Effects of transgenic and conventional gypsophila on beneficial arthropod diversity

Abstract

Gypsophila paniculata (L) (Baby’s Breath) is a common commercial variety, with predominantly white or light pink flowers. Through genetic insertion of pap 1 gene, cultivars with altered colour, dark purple and red to light pink have been developed, prompting the need to determine their effect on beneficial arthropod diversity. Five transgenic Gypsophila cultivars (TG272, TG292, TG59, TG505, TG143) and conventional cultivar CGMS (control) were established. Each cultivar was a treatment with five replicates. Ten plants were randomly selected for each cultivar and lady bird beetles, predatory mites, syrphids, ants, bees, mummified aphids and spiders recorded at two weeks interval, one month after planting. Transgenic Gypsophila TG59 had 2.42±0.6 and 1.79±0.2 bees in first and second seasons, respectively, and the difference was significant (P=0.0001). CGMS had the highest mean ladybird beetles (0.32 ± 0.05) in second season and the difference was significant (P=0.0001). Transgenic cultivar TG292 recorded the highest mean ants (0.75±0.11; 0.73±0.11) and CGMS had the least mean ants (0.06±0.03; 0.07±0.02) and the difference was significant (P=0.0001). TG59 had the highest mean mummified aphids (0.18±0.07) and the difference (P=0.0021) was only significant in the second season. Transgenic Gypsophila had no negative effect on beneficial arthropods since arthropods were found on it. More bees, ants, mummified aphids and spiders were found on transgenic Gypsophila, while conventional Gypsophila had more ladybird beetles. Bees are major beneficial arthropods of Gypsophila. Research on effect of transgenic cultivars on other beneficial arthropods and even in other crops is necessary.