There are unanswered questions about the effects of transgenic pollen on European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, (Hübner) and non-target lepidoptera. Ostrinia nubilalis bioassays using pollen thinly spread on agar plates have resulted in high levels of mold and high larval mortality. A new bioassay was designed to feed O. nubilalis larvae pollen while minimizing mold growth, using pipette tips, micro-centrifuge vials, agar, and non-absorbent cotton. Mold was virtually eliminated and O. nubilalis mortality was reduced. The technique was used to determine the no observable effect level for O. nubilalis while feeding on transgenic pollen. Natural degradation was simulated by exposing transgenic pollen to UV light and dew cycles to determine what effect this may have on O. nubilalis larval mortality.
Species 1: Lepidoptera Crambidae Ostrinia nubilalis (European corn borer)
Keywords: bioassay, pollen degradation
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA