Laboratory and Field Assessments of Prey-Mediated Effects of Transgenic Bt Rice on Ummeliata insecticeps (Araneida: Linyphiidae)

• Published in: Environmental entomology 2010-08, Vol.39 (4), p.1369-1377
• Main Authors: Tian, J. C, Liu, Z. C, Chen, M, Chen, Y, Chen, X. X, Peng, Y. F, Hu, C, Ye, G. Y
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adverse effects; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; animal development; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Araneae; Arthropoda; Bacillus thuringiensis; Bacterial Proteins - analysis; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Bt rice; crystal proteins; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates; Endotoxins - analysis; Endotoxins - genetics; Endotoxins - pharmacology; fecundity; Female; field experimentation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic engineering applications; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; genotype; Hemiptera - chemistry; Hemolysin Proteins - analysis; Hemolysin Proteins - genetics; Hemolysin Proteins - pharmacology; insect pests; Linyphiidae; Male; mortality; natural enemies; Nilaparvata lugens; nontarget effect; nontarget organisms; Oryza - genetics; Oryza - parasitology; Oryza sativa; Oviparity - drug effects; Plant breeding: fundamental aspects and methodology; plant pests; plant-incorporated protectants; Plants, Genetically Modified - parasitology; population density; Population Dynamics; predatory arthropods; rice; Spiders - chemistry; Spiders - drug effects; Spiders - growth & development; transgenic plants; TRANSGENIC PLANTS AND INSECTS; tritrophic interactions; Ummeliata insecticeps
• ISSN: 0046-225X; 1938-2936; 0046-225X
• DOI: 10.1603/EN10003

One major concern regarding the release of Bt rice is its potential impact through tritrophic interactions on nontarget arthropods, especially natural enemies. We studied the effects of two Bt transgenic rice varieties, TT9-3 and KMDl, expressing CrylAb/CrylAc and CrylAb, respectively, on a predatory ground spider [Ummeliata insecticeps (Bösenberg et Strand)] supplied with Bt rice-fed brown planthopper [Nilaparvata lugens (Stål)] nymphs. Although immunoassays confirmed that U. insecticeps ingested Bt insecticidal protein when supplied with Bt rice-fed N. lugens, no negative effects were found on its survival and development. Furthermore, the fecundity of U. insecticeps fed prey reared on Bt rice was not significantly different from that of those fed prey reared on non-Bt rice. A 3-yr field trial indicated that Bt rice did not significantly affect the population density of U. insecticeps in comparison with non-Bt rice. In conclusion, the Bt rice lines tested in this study had no adverse effects on the survival, developmental time, or fecundity of U insecticeps in the laboratory or on population dynamics in the field.