An approach for impact assessment of transgenic plants on soil ecosystem

Abstract

Transgenic crops are new products of agriculture biotechnology. The environmental risks and benefits of transgenic crops are topic of hot debate. Current agriculture management practices and ecosystems have their own impacts on the environment and further any additional negative effect of transgenic crops may mitigate their positive impacts as well as increase the background value of negative impacts due to new agriculture practices. Most of the risk assessment studies on transgenic plants have done observations on changes in their respective aboveground environment and its biota. Very few reports are available on the impacts of transgenic plants or their products (that they release in soil) on soil biota (both invertebrates and. microorganisms) and soil processes mediated by them. However, observations of these studies were not delivering anything conclusively and creating state of confusion also regarding impact of transgenic plants on soil ecosystem. As some of the studies suggested that If production and release of the transgene products from transgenic plants through different routes in soil exceed to its consumption/ biodegradation, may lead to their accumulation beyond threshold levels, which may have acute as well as chronic effect on soil ecosystem. Impacts of transgenic plants are also dependent upon spatial and temporal environmental variables. Whereas some of the studies observation suggests that transgenic plants don't have any negative impact on soil ecosystem. Keeping this status in background we prepared this manuscript. Our manuscript is divided in two parts, first part comprises review of the available literature on impacts of commercialized transgenic plants on soil ecosystem and its diversity, and in second part keeping above information as background, a framework is proposed for future comparative impact assessment of transgenic plants and its non transgenic isoline on soil ecosystem. In this approach each transgenic crop along with its non-transgenic isoline should be dealt separately according to its construct. The proposed approach is precautionary at each step, if there is any doubt at any stage they should be clarified by repetition of experiments. This approach will be helpful in filling of information gaps, which still exists in impact assessment studies of transgenic plants on soil ecosystem. This approach suggested monitoring should be carried out prior as well as post release of transgenic plants. Impact assessment of transgenic plants with respect to soil ecosystem should be made mandatory in current regulatory framework of transgenic crops throughout the world, to assure the use of transgenic technology without affecting the diversity and functioning of soil ecosystem. © 2008, Penkala Bt.