No adverse effect of genetically modified antifungal wheat on decomposition dynamics and the soil fauna community--a field study.

ABSTRACT: The cultivation of genetically modified (GM) plants has raised several environmental concerns. One of these concerns regards non-target soil fauna organisms, which play an important role in the decomposition of organic matter and hence are largely exposed to GM plant residues. Soil fauna may be directly affected by transgene products or indirectly by pleiotropic effects such as a modified plant metabolism. Thus, ecosystem services and functioning might be affected negatively. In a litterbag experiment in the field we analysed the decomposition process and the soil fauna community involved. Therefore, we used four experimental GM wheat varieties, two with a race-specific antifungal resistance against powdery mildew (Pm3b) and two with an unspecific antifungal resistance based on the express

SUBMITTER: Duc C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3197184 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature