Thomas E. Nickson

Evaluation of dietary effects of transgenic corn pollen expressing Cry3Bb1 protein on a non‐target ladybird beetle, Coleomegilla maculata

A transgenic corn event (MON 863) has been recently developed by Monsanto Company for control of corn rootworms, Diabrotica spp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). This transgenic corn event expresses the cry3Bb1 gene derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner), which encodes the insecticidal Cry3Bb1 protein for corn rootworm control. A continuous feeding study was conducted in the laboratory to evaluate the dietary effect of MON 863 pollen expressing the Cry3Bb1 protein on the survival, larval development, and reproductive capacity of the non‐target species, Coleomegilla maculata DeGeer (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). First instar C. maculata (less than 24 h old) and newly emerging adults (less than 72 h old) were fed individually on a diet mixture containing 50% of MON 863 pollen, non‐transgenic (control) corn pollen, bee pollen (a component of normal rearing diet), or potassium arsenate‐treated control corn pollen. In the larval tests, 96.7%, 90.0%, and 93.3% of C. maculata larvae successfully pupated and then emerged as adults when fed on MON 863 pollen, non‐transgenic corn pollen, and bee pollen (normal rearing) diets, respectively. Among the larvae completing their development, there were no significant differences in the developmental time to pupation and adult emergence among the transgenic corn pollen, non‐transgenic corn pollen, and bee pollen diet treatments. All larvae fed on arsenate treated corn pollen diet died as larvae. For tests with adults, 83.3%, 80.0%, and 100% of adult C. maculata survived for the 30 days of the test period when reared on diets containing 50% of MON 863 pollen, non‐transgenic corn pollen, and bee pollen respectively. While the adult survival rate on MON 863 pollen diet was significantly less than that on the bee pollen diet, there was no significant difference between the MON 863 and non‐transgenic corn pollen treatments. During the period of adult testing, an average of 77, 80, and 89 eggs per female were laid by females fed on the MON 863 pollen, control corn pollen, and bee pollen, respectively; no significant differences were detected in the number of eggs laid among these treatments. These results demonstrate that when offered at 50% by weight of the dietary component, transgenic corn (MON 863) pollen expressing Cry3Bb1 protein had no measurable negative effect on the survival and development of C. maculata larvae to pupation and adulthood nor any adverse effect on adult survival and reproductive capacity. Relevance of these findings to ecological impacts of transgenic Bt crops on non‐target beneficial insects is discussed.

Field evaluation of the impact of corn rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) -protected Bt corn on foliage-dwelling arthropods

Abstract A 3-yr field study was conducted in Monmouth, IL, to evaluate the effect of transgenic Bt corn expressing a Cry3Bb1 protein (MON 863) on foliage-dwelling arthropods. The study employed a split-plot design with MON 863 corn and a conventional non-Bt near isoline (RX670) as the main plots and insecticide regimens (no insecticide, imidacloprid applied as seed treatment, tefluthrin applied as soil treatment, and permethrin applied as foliar treatment) as subplots. Foliage-dwelling arthropods were sampled with sticky traps during each of the 3 yr (2000–2002). The most abundant taxa collected included corn pests, such as Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte and Chaetocnema pulicaria Melsheimer (Coleoptera:Chrysomelidae), and Rhopalosiphum maidis Fitch (Homoptera:Aphididae). The most abundant generalist predators captured by sticky traps were Coccinellidae (ladybird beetles), Nabidae (damsel bugs), Orius insidiosus Say (minute pirate bugs), Syrphidae (flower flies), Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (green lacewings), Macrocentrus cingulum Rienhardt (a braconid parasitoid), and Araneae (spiders). MON 863 corn had no consistent adverse impact on the relative abundance of any nontarget foliage-dwelling arthropod taxon, including predators and parasitoids. However, insecticide applications of foliar insecticide (permethrin) significantly and consistently decreased the abundance of ladybird beetles, green lacewings, and damsel bugs compared with the insecticidal seed treatment or no insecticide application. The abundance of the pest R. maidis also was observed to increase in the foliar-applied insecticide treatment. Therefore, adoption of MON 863 and the concurrent reduction in broad-spectrum foliar-applied insecticide use for control of adult Diabrotica spp. have the potential to enhance biological control within corn agro-ecosystems.

Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops: Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops

A scientifically sound environmental risk assessment is required for crops derived from modern biotechnology (also referred to as genetically modified [GM]) prior to unrestricted release into the environment. The scientific principles underlying the environmental risk assessments completed for

Statistical power analysis of a 2‐year field study and design of experiments to evaluate non‐target effects of genetically modified Bacillius thuringiensis corn

Abstract 1. A 2‐year field study was conducted in 2000 and 2001 at a farm in Monmouth, Illinois to evaluate the effect of MON 863, a transgenic corn event that expresses the Cry3Bb1 protein for control of corn rootworms, on diverse groups of arthropod populations in a corn ecosystem.

Ecological Assessment of Crops Derived through Biotechnology

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses risk assessment of crops derived through biotechnology. Risk assessment is an important tool that has been developed to help individuals make informed decisions about the impacts from their human-based activities on people and society. It is new as a formal, science-based discipline, but has become fundamental to decision making in many industries and government activities. The chapter focuses on an approach to build an ecological risk assessment framework for genetically modified plants merging the concepts developed by the National Research Council and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with principles outlined elsewhere on ecological risk assessment specific to biotechnology. The chapter also explains key terminology and provides several examples of how the principles of ecological risk assessment can be applied to plants derived through biotechnology. A background on risk assessment with relevance to biotechnology is provided. Terms and phrases with relation to ecological risk assessment are explained. The chapter discusses ecological risk assessment principles and principles specific to genetically modified plants (GMPs), presents an ecological risk assessment model for GMPs, and describes tiered assessment for evaluating risk, measures of effects within tiers, risk characterization, risk management, and future research needs.

Fluorinations with sulfur tetrafluoride and HF. 2. Preparation of trifluoromethylated thiazoles and isothiazoles

Abstract Several new trifluoromethylated thiazoles and isothiazoles have been prepared using SF4on precursor carboxylic acids. This chemistry demonstrates the usefulness and applicabilityof the sulfur tetrafluoride fluorination to the preparation of novel thiazoles and isothiazoles.

A highly efficient one-step synthesis of (±) dihydroactinidiolide

Abstract An unprecedented reaction of a β, γ-unsaturated aldehyde (1) was discovered and has been used to synthesize (±) dihydroactinidiolide ( 2 ) and (±) aeginetolide( 3 ).

Fluorinations with sulfur tetrafluoride and HF. 1. A reactor design for safe, routine handling of SF4 and HF

Abstract A reactor has been designed and built to handle anhydrous HF and SF 4 safely for routineuse in organic synthesis. The system described is completely contained and remotelyoperated so as to minimize any possible exposure to these dangerous materials. Furthermore,it features controls that allow the experimentalist to accurately add HF andSF 4 , monitor the reaction progress and sample ff necessary, as well as allowing flexibilityin the work-up of the reaction.

Characterization of the ecological interactions of Roundup Ready 2 Yield® soybean, MON 89788, for use in ecological risk assessment

As part of an ecological risk assessment, Roundup Ready 2 Yield® soybean (MON 89788) was compared to a conventional control soybean variety, A3244, for disease and arthropod damage, plant response to abiotic stress and cold, effects on succeeding plant growth (allelopathic effects), plant response to a bacterial symbiont, and effects on the ability of seed to survive and volunteer in a subsequent growing season. Statistically significant differences between MON 89788 and A3244 were considered in the context of the genetic variation known to occur in soybean and were assessed for their potential impact on plant pest (weed) potential and adverse environmental impact. The results of these studies revealed no effects of the genetic modification that would result in increased pest potential or adverse environmental impact of MON 89788 compared with A3244. This paper illustrates how such characterization studies conducted in a range of environments where the crop is grown are used in an ecological risk assessment of the genetically modified (GM) crop. Furthermore, risk assessors and decision makers use this information when deciding whether to approve a GM crop for cultivation in-or grain import into-their country.

Response to Bagavathiannan and Van Acker's "Transgenes and national boundaries - the need for international regulations": biotechnology developers and regulators already consider transgene movement across national boundaries and the environmental risks posed by adventitious presence of unapproved events are overstated.

Bagavathiannan and Van Acker propose greater international cooperation and information sharing in risk assessment for biotechnology-derived crops because pollen- and seed-mediated gene flow across political boundaries may lead to the adventitious presence of unapproved transgenes at sites along the borders of neighboring countries. However, they fail to convince us that something is wrong with the current situation and provide no details of how it could be improved.