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EVALUATION OF METHODS FOR DETECTING ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS FROM GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MICROORGANISMS AND PEST CONTROL AGENTS IN TERRESTRIAL SYSTEMS
Citation:
Seidler, R. EVALUATION OF METHODS FOR DETECTING ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS FROM GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MICROORGANISMS AND PEST CONTROL AGENTS IN TERRESTRIAL SYSTEMS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-93/492 (NTIS PB94130044).
Description:
This report summarizes and evaluates research from several laboratories that deals with the detection of ecological effects induced through exposure of microbes or plants to genetically engineered microorganisms (GEMS) and microbial pest control agents (MPCAS) . The development of methodologies to measure effects from GEMs is an intellectual and a practical challenge. he challenge derives from a lack of examples of effects and a lack of ecological information to provide clues as to what effects may be produced. he challenge also results from the lack of standardized methodologies to detect effects produced by a GEM. evertheless, some 27 potential endpoints for measuring effects have been studied. erturbations induced by GEMs have been detected in about one-half of these endpoints. etectable effects have been recorded for over half of the 16 species of bacteria and fungi studied. he effects caused by GEMs and MPCAs include inhibition of beneficial mycorrhizal fungi growing on Douglas fir seedling roots, depression in plant root and shoot growth, inhibition of predatory soil protozoa, accumulation of a toxic metabolite during biodegradation that inhibits soil fungi, increased microbial community respiration due to rapid lignin breakdown in soil, and the displacement of a broad group of gram-negative bacteria that inhabit the root surface of cereal crops. hese effects were usually, but not always, of short duration. ome of the changes were irreversible during the observations time of days, weeks, or in one case, months.