Abstract - Bt protein rhizosecreted from transgenic maize does not accumulate in soil

Bt protein rhizosecreted from transgenic maize does not accumulate in soil

Ezequiel Margarit
Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos
Suipacha 570, 2000 Rosario
Argentina
Tel: 54 341 437 1955
Fax: 54 341 437 0044
E-mail: margarit@cefobi.gov.ar

Martín I. Reggiardo
Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos
Suipacha 570, 2000 Rosario
Argentina
Tel: 54 341 437 1955
Fax: 54 341 437 0044
E-mail: reggiardo@cefobi.gov.ar

Hugo R. Permingeat*
Laboratorio de Biología Molecular
Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias
Universidad Nacional de Rosario
CC 14 S2125ZAA
Zavalla, Argentina
Tel: 54 341 497 00 80
Fax: 54 341 497 00 80 Ext 135
E-mail: hperming@fcagr.unr.edu.ar

*Corresponding author

Financial support: This work was supported by Rotary Club Ciudad de Buenos Aires.

Keywords: cryIAb gene, CryIAb protein, ELISA, genetically modified organisms, PCR, Zea mays (L.).

The persistence of CryIAb protein rhizosecreted in soil is important in the assessment of its environmental risk. Here we report that CryIAb protein from transgenic maize does not accumulate at high levels in soils. Levels of CryIAb protein rhizosecreted by three maize transgenic events (BT11, MON810 and 176) were studied in hydroponic cultures and found only in the MON810 and BT11 events but not in event 176 or control plants. Under field conditions, the cryIAb gene and a basal level of CryIAb protein was detected in soils from plots cultivated with transgenic and non-transgenic maize, possibly from Bacillus thuringiensis present in the soils.