An environmental risk assessment of IPD079Ea: a protein derived from Ophioglossum pendulum with activity against Diabrotica spp.In maize

ABSTRACT

Farmers in North America face significant pressure from insects in their maize fields, particularly from corn rootworm (Diabrotica spp.). Research into proteins capable of insecticidal activity has found several produced by ferns. One protein, IPD079Ea, was derived from Ophioglossum pendulum and has shown activity against corn rootworm. An environmental risk assessment was conducted for maize event DP-915635-4, which provides control of corn rootworms via expression of the IPD079Ea protein. This assessment focused on IPD079Ea and characterized potential exposure and hazard to non-target organisms (NTOs). For exposure, estimated environmental concentrations (EECs) were calculated. For hazard, laboratory dietary toxicity studies were conducted with IPD079Ea and surrogate non-target organisms. Environmental risk was characterized by comparing hazard and exposure to calculate the margin of exposure (MOE). Based on the MOE values for DP-915635-4 maize, the IPD079Ea protein is not expected to result in unreasonable adverse effects on beneficial NTO populations at environmentally relevant concentrations.

KEYWORDS:

• DP-915635-4 maize
• genetically modified
• IPD079Ea protein
• non-target organism
• safety assessment
• zea mays L

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge Ian Lamb, Nick Storer, Verissimo Sa, and many others for their editorial contributions and constructive feedback.

Disclosure statement

The authors are employees of Corteva Agriscience™.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.