Two-toxin strategies for management of insecticidal transgenic crops: can pyramiding succeed where pesticide mixtures have not?

Transgenic insect-resistant crops that express toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) offer significant advantages to pest management, but are at risk of losing these advantages to the evolution of resistance in the targeted insect pests. All commercially available cultivars of these crops carry only a single Bt gene, and are particularly at risk where the targeted insect pests are not highly sensitive to the Bt toxin used. Under such circumstances, the most prudent method of avoiding resistance is to ensure that a large proportion of the pest population develops on non-transgenic ''refuge'' hosts, generally of the crop itself. This has generated recommendations that 20% or more of the cotton and maize in any given area should be non-transgenic. This may be costly in terms of yields and may encourage further reliance on and resistance to pesticides. The use of two or more toxins in the same variety (pyramiding) can reduce the amount of refuge required to delay resistance for an extended period. Cross-resistance among the toxins appears to have been overestimated as a potential risk to the use of pyramids (and pesticide mixtures) because cross-resistance is at least as important when toxicants are used independently. Far more critical is that there should be nearly 100% mortality of susceptible insects on the transgenic crops. The past failures of pesticide mixtures to manage resistance provide important lessons for the most efficacious deployment of multiple toxins in transgenic crops.     

转Bt基因水稻对土壤微生态系统的潜在影响

随着转基因作物商品化应用的增多,对其进行生态风险性评价尤为重要.国内外对转基因作物中外源基因向野生亲缘物种漂移的可能性、昆虫对抗虫转基因作物的耐受性以及转基因作物对生物多样性的潜在影响等问题进行了广泛的研究.文中从Bt杀虫结晶蛋白在土壤中的残留特性、Bt杀虫晶体蛋白对土壤微生物可培养类群和土壤酶活性的影响等方面对转Bt基因抗虫水稻的潜在生态风险性进行了简要综述,以期为同类研究提供有益的信息.     

转基因抗草甘膦抗虫棉的荒地生存竞争能力

【背景】随着转基因作物的大量种植,其环境安全性已成为目前的研究热点,其中转基因作物的荒地生存竞争能力,是其环境安全性评价的重要内容之一。【方法】以2种转双价抗草甘膦抗虫基因（EPSPS＋crylAc）棉为试验品种,非转基因棉中棉所49为对照品种,分别于4月底和5月底在荒地用地表撒播和3cm深播2种方式播种,并于4～9月份对棉花存活率、株高、真叶数、茎直径、果枝数、蕾铃数等生长参数进行比较,以检测、评价其荒地竞争能力及杂草化风险。【结果】无论是撒播还是深播,荒地中棉花长势均较弱,表现为生长缓慢、植株矮小、生育期延迟。4月底播种的棉花有极个别植株能够结铃,但铃数极少且小,无成熟的种子;5月底播种的棉花长势更弱,至9月底未见蕾铃。【结论与意义】转基因抗草甘膦抗虫棉在荒地中无竞争优势,不能繁殖传代,无杂草化风险。本研究为转基因棉花环境安全评价技术的完善提供了理论依据。     

A 2-Year Field Study Shows Little Evidence That the Long-Term Planting of Transgenic Insect-Resistant Cotton Affects the Community Structure of Soil Nematodes

Transgenic insect-resistant cotton has been released into the environment for more than a decade in China to effectively control the cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) and other Lepidoptera. Because of concerns about undesirable ecological side-effects of transgenic crops, it is important to monitor the potential environmental impact of transgenic insect-resistant cotton after commercial release. Our 2-year study included 1 cotton field where non-transgenic cotton had been planted continuously and 2 other cotton fields where transgenic insect-resistant cotton had been planted for different lengths of time since 1997 and since 2002. In 2 consecutive years (2009 and 2010), we took soil samples from 3 cotton fields at 4 different growth stages (seedling, budding, boll-forming and boll-opening stages), collected soil nematodes from soil with the sugar flotation and centrifugation method and identified the soil nematodes to the genus level. The generic composition, individual densities and diversity indices of the soil nematodes did not differ significantly between the 2 transgenic cotton fields and the non-transgenic cotton field, but significant seasonal variation was found in the individual densities of the principal trophic groups and in the diversity indices of the nematodes in all 3 cotton fields. The study used a comparative perspective to monitor the impact of transgenic insect-resistant cotton grown in typical ‘real world’ conditions. The results of the study suggested that more than 10 years of cultivation of transgenic insect-resistant cotton had no significant effects–adverse or otherwise–on soil nematodes. This study provides a theoretical basis for ongoing environmental impact monitoring of transgenic plants.     

转Cry1Ah基因抗虫玉米HGK60对田间节肢动物及杂草多样性的影响

近年来,随着转基因技术快速发展,转基因作物环境释放风险成为需要重点关注的问题,而对生物多样性的影响研究是客观评价其风险的重要手段。本研究以2018年海南春、冬两季转Cry1Ah基因抗虫玉米‘HGK60'及其对照常规玉米‘郑58'为研究对象,重点探讨了其对田间节肢动物、虫害及杂草多样性的影响。 结果表明: 田间调查共记录节肢动物43753头,隶属7目19科69种,转基因抗虫玉米HGK60与对照常规玉米郑58的节肢动物群落组成、结构及各生态指标均无显著差异;与郑58玉米相比,转基因抗虫玉米HGK60对钻蛀类害虫具有明显的抗性;田间杂草隶属8科16种,转基因抗虫玉米HGK60与郑58玉米田间杂草在密度及各生态指标上差异均不显著,且二者在整个生育期的变化趋势基本一致。说明转Cry1Ah基因抗虫玉米HGK60的种植对田间节肢动物及杂草多样性无显著的影响。该结果为转基因作物的环境风险研究提供了一定的数据支持。     

Gene Flow,Risk Assessment and the Environmental Release of Transgenic Plants

The release of genetically modified plants is governed by regulations that aim to provide an assessment of potential impact on the environment. One of the most important components of this risk assessment is an evaluation of the probability of gene flow. In this review, we provide an overview of the current literature on gene flow from transgenic plants, providing a framework of issues for those considering the release of a transgenic plant into the environment. For some plants gene flow from transgenic crops is well documented, and this information is discussed in detail in this review. Mechanisms of gene flow vary from plant species to plant species and range from the possibility of asexual propagation, short- or long-distance pollen dispersal mediated by insects or wind and seed dispersal. Volunteer populations of transgenic plants may occur where seed is inadvertently spread during harvest or commercial distribution. If there are wild populations related to the transgenic crop then hybridization and eventually introgression in the wild may occur, as it has for herbicide resistant transgenic oilseed rape (Brassica napus). Tools to measure the amount of gene flow, experimental data measuring the distance of pollen dispersal, and experiments measuring hybridization and seed survivability are discussed in this review. The various methods that have been proposed to prevent gene flow from genetically modified plants are also described. The current “transgenic traits” in the major crops confer resistance to herbicides and certain insects. Such traits could confer a selective advantage (an increase in fitness) in wild plant populations in some circumstances, were gene flow to occur. However, there is ample evidence that gene flow from crops to related wild species occurred before the development of transgenic crops and this should be taken into account in the risk assessment process.     

大田环境下转Bt基因玉米对土壤酶活性的影响

在大田自然条件下,比较研究了转Bt基因玉米和非转基因亲本玉米在种植和秸秆分解时对土壤酶活性影响的差异。结果表明,与亲本非转基因玉米相比,在各生育期内种植转Bt玉米对土壤蛋白酶和土壤脲酶活性均没有显著影响;在喇叭口期和抽雄期,土壤蔗糖酶和土壤酸性磷酸酶活性显著提高。在秸秆还田后,两种玉米秸秆对土壤酸性磷酸酶活性的影响没有显著差异,但使用转Bt玉米秸秆的土壤蔗糖酶、土壤脲酶和土壤蛋白酶的活性则有显著提高。与亲本玉米相比,在所有观测期内,种植Bt玉米及秸秆还田对土壤酶活性的影响,在影响的幅度及趋势上随玉米生育期和土壤酶种类的不同而产生差异,但没有观测到显著不利影响;商业化Bt玉米的环境释放仍有待长期定位观测和评价。     

转植酸酶基因玉米对田间节肢动物群落多样性的影响

【背景】节肢动物群落是农田生态系统的重要组成部分,转基因作物的种植对节肢动物群落结构及多样性的影响是环境安全评价的重要内容之一。转植酸酶基因玉米是我国首例获得生产应用安全证书的转基因粮食作物。【方法】以转植酸酶基因玉米10TPY005、非转基因亲本玉米蠡玉35和当地常规品种郑单958为试验材料,在大田种植条件下,采用直接观察法定期调查了玉米田间主要节肢动物的种类和发生数量,通过分析比较3个玉米品种田间节肢动物群落、天敌亚群落和害虫亚群落的多样性指数、均匀性指数以及优势集中性指数,研究了转植酸酶基因玉米对田间节肢动物群落多样性的影响。【结果】在各个调查时间,转植酸酶基因玉米10TPY005与亲本玉米蠡玉35相比,各群落指数均不存在显著性差异;随着玉米生育期的延长,各群落指数的变化趋势也基本一致。【结论与意义】转植酸酶基因玉米的短期种植,对田间节肢动物群落多样性没有明显影响。     

