In your scenario, the altered plants require chemicals to outproduce their peers. Lacking the chemicals (as in the wild), they no longer out-compete. At his point, it is their other strengths/weaknesses which will determine their success. However, I assumt that the constant introduction of altered genes into the wild population from the cultivated crops will eventually push the wild population to 100% altered genes. That doesn't mean they'll go extinct absent the chemicals, but it is a very good point. David E. ________________________________ From: Christian Lachaud <christian.lachaud@gmail.com> Wouldn't this practice, in turn, result in the selection of strains requiring specific chemicals at one point of their development because they got filtered that way through the years (= those receiving the chemicals produce more seeds until the point that only these are found in the population) ?? This is all speculation : it looks sound to me from a logical perspective, but I may not have the correct arguments to oppose ? Therefore, let me turn this set of arguments into a set questions addressed to your expert community. I will be pleased to read your comments (I hope). Kind regards. *Dr. Christian M. Lachaud**, PhD* _________________ Lachaud, C. M. (2012).* **La Bible du Safranier. Tout Savoir sur le Crocus Sativus et sur le Safran.** *In Libro Veritas, France.* *258 pages.* *ISBN: 978-2-7466-4412-0 Consulter la fiche détaillée sur le site de l'éditeur : http://ilv-edition.com/librairie/…