TY - JOUR

T1 - An evaluation of methods for assessing the impacts of Bt-maize MON810 cultivation and pyrethroid insecticide use on Auchenorrhyncha (planthoppers and leafhoppers)

AU - Rauschen, Stefan

AU - Eckert, Jörg

AU - Schaarschmidt, Frank

AU - Schuphan, Ingolf

AU - Gathmann, Achim

PY - 2008/11

Y1 - 2008/11

N2 - 1: Auchenorrhyncha (Planthoppers and Leafhoppers) are not only pests of many crops, but they are also nontarget organisms with respect to Bt-protein expressing genetically modified plants. As herbivorous arthropods, planthoppers and leafhoppers ingest Cry proteins depending on their feeding behaviour. Consequently, they are directly exposed to these entomotoxic proteins and can also serve as a source of Cry protein exposure to predatory arthropods. Therefore, it is reasonable to use Auchenorrhyncha in the risk assessment of genetically modified crops. 2: During a 2-year field study, we evaluated four different methods in terms of their feasibility to assess the impacts of plant-incorporated protectants from Bt-maize and of insecticide use on this group of arthropods. Visual assessment of plants, sweep netting, yellow traps and custom made sticky traps were utilized in field plots of Bt-maize MON810, untreated near-isogenic maize and insecticide-treated near-isogenic maize and were compared with respect to their capability to reflect the diversity and abundance of Auchenorrhyncha species. 3: Zyginidia scutellaris (Herrich-Schäffer) (Cicadomorpha: Cicadellidae) represented more than 94% of all captured individuals in both years. The analysis of Z. scutellaris data showed no consistent differences between Bt-maize MON810 and the untreated near isogenic hybrid, demonstrating no negative impact of MON810 on this species. Insecticide treatment, on the other hand, was not equivalent to the isogenic maize in terms of Z. scutellaris densities. Based on the collected data and on practical considerations, we recommend the combined use of transect-wise sweep netting and sticky traps for the sampling of Auchenorrhyncha in maize.

AB - 1: Auchenorrhyncha (Planthoppers and Leafhoppers) are not only pests of many crops, but they are also nontarget organisms with respect to Bt-protein expressing genetically modified plants. As herbivorous arthropods, planthoppers and leafhoppers ingest Cry proteins depending on their feeding behaviour. Consequently, they are directly exposed to these entomotoxic proteins and can also serve as a source of Cry protein exposure to predatory arthropods. Therefore, it is reasonable to use Auchenorrhyncha in the risk assessment of genetically modified crops. 2: During a 2-year field study, we evaluated four different methods in terms of their feasibility to assess the impacts of plant-incorporated protectants from Bt-maize and of insecticide use on this group of arthropods. Visual assessment of plants, sweep netting, yellow traps and custom made sticky traps were utilized in field plots of Bt-maize MON810, untreated near-isogenic maize and insecticide-treated near-isogenic maize and were compared with respect to their capability to reflect the diversity and abundance of Auchenorrhyncha species. 3: Zyginidia scutellaris (Herrich-Schäffer) (Cicadomorpha: Cicadellidae) represented more than 94% of all captured individuals in both years. The analysis of Z. scutellaris data showed no consistent differences between Bt-maize MON810 and the untreated near isogenic hybrid, demonstrating no negative impact of MON810 on this species. Insecticide treatment, on the other hand, was not equivalent to the isogenic maize in terms of Z. scutellaris densities. Based on the collected data and on practical considerations, we recommend the combined use of transect-wise sweep netting and sticky traps for the sampling of Auchenorrhyncha in maize.

KW - Bt-maize

KW - Insecticide effect

KW - MON810

KW - Nontarget organisms

KW - Zyginidia scutellaris

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=53749086059&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/j.1461-9563.2008.00394.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1461-9563.2008.00394.x

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:53749086059

VL - 10

SP - 331

EP - 339

JO - Agricultural and Forest Entomology

JF - Agricultural and Forest Entomology

SN - 1461-9555

IS - 4

ER -