Accumulation and variability of maize pollen deposition on leaves of European Lepidoptera host plants and relation to release rates and deposition determined by standardised technical sampling.

Frieder Hofmann,Rudolf Vögel,Werner Wosniok,Ulrike Kuhn,Boris Schröder,Maren Kruse-Plass,Mathias Otto,Ulrich Schlechtriemen

doi:10.1186/s12302-016-0082-9

Abstract

BackgroundRisk assessment for GMOs such as Bt maize requires detailed data concerning pollen deposition onto non-target host-plant leaves. A field study of pollen on lepidopteran host-plant leaves was therefore undertaken in 2009–2012 in Germany. During the maize flowering period, we used in situ microscopy at a spatial resolution adequate to monitor the feeding behaviour of butterfly larvae. The plant-specific pollen deposition data were supplemented with standardised measurements of pollen release rates and deposition obtained by volumetric pollen monitors and passive samplers.ResultsIn 2010, we made 5377 measurements of maize pollen deposited onto leaves of maize, nettle, goosefoot, sorrel and blackberry. Overall mean leaf deposition during the flowering period ranged from 54 to 478 n/cm2 (grains/cm2) depending on plant species and site, while daily mean leaf deposition values were as high as 2710 n/cm2. Maximum single leaf-deposition values reached up to 103,000 n/cm2, with a 95 % confidence-limit upper boundary of 11,716 n/cm2.ConclusionsDaily means and variation of single values uncovered by our detailed measurements are considerably higher than previously assumed. The recorded levels are more than a single degree of magnitude larger than actual EU expert risk assessment assumptions. Because variation and total aggregation of deposited pollen on leaves have been previously underestimated, lepidopteran larvae have actually been subjected to higher and more variable exposure. Higher risks to these organisms must consequently be assumed. Our results imply that risk assessments related to the effects of Bt maize exposure under both realistic cultivation conditions and worst-case scenarios must be revised. Under common cultivation conditions, isolation buffer distances in the kilometre range are recommended rather than the 20–30 m distance defined by the EFSA.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12302-016-0082-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Highlights

Risk assessment for Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) such as Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize requires detailed data concerning pollen deposition onto non-target host-plant leaves
Because non-target herbivores may feed on host plants dusted with Bt pollen—both within and around maize fields, this exposure and its subsequent effects must be evaluated to assess the risks associated with the cultivation of Bt maize
The high variability of pollen densities observed within leaves has relevant implications for individual lepidopteran larvae feeding on these leaves

Summary

Introduction

Risk assessment for GMOs such as Bt maize requires detailed data concerning pollen deposition onto non-target host-plant leaves. Virtually all measurements of leaf pollen deposition—both direct measurements of pollen deposition on leaves and indirect measurements (other acceptors, technical instruments, proxy parameters)—have been obtained by non-standardised methods that differ in methodology, time span and available background information on the quantity of pollen shedding. It is difficult, if not impossible, to compare these data directly [15]. Few researchers have determined pollen release rates over the flowering period using standardised volumetric pollen monitors such as the Hirst trap [20] or the PMO [10]

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