The bean alpha-amylase inhibitor alpha Al-1 in genetically modified chickpea seeds does not harm parasitoid wasps

摘要

BACKGROUND: Legumes have been genetically engineered to express alpha-amylase inhibitor 1 (alpha Al-1) from common bean in their seeds. Whereas the genetically modified (GM) seeds are immune to multiple bruchid pest species, the cosmopolitan bruchid Acanthoscelides obtectus is tolerant to alpha Al-1 and their larvae develop normally inside the seeds. Hymenopteran bruchid parasitoids, the most important natural enemies of bruchids, might thus be exposed to alpha Al-1 when attacking A. obtectus larvae developing inside GM seeds. Exposure might reduce parasitoid fitness, resulting in a decline in the natural control of A. obtectus, and thus promote the spread of this pest. We investigated the impact of the presence of alpha Al-1 in legume seeds on parasitoid fitness in tritrophic experiments with alpha Al-1 GM or non-GM chickpea seeds, A. obtectus, and three parasitoid species. Additionally, we investigated the exposure of parasitoids to alpha Al-1 using a fourth, highly sensitive parasitoid species.