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Risk assessment of Cry toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis on the predatory mites Euseius concordis and Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

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Abstract

Genetically modified plants carrying Cry toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are widely used for pest control. Possible adverse effects as a result of the use of this control technique to non-target organisms is still a concern; however, few studies have addressed the effects of Bt crops on phytoseiid predatory mites. Phytoseiids are important for the natural control of phytophagous mites, but they can also feed on pollen, plant exudates, etc. Thus, phytoseiids may ingest Bt toxins through several pathways. In this paper, we evaluate the direct effect of Bt-toxins by feeding the predators on Bt cell suspensions, on solution of a Bt toxin and the tri-trophic effect by Bt expressed in transgenic plants. We present a method of conducting toxicological tests with Phytoseiidae which can be useful in studies of risk analysis of toxins to be expressed by genetically engineered plants. This method was used to evaluate the potential effect of ingestion of suspensions of Bt (1.25 × 108 spores/ml) and of purified protein Cry1Ia12 (0.006 mg/ml and 0.018 mg/ml) on Euseius concordis, a predatory mite that develops and reproduces best on pollen. The effects of genetically modified Bollgard® cotton, which carries the Cry1Ac protein, on Neoseiulus californicus, a selective predator that feeds more on spider mites than on pollen or insects, was determined by feeding them with Tetranychus urticae reared in Bollgard® cotton and on the non-transgenic isoline. When E. concordis was fed with suspension of Bt isolate derived from product Dipel® PM, no significant effects were detected. Similarly, Cry1Ia12 Bt toxin, at a concentration of 0.006 mg/ml, did not affect E. concordis. At a concentration of 0.018 mg/ml, however, the intake of this protein reduced the reproduction of E. concordis. There were no effects of Bollgard® cotton on the biological traits and on the predatory capacity of N. californicus. Results indicate that the Cry toxins of B. thuringiensis studied, at the concentrations used in the field or expressed in transgenic plants, should not affect the predatory mites E. concordis and N. californicus.

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Acknowledgments

The first author was a recipient of a scholarship from São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), and the study was partly funded by the Young Scientist Fellowship (FAPESP 03/00077-1) granted to Italo Delalibera Júnior. We thanks Dr. Maria Fatima Grossi-de-Sá, from Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia for providing the Cry1Ia12 toxin.

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  1. Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia, Escola Superior de Agricultura ‘Luiz de Queiroz’ (ESALQ), University of São Paulo (USP), Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil

    Thiago Rodrigues de Castro, John Jairo Saldarriaga Ausique, Daiane Heloisa Nunes, Fernando Henrique Ibanhes & Italo Delalibera Júnior

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  1. Thiago Rodrigues de Castro
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Correspondence to Italo Delalibera Júnior.

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de Castro, T.R., Ausique, J.J.S., Nunes, D.H. et al. Risk assessment of Cry toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis on the predatory mites Euseius concordis and Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Exp Appl Acarol 59, 421–433 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-012-9620-3

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