The general risk assessment principal is used to analyze possible impacts of transgenic plants expressing insecticidal proteins derived from cry genes of the bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), on arthropod natural enemies (predators and parasitoids). The principal defines the risk as the product of two functions: the severity of intrinsic hazard (i.e. toxic effects) of a toxin source and the probability of the exposure to the toxin source. Based on this principle, we first review the existing database on the intrinsic hazard (i.e., insecticidal spectrum) of Bt Cry proteins and then discuss the degree of exposure of different groups of natural enemies to plant-produced Bt Cry proteins through prey or host-mediated trophic interactions. Based on analysis of the Cry protein hazard and exposure, we conclude that transgenic Bt crops are not likely to have any severe adverse effects on arthropod natural enemies that are exposed to plant produced Cry proteins primarily through prey or host-mediated secondary trophic interactions.
Species 1: Bacteria Bacillaceae Bacillius thuringiensis
Species 2: (predators)
Species 3: (parasitoids)
Keywords: Transgenic Bt crops, Biological Control
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA