Hanna Karuri
MSc student at KARI-University of Nairobi.
Aim of research
The title of my project is "Assessment of the impact of transgenic cotton expressing Bt proteins on soil nematodes." The main focus of the project concerns effects of Cry1Ac/Cry2Ab2 proteins from the transgenic cotton Bollgard II on nematodes (free living, parasitic and entomopathogenic nematodes).
Experimental work
The experiments are being carried out using confined field tirals, greenhouse and laboratory conditions. In the field experiments, changes in the abundance and trophic diversity of soil nematodes is being evaluated over time and the presence of Bt proteins in soil is being determined using ELISA-based tests and insect bioassays. Additional single species experiments will be carried out in the greenhouse to assess the impact of Bt cotton on the root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita and on the trophic interactions between fungal-feeding nematodes and their respective fungal preys.
The effect of Bt cotton on the entomopathogenic nematodes Heterorhabditis spp. and Steinernema karii will be evaluated in the laboratory at the Kenya Agricultural. Research Institute (KARI) Biotechnology Centre .
By Joy Owango, June 2010.