Effect of Bt genetic engineering on indirect defense in cotton via a tritrophic interaction.
We present a tritrophic analysis of the potential non-intended pleiotropic effects of cry1Ac gene derived from Bacillus thurigiensis (Bt) insertion in cotton (DeltaPine 404 Bt Bollgard® variety) on the emission of herbivore induced volatile compounds and on the attraction of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma pretisoum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Both the herbivore damaged Bt variety and its non-Bt isoline (DeltaPine DP4049 variety) produced volatiles in higher quantity when compared to undamaged plants and significantly attracted the egg parasitoids (T. pretiosum) when compared to undamaged plants. However, Trichogramma pretiosum did not differentiate between the transgenic and nontransgenic varieties, suggesting that the ratios between the compounds released by herbivory damaged -Bt cotton and herbivory damaged-non Bt cotton did not change significantly. Finally, no detrimental effect of the Bt genetic engineering was detected related to the volatile compounds released by Bollgard cotton on the behavior of the natural enemy studied.
Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Parque Estação Biológica-W5 Norte (Final), 70770-917, Brasília, DF, Brazil. mcbmorae@cenargen.embrapa.br
Maria Carolina Blassioli
MC
Moraes
Raul Alberto
RA
Laumann
Michely Ferreira Santos
MF
Aquino
Débora Pires
DP
Paula
Miguel
M
Borges
D000818:Animals; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000235:genetics*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D003368:Gossypium / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D010058:Oviposition; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics*; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis