Influences of Insect-Resistant Genetically Modified Rice (Bt-T) on the Diversity of Non-Target Insects in an LMO Quarantine Field

Abstract

This study was conducted to develop environmental risk assessments and biosafety guides for insect-resistant genetically modified rice in an LMO (Living Modified Organism) isolation field. In the LMO quarantine area of Kyungpook National University, the species diversities and population densities of non-target insects found on insect-resistant genetically modified rice (Bt-T), rice resistant to Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, and non-GM rice (Dongjin-byeo and Ilmi-byeo) were investigated. The Bt-T plants were, therefore, evaluated under field conditions to detect possible impacts on above ground insects and spiders. In 2016 and 2017, the study compared transgenic rice and two non-GM reference rice, namely Dongjin-byeo and Ilmi-byeo, at Gunwi. A total of 9,552 individuals from 51 families and 11 orders were collected from the LMO isolation field. From the three types of rice fields, a total of 3,042; 3,212; and 3,297 individuals from the Bt-T, Dongjin-byeo, and Ilmi-byeo were collected, respectively. There was no difference between the population densities of the non-target insect pests, natural enemies, and other insects on the Bt-T compared to non-GM rice. The data on insect species population densities were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA) without distinguishing between the three varieties, namely GM, non-GM, and reference cultivar, in all cultivation years. However, the PCA clearly separated the samples based on the cultivation years. These results suggest that insect species diversities and population densities during plant cultivation are determined by environmental factors (growing condition and seasons) rather than by genetic factors.

Effects of Bt rice expressing Cry1Ac on ecological functional guilds and community of non‐target insects

“…They reported that Bt rice effects on functional groups in the laboratory were not always consistent with that in fields, and Bt rice will influence negligible risks to non-target functional guilds in large-scale farming. Other studies also reported no consistent effects of Bt rice on non-target arthropods in Korean rice fields (Amin et al 2020;Lee et al 2014;Oh et al 2018).…”

“…To date, various studies have reported that Bt rice has no or negligible adverse effects on not only non-target insects (Dang et al 2017;Li et al 2016;Tian et al 2017) but also other arthropods (Lu et al 2020;Song et al 2020;Yang et al 2017). In Korea, only a few studies have been conducted with Bt rice for efficacy on target pests (Kim et al 2008(Kim et al , 2018Shin et al 2009) or impacts on non-target arthropods (Amin et al 2020;Lee et al 2014;Oh et al 2018).…”

Impact of insect‐resistant transgenic rice on above‐ground non‐target arthropods in Korea

“…Arthropod species are also associated with GM crops and play an important role in the agroecosystem, but their abundance and species diversity in GM rice ecosystems are still unknown in Korea. Safety assessment studies on GM rice in LMO quarantine fields in Korea are ongoing, but research is mainly focused on the occurrences of pest insects, mites, and spiders (Bae et al 2012;Choi et al 2015;Kim et al 2010;Oh et al 2017;Oh et al 2019) and studies are yet to investigate non-target arthropods associated with GM rice (Oh et al 2018).…”

“…2019) and studies are yet to investigate non‐target arthropods associated with GM rice (Oh et al . 2018).…”