 m × 750 m) using yellow transgenic maize and white conventional maize in the growth season of 2013, with Sorghum as a high crop barrier in a shape of 5 m zone. Sorghum barrier affected pollen load at different directions, decreasing pollen number in further locations. It also decreased the cross-pollination incidence between transgenic and non-transgenic maize, with a average rate of 9.35% in the open site and 1.04% in the Sorghum site. But Sorghum barrier had little effect on the maximum distance of pollen flow and cross-pollination, which depends on wind direction and speed. The maximum distance of gene flow from transgenic to conventional maize was 300 m in the open site and 350 m in the Sorghum site. High crop barrier could be proposed as an effective method to reduce the frequency of gene flow from transgenic to conventional crops and to regulate their coexistence.