Experimental Systems to Monitor the Impact of Transgenic Corn on Keystone Soil Microorganisms
by Turrini, A. (1) , Sbrana, C. (2), & Giovannetti, M. (3)
Keywords: GMO, environmental impact, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, coexistence, nontarget organisms
Abstract
Risks and benefits of transgenic crop plants should be evaluated not only by assessing pollen flow, but also by considering soil persistence of transgenic products, such as Bt toxins, which can accumulate in the soil and remain active for a long time. Moreover, transgenic plants are often plowed under as crop residues, representing a potential hazard for nontarget arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, a group of beneficial plant symbionts fundamental for soil fertility. In this study, we monitored the effects of transgenic corn plants (Bt 11 and Bt 176) and their residues on AM fungal growth and root colonization ability. Both transgenic plants decreased mycorrhizal colonization and Bt 11 plant residues negatively affected mycorrhizal establishment by indigenous endophytes four months after their incorporation into soil.
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(1) Department of Crop Plant Biology, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy, email: turrini@agr.unipi.it
(2) Institute of Biology and Agricultural Biotechnology, CNR, UO Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, Pisa, Italy, e-mail: sbrana@ibba.cnr.it, Internet: www.ibba.cnr.it
(3) Department of Crop Plant Biology, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy, email: mgiova@agr.unipi.it, Internet: www.agr.unipi.it/dbpa/giovannetti
IFOAM Organic World Congress, Modena, Italy, June 16-20, 2008
Archived at http://orgprints.org/view/projects/conference.html
