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September 27, 2007
Bt maize (which contains a toxin
gene from Bacillus thuringiensis) is genetically engineered to
limit damage from certain insect pests. Fungal infestation,
which leads to mycotoxin contamination, is known to follow pest
damage. So can the Bt toxin also help by reducing mycotoxins in
maize?
Felicia Wu from the
University of Pittsburgh examines the sometimes conflicting
evidence in a paper in
CAB Reviews. Aflatoxin is the most serious mycotoxin in
terms of financial impact, and it appears that levels of this
toxin are not consistently reduced in Bt maize in comparison to
non-Bt maize, although future Bt maize varieties may have a more
positive effect. However, fumonisin, another important
mycotoxin, is reduced in almost all studies. Fumonisin is
associated with oesophageal cancer and neural tube defects.
Reducing fumonisin through Bt could have significant benefits in
developing countries, especially where unprocessed maize is a
key part of the diet, and so mycotoxins are present at levels
which can health problems. It also could help them avoid losses
in the export market through rejection of contaminated maize.
The paper, “Bt
corn and impact on mycotoxins” appears in CAB Reviews:
Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and
Natural Resources, 2007, 2, No. 060, 8 pp. |
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