French seed maker Vilmorin & Cie SA has dropped plans to conduct field tests of genetically modified crops next year in its home market because debate over the technology remains too highly charged, the company said on Wednesday. Vilmorin, the world's fourth-largest seed group, had envisaged conducting field tests in France next spring, its finance director said, but had opted to suspend those plans. ”The political climate led us to put the question on hold for now,” Daniel Jacquemond said. ”We don't want to be provocative.”