Sugarcane (Saccharum X officinarum): A Reference Study for the Regulation of Genetically Modified Cultivars in Brazil

Global interest in sugarcane has increased significantly in recent years due to its economic impact on sustainable energy production. Sugarcane breeding and better agronomic practices have contributed to a huge increase in sugarcane yield in the last 30 years. Additional increases in sugarcane yield are expected to result from the use of biotechnology tools in the near future. Genetically modified (GM) sugarcane that incorporates genes to increase resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses could play a major role in achieving this goal. However, to bring GM sugarcane to the market, it is necessary to follow a regulatory process that will evaluate the environmental and health impacts of this crop. The regulatory review process is usually accomplished through a comparison of the biology and composition of the GM cultivar and a non-GM counterpart. This review intends to provide information on non-GM sugarcane biology, genetics, breeding, agronomic management, processing, products and byproducts, as well as the current technologies used to develop GM sugarcane, with the aim of assisting regulators in the decision-making process regarding the commercial release of GM sugarcane cultivars. © 2011 The Author(s).

Alternative methods for detecting soybean seeds genetically modified for resistance to herbicide glyphosate

The objective of this study was to verify application of two methodologies: substrate moistened with herbicide solution (SM) and immersion of seeds in herbicide solution (IH) for detecting soybean seeds genetically modified. For this, non-transgenic and transgenic soybean seeds, harvested in the 2008/2009 crop seasons were used. The treatments with substrate moistened were: SM1) 0.03% herbicide solution, at 25 ºC, with evaluation in the sixth day (hs -0.03% -25 ºC, 6th d); SM2) HS -0.03% -35 ºC, 5th d; SM3) HS -0.03% - 40 ºC, 5th d; and SM4) hs -0.06% -5 ºC, 5th d. In the methodology of immersion of seeds the following treatments were performed: IH1) seed immersion in a 0.6% herbicide solution, at 25 ºC, for 1 h, (si -0.06% -25 ºC, 1 h; IH2) si -0.06% - 35 ºC, 30 min.; IH3) si -0.06% -40 ºC, 30 min.; IH4) si -0.12% -35 ºC, 30 min.; and IH5) si -0.12% -40 ºC, 30 min. Bioassays allow detecting soybean seeds tolerant to glyphosate herbicide within five days. The seeds of non-genetically modified and genetically modified soybean cultivars may be easily distinguished through the treatments SM2 and SM4 of the moistened substrate methodology; and treatments IH3, IH4, and IH5 of seed immersion methodology. Both methodologies are easily feasible, practical, and applicable in seed analysis laboratories, once do not require special equipments.

Dinâmica populacional de ovos e lagartas e parasitismo de ovos de Curuquerê-do-algodoeiro por Trichogramma pretiosum em cultivares convencionais e transgênica de algodoeiro

The introduction of new cotton cultivars in the Midwest region of Brazil resulted in a significant increase in productivity, but the use of inappropriate farming techniques brought many problems to field, as the higher incidence of pests, diseases and weeds. The aim of this work was to study the population dynamics of eggs and larvae of cotton leafworm and natural egg parasitism of the pest by Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) at different phenological stages of conventional and transgenic cultivars (Bollgard I) of cotton was carried out this experiment from December 2007 to April 2008 in Ipameri, Goias State, Brazil. The experimental design was a randomized blocks with five trataments and four replications. The treatments consisting of the conventional cotton cultivars DeltaOPAL, FMX 966, FMX 993, FMX 910 and the cultivar transgenic NuOPAL. Allabama argillacea Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) oviposited on all cultivars, not presented differences in relation to oviposition preference. Compared to the average number of eggs of A. argillacea parasitized by T. pretiosum, there were no differences between cultivars. In conventional cultivars, small, medium and large larvae occurred from 34 days after plant emergence until the end of the cycle, while in the transgenic cultivar were found only small caterpillars. Cultivar NuOPAL control cotton leafworm since the first larval stage, and does not interfere in egg parasitism by T. pretiosum compared with other cultivars.

Movement of Spodoptera frugiperda Adults (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Maize in Brazil

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), is one of the most important maize pests in the Americas and particularly in South America. With the adoption of genetically modified plants expressing Bacillus thuringiensis toxins for lepidopterous pest control, there is a need for establishing strategies to delay the development of insect resistance (e.g. refuge areas). Thus, information on target insects' dispersal is essential to improve pest management techniques. The objective of this work was to evaluate the dispersal capacity of S. frugiperda adults using mark-release-recapture techniques. Insects were marked using red oil-soluble dye in the larval artificial diet. Marked adults were released twice in each growing season (dry and wet) in southeastern Brazil in 2006 and 2007. Recapture of marked insects was performed using light and pheromone traps. Males are more attracted to light traps than females and the recapture rate was higher in the dry season than in the rainy season. The most adequate model to explain the relationship between flight distance and number of recaptured insects is y = a(2)/ (1+ (2a(1.8)+ bx))((2.6)), where y is the distance and x is the number captured. The maximum recapture distances were 806 m for males and 608 m for females. Therefore, strategies for establishment of refuges should take such distances into consideration.