Risk assessment and ecological effects of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis crops on non-target organisms

The application of recombinant DNA technology has resulted in many insect-resistant varieties by genetic engineering (GE). Crops expressing Cry toxins derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have been planted worldwide, and are an effective tool for pest control. However, one ecological concern regarding the potential effects of insect-resistant GE plants on non-target organisms (NTOs) has been continually debated. In the present study, we briefly summarize the data regarding the development and commercial use of transgenic Bt varieties, elaborate on the procedure and methods for assessing the non-target effects of insect-resistant GE plants, and synthetically analyze the related research results, mostly those published between 2005 and 2010. A mass of laboratory and field studies have shown that the currently available Bt crops have no direct detrimental effects on NTOs due to their narrow spectrum of activity, and Bt crops are increasing the abundance of some beneficial insects and improving the natural control of specific pests. The use of Bt crops, such as Bt maize and Bt cotton, results in significant reductions of insecticide application and clear benefits on the environment and farmer health. Consequently, Bt crops can be a useful component of integrated pest management systems to protect the crop from targeted pests.     

Potential effects of oilseed rape expressing oryzacystatin-1 (OC-1) and of purified insecticidal proteins on larvae of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis

Despite their importance as pollinators in crops and wild plants, solitary bees have not previously been included in non-target testing of insect-resistant transgenic crop plants. Larvae of many solitary bees feed almost exclusively on pollen and thus could be highly exposed to transgene products expressed in the pollen. The potential effects of pollen from oilseed rape expressing the cysteine protease inhibitor oryzacystatin-1 (OC-1) were investigated on larvae of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis (= O. rufa). Furthermore, recombinant OC-1 (rOC-1), the Bt toxin Cry1Ab and the snowdrop lectin Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) were evaluated for effects on the life history parameters of this important pollinator. Pollen provisions from transgenic OC-1 oilseed rape did not affect overall development. Similarly, high doses of rOC-1 and Cry1Ab as well as a low dose of GNA failed to cause any significant effects. However, a high dose of GNA (0.1%) in the larval diet resulted in significantly increased development time and reduced efficiency in conversion of pollen food into larval body weight. Our results suggest that OC-1 and Cry1Ab expressing transgenic crops would pose a negligible risk for O. bicornis larvae, whereas GNA expressing plants could cause detrimental effects, but only if bees were exposed to high levels of the protein. The described bioassay with bee brood is not only suitable for early tier non-target tests of transgenic plants, but also has broader applicability to other crop protection products.     

基因工程在农作物育种上研发应用新进展

以文献调研结果为依据,概述了基因工程的基本概念与基本模式,外源DNA导入的方式与表达的条件;应用基因工程培育优质、高产、抗病、抗虫、抗除草剂与抗逆性强农作物品种的进展;预测并展望了基因工程在实现农业现代化目标中的作用、开发应用重点与前景。     

Expression of the Nicotiana protein kinase (NPK1) enhanced drought tolerance in transgenic maize

Drought is one of the most important abiotic stresses affecting the productivity of maize. Previous studies have shown that expression of a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK) gene activated an oxidative signal cascade and led to the tolerance of freezing, heat, and salinity stress in transgenic tobacco. To analyse the role of activation of oxidative stress signalling in improving drought tolerance in major crops, a tobacco MAPKKK (NPK1) was expressed constitutively in maize. Results show that NPK1 expression enhanced drought tolerance in transgenic maize. Under drought conditions, transgenic maize plants maintained significantly higher photosynthesis rates than did the non-transgenic control, suggesting that NPK1 induced a mechanism that protected photosynthesis machinery from dehydration damage. In addition, drought-stressed transgenic plants produced kernels with weights similar to those under well-watered conditions, while kernel weights of drought-stressed non-transgenic control plants were significantly reduced when compared with their non-stressed counterparts.     

Molecular Strategies for Addressing Gene Flow Problems and Their Potential Applications in Abiotic Stress Tolerant Transgenic Plants

Transgenic plant technology provides a powerful tool to improve abiotic stress tolerance of crop plants. However, introgression of stress tolerance genes into weedy relatives may increase the potential for persistence and invasiveness, resulting in undesirable ecological consequences. A variety of gene confinement strategies have been developed to reduce unwanted transgene movement. In this review, we discuss some of these strategies, such as male and female sterility, GeneSafe?, parthenocarpy, chloroplast transformation and gene deletor technologies. In the case of the gene deletor technology, all transgenes from pollen, seeds, fruits or other organs may be eliminated once the transgene functions are no longer needed at the stage when the presence of the transgene becomes a cause for ecological or public concern. The gene deletor and other technologies can be useful to reduce unintended dispersal of stress tolerance genes and thus may facilitate commercialization of transgenic crops with enhanced tolerance to abiotic stresses.     

