Biotech Updates

Spiders Not Affected by GM Maize MON 88017

May 4, 2012

Biotech maize MON 88017 has stacked traits for glyphosate tolerance and western corn rootworm (WCR) resistance. A team of scientists headed by O. Habuštová from České Budějovice, Czech Republic, evaluated the possible environmental impacts of MON88017 by comparing communities of spiders in plots planted with biotech maize for 3 years, non-GM counterpart with or without insecticide application, and two unrelated maize cultivars.

Results of the statistical analysis showed that biotech maize had no effect on the abundance and biodiversity of spiders. The composition and the size of the spider communities varied in every year of the study implying the effect of weather and field fertilization with organic matter.

Read the more about the results at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1439-0418.2012.01727.x/abstract;jsessionid=5B5DB787E4E6A01249F2DEA6DB836F59.d01t04?userIsAuthenticated=false&deniedAccessCustomisedMessage.