Transgenic lettuce seedlings carrying hepatitis B virus antigen HBsAg

The obtainment of transgenic edible plants carrying recombinant antigens is a desired issue in search for economic alternatives viewing vaccine production. Here we report a strategy for genetic transformation of lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa L.) using the surface antigen HBsAg of hepatitis B virus. Transgenic lettuce seedlings were obtained through the application of a regulated balance of plant growth regulators. Genetic transformation process was acquired by cocultivation of cotyledons with Agrobacterium tumefaciens harboring the recombinant plasmid. It is the first description of a lettuce Brazilian variety Vitória de Verão genetically modified.

Absorção de manganês em soja RR sob efeito do glifosate

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Aumento da produtividade de soja com a aplicação de bioestimulantes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Short-term assessment of bt maize on non-target arthropods in Brazil

Embora não haja cultivos comerciais de milho geneticamente modificado no Brasil, o efeito de híbridos de milho Bt sobre inimigos naturais e artrópodos de solo deve ser avaliado antes da liberação aos produtores. Assim, ensaios foram conduzidos durante uma safra em duas localidades. Os híbridos de milho modificado geneticamente 7590-Bt11 e Avant-ICP4 foram comparados com seus respectivos isogênicos não transgênicos. Os artrópodes foram avaliados através de observação direta nas plantas e armadilhas de alçapão. de modo geral, não se observaram diferenças entre as populações de tesourinha (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), joaninhas (Coleptera: Coccinellidae), percevejo-pirata (Coleoptera: Anthocoridae), carabídeos (Carabidae), cicindelídeos (Cicindelidae) e aranhas (Araneae). Também não houve diferença no parasitismo de ovos de Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) por Trichogramma sp. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Assim, milho geneticamente modificado expressando as proteínas inseticidas Cry1A(b) e VIP 3A não causa redução nas populações dos principais predadores e parasitóides.

Ocorrência de pragas em algodoeiro geneticamente modificado (Bt) e convencional

The study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of pest and management of cotton genetically modified with the introduction of the bacterium Bacillus thunringiensis compared to conventional cotton in the 'Cerrado' region, installing the field experiment in 2007/2008 in Chapadão do Sul-MS. The experimental design was randomized blocks in a 2 × 3 factorial, with two managements of insecticides (with and without insecticides to control lepidopteran) and 3 modes of use of cultivars: 100% transgenic (NUOPAL), 100% non transgenic (Deltaopal) and interior area with transgenic (80% NUOPAL) with non-transgenic border (20% Deltaopal) with five replications. Evaluations were performed weekly of pest infestation, observing in 15 plants per plot the number of Alabama argillacea, Heliothis virescens and Spodoptera frugiperda. Based on these results it was concluded that: the occurrence of A. argillacea and H. virescens was lower in treated transgenic cultivar. There were no differences between transgenic and conventional farming on the occurrence of S. frugiperda.

Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ia10 and Vip3Aa protein interactions and their toxicity in Spodoptera spp. (Lepidoptera)

The polyphagous pests belonging to the genus Spodoptera are considered to be among the most important causes of damage and are widely distributed throughout the Americas'. Due to the extensive use of genetically modified plants containing Bacillus thuringiensis genes that code for insecticidal proteins, resistant insects may arise. To prevent the development of resistance, pyramided plants, which express multiple insecticidal proteins that act through distinct mode of actions, can be used. This study analyzed the mechanisms of action for the proteins Cry1Ia10 and Vip3Aa on neonatal Spodoptera frugiperda, Spodoptera albula, Spodoptera eridania and Spodoptera cosmioides larvae. The interactions of these toxins with receptors on the intestinal epithelial membrane were also analyzed by binding biotinylated toxins to brush border membrane vesicles (BBMVs) from the intestines of these insects. A putative receptor of approximately 65. kDa was found by ligand blotting in all of these species. In vitro competition assays using biotinylated proteins have indicated that Vip3Aa and Cry1Ia10 do not compete for the same receptor for S. frugiperda, S. albula and S. cosmioides and that Vip3Aa was more efficient than Cry1Ia10 when tested individually, by bioassays. A synergistic effect of the toxins in S. frugiperda, S. albula and S. cosmioides was observed when they were combined. However, in S. eridania, Cry1Ia10 and Vip3Aa might compete for the same receptor and through bioassays Cry1Ia10 was more efficient than Vip3Aa and showed an antagonistic effect when the proteins were combined. These results suggest that using these genes to develop pyramided plants may not prove effective in preventing the development of resistance in S. eridiana. © 2012 Elsevier Inc.

Absorção e acúmulo de manganês em soja RR sob efeito do glyphosate

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Efeito do manejo de solo nos parâmetros agronômicos e energéticos de híbridos de milho transgênico e não transgênico

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação da produtividade e demanda energética de duas cultivares de soja transgênica e uma não transgênica sob efeito dos preparos de solo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)