Freedom II squash: ready for launch.

With a name befitting a new spacecraft or a South African rock band, Freedom 11, a genetically engineered yellow crook-neck squash, will make its debut in produce bins early this summer. Scientists at the Asgrow Seed Co. in Kalamazoo, Mich., designed the transgenic squash plant to resist viruses that frequently damage these gourds.

Freedom II carries an inserted gene for a protein found in the watermelon mosaic virus 2 (WMV2) and the zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV). Those viruses won't attack plants that contain the protein, says Asgrow scientist David M. Tricoli.

This spring, farmers will plant their first crop of Freedom 11, primarily in the southeastern United States. When the gourds make it to market this summer, however, they may not bear their proud moniker, and many consumers may never know they are eating a genetically engineered product.

Asgrow will label the seeds, but farmers and distributors may not label the squash itself or keep it separate from others. The Food and Drug Administration, which has declared the product safe for humans to eat, does not require the vegetable to be labeled.

Some scientists worry that during the plants' growth period, pollen from the transgenic squash might transmit the virus-resistant trait to wild squashes, which could then become more troublesome weeds. However, Department of Agriculture officials dismiss this concern and consider Freedom II as safe as other squash varieties.

The new squash follows to market the Flavr Savr tomato, the first transgenic whole food (as opposed to food ingredient) allowed in the United States. Grocers began selling the tomato last May (SN: 5/28/94, p.342).