Interaction of Bt toxin with organo-mineral surfaces and consequences for its fate in the environment

Nordine Helassa (1) , Sylvie Noinville (2) , Philippe Dejardin (3) , Jean-Marc Janot (3) , Herve Quiquampoix (1) , Siobhan Staunton (1)

1 Eco&Sols - Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Biogéochimie des Sols
2 LADIR - Laboratoire de Dynamique Interactions et Réactivité
3 IEM - Institut Européen des membranes

About 40% of genetically modified crops contain the insecticidal trait engineered from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. Plants produce an insectidal protein and it is important to understand how the interactions of this protein with soil influence its persistence and its biological properties. We have used various techniques to monitor the interactions of one such toxin, Cry1Aa with soils and minerals. We have investigated the persistence of the toxin as a function of soil properties and microbial activity and conclude that microbial decay is not the determinant factor in the observed decline of toxin in soil.

Domaines: Biologie végétale

Nordine Helassa, Sylvie Noinville, Philippe Dejardin, Jean-Marc Janot, Herve Quiquampoix, et al.. Interaction of Bt toxin with organo-mineral surfaces and consequences for its fate in the environment. Molecular Environmental Soil Science at the Interfaces in the Earth’s Critical Zone, Springer-Verlag, 364 p., 2010, 978-3-642-05296-5. ⟨10.1007/978-3-642-05297-2_56⟩. ⟨hal-02817777⟩