Ecological impacts of Bt transgenic cabbage expressing Cry1Ac1 protein on non-target arthropod species

Abstract

With the rapid advancement of molecular technique, transgenic crops that have much kind of traits, such as pest resistance and herbicide resistance were developed. These beneficial traits have helped reduce the damage from pests or cost of herbicide use. As a result, transgenic crops have been commercially cultivated since 1996, and those have been increasing dramatically over the last decades. However, concerns remain about the potential adverse effects of such crops on ecosystems. Especially, among the organisms that interact closely with transgenic crops, primary consumers (herbivores) and upper trophic level arthropods (predators and parasitoids) can be affected by crops. Therefore, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Living Modified Organisms Act stipulate that the scientific and reasonable environmental risk assessment should be conducted. In the present study deals mainly with the environmental risk assessment of transgenic Bt cabbage expressing the insecticidal Cry1Ac1 protein which was aimed at controlling lepidopteran pests. This study comprised three parts. (1) Levels of Bt protein in herbivorous and predatory arthropods in fields of Bt cabbage. (2) Effects of Bt cabbage on the survival and growth of the wolf spider, Pardosa astrigera. (3) Effects of transgenic cabbage expressing Cry1Ac1 protein on target pests and the non-target arthropod community under field conditions. Biosafety of transgenic crops are open to interpretation by scientific technique, food problem and social identity. This study may help to understand these problems.