Abstract
BackgroundThe commercial release of rice genetically engineered to express a Cry1Ab protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) for control of Lepidoptera in China is a subject of debate. One major point of the debate has focused on the ecological safety of Bt rice on nontarget organisms, especially predators and parasitoids that help control populations of insect pests.Methodology/Principal FindingsA tritrophic bioassay was conducted to evaluate the potential impact of Cry1Ab-expressing rice on fitness parameters of a predaceous ground spider (Pardosa pseudoannulata (Bösenberg et Strand)) that had fed on Bt rice-fed brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens (Stål)) nymphs. Survival, development time and fecundity of this spider were not different when they were fed with Bt rice-fed or non-Bt rice-fed prey. Furthermore, ELISA and PCR gut assays, as well as a functional response trial, indicated that predation by P. pseudoannulata was not significantly different in Bt rice or non-Bt rice fields.Conclusions/SignificanceThe transgenic Cry1Ab rice lines tested in this study had no adverse effects on the survival, developmental time and fecundity of P. pseudoannulata in the laboratory or on predation under field conditions. This suggests that this important predator would not be harmed if transgenic Cry1Ab rice were commercialized.
Highlights
Rice, Oryza sativa L., is one of the most important food staples in the world
Cry1Ab in Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) rice, N. lugens and P. pseudoannulata The concentrations of Cry1Ab detected in Bt rice stems, N
The results indicate that over a period of 70 days when all adults had emerged, the survival of P. pseudoannulata was not significantly affected when the spiders were supplied with Bt rice-reared (KMD1 and KMD2) N. lugens compared with non-Bt rice-reared (Xiushui 11) N. lugens (x2 = 0.6868; df = 2; P = 0.71) (Fig. 2)
Summary
Oryza sativa L., is one of the most important food staples in the world. More than 50% of the world population (or more than 3 billion people) depend on rice for their daily lives [1]. Genetic improvement of rice varieties through modern biotechnology to increase tolerance or resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses is one strategy to help meet the demands of the growing global populations, especially in developing countries [2]. Rice expressing Cry1Ab from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), has been developed to control Lepidoptera, stem borers and leaffolders [3] in China. The commercial release of rice genetically engineered to express a Cry1Ab protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) for control of Lepidoptera in China is a subject of debate. One major point of the debate has focused on the ecological safety of Bt rice on nontarget organisms, especially predators and parasitoids that help control populations of insect pests
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
