An assessment of the risk of Bt-cowpea to non-target organisms in West Africa

Ba, M N and Huesing, J E and Tamò, M and Higgins, T J V and Pittendrigh, B R and Murdock, L L (2018) An assessment of the risk of Bt-cowpea to non-target organisms in West Africa. Journal of Pest Science (TSI). pp. 1-15. ISSN 1612-4758

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Abstract

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Walp.) is the most economically important legume crop in arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Cowpea is grown primarily by subsistence farmers who consume the leaves, pods and grain on farm or sell grain in local markets. Processed cowpea foods such as akara (a deep-fat fried fritter) are popular in the rapidly expanding urban areas. Demand far exceeds production due, in part, to a variety of insect pests including, in particular, the lepidopteran legume pod borer (LPB) Maruca vitrata. Genetically engineered Bt-cowpea, based on cry1Ab (Event 709) and cry2Ab transgenes, is being developed for use in sub-Saharan Africa to address losses from the LBP. Before environmental release of transgenic cowpeas, the Bt Cry proteins they express need to be assessed for potential effects on non-target organisms, particularly arthropods. Presented here is an assessment of the potential effects of those Cry proteins expressed in cowpea for control of LPB. Based on the history of safe use of Bt proteins, as well as the fauna associated with cultivated and wild cowpea in sub-Saharan Africa results indicate negligible effects on non-target organisms.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Research Program : West & Central Africa
CRP:	UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Cowpea, Maruca vitrata, Bt-cowpea, Non target organisms, West Africa, Environmental risk, Assessment, Arthropod fauna, Legume crops
Subjects:	Others > Cowpea Others > Food Legumes Others > Legume Crops Others > West Africa
Depositing User:	Mr Ramesh K
Date Deposited:	16 Apr 2018 08:37
Last Modified:	16 Apr 2018 08:38
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/10575
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10340-018-0974-0
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement:	This work was supported by the US Department of Agriculture Foreign Agriculture Service (USDA/FAS) Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program (Borlaug Fellowship Program) under Sponsor Award/Grant Number: 58-3148-2-188/106117 to Purdue University. The award was to LLM through Purdue University and administered through International Programs in Agriculture. The authors are also grateful to the African Agriculture Technology Foundation (AATF) for supporting the Bt-cowpea project, which generated the data on Cry1Ab protein expression in cowpea.
Links:	Google Scholar

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