No adverse dietary effect of a cisgenic fire blight resistant apple line on the non-target arthropods Drosophila melanogaster and Folsomia candida

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 241; p. 113749
• Main Authors: Schlathölter, Ina, Meissle, Michael, Boeriis, Timea, Heimo, Dominique, Studer, Bruno, Broggini, Giovanni A.L., Romeis, Jörg, Patocchi, Andrea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.08.2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biosafety; Environmental risk assessment; Genetic modification; Malus × domestica; Natural variation; Non-target organisms; GG; GGB; Non-target organisms; Natural variation; GM; GSR; GO; Dm; Biosafety; Environmental risk assessment; Bt; ERA; RG; Malus × domestica; IVG; Fc; Genetic modification
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113749

Genetic modification of apple cultivars through cisgenesis can introduce traits, such as disease resistance from wild relatives, quickly and without crossing. This approach was used to generate the cisgenic apple line C44.4.146, a 'Gala Galaxy' carrying the fire blight resistance gene FB_MR5. In contrast to traditionally bred apple cultivars, genetically modified (GM) plants need to undergo a regulatory risk assessment considering unintended effects before approval for commercial release. To determine potential unintended effects of C44.4.146, we assessed major leaf components and effects on the fitness of the decomposers Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) and Folsomia candida (collembolan), which were fed a diet amended with powdered apple leaf material. Leaf material of 'Gala Galaxy', several natural 'Gala' mutants, and the unrelated apple cultivar 'Ladina' were used for comparison. The genetic modification did not alter major leaf components and did not adversely affect survival, growth, or fecundity of the two decomposers. Consistent with previous studies with other GM crops, the differences between conventionally bred cultivars were greater than between the GM line and its non-GM wild type. These data provide a baseline for future risk assessments. [Display omitted] •Leaf composition of cisgenic fire blight-resistant apple similar to parental ‘Gala’.•Apple leaf powder was mixed into the diet of springtails and fruit flies.•Effects of the cisgenic line were comparable to those of six non-GM ‘Gala’ lines.•Differences among non-GM lines exceeded those between cisgenic and parental line.•GM plant risk assessments should consider natural variation among non-GM cultivars.