转Bt基因作物Bt毒蛋白在土壤中的安全性研究

商业化的转Bt基因作物获准在田间大面积种植,使其释放的Bt毒蛋白对土壤生态系统的生态风险性问题成为人们关注的焦点,本文综述了转Bt抗虫作物以植株残体、根系分泌物、花粉等形式释放的Bt毒蛋白通过田间耕作等方式进入土壤后的一些安全性问题,包括土壤活性颗粒对Bt毒蛋白的吸附作用。Bt毒蛋白在土壤中的杀虫活性、存留,土壤微生物对Bt毒蛋白的降解作用以及Bt毒蛋白对土壤生物的影响等。     

Did maize domestication and early spread mediate the population genetics of corn leafhopper?

Investigating how crop domestication and early farming mediated crop attributes, distributions, and interactions with antagonists may shed light on today's agricultural pest problems. Crop domestication generally involved artificial selection for traits desirable to early farmers, for example, in creased productivity or yield, and enhanced qualities, though invariably it altered the interactions between crops and insects, and expanded the geographical ranges of crops. Thus, some studies suggest that with crop domestication and spread, insect populations on wild crop ancestors gave rise to pestiferous insect populations on crops. Here, we addressed whether the emergence of corn leafhopper (Dalbulus ma id is) as an agricultural pest may be associated with domestication and early spread of maize (Zea mays mays). We used AFLP markers and mitochondrial COI sequences to assess population genetic structuring and haplotype relationships among corn leafhopper samples from maize and its wild relative Zea diploperennis from multiple locations in Mexico and Argentina. We uncovered seven corn leafhopper haplotypes contained within two haplogroups, one haplogroup containing haplotypes associated with maize and the other containing haplotypes associated with Z. diploperennis in a mountainous habitat. Within the first haplogroup, one haplotype was predominant across Mexican locations, and another across Argentinean locations;both were considered pestiferous. We suggested that the divergence times of the maize-associated haplogroup and of the "pestiferous" haplotypes are correlated with the chronology of maize spread following its domestication. Overall, our results support a hypothesis positing that maize domestication favored corn leafhopper genotypes preadapted for exploiting maize so that they became pestiferous, and that with the geographical expansi on of maize farming, corn leafhopper colonized Z. diploperennis, a host exclusive to secluded habitats that serves as a refuge for archaic corn leafhopper genotypic diversity. Broadly, our results help explain the extents to which crop domestication and early spread may have mediated the emergence of today's agricultural pests.     

Establishment of transgenic herbicide-resistant creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) in nonagronomic habitats

Concerns about genetically modified (GM) crops include transgene flow to compatible wild species and unintended ecological consequences of potential transgene introgression. However, there has been little empirical documentation of establishment and distribution of transgenic plants in wild populations. We present herein the first evidence for escape of transgenes into wild plant populations within the USA; glyphosate-resistant creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) plants expressing CP4 EPSPS transgenes were found outside of cultivation area in central Oregon. Resident populations of three compatible Agrostis species were sampled in nonagronomic habitats outside the Oregon Department of Agriculture control area designated for test production of glyphosate-resistant creeping bentgrass. CP4 EPSPS protein and the corresponding transgene were found in nine A. stolonifera plants screened from 20,400 samples (0.04 +/- 0.01% SE). CP4 EPSPS-positive plants were located predominantly in mesic habitats downwind and up to 3.8 km beyond the control area perimeter; two plants were found within the USDA Crooked River National Grassland. Spatial distribution and parentage of transgenic plants (as confirmed by analyses of nuclear ITS and chloroplast matK gene trees) suggest that establishment resulted from both pollen-mediated intraspecific hybridizations and from crop seed dispersal. These results demonstrate that transgene flow from short-term production can result in establishment of transgenic plants at multi-kilometre distances from GM source fields or plants. Selective pressure from direct application or drift of glyphosate herbicide could enhance introgression of CP4 EPSPS transgenes and additional establishment. Obligatory outcrossing and vegetative spread could further contribute to persistence of CP4 EPSPS transgenes in wild Agrostis populations, both in the presence or absence of herbicide selection.     

