Journal of Applied Entomology (2011) 135, 1-6

J. Romeis and M. Meissle (2011)
Non-target risk assessment of Bt crops - Cry protein uptake by aphids
Journal of Applied Entomology 135 (1-2), 1-6
Abstract: One of the main concerns regarding the use of insect-resistant transgenic crops is their potential detrimental effect on non-target organisms that fulfil important ecological functions. The potential effects on desirable non-target organisms are thus assessed as part of the environmental risk assessment prior to the commercial release of any novel transgenic crop. Aphids are abundant herbivores in most crops and are attacked by a range of specialist predators and parasitoids. We here show that aphids do not ingest considerable amounts of insecticidal proteins when feeding on Bt-transgenic crops. We argue that occasional reports of low concentrations of Bt Cry proteins in aphids can be explained by contamination of the samples. Consequently, antagonists that are specifically or predominantly attacking aphids are unlikely to be at risk because of limited exposure. Studies to support the environmental risk assessment should thus focus on species that are more likely to be exposed to the insecticidal compounds.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Jörg Romeis, Michael Meissle

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
non-target effects/fate in environm.

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Bacillus thuringiensis genes in crops (entomopathogen)