Abstract: Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is an important part of the environmental risk assessment of genetically modified plants. Exogenous recombinant DNA can be released from transgenic plants into the soil environment through root exudates, pollen, debris, etc. Studies have shown that the recombinant DNA could be integrated into the genome of soil microorganisms by homologous recombination. This would have direct or indirect effects on the structure and function of soil microbial community, and even result in the changes of soil ecosystem. This article focused on the persistence and HGT of the recombinant DNA in soil environment and the influence factors and detection methods, discussed the research highlights of the persistence and HGT of recombinant DNA, compared the research methods, and proposed the focus of future research in order to provide technical support for the risk assessment and security management of genetically modified plants.

Key words: atmospheric dry deposition velocity, ecological effects, biogenic elements, fluxes of dry and wet depositions, Jiaozhou Bay