Abstract
Genetically modified (GM) plants with insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) genes are widely accepted but their commercial utilization highlights the biosafety issues worldwide. The risk assessment of GM crops demonstrates their impact on the ecosystem as well as non-target organisms (NTOs). Among the NTOs, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) demand more critical experimental studies as they play a significant role in plant growth. A comparative study of Bt with non-Bt cotton rhizosphere was conducted, on selected bacterial strains. During the course of the study, biochemical characterization, auxin biosynthesis and molecular characterization was done to assess the effect of Bt toxins (Cry1Ac and Cry2A) on non-target PGPR strains. A significant decrease (p<0.05) in phosphatase activity was recorded in some of the experimental bacterial strains as compared to those of control strains. However, no significant differences (p>0.05) were observed in other parameters like bacterial population, colony morphologies as well as biochemical activities. Thus, our study demonstrates the safe plantation of Bt crops with respect to soil bacteria.
Highlights
The development of genetically modified (GM)crops is a big bang in the history of agriculture which transformed the conventional agricultural system into an advanced one using genetic tools and molecular approaches (Udriste & Badulescu, 2017)
One of the leading GM traits is insect resistance, where Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) genes transformed into the plant, express a toxic protein (Cry) which targets the gut epithelium of attacking insect and eventually protects the host plant from pathogens (Lee et al, 2016)
The soil ecosystem plays a significant role in food chain, housing the macroorganisms and the plant growth promoting microorganisms
Summary
Crops is a big bang in the history of agriculture which transformed the conventional agricultural system into an advanced one using genetic tools and molecular approaches (Udriste & Badulescu, 2017). We have witnessed a revolution in traditional agriculture just after the successful advent of transgenic varieties in late 1970s. One of the leading GM traits is insect resistance, where Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) genes transformed into the plant, express a toxic protein (Cry) which targets the gut epithelium of attacking insect and eventually protects the host plant from pathogens (Lee et al, 2016). The economical benefits of Bt plantation include the decreased pesticidal sprays and increased crop productivity. The global hectarage of Bt crop cultivation is reported to be greatly increased from 1.68 million hectares in 1995 to 181.5 million hectares in
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