Survivorship and food consumption of immatures and adults of Apis mellifera and Scaptotrigona bipunctata exposed to genetically modified eucalyptus pollen

Abstract

Eucalyptus comprises the largest planted area of cultivated production forest in Brazil. Genetic modification (GM) of eucalyptus can provide additional characteristics for increasing productivity and protecting wood yield, as well as potentially altering fiber for a diversity of industrial uses. However, prior to releasing a new GM plant, risk assessments studies with non-target organisms must be undertaken. Bees are prominent biological models since they play an important role in varied ecosystems, including for Eucalyptus pollination. The main goal of this study was to evaluate whether a novel event (Eucalyptus 751K032), which carries the cp4-epsps gene that encodes the protein CP4-EPSPS and nptII gene that encodes the protein NPTII, might adversely affect honey bees (Apis mellifera) and stingless bees (Scaptotrigona bipunctata). The experiments were performed in southern Brazil, as follows: (i) larvae and adults were separately investigated, (ii) three or four different pollen diets were offered to bees, depending on larval or adult status, and (iii) two biological attributes, i.e., survivorship of larvae and adults and food intake by adults were evaluated. The diets were prepared with pollen from GM Eucalyptus 751K032; pollen from conventional Eucalyptus clone FGN-K, multifloral pollen or pure larval food. The insecticide dimethoate was used to evaluate the sensitivity of bees to toxic substances. Datasets were analyzed with Chi-square test, survival curves and repeated measures ANOVA. Results indicated no evidence of adverse effects of Eucalyptus pollen 751K032 on either honey bees or stingless bees assessed here. Therefore, the main findings suggest that the novel event may be considered harmless to these organisms since neither survivorship nor food consumption by bees were affected by it.

Safety of genetically modified glyphosate-tolerant eucalyptus designed for integrated weed management

“…The invitro safety study that examined allergenicity, toxicity, digestibility, and heat lability of the NPTII and CP4-EPSPS proteins was described previously (Avisar et al, 2023;Fuchs et al, 1993;Harrison et al, 1996). Additionally, bee safety studies were conducted, as outlined by Santos et al (2023). These studies collectively demonstrated that there are no safety risks associated with the NPTII and CP4-EPSPS proteins to humans, animals, or the environment.…”

Safety Assessment of the CP4 EPSPS and NPTII Proteins in Eucalyptus

“…22 Field studies over three years demonstrated that cultivation of the event had no adverse effects on non-target organisms including arthropods and soil microbiota, and a study evaluating the effects of 751K032 and non-GM FGN-K pollen on the bee species Apis mellifera and Scaptotrigona bipunctata larvae and adults, found no differences in mortality and survival rates. 23 Moreover, the CP4-EPSPS and NPTII proteins were heat-labile, readily digestible, and according to the bioinformatics analyses, are unlikely to elicit allergenic reactions. Both the CP4-EPSPS protein 24 and 25 and the NPTII protein 26 are safe for human and animal consumption and exposure to the environment.…”