Impact of novel herbicide - resistant transgenic oilseed rape on honey bee colonies in semi-field conditions

摘要

Risk-assessment of genetically modified crops requires tests on honeybees regarding pollination efficiency, honey crop and toxicity to assess direct or pleiotropic effect of the transformation. An experiment was designed with a genetically modified oilseed rape resistant to glufosinate under tunnels to provide semi-field conditions. Two types of tunnels were used : monocrop tunnels with only control or GM oilseed rape and choice tunnels with plots of both cultivars. Hives were introduced in the tunnels and foraging activity, foraging preferences and colonies'health were assessed. Nectar quality differences between the two oilseed rape cultivars was also compared. No major differences were found between the two cultivars.