Transgenic Cry1Ac cotton does not affect the development and fecundity of Chrysoperla carnea

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 14; no. 4; p. e0214668
• Main Authors: Ding, Ruifeng, Ma, Deying, Uwais, Ahtam, Wang, Dongmei, Liu, Jian, Xu, Yao, Li, Haobin, Li, Haiqiang, Pan, Hongsheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 05.04.2019; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Agricultural ecology; Animal reproduction; Animals; Aphids; Bacillus thuringiensis - metabolism; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Biology and Life Sciences; Chrysopidae; Cotton (Plant); Ecology and Environmental Sciences; Endotoxins - genetics; Endotoxins - metabolism; Environmental aspects; Female; Fertility - physiology; Genetic aspects; Genetic engineering; Genetically modified crops; Genetically modified plants; Gossypium - metabolism; Hemolysin Proteins - genetics; Hemolysin Proteins - metabolism; Insecta - growth & development; Insecta - physiology; Insects; Larva - growth & development; Medicine and Health Sciences; Methods; Pest control; Physiological aspects; Plant Leaves - metabolism; Plants, Genetically Modified - metabolism; Population biology; Population Dynamics; Predatory Behavior
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214668

The development and fecundity of the predator Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) were assessed by feeding Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) that had been reared on transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton SGK321 and a non-Bt cotton control (SY321) for two successive generations. We found no significant differences in the developmental stage duration, stage survival, or egg hatch rate between C. carnea fed A. gossypii reared on the Bt and non-Bt cotton. The fecundity per female over a 25-day observation period was very similar between treatments; for C. carnea fed A. gossypii reared on SGK321 vs. SY321, the amount of eggs laid was not significantly different in both generations. Furthermore, a population dynamics of A. gossypii and lacewing (mainly C. carnea) were highly similar in the SGK321 and SY321 treatments during 2016-2017. These results suggest that Bt cotton does not have a significantly negative or positive effect on C. carnea in terms of development, survival, fecundity, or population dynamics.