POPULATION DEVELOPMENT OF BIRD CHERRY-OAT APHID RHOPALOSIPHUM PADI (L.) (HEMIPTERA, APHIDIDAE) ON CONVENTIONAL AND BT-MAIZE EXPRESSING THE INSECTICIDAL PROTEIN CRY1AB

Z. Klukowski, J. P. Twardowski, P. Beres, M. Hurej

Abstract: The aim of the study was to determine the long-term effect of transgenic maize expressing toxin Cry1Ab derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt-maize) on bird cherry-oat aphid Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) population development in comparison to conventional, non-transgenic variety. According to this analysis it is possible to achieve a step-wise approach to assess potential non-target effects of GM plants. Such large open-field trials concerning impact of Bt-maize on aphids are the first of this kind under Polish environmental conditions. Studies were conducted in maize fields at two locations in South part of Poland (distance ca. 400 km from each other), in 2008-2010. In the experiment, five treatments were tested: Bt-maize (DKC 3421 Yield Gard®, Monsanto Company), near-isogenic lines sprayed or unsprayed with lambda-cyhalotrine (DKC 3420, Monsanto Company), and for comparative analysis two conventional varieties (Bosman and Wigo). Aphids were monitored directly on plants. In three years of this study, the population dynamics of R. padi was very similar in each treatment. The aphid number on Bt-maize did not differ significantly in comparison to reference varieties. Significant differences between abundance of bird cherry-oat aphid and numbers of their colonies in the studied varieties were confirmed only occasionally, at single date measurements and cannot be related to Cry1Ab toxin present in plant tissue.

Keywords: aphids; bird cherry-oat aphid; Bt-maize; Cry1Ab; Rhopalosiphum padi

Date published: 2019-04-19