Evaluation of the Ecological Safety of Polygenic Cotransformed Populus × euramericana

BACKGROUND: Poplar (Populus SPP.) is an important model species in forest research. With the development of transgenic technology, the genetic transformation of poplar with multi-gene resistance to insect pests and saline-alkali stress has been successfully realized. Here, test-forests were established in Baoding City, Cangzhou City, and Tangshan City of Hebei Province to compare the arthropod community of wildtype and transgenic polygene 107 poplar (GM 107) in the field, and thus determine whether the performance of transgenic poplar with field pest resistance and saline-alkali tolerance is ecologically safe. RESULTS: The results confirmed the presence of exogenous genes of field-transgenic poplar GM 107 and the stable expression of the corresponding toxic proteins. The arthropod communities of GM 107 varied among different regions in the same year and among different years in the same region. Additionally, GM 107 showed high insect resistance and selectivity. Toxic effects on Lepidoptera were as follows: Micromelalopha troglodyta > Hyphantria cunea > Clostera anachoreta > Lymantria dispar. The toxic effects on Coleoptera were as follows: Plagiodera versicolora > Cerambycidae. Additionally, there was no obvious inhibitory or proliferative effect on natural enemies or neutral insect populations. Arthropods of field-transgenic poplar varied greatly among regions and vintages. Further, upon a severe lepidopteran pest outbreak, the arthropod community of transgenic ecosystems were more stable, and the structures were similar compared to CK. CONCLUSION: GM 107 effectively showed an increased ability of the arthropod community. Our study provides strong theoretical support for the safe and sustainable application of GM 107.