Sublethal Endpoints in Non-target Organism Testing for Insect-Active GE Crops

Authors

Andrew Roberts, Agriculture and Food Systems Institute, WashingtonFollow
Chad J. Boeckman, Corteva AgriscienceTM
Marina Mühl, Dirección de Biotecnología, Buenos Aires
Jörg Romeis, Research Division Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope
John L. Teem, Agriculture and Food Systems Institute, Washington
Fernando H. Valicente, Embrapa Milho e Sorgo, Sete Lagoas
Judith K. Brown, The University of Arizona, Tucson
Steven L. Levine, Bayer Crop Science, Chesterfield
Richard L. Melnick, Agriculture and Food Systems Institute, Washington
Thais B. Rodrigues, Greenlight Biosciences, Inc., Medford
Ana M. Vélez, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Xuguo Zhou, University of Kentucky, Lexington
Richard L. Hellmich, USDA, Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research Unit & Iowa State University, Ames
Martin G. Edwards, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne

Date of this Version

2020

Citation

Roberts A, Boeckman CJ, Mühl M, Romeis J, Teem JL, Valicente FH, Brown JK, Edwards MG, Levine SL, Melnick RL, Rodrigues TB, Vélez AM, Zhou X and Hellmich RL (2020) Sublethal Endpoints in Non-target Organism Testing for Insect-Active GE Crops. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. 8:556. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00556

Comments

2020 Roberts, Boeckman, Mühl, Romeis, Teem, Valicente, Brown, Edwards, Levine, Melnick, Rodrigues, Vélez, Zhou and Hellmich.

Abstract

Historically, genetically engineered (GE) plants that have incorporated genes conferring insect protection have primarily used Cry proteins derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to achieve their insecticidal phenotype. As a result, regulators have developed a level of familiarity and confidence in reviewing plants incorporating these insecticidal proteins. However, new technologies have been developed that produce GE plants that incorporate pest protection by triggering an RNA interference (RNAi) response or proteins other than Bt Cry proteins. These technologies have new modes of action. Although the overall assessment paradigm for GE plants is robust, there are ongoing discussions about the appropriate tests and measurement endpoints needed to inform non-target arthropod assessment for technologies that have a different mode of action than the Bt Cry proteins. As a result, increasing attention is being paid to the use of sublethal endpoints and their value for environmental risk assessment (ERA). This review focuses on the current status and history of sublethal endpoint use in insect-active GE crops, and evaluates the future use of sublethal endpoints for new and emerging technologies. It builds upon presentations made at the Workshop on Sublethal Endpoints for Non-target Organism Testing for Non-Bt GE Crops (Washington DC, USA, 4–5 March 2019), and the discussions of government, academic and industry scientists convened for the purpose of reviewing the progress and status of sublethal endpoint testing in non-target organisms.