Ingestion and excretion of two transgenic Bt corn varieties by slugs |
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Authors: | Corinne Zurbrügg Wolfgang Nentwig |
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Institution: | (1) Zoological Institute, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland |
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Abstract: | The release of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn expressing various Cry endotoxins has raised concern that these endotoxins are disseminated in the food web and
may adversely affect non-target beneficial organisms, such as predators and organisms of the decomposer food web. We therefore
investigated in a laboratory study, whether the Cry1Ab and Cry3Bb1 protein from Bt corn could potentially be transferred to
such organisms by measuring the Cry protein content in the two common agricultural slug pests Arion lusitanicus and Deroceras reticulatum and their feces. We measured Cry1Ab and Cry3Bb1 protein concentration in leaves, intestines, and feces of corn leaf-fed slugs
using ELISA and determined how much of the ingested protein is excreted by the slugs. Cry3Bb1 concentration in leaves of DKC5143Bt
corn was significantly higher than Cry1Ab concentration in leaves of N4640Bt corn. While slugs were feeding on corn leaves,
the Cry3Bb1 and Cry1Ab proteins were found in intestines and feces of both slug species. Bt protein concentrations in intestines
of Cry3Bb1 corn-fed slugs were in both slug species higher than in Cry1Ab corn fed slugs, whereas no differences between Cry3Bb1
and Cry1Ab protein in feces were found. After slugs had ceased feeding on Bt corn, Cry1Ab was detectable in fresh slug feces
for a significantly longer time and often in higher amounts than the Cry3Bb1. Our results indicate that both Cry proteins
are likely to be transferred to higher trophic levels and to the decomposer food web. Since different Bt proteins seem to
vary in their degradation, they have different transfer probabilities. This should be considered in risk assessments for non-target
arthropods. |
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Keywords: | Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay Genetically modified maize Mollusca Decomposer food web Natural enemies Trophic interactions |
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