Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Microbial populations, fungal species diversity and plant pathogen levels in field plots of potato plants expressing theBacillus thuringiensis var.tenebrionis endotoxin

  • Published:
Transgenic Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The environmental release of genetically engineered (transgenic) plants may be accompanied by ecological effects including changes in the plant-associated microflora. A field release of transgnic potato plants that produce the insecticidal endotoxin ofBacillus thuringiensis var.tenebrionis (Btt) was monitored for changes in total bacterial and fungal populations, fungal species diversity and abundance, and plant pathogen levels. The microflora on three phenological stages of leaves (green, yellow and brown) were compared over the growing season (sample days 0, 21, 42, 63 and 98) for transgenic potato plants, commercial Russet Burbank potato plants treated with systemic insecticide (Di-Syston) and commercial Russet Burbank potato plants treated with microbialBtt (M-Trak). In addition, plant and soil assays were performed to assess disease incidence ofFusarium spp.,Pythium spp.,Verticillium dahliae, potato leaf roll virus (PLRV) and potato virus Y (PVY). Few significant differences in phylloplane microflora among the plant types were observed and none of the differences were persisent. Total bacterial populations on brown leaves on sample day 21 and on green leaves on sample day 42 were significantly higher on the transgenic potato plants. Total fungal populations on gree leaves on sample day 63 were significantly different among the three plant types; lowest levels were on the commerical potato plants treated with systemic insecticide and highest levels were on the commercial potato plants treated with microbialBtt. Differences in fungal species assemblages and diversity were correlated with sampling dates, but relatively consistent among treatments.Alternaria alternata, a common saprophyte on leaves and in soil and leaf litter, was the most commonly isolated fungus species for all the plant treatments. Rhizosphere populations of the soilborne pathogensPythium spp.,Fusarium spp. andV. dahliae did not differ between the transgenic potato plants and the commercial potato plants treated with systemic insecticide. The incidence of tuber infection at the end of the growing season by the plant pathogenV. dahliae was highest for the transgenic potato plants but this difference was related to longer viability of the transgenic potato plants. This difference in longevity between the transgenic potato plants and the commercial + systemic insecticide potato plants also made comparison of the incidence of PVY and PLRV problematic. Our results indicate that under field conditions the microflora of transgenicBtt-producing potato plants differed minimally from that of chemically and microbially treated commerical potato plants.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Blakeman, J.P. (ed.) (1981)Microbial Ecology of the Phylloplane. New York: Academic Press, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, M.F. and Adams, A.N. (1977) Characteristics of the microplate method of enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay for the detection of plant viruses.J. Gen. Virol. 34, 475–84.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crawley, H.J., Hails, R.S., Rees, M., Kohn, D. and Baxton, J. (1993) Ecology of transgenic oilseed rape in natural habitats.Nature 363, 620–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delannay, X., LaVallee, B.J., Proksch, R.K., Fuchs, R.L., Sims, S.R., Greenplate, J.T., Marrone, P.G., Dodson, R.B., Augustine, J.J., Layton, J.G. and Fischhoff, D.A. (1989) Field performance of transgenic tomato plants expressing theBacillus thuringiensis var.kurstaki insect control protein.Bio/Technology 7, 1265–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickinson, C.H. and Preece, T.F. (Eds) (1976)Microbiology of Aerial Plant Surfaces. New York: Academic Press, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donegan, K., Palm, C., Fieland, V., Porteous, L., Ganio, L., Schaller, D., Bacao, L. and Seidler, R. (1995) Changes in levels, species and DNA fingerprints of soil microorganisms associated with cotton expressing theBacillus thuringiensis var.kurstaki endotoxin.Appl. Soil Ecol. 2, 111–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flexner, J.L., Lighthart, B. and Croft, B.A. (1986) The effects of microbial pesticides on non-target, beneficial arthropods.Agric. Ecosystems and Environ. 16, 203–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fokkema, N.J. and Van Den Heuvel, J. (eds.) (1986)Microbiology of the Phyllosphere. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox, J. (1991)Bt resistance prompts early planning.Bio/Technology 9, 1319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gasser, C.S. and Fraley, R.T. (1992) Transgenic crops.Sci. Amer. 266, 62–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerlach, W. and Nirenberg, H.I. (1982)The genus Fusarium—a pictorial atlas.Mitt. Biol. Bundanst. Land-Forstwirtsh. 209, 1–406.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen, E.M., Myrol, D.D. and Hamm, P.B. (1990) Effects of soil fumigation and cover crops on potential pathogens, microbial activity, nitrogen availability, and seedling quality in conifer nurseries.Phytopathology 80, 698–704.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofte, H. and Whiteley, H.R. (1989) Insecticidal crystal proteins ofBacillus thuringiensis.Microbiol. Rev. 53, 242–55.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, K.B., Apple, J.D. and Powelson, M.L. (1988) Spatial patterns ofVerticillium dahliae propagules in potato field soils of Oregon's Columbia Basin.Plant Disease 72, 484–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, M.T. and Gould, F. (1992) Interaction of genetically engineered host plant resistance and natural enemies ofHeliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in tobacco.Environ. Entomol. 21, 586–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kareiva, P., Morris, W. and Jacobi, C.M. (1994) Studying and managing the risk of cross-fertilization between transgenic crops and wild relatives.Mol. Ecol. 3, 15–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, A.D., Jr., Hocking, A.D. and Pitt, J.I. (1979) Dichloran-rose bengal medium for enumeration and isolation of molds from foods.Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 37, 959–64.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klinger, T. and Ellstrand, N.C. (1994) Engineered genes in wild populations: fitness of weed-crop hybrids ofRaphanus sativus.Ecolog. Applic. 4, 17–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koziel, M.G., Beland, G.L., Bowman, C., Carozzi, N.B., Crenshaw, R., Crossland, L., Dawson, J., Desai, N., Hill, M., Kadwell, S., Launis, K., Lewis, K., Maddox, D., McPherson, K., Meghji, M.R., Merlin, E., Rhodes, R., Warren, G.W., Wright, M. and Evola, S.V. (1993) Field performance of elite transgenic maize plants expressing an insecticidal protein derived fromBacillus thuringiensis.Bio/Technology 11, 194–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magurran, A.E. (1988) Ecological Diversity and Its Measurement. New Jersey: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCune (1993) Multivariate analysis on the PC-ORD system. April 1994 version. Biology Program. Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manasse, R.S. (1992) Ecological risks of transgenic plants: Effects of spatial dispersion on gene flow.Ecolog. Applic. 2, 431–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meeusen, R.K. and Warren, G. (1989) Insect control with genetically engineered crops.Annu. Rev. Entomol. 34, 373–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, J.C. (1990) Field assessment of the effects of microbial pest control agents on nontarget Lepidoptera.Amer. Entomol. 36, 135–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Molloy, D. and Jamnback, H. (1981) Field evaluation ofBacillus thuringiensis var.israelensis as a black fly biocontrol agent and its effect on nontarget stream insects.J. Econ. Entomol. 11, 788–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, P.E., Tousson, T.A. and Marassas, W.F.O. (1983). Fusarium species an Illustrated Manual for Identification. University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nirenberg, H. (1976) Untersuchungen uber die die morphologische und biologishe Differenzierung in derFusarium-sektion Liseola.Mitt. Biol. Bundesanst. Land-Forstwirtsch. 169, 1–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perlak, F.J., Stone, T.B., Muskopf, Y.M., Perterson, L.J., Parker, G.B., McPherson, S.A., Wyman, J., Love, S., Reed, R., Biever, D. and Fischoff, D. (1993) Genetically improved potatoes: protection from damage by Colorado potato beetles.Plant Mol. Biol. 22, 313–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pitt, J.I. (1979) A Laboratory Guide to Common Penicillium Species. Second Edition. North Ryde: CSIRO Division of Food Process.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pitt, J.I. (1988) The Genus Penicillium and its Teleomorphic States Eupenicillium and Talaromyces. New York: Academic Press, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramirez, C. (1982)Manual and Atlas of the Penicillia. Amsterdam: Elsevier Biomedical.

    Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute, Inc. (1989) SAS/STATR Users Guide, Version 6, Fourth Edition, Volume 1, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Umbeck, P.F., Barton, K.A., Nordheim, E.V., McCarty, J.C., Parrot, W.L. and Jenkins, J.N. (1991) Degree of pollen dispersal by insects from a field test of genetically engineered cotton.J. Econ. Entom. 84, 1943–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • USDA-CRS and USDA-ARS. (1992) Scientific Evaluation of the Potential for Pest Resistance to theBacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Delta-Endotoxins. A Conference to Explore Resistance Management Strategies, Beltsville, MD, January 21–23.

  • Vaeck, M., Reynaerts A., Hafte, H., Jansens, S., DeBeuckeleer, M., Dean, C., Zabeau, M., Montagu, M. van and Leemans, J. (1987) Transgenic plants protected from insect attack.Nature 328, 33–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Warren, G.W., Carozzi, N.B., Desai, N. and Koziel, M.G. (1992) Field evaluation of transgenic tobacco containing aBacillus thuringiensis insecticidal protein gene.J. Econ. Entom. 85, 1651–9.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ManTech Environmental Technology, Inc., 200 SW 35th Street, 97331, Corvallis, OR, USA

    Katherine K. Donegan, Deborah L. Schaller & Lisa M. Ganio

  2. Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, 97330, Corvallis, OR, USA

    Jeffrey K. Stone

  3. Oregon State University Research and Extension Center, PO Box 105, 97838, Hermiston, OR, USA

    Gary Reed & Philip B. Hamm

  4. Environmental Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, 200 SW 35th Street, 97331, Corvallis, OR, USA

    Ramon J. Seidler

Authors
  1. Katherine K. Donegan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Deborah L. Schaller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jeffrey K. Stone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lisa M. Ganio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Gary Reed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Philip B. Hamm
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Ramon J. Seidler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Donegan, K.K., Schaller, D.L., Stone, J.K. et al. Microbial populations, fungal species diversity and plant pathogen levels in field plots of potato plants expressing theBacillus thuringiensis var.tenebrionis endotoxin. Transgenic Research 5, 25–35 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01979919

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01979919

Keywords

Search

Navigation