The European Commission asked the Scientific Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA GMO Panel) to address the objections of Cyprus to the placing on the ...market of the genetically modified (GM) carnation SHD‐27531‐4. The GM carnation cut flowers, with a modified petal colour, are intended to be imported and distributed in the European Union for ornamental use only. The EFSA GMO Panel responded to the objections of Cyprus, taking into account the limited intended use of carnation SHD‐27531‐4 and the information available. First, the EFSA GMO Panel concludes that the propagation of carnation SHD‐27531‐4 by individuals cannot be excluded. However, should this occur, carnation SHD‐27531‐4 would not show any potential for increased survival, fitness or weediness compared with its parental line. Second, the EFSA GMO Panel is of the opinion that the potential spread of pollen of the GM carnation SHD‐27531‐4 by Lepidoptera to wild Dianthus species cannot be eliminated but is highly unlikely to occur and, if it did occur, it is very unlikely that viable hybrids would be produced, survive and result in adverse environmental effects. Third, considering the very low potentials for hybridisation and/or seed production of (GM) carnations, the EFSA GMO Panel concludes that plant‐to‐plant gene transfer of the introduced genes is very unlikely and, if it did occur, it is unlikely to result in viable seed production leading to adverse environmental effects.
Palatinose (isomaltulose) is an analog of sucrose and was regarded as non-metabolizable in plant tissues until recently. In the present study, we found that crude extracts from carnation petals had ...activity to hydrolyze palatinose. Preliminary characterization of this activity using a crude enzyme extract from ‘Lillian’ carnation petals revealed that hydrolyzing activity was exhibited by α-glucosidase, which uses isomaltose and palatinose, both being α-1,6-glucosides, as substrates. Exogenous application of palatinose stimulated flower opening of carnation cultivars (Dianthus caryophyllus ‘Lillian’, ‘Pure Red’, and ‘Light Pink Barbara’), but suppressed it in D. barbatus ‘Shin-higuruma’. Palatinose-hydrolyzing activity was much higher in the extract from carnation than that from D. barbatus. These observations suggested that palatinose stimulated flower opening in carnation by supplying glucose and fructose, but suppressed it in D. barbatus, probably through the inhibition of general metabolism, similar to the action of α-glucosidase, caused by its excess accumulation.
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