Crops transformed to express Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins can cause close to 100% mortality of certain target pest species. This study assessed the effect of target pest reduction on the predatory insect Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) in the presence of alternative prey. Numbers of lacewings recovered from Bt oilseed rape (cultivar Oscar, event O52) did not differ significantly from number...

Bacillus thuringiensis strains produce insect-specific Bt toxins. Bt CryIA(a) toxin binds to a 175-kDa glycoprotein (BtR175) on the microvillus membranes of columnar cells in the Bombyx mori midgut and causes lysis of the cells. BtR175 was purified, and its cDNA was cloned. The cDNA encodes a newly identified 193.3-kDa preproprotein form of BtR175 that includes nine extracellular cadherin repea...

A publication reporting the harmful effects on the monarch butterfly of maize genetically modified to express insecticidal delta-endotoxins from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) caused much public interest. A series of ecologically based studies were subsequently carried out to evaluate rigorously the impact of pollen from such crops and to quantify the risks. The results demonstr...

we investigated the effects of interaction between cotesia plutellae (kurdjumov) and bacillus thuringiensis berliner on parasitism and an immune effector (phenoloxidase activity) of a bt-susceptible and a bt-resistant population of plutella xylostella (linnaeus) in laboratory. parasitism success of c. plutellae varied depending on the use of b. thuringiensis or its toxin, and the timing of appl...

The impact of genetically modified (GM) crops on the poor in developing countries is still the subject of controversy. While previous studies have examined direct productivity effects of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton and other GM crops, little is known about wider socioeconomic outcomes. We use a microeconomic modelling approach and comprehensive survey data from India to analyse welfare a...

Sustained cultivation of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) transgenic crops requires stable transgene expression under variable abiotic conditions. We studied the interactions of Bt toxin production and chronic ozone exposure in Bt cry1Ac-transgenic oilseed rape and found that the insect resistance trait is robust under ozone elevations. Bt Cry1Ac concentrations were higher in the leaves of Bt oilsee...

This study provides the first evidence of a direct link between the adoption of a genetically modified (GM) crop and improvements in human health. Estimation of the impact of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton adoption on pesticide use from data from a survey of cotton farmers in northern China, 1999-2001, showed that Bt cotton adoption reduced pesticide use. Assessment of a health-production f...

The above mentioned meeting of the FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) Subpanel on Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Plant-Pesticides and Resistance Management was an open meeting held in Arlington, Virginia to review a set of scientific issues and specific questions posed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) based on its "White Paper". Please find attached the Subpanel's final report of fi...

background: aflatoxins are toxic fungal metabolites enable to contaminate a wide range of natural substrates. this contamination can be host-specific for different plant species. in this study, the ability of a toxigenic aspergillus parasiticus to produce various aflatoxins on major iranian cereals was evaluated with special focus on plant susceptibility to toxin production at cultivar level. m...