Genetically modified rice Bt-Shanyou63 expressing Cry1Ab/c protein does not harm Daphnia magna

• We compared life cycle fitness differences in Daphnia magna fed transgenic Bt-shanyou63 rice and conventional shanyou63 rice.
• Survival and fecundity data did not significantly differ between D. magna fed Bt rice or non-Bt rice.
• Bt rice and its UM counterpart have the same quality as food sources for D.magna in a lifetime feeding study.

The genetically modified (GM) rice Bt-ShanYou63 (Bt-SY63) received an official biosafety certificate while its safety remained in dispute. In a lifelong study, Daphnia magna were experimentally fed a basal diet of rice flours from Bt-SY63 or its parental rice ShanYou63 (SY63) at concentrations of 0.2 mg, 0.3 mg, or 0.4 mg C (per individual per day). Overall the survival, body size, and reproduction of the animals were comparable between Bt-SY63 and ShanYou63.. The results showed that no significant differences were observed in growth and reproduction parameters between D. magna fed GM and non-GM flour and no dose-related changes occurred in all the values. Based on the different parameters assessed, the GM rice Bt-SY63 is a safe food source for D. magna that does not differ in quality from non-GM rice.