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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2021, Vol. 57 ›› Issue (12): 92-98.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.20211209

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Effects of cry1Ac Transgenic Populus nigra on Growth, Development, and Reproduction of the Earthworm Eisenia foetida

Wenjing Shen,Li Zhang,Laipan Liu,Zhixiang Fang,Biao Liu*   

  1. Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment Nanjing 210042
  • Received:2020-05-11 Online:2021-12-25 Published:2022-01-26
  • Contact: Biao Liu

Abstract:

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of the cry1Ac transgenic Populus nigra (Shijion) on the growth, reproduction and enzyme activity of the earthworm Eisenia foetida, a soil indicator organism. Method: In this study, the leaves of the cry1Ac transgenic and non-transgenic poplar were added to the soil for continuously feeding to the earthworm E. foetida for 140 days in the laboratory. The survival of earthworm, the change of earthworm weight, and the number of the cocoons and their hatching were investigated every 14 days. The total protein, and the activities of acetylcholinesterase (Ache), glutathione peroxidase (GST), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in earthworm were determined after 7 days of cocoon incubation and 140 days of adult exposure. Cry1Ac concentrations in the soil, casts and guts of earthworm were also detected by ELISA. Result: Over the 140 d experimental period, there were no significant differences in survival rate, and weight of earthworms fed with the transgenic and non-transgenic poplar leaves. Both the transgenic and non-transgenic poplars treatments began to breed at the 28th day. There was no significant difference in the number of cocoons produced by a single earthworm between the transgenic poplar and non-transgenic poplar treatments in the whole experimental period. In the 8 investigations of 42-140 days, the average number of cocoons in non-transgenic poplar treatment was significantly higher than that in the transgenic poplar treatment only at the 70th d, and there was no significant difference at the other 7 investigation periods. There was no significant difference in the hatching rate of earthworm cocoons and the average number of newborn earthworms per cocoon between transgenic poplar and control poplar treatments. There were no significant differences in the total protein content, and the activities of AchE, GST, and SOD in adult E. foetida after 140 days of exposure between transgenic and non-transgenic poplar treatments. On the 7th d, SOD activity of new worm increased under two poplar treatments, compared with the fermented cow dung treatment. ELISA determined a sharp decrease of Cry1Ac in mixed soil along with the experimental time. No Cry1Ac was detected in the earthworm tissue under long-term feeding. Conclusion: The results suggests that transgenic poplar does not have significant adverse effects on the survival, growth and reproduction of E. foetida.

Key words: Populus nigra, transgenic cry1Ac, Eisenia foetida, growth, reproduction, enzyme activity

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