我国抗虫转基因杨树生态安全性研究进展

转基因树木与农作物相比, 人们更关注其长时间种植可能导致转基因扩散到周围野生近缘种。由于生长周期长, 转基因树木会增加转基因不稳定性, 对非靶标生物的影响, 靶标害虫对转基因植物产生抗性, 增加树木入侵性(杂草化), 以及由于基因漂移或基因逃逸对环境产生的负面影响或新的环境风险。过去十几年, 针对我国抗食叶害虫的两个商业化转Bt基因欧洲黑杨(Populus nigra)和转双抗虫基因741杨[P. alba× (P. davidiana + P. simonii) × P. tomentosa], 已开展了有关生态安全性方面的多项研究。本文围绕抗虫转基因树木生态安全性研究进展进行了综述。抗虫转基因杨树对节肢动物种群和群落结构产生了一定影响, 使昆虫的多样性提高, 但对土壤微生物区系未见明显影响。转基因欧洲黑杨通过花粉和种子发生的基因漂移几率很低。转基因杨树通过内生菌发生的水平转移可能会对环境造成的潜在危险也进行了评价。文章最后指出对抗虫转基因杨树农林复合生态系统开展生物安全研究的必要性。     

转EPSPS基因抗除草剂玉米CC-2对田间节肢动物多样性的影响

【背景】转基因手段已成为改良玉米品种的重要途径之一,具有诸多优点的转基因玉米越来越受到人们的青睐。转基因玉米带来巨大经济和社会效益的同时,其安全风险问题也引发人们广泛关注,因此有必要对转基因玉米进行生物多样性影响评价。【方法】采用直接观察法和陷阱法对种植转EPSPS基因抗除草剂玉米CC-2及其对应的非转基因对照郑58的田间节肢动物进行调查,分析其群落组成、群落结构及主要类群动态。【结果】转基因玉米CC-2无论是喷施除草剂还是不喷施除草剂处理,与其对应的非转基因对照郑58相比,田间节肢动物群落组成、群落结构,以及田间主要节肢动物类群动态均无显著差异。【结论与意义】初步认为转EPSPS基因抗除草剂玉米CC-2对节肢动物多样性无安全风险,为转EPSPS基因抗除草剂玉米的推广提供一定生态安全数据。     

转基因抗虫水稻对生物多样性的影响

水稻是我国最重要的粮食作物,然而虫害造成的产量损失每年高达一千万吨以上。研究表明,转基因抗虫水稻对二化螟、三化螟和稻纵卷叶螟等水稻主要鳞翅目害虫具有高抗性,可以大幅度减少化学杀虫剂的使用。在不使用农药的情况下,在抗虫转基因水稻田中的害虫密度大幅度减少的同时,可以显著地增加中性昆虫及捕食性天敌数量和种类,显示出稻田生态系统和生物多样性的向良性发展的趋势。转基因水稻花粉向非转基因水稻品种的基因飘流实验表明,随着栽种距离的增大而显著减小,到间隔6.2 m时基因飘流频率已低于0.01%。转基因抗虫水稻的应用,对于保障我国粮食安全,保持农业可持续发展,保护生物多样性和生态环境尤其是在大幅度减少农药使用量方面具有重要意义。文章综述了转基因抗虫水稻研制进展及其对生物多样性的影响,并对农作物害虫防治的未来研究方向和发展趋势进行展望,以期为转基因抗虫水稻更好的应用提供借鉴。     

Competitive interactions and the effect of herbivory on Bt-Brassica napus, Brassica rapa and Lolium perenne

1.  The probability of a transgenic crop establishing a feral population outside cultivated areas and possibly outcompeting naturally occurring species needs to be assessed to make an ecological risk assessment of the transgenic crop.
2.  The interaction between herbivory and competition is thought to determine the ecological success of insect-resistant plants, and this interaction was investigated in a competition experiment with transgenic insect-resistant Bt- Brassica napus , Brassica rapa , Lolium perenne , and herbivory from the large white butterfly Pieris brassicae .
3.  As expected, herbivory had a negative effect on the biomass of B. rapa at high plant densities. The competitive ability of L. perenne , when growing with B. rapa , increased significantly with the level of herbivory on B. rapa .
4.  To predict the effect of herbivory in a natural ecosystem, plant competition between the two annual Brassica species was analysed in a population ecological model. It was concluded that it is probable that transgenic Bt- B. napus plants may invade a natural habitat if herbivory is sufficiently high and the habitat is suitable for B. napus .
5.   Synthesis and applications . The results indicate that it is important to study the interaction between herbivory and competition when assessing the ecological risk of insect-resistant genetically modified crops. Furthermore, combining ecological data from manipulated experiments with population ecological modelling is a fruitful approach when conducting environmental risk assessments.