Genetically modified crops: environmental and human health concerns

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Microbiology
• Genetics

Background:

• Plant domestication and genetic improvement have a long history, evolving from selective breeding to modern recombinant DNA techniques.
• The advent of transgenic plants has raised concerns about environmental and human risks, with less focus on their impact on associated microorganisms.
• Microorganisms like nitrogen-fixing bacteria, mycorrhizal fungi, and endophytic microbiota are crucial for plant survival and symbiotic associations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the potential impact of transgenic plants on their associated microorganisms.
• To investigate the horizontal gene transfer between transgenic plants and microorganisms.
• To assess disturbances in symbiotic plant-microorganism associations.

Main Methods:

• Investigating horizontal gene transfer between transgenic plants and microorganisms.
• Analyzing symbiotic associations with endophytic, epiphytic, and rhizosphere communities.
• Conducting laboratory tests using fungal strains and extracts from transgenic plants.

Main Results:

• Most studies indicate no adverse effects of transgenic plants on indigenous microorganisms.
• Our laboratory observed minor alterations in the endophytic bacterial population of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) due to genetically modified endophytic bacteria.
• Preliminary results suggest transgenic plant extracts do not affect fungal haploidization, mitotic crossing-over, mutation rates, or chromosomal alterations.

Conclusions:

• Transgenic plants typically show no negative impact on associated microbial communities.
• Further research is warranted to fully understand the subtle interactions and potential effects on plant-associated microbiota.
• Current evidence suggests minimal risk to key symbiotic microbial functions from transgenic plant cultivation.