Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
2009
Journal or Book Title
Environmental Impact of Genetically Modified Crops
First Page
165
Last Page
198
DOI
10.1079/9781845934095.0165
Abstract
Genetically modified (GM) maize and cotton varieties that express insecticidal proteins derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have become an important component in integrated pest management programmes worldwide. A number of other crops producing Bt toxins, or more broad-spectrum insecticidal proteins, are likely to enter commercial production in the near future. Because insecticidal GM crops target insect pests, an important part of the environmental risk assessment is their potential impact on nontarget arthropods. Those include protected species and organisms providing important ecological services such as biological control of herbivores. Non-target arthropods can be exposed to the plant-produced insecticidal proteins through various routes, but mainly by feeding on GM plant material or herbivores that have consumed GM plant material. The Bt proteins produced in today's GM plants appear to have no direct effects on natural enemies due to their narrow spectrum of activity. Furthermore, it has become clear that in crop systems where the deployment of Bt varieties has led to a decline in insecticide use, biological control organisms have benefited significantly. Future GM plants that produce broader-spectrum insecticidal proteins will need to be assessed for their potential non-target effects case by case and compared to the impact of the conventional pest control methods that they replace.
Rights
Works produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted.
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Romeis, Jörg; Meissle, Michael; Raybould, Alan; and Hellmich, Richard L., "Impact of Insect-resistant Transgenic Crops on Above-ground Non-target Arthropods" (2009). Entomology Publications. 290.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ent_pubs/290
Included in
Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Entomology Commons, Plant Breeding and Genetics Commons, Systems Biology Commons
Comments
This chapter is from Environmental Impact of Genetically Modified Crops 8 (2009): 165, doi:10.1079/9781845934095.0165.