Potential Risk of Pollen from Genetically Modified MON 810 Maize Containing Cry1Ab Toxin to Protected Lepidopteran Larvae in the Pannonian Biogeographical Region—A Retrospective View

A credible risk analysis of maize pollen containing Cry1Ab toxin must include the assessment of (<i>i</i>) pollen production and its Cry1 toxin content; (<i>ii</i>) distribution of the pollen grains in the surroundings; (<i>iii</i>) pollen-catching capacity of the...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Béla Darvas, Gergő Gyurcsó, Eszter Takács, András Székács
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-02-01
Series:Insects
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/2/206
Description
Summary:A credible risk analysis of maize pollen containing Cry1Ab toxin must include the assessment of (<i>i</i>) pollen production and its Cry1 toxin content; (<i>ii</i>) distribution of the pollen grains in the surroundings; (<i>iii</i>) pollen-catching capacity of the weeds on field edges; (<i>iv</i>) the lifestyle of protected lepidopteran larvae living on weeds; (<i>v</i>) Cry1 toxin sensitivity of non-target caterpillars; and (<i>vi</i>) Cry1 toxin resistance of individual non-target populations. The concentration range of 5–4300 ng Cry1Ab toxin/g dry pollen determined in MON 810 pollen batches is too diverse for handling it as a single set in any mathematical modeling. Within the work carried out mainly with the DK-440 BTY cultivar, the seed samples officially received from the variety owner produced significantly different (250–470 vs. 5–15 ng/g) Cry1Ab toxin concentrations in the pollen. <i>Nymphalis io</i> L1-L3 larvae were nearly six times more sensitive for Dipel than <i>Nymphalis c-album</i>. Feeding on the back side and in a leaf nest, <i>Vanessa atalanta</i> may be subject to lower pollen exposures. <i>N. io</i> larvae may actively attempt to avoid patches with high pollen contamination. Cry1Ab toxin resistance also partially emerged in <i>N. io</i> populations reared in the Pannonian Biogeographical Region (Hungary).
ISSN:2075-4450