Impact of transgenic sweet potato on non-target species
Abstract
165 words
Sweetpotato is affected by the sweetpotato weevil (Cylas spp.)
which caused immense tuber yield loss in many sub-Saharan
Africa countries. Management of this pest is still difficult. The
International Potato Centre has introduced insecticidal proteins
derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) into
the crop through genetic engineering. This study has been set
up to determine whether there are potential dangers of the Bt
proteins to non-target beneficial insect species. Ladybird beetles
(Delphastus catalinae), ground beetles (Poecilus chalcites)
and rove beetles (Aleochara bilineata) will be collected from
sweetpotato fields and used in the study. These will be fed on
an artificial diet containing different Cry7Aa1 protein solutions
in the laboratory. Casualties will be recorded daily for six days
for the ladybird beetle and for 15 days for the remaining two
non-target species. Possible impacts of transgenic sweetpotato
events expressing Cry7Aa1 proteins on relevant non-target
organisms (NTOs) will be determined. This information will
inform environmental risk assessment decisions for the
introduction of Bt sweetpotato in Africa.
Subjects
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