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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #168759
Title: THE EFFECTS OF BT CORN ON SOIL AND RHIZOSPHERE MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES

Author
item Buyer, Jeffrey
item Blackwood, Christopher

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/7/2004
Publication Date: 9/29/2004
Citation: Buyer, J.S., Blackwood, C.B. 2004. The effects of Bt Corn on Soil and Rhizosphere Microbial Communities [abstract]. 8th International Symposium on the Biosafety of Genetically Modified Organisms. September 26-30, 2004. Montpellier, France. p. 216-220.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Genetically engineered Bt corn expressing insecticidal Cry proteins is widely planted in the United States. Growth chamber and field studies were conducted to assess the impact of Bt corn on rhizosphere and soil microbial communities. Microbial communities were analyzed by substrate utilization assays, phospholipid fatty acid analysis, and terminal restriction length polymorphism analysis. Cry protein expression generally had very few statistically significant effects, and those that were observed were very small. Ongoing research is devoted to continuing field studies and examining other microbial groups not yet analyzed.