%0 Journal Article
%T Putative effects of Cry1Ab to larvae of Adalia bipunctata - reply to Hilbeck et al. (2012)
%A J£¿rg Romeis
%A Fernando ¨¢lvarez-Alfageme
%A Franz Bigler
%J Environmental Sciences Europe
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/2190-4715-24-18
%X In 2009, Schmidt et al. [1] reported that larvae of A. bipunctata suffered increased mortality during the first larval stage when ingesting the Cry1Ab protein that is expressed in some of today¡¯s Bt maize varieties including MON810. This study has been criticized for its design, execution, and data interpretation by several scientists [2,3] and by the Central Commission on Biological Safety that advises the Federal Government of Germany [4,5]. Two subsequent studies in which A. bipunctata larvae were directly fed with Cry1Ab conducted by our group [6] and by Porcar et al. [7] could not confirm this toxic effect. Furthermore we did not detect adverse effects of Bt maize expressing Cry1Ab on larvae of A. bipunctata in a higher tier, tri-trophic study using Bt maize-fed spider mites as prey [6].In their paper ¡°A controversy re-visited: Is the coccinellid Adalia bipunctata adversely affected by Bt toxins?¡±, Hilbeck et al. [8] confirm the findings from their earlier study [1] but do not convincingly address the critical issues regarding study design and execution. While Hilbeck et al. [8] criticize the design and execution of our direct feeding experiment [6], they do not acknowledge our tri-trophic feeding study and the study by Porcar et al. [7].In this letter we respond to the main points of criticism by Hilbeck et al. [8] on our direct feeding study and discuss the available data in a wider risk assessment context. The fact that we do not address certain statements and claims made by Hilbeck et al. [8] does not imply that we agree with them.In total, three studies prior to Hilbeck et al. [8] have assessed the effect of Cry1Ab on A. bipunctata larvae using different test protocols.In the study by Schmidt et al. [1], Cry1Ab was dissolved in a buffer solution and deposited on eggs of Ephestia kuehniella, which were continuously provided to A. bipunctata larvae. The Cry1Ab was applied at three different concentrations (5, 25, and 50£¿¦Ìg/ml). First instar larvae in the Bt
%K Bt maize
%K environmental risk assessment
%K ladybird beetles
%K MON810
%K non-target organisms
%U http://www.enveurope.com/content/24/1/18