ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the development of an herbicide resistance determinant that detoxifies the herbicide bromoxynil. This gene was introduced into cotton by an Agrobacterium vector system resulting in bromoxynil-resistant transgenic cotton plants. The chapter discusses the development of these plants through full field tests and the analysis of this potential product as an alternative weed control system for the cotton grower. To determine the metabolites present in normal and bromoxynil-Bromoxynil-resistant (BXN™) cotton, a metabolism study was conducted utilizing uniformly labeled 14C-bromoxynil, spiked into a normal bromoxynil application. The United States Department of Agriculture conducted a detailed study of the issues under its jurisdiction and determined that there is no reason to regulate BXN™ cotton any differently than traditionally bred cotton varieties. Their ruling included an Environmental Assessment that reached a "Finding of No Significant Impact" in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
