title: A case study for assessment of microbial community dynamics in genetically modified Bt cotton crop fields.
abstract: Bt cotton was the first genetically modified crop approved for use in India. However, only a few studies have been conducted to assess the feasibility of its commercial application. Bt cotton is genetically modified to express a proteinaceous endotoxin (Cry) encoded by cry gene of Bacillus thuringiensis that has specific insecticidal activity against bollworms. Therefore, the amount of pesticides used for growing Bt cotton is postulated to be considerably low as compared to their non-Bt counterparts. Alternatively, it is also speculated that application of a genetically modified crop may alter the bio-geochemical balance of the agriculture field(s). Microbial community composition and dynamics is an important descriptor for assessment of such alterations. In the present study, we have assessed the culturable and non-culturable microbial diversities in Bt cotton and non-Bt cotton soils to determine the ecological consequences of application of Bt cotton. The analyses of microbial community structures indicated that cropping of Bt cotton did not adversely affect the diversity of the microbial communities.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Manisha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kapur
authors.forename: Ranjana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.forename: Gunjan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Janmejay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Debarati
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Rakesh K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Jain
mesh_terms: D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D044822:Biodiversity; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D019641:DNA, Archaeal / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D003368:Gossypium / Q000382:microbiology*; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007194:India; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000382:microbiology*; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D019641:DNA, Archaeal; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis