Does Bt maize expressing CrylAc protein have adverse effects on the parasitoid Macrocentrus cingulum (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

The potential effects of insect-resistant, genetically engineered (GE) crops on non-target organisms, especially on predators and parasitoids, must be evaluated before their commercial cultivation. The effects of GE maize that produces CrylAc toxin on the parasitoid Macrocentrus cingulum were assess...

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Published in昆虫科学:英文版 Vol. 24; no. 4; pp. 599 - 612
Main Author Zeng-Xia Wang Yun-He Li Kang-Lai He Shu-Xiong Bai Tian-Tao Zhang Wan-Zhi Cai Zhen-Ying Wang
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 2017
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Summary:The potential effects of insect-resistant, genetically engineered (GE) crops on non-target organisms, especially on predators and parasitoids, must be evaluated before their commercial cultivation. The effects of GE maize that produces CrylAc toxin on the parasitoid Macrocentrus cingulum were assessed by direct bioassay and indirect bioassay. In the indirect bioassay, parasitism rate, cocoon weight and the number of M. cingu- lure progeny produced per host were significantly reduced when M. cingulum-parasitized CrylAc-susceptible Ostriniafurnacalis were fed a diet containing purified CrylAc; how- ever, life-table parameters of M. cingulum were not adversely affected when the same assay was performed with Cry 1Ac-resistant (9. furnacalis. These results indicated that the detrimental effects detected with a CrylAc-susceptible host were mediated by poor host quality. In a direct bioassay, no difference in life-table parameters were detected when M. cingulum adults were directly fed a 20% honey solution with or without CrylAc; however, survival and longevity were significantly reduced when M. cingulum adults were fed a honey solution containing potassium arsenate, which was used as a positive control. The stability and bioactivity of CrylAc toxin in the food sources and CrylAc toxin uptake by the host insect and parasitoid were confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and sensitive-insect bioassays. Our results demonstrate that M. cingulum is not sensitive to CrylAc toxin at concentrations exceeding those encountered in Bacillus thuringiensis maize fields. This study also demonstrates the power of using resistant hosts when assess- ing the risk of genetically modified plants on non-target organisms and will be useful for assessing other non-target impacts.
Bibliography:The potential effects of insect-resistant, genetically engineered (GE) crops on non-target organisms, especially on predators and parasitoids, must be evaluated before their commercial cultivation. The effects of GE maize that produces CrylAc toxin on the parasitoid Macrocentrus cingulum were assessed by direct bioassay and indirect bioassay. In the indirect bioassay, parasitism rate, cocoon weight and the number of M. cingu- lure progeny produced per host were significantly reduced when M. cingulum-parasitized CrylAc-susceptible Ostriniafurnacalis were fed a diet containing purified CrylAc; how- ever, life-table parameters of M. cingulum were not adversely affected when the same assay was performed with Cry 1Ac-resistant (9. furnacalis. These results indicated that the detrimental effects detected with a CrylAc-susceptible host were mediated by poor host quality. In a direct bioassay, no difference in life-table parameters were detected when M. cingulum adults were directly fed a 20% honey solution with or without CrylAc; however, survival and longevity were significantly reduced when M. cingulum adults were fed a honey solution containing potassium arsenate, which was used as a positive control. The stability and bioactivity of CrylAc toxin in the food sources and CrylAc toxin uptake by the host insect and parasitoid were confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and sensitive-insect bioassays. Our results demonstrate that M. cingulum is not sensitive to CrylAc toxin at concentrations exceeding those encountered in Bacillus thuringiensis maize fields. This study also demonstrates the power of using resistant hosts when assess- ing the risk of genetically modified plants on non-target organisms and will be useful for assessing other non-target impacts.
CrylAc toxin; ELISA; environmental risk assessment; non-target effects;parasitoids; prey/host quality-mediated effects
11-6019/Q
ISSN:1672-9609
1744-7917