The development of recombinant DNA techniques has enabled gene transfer between plants and bacteria, virus or animais to produce transgenic plants. As a result of this technology, there are new genes and plants available to plant breeding for disease and insect resistance, herbicide and environmental stresses tolerance, and for superior quality products. The objectives of this review are topoint out the risks, benefits and importam aspects in using transgenic plants in agriculture. Among the important issues that have been discussed about field tests with transgenic plants, two have received more attention: the safety of marker genes (specially those that confer resistance to antibiotics or herbicides tolerance) and the gene flow between cultivated and wild plant species. Even though the United States of América and the European Community have strict ruies which regulate the field tests and the commercial release of transgenic plants, there are no international laws to regulate the se issues in other parts of the world. The impact of the recombinant DNA technology on the production of new agricultural products will depend on the understanding of their risks and benefits by the society.
fïeld tests; gene flow; marker genes; legislation