Response to Kruse-Plass et al. (2017) regarding the risk to non-target lepidopteran larvae exposed to pollen from one or more of three Bt maize events (MON810, Bt11 and 1507).

We respond to the paper of Kruse-Plass et al. (Environ Sci Eur 29:12, 2017), published in this journal, regarding the risk to non-target lepidopteran larvae exposed to pollen from one or more of three Bt maize events (MON810, Bt11 and 1507). We emphasise that what is important for environmental risk assessment is not the number of pollen grains per se, but the degree of exposure of a NT lepidopteran larva to Bt protein contained in maize pollen.

Environmental risk assessment for the small tortoiseshell Aglais urticae and a stacked Bt-maize with combined resistances against Lepidoptera and Chrysomelidae in central European agrarian landscapes.

The cultivation of Lepidoptera-resistant Bt-maize may affect nontarget butterflies. We assessed the risk posed by event MON89034 × MON88017 (expressing Cry1A.105 and Cry2Ab2 against corn borers) to nontarget Lepidoptera.

Genetically modified crops and aquatic ecosystems: considerations for environmental risk assessment and non-target organism testing.

Environmental risk assessments (ERA) support regulatory decisions for the commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops. The ERA for terrestrial agroecosystems is well-developed, whereas guidance for ERA of GM crops in aquatic ecosystems is not as well-defined. The purpose of this document is to demonstrate how comprehensive problem formulation can be used to develop a conceptual model and to identify potential exposure pathways, using Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize as a case study.

Diabrotica-resistant Bt-maize DKc5143 event MON88017 has no impact on the field densities of the leafhopper Zyginidia scutellaris.

Auchenorrhyncha (planthoppers and leafhoppers) are herbivorous organisms that can ingest Cry proteins from genetically engineered Bt-crops depending on their feeding behaviour. Consequently, they might be directly affected by non-target Bt-protein action and more importantly serve as a source of Cry protein exposure to beneficial predatory arthropods. During a three year field study, we surveyed the community of Auchenorrhyncha in Diabrotica-resistant Bt-maize DKc5143-Bt (event MON88017), its near-isogenic line and two conventional hybrids using sweep netting and custom made sticky traps.

Occurrence and field densities of Coleoptera in the maize herb layer: implications for Environmental Risk Assessment of genetically modified Bt-maize.

Beetles (Coleoptera) are a diverse and ecologically important group of insects in agricultural systems. The Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) of genetically modified Bt-crop varieties with insect resistances thus needs to consider and assess the potential negative impacts on non-target organisms belonging to this group. We analysed data gathered during 6 years of field-release experiments on the impact of two genetically modified Bt-maize varieties (Ostrinia-resistant MON810 and Diabrotica-resistant MON88017) on the occurrence and field densities of Coleoptera, especially the two families Coccinellidae and Chrysomelidae.

Fatty acid patterns of genetically modified Cry3Bb1 expressing Bt-maize MON88017 and its near-isogenic line.

Fatty acid (FA) profiles of the Bt-maize line MON88017 expressing the Cry3Bb1 protein and its near-isogenic line DKC5143 were examined. Plant compartments under study included leaves taken from different internodes and roots. Sample preparation involved pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) of the biomass, transmethylation of the extracted lipids to give fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), and finally GC-MS analysis.

Molecular level lignin patterns of genetically modified Bt-maize MON88017 and three conventional varieties using tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH)-induced thermochemolysis.

Bt-maize MON88017, its near-isogenic line DKC5143, and the two conventional varieties DK315 and Benicia were subjected to tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH)-induced thermochemolysis to reveal molecular level lignin patterns. MON88017 is genetically modified to express the Cry3Bb1 protein aimed at the Western corn rootworm Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, a serious threat for European maize production. The results indicated that roots of the Bt-maize were characterized by a slightly enhanced total lignin content (by approximately 7%) compared to the near-isogenic line, whereas the molecular-based patterns, expressed by the relative fractions of p-hydroxyphenyl, guaiacyl, and syringyl breakdown products (P-, G-, and S-units, respectively) were virtually identical for both lines.

Impact of Bt-corn MON88017 in comparison to three conventional lines on Trigonotylus caelestialium (Kirkaldy) (Heteroptera: Miridae) field densities.

In Europe, Bt-corn resistant against the European Corn Borer has until now been the only genetically modified plant to be grown commercially. With the advent of the Western Corn Rootworm Bt-corn varieties with resistance against Coleoptera will become important. The cultivation of Bt-plants may have negative impacts on non-target organisms, i.

Fate of the Cry1Ab protein from Bt-maize MON810 silage in biogas production facilities.

Biogas plants fuelled with renewable sources of energy are a sustainable means for power generation. In areas with high infestation levels with the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hbn.), it is likely that transgenic Bt-maize will be fed into agricultural biogas plants.