Bt-BioNoTa: Effects and mechanisms of Bt transgenes on biodiversity of non-target insects: pollinators, herbivores and their natural enemies

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 00.0073

Key words (English)

Biodiversity; transgenic plants; insect resistance;
Biotechnology; Environmental Protection; Innovation; Technology Transfer; Life Sciences; Medicine; Health; Waste Management

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: QLK3-2000-00547

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.1.3 The 'cell factory'

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Coordinator: Centre of Plant Breeding ans Reproduction Research (NL)

Abstract (English)

The effects of transgenic, insect-resistant (Bt-) crops on biodiversity of non- target herbivorous insects and their natural enemies, and pollinators will be investigated. Four toxin/crop combinations will be used for testing effects of insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis expressed in the crop plants on associated insects, on different organizational levels. Both in the laboratory and in limited field experiments, effects of transgenes on the biodiversity of the associated insect community will be studied. The mode of action of Bt toxin in a beneficial insect will be studied in more detail. Molecular tools consisting of cDNA microarrays will be developed for fast and efficient observation of effects, based on changes in gene expression patterns. The project will deliver contributions to a solid scientific foundation for EU policies and regulations for release of transgenic crops, and tools for monitoring effects on biodiversity.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 00.0073