Toxicological and biochemical analyses demonstrate no toxic effect of Bt maize on the Folsomia candida

PLoS One. 2020 May 6;15(5):e0232747. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232747. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

The potential effects of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) maize on non-target organisms must be conducted before the Bt maize is commercially planted. Folsomia candida is one of the non-target organisms of Bt maize, also as an important indicator of soil quality and environmental pollution. In this study, a 90-day F. candida feeding test were conducted to evaluate the potential effects of two Bt maize lines IE09S034 and BT799 and their non-Bt conventional isolines Zong 31 and Zheng 58. The results show that Bt maize lines had no significant effects on the survival rate, reproduction, adult body length, larval body length, and the activities of acetyl cholinesterase, catalase and superoxide dismutase on the F. candida. Namely, Bt maize had no toxic effects on the F. candida.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholinesterase / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Bacillus thuringiensis / genetics*
  • Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Biological Assay / methods
  • Candida / metabolism*
  • Catalase / metabolism
  • Endotoxins / genetics
  • Endotoxins / metabolism
  • Hemolysin Proteins / genetics
  • Hemolysin Proteins / metabolism
  • Larva
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / metabolism*
  • Reproduction / genetics
  • Soil Microbiology
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism
  • Zea mays / genetics*
  • Zea mays / microbiology

Substances

  • Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Endotoxins
  • Hemolysin Proteins
  • insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis
  • Catalase
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Acetylcholinesterase

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the National GMO New Variety Breeding Program of PRC (Grant No.2016ZX08011-003 awarded to Xinyuan Song). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.