Abstract
T1C-19, a newly developed transgenic cry1C rice line, expresses cry1C under the control of the maize ubiquitin promoter, and is highly resistant to lepidopteran pests of rice. Cyrtorhinus lividipennis is the major predator of the eggs and young nymphs of Nilaparvata lugens, which is the main non-target sap-sucking insect pest of Bt rice. C. lividipennis may be exposed to Cry1C protein, thus biosafety evaluations of transgenic cry1C rice on C. lividipennis should be conducted before the commercialization of T1C-19. In the current study, we tested the direct toxicity of elevated doses of Cry1C to C. lividipennis, effects of T1C-19 on the life-table parameters of C. lividipennis via preying planthoppers, and effects of T1C-19 on the population density and dynamics in rice fields. No detrimental effects on development, survival, female ratio and body weight of C. lividipennis were caused by direct exposure to elevated doses of the Cry1C protein or prey-mediated exposure to realistic doses of the protein. The population density and dynamics did not significantly differ between C. lividipennis in T1C-19 and non-transgenic rice fields. Thus, transgenic cry1C rice had no negative effects on C. lividipennis. This is the first report of the effects of transgenic cry1C rice on C. lividipennis.
Highlights
Rice, Oryza sativa L., is an important cereal crop cultivated worldwide
These tests are initiated to evaluate the direct toxicity of elevated doses of insecticidal compounds to the non-target arthropod (NTA)
We tested the direct toxicity of elevated doses of Cry1C protein to C. lividipennis, the effects of transgenic cry1C rice on the life-table parameters of C. lividipennis via preying planthoppers, and the effects of T1C-19 on population density and dynamics in rice fields
Summary
Oryza sativa L., is an important cereal crop cultivated worldwide. China is one of the largest rice producing countries in the world and it is estimated that the total area under rice cultivation is ~29.4 million hectares, which covers one-third of the total food crop growing area of China. It is necessary to conduct environmental risk assessments prior to their commercial cultivation, and the environmental risks of each rice line must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and tiered-tests should be conducted[15] These tests are initiated to evaluate the direct toxicity of elevated doses of insecticidal compounds (e.g., ten times higher than the realistic exposure) to the non-target arthropod (NTA). In this Tier-1 test, purified Bt protein is delivered to the NTA by being mixed with the artificial diets; in a semi-field test (effects of insecticidal proteins at realistic doses through the food-chain on the NTA in a replicated controlled system); and the field test (effects of transgenic crops on population of NTAs at realistic doses in a realistic agricultural system)[15,16,17]
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