Decomposition of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis maize by microorganisms and woodlice Porcellio scaber (Crustacea: Isopoda)
Foliage of transgenic maize Zea mays L., expressing a Cry1Ab protein derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) subsp. kurstaki, was compared with foliage of the corresponding non-transgenic maize variety in laboratory feeding and decomposition experiments to study the effects of the B. thuringi...
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| Published in: | Basic and applied ecology Vol. 1; no. 2; pp. 161 - 169 |
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| Main Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier GmbH
2000
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | Foliage of transgenic maize
Zea mays L., expressing a Cry1Ab protein derived from
Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) subsp.
kurstaki, was compared with foliage of the corresponding non-transgenic maize variety in laboratory feeding and decomposition experiments to study the effects of the
B. thuringiensis protein on the chemical composition of the maize leaves, on the decomposer
Porcellio scaber (Crustacea: Isopoda), and on leaf-litter-colonising microorganisms. Initial contents of fructose and soluble carbohydrates were significantly higher in non-transgenic maize. Lignin was decomposed more quickly in transgenic maize. Starch, cellulose, hemicellulose and ash content did not differ. Bacterial growth on faeces of
P. scaber fed on non-transgenic maize was up to 60% higher than on faeces of the transgenic-fed woodlice, but bacterial growth on leaves and fungal growth on faeces were equal on both maize varieties.
P. scaber showed no significant difference in its consumption rate of transgenic and non-transgenic maize. The number of offspring did not differ between the two treatment groups, but the mortality of juveniles reared on non-transgenic maize leaves was significantly higher. During the first 131 days weight increase of the offspring was significantly higher in the non-transgenic group, but weight increase of adult
P. scaber was higher in the transgenic group. Due to a slightly lower C:N ratio, a lower lignin content, and a higher content of soluble carbohydrates, the nutritional quality of transgenic maize leaves was better than that of the non-transgenic variety. This explains the lower mortality of
P. scaber offspring and the faster weight gain of adult
P. scaber on the transgenic diet. |
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| Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 content type line 23 |
| ISSN: | 1439-1791 |
| DOI: | 10.1078/1439-1791-00024 |