The environmental risks of cucumber mosaic virus resistant transgenic chili peppers with the CMVP0-CP gene on non-target organisms in the agroecosystem environments was evaluated during the periods of the chili pepper growing season (June 19, July 30, August 31) in 2007. Arthropods assemblages leaves and flowers of chili peppers were quantitatively collected by using an insect vacuum collector to compare the arthropod community structures between non-transgenic chili peppers (nTR, P 915) and mosaic virus resistant transgenic chili peppers (TR, CMV-cp, line 7). There was no statistical difference in the arthropod community structure between the two types of crops, nTR and TR, at the same season, although the species richness and Shannon’s index were somewhat different among seasons, indicating no effects of genetically modified peppers on the arthropod community. However, further studies were required to conclude more concretely for the potential environmental risk of the transgenic chili pepper of CMV-cp.

농업생태계에 심겨진 탄저병 저항성 유전자인 PepEST 유전자가 내재된 유전자변형 고추의 환경위해성을 평가하기 위하여 2006년 고추의 생육기간 동안 절지동물의 군집구조를 3회(6월 20일, 7월 25일, 8월 28일)에 걸쳐 조사하였다. 두 가지의 고추 즉 모본(nTR, WT512)와 유전자 변형 고추(TR, line 68)의 꽃과 잎에 서식하는 곤충을 포함한 절지동물의 군집구조를 파악하기 위하여 곤충을 포획할 수 있는 진공 흡입기를 이용하여 절지동물

To assess the environmental risks of transgenic chili pepper with PepEST gene on non-target organisms before it exposes to the agro-ecosystem environments, we conducted the three sets of green peach aphids (Myzus persicae S.) life table experiment under laboratory conditions (Temp. 25℃, R.H. 50-70%, Photoperiod L16 : D8) in series during 2005-2006. We measured the net reproductive rate (R₀)*, the intrinsic rate of increase (r<SUB>m</SUB>), the mean generation time (T<SUB>c</SUB>), fecundity*, life span, and reproduction period between non-transgenic chili peppers and transgenic chili peppers, respectively. The life span of green peach aphids from three sets was 31, 27, 25 days, and the period of life span was similar to the general average length of green peach aphids, 25-29 days. Although the first reproduction of transgenic pepper was similar to the non transgenic pepper (P＞0.05), the fecundity and the net reproductive rate (R<SUB>o</SUB>) by using Jackknife method of transgenic pepper were lower than those of non transgenic pepper (P＜0.05). Conclusively, we observed the adverse effect from our results but we should execute further experiments to confirm the results at the fields with the similar way.

Genetically modified (GM) pepper H15 containing the gene for cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) coat protein (CP) and its control line non-GM pepper P2377 were investigated for their allergic risk. Amino acid sequence of the inserted gene product CMV-CP was compared with those of known allergens. No known allergen had greater than 35% amino acid sequence homology over an 80 amino acid window or more than 8 consecutive identical amino acids. Protein patterns of GM and non-GM pepper extracts were evaluated by SDS-PAGE, which showed similar distribution of protein bands for both GM and non-GM pepper. Antigen-antibody reactions were compared between GM and its non-transgenic parental control. ELISA and immunoblot analysis of sera from allergic patients showed some IgE reactivity; however, no differences were observed between GM pepper H15 and P2377. We therefore conclude that CMV-CP is less likely to be an allergen; the protein composition and allergenicity of the GM pepper H15 is not different from that of P2377 and safe as a commercial host.