Interactions between Bt crops and mycorrhizal fungi

In the February issue of Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B - Soil & Plant Science Liu Wenke and Du Lianfeng raise the question of whether Bt transgenic crops pose a threat to soil microorganisms, especially arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. From the paper's abstract

Bt transgenic crops may affect AMF in many ways during their life with regard to the temporal-spatial relevance between the occurrence of Bt proteins and fungal symbiotic development of AMF. This may lead to an unwelcome surprise with regard to specific abundance and diversity of AMF when Bt transgenic crops are planted continuously. It is concluded that interactions between AMF and Bt transgenic crops at individual and community level are a new urgent soil ecological issue. Some evidence about Bt transgenic crop effects on AMF revealed by recent articles are summarized, and research prospects are highlighted in the paper.

Wenke, Liu and Du Lianfeng. 2008. Interactions between Bt transgenic crops and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: a new urgent issue of soil ecology in agroecosystems. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B - Soil & Plant Science 58 (2) 187 - 192 DOI:10.1080/09064710701478339