Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Friday - October 31, 2008

From: Mount Lebanon, PA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Poisonous Plants
Title: GMO/GE crops killing wildflowers and insects
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Hi, I've read where GMO/GE crops in other countries were killing the wildflowers and insects adjacent to those fields. Have you had any reports of this North America. Best regards.

ANSWER:

Crops have been genetically engineered to resist insects, pathogens and herbicides; but so far as I know, they haven't been successfully modified to be allelopathic (capable of releasing chemicals that inhibit the growth of other plants) even though there are numerous plants that are naturally allelopathic.  Many of the plants that have this capability are considered weeds (e.g. Centaurea diffusa, diffuse knapweed), but several crop plants have some allelopathic capabilities (e.g., Oryza sativa, rice and Triticum aestivum, wheat).   I have read a report from Great Britain that says that the numbers of broad-leaved wildflowers and insects had been reduced near genetically modified oilseed rape fields.  The study compared the diversity and numbers of broad-leaved wildflowers and insects (butterflies and bees) between genetically modified (GM) fields and conventional oilseed rape fields and determined that there were fewer broad-leaved plants such as chickweed and fewer butterflies and bees in the GM fields than in the conventional fields.  The reason the plants and insects near the GMO/GE plants are being killed is not because the GMO/GE plants have been genetically altered to be allelopathic, but because of the herbicides being used. The GM plants have been engineered to have high resistance to herbicides that would kill the conventional plant; therefore, the farmers can now use a strong, broad-spectrum herbicide that kills many of the wildflowers.  The insect decline is tied to the fact that there are fewer broad-leaved wildflowers for them to feed on.  I've done an extensive search (both on the internet and in academic bibliographic databases) for reports of wildflower and insect decline linked to GMP/GE crops in the US, but so far I haven't found any references to a decline.

 

 

 

 

More Poisonous Plants Questions

Is Cerinthe major toxic to cats in Gresham, OR
March 14, 2013 - Hi, I was wondering about whether a specific plant was poisonous or not specifically to cats.. I've done a lot of searching and can't find anything on whether or not this plant is considered toxi...
view the full question and answer

Wild plums for jelly from Conroe TX
December 18, 2012 - Do wild plum trees grow in my area? I want to get some next summer to make plum jelly.
view the full question and answer

Plant identification from Peoria IL
July 10, 2009 - I removed a plant from our workplace that employees were afraid was hallucinogenic seeds. Central Illinois. Very purple stem. Purple flowers. Black seeds. Any ideas?
view the full question and answer

Searching for poisonous plants from Kansas City
November 13, 2010 - Looking on how to acquire wourali vine, upas, or arrow poison wood.
view the full question and answer

Photinia toxicity to dogs
June 15, 2009 - is the photinia bush toxic to dogs??
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.