Abstract:As genetically modified (GM) crops are cultivated worldwide, the effects of GM crops on non-target organisms are of concern. Interspecific mixed cropping between transgenic and non-transgenic crops is generally regarded as a strategy against insects to minimize the development of resistance to otherwise insect-resistant transgenic crops. The toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is introduced into the soil primarily through root exudates and by the incorporation of plant residues after harvest, with probable help from pollen. Such incorporation of the toxin poses potential risks to soil organisms, including microbes, nematodes, collembolans, and other invertebrates. However, its effects on non-target soil organisms have rarely been assessed. We evaluated the effect on soil nematodes of mixed cropping with transgenic canola Brassica napus L. expressing Bt and wild brown mustard B. juncea. The abundance and genera composition of soil nematodes in the flowering and fruiting period of canola were investigated in five mixed proportions of transgenic canola and wild brown mustard: 0 : 100 (A), 25 : 75 (B), 50 : 50 (C), 75 : 25 (D), and 100 : 0 (E). The results showed the following order of genera composition with each treatment: B (30 genera) > C (28 genera) > A (26 genera) > D and E (25 genera). The dominant nematode genera were Acrobeloides and Aphelenchus, accounting for 37.4% and 12.3% of total abundance, respectively. The common and rare groups belonging to 13 and 19 genera accounted for 47.9% and 2.39% of the total, respectively. Hirschmanniella appeared only in treatment C. Tylenchus and Heterodera appeared only in treatments A and B. Depending on the trophic structure based on the functional group, fungivorous nematodes formed the largest proportion at 47.5%, followed by bacterivorous, herbivorous, and omnivorous-predatory nematodes at 33.7%, 14%, and 4.8% of the total, respectively. The colonizer-persister (c-p) values of nematodes had the same composition among the five treatments. Further, similar life histories were noted following the treatments. The total number of nematodes was in the range of 141.5-756.0/100 cm3. The total abundance and number of four feeding types of nematodes were not significantly different among treatments. The generic composition and community parameters of nematodes did not differ significantly among the five treatments. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H'), Simpson index (λ), and evenness index (J') of soil nematode communities showed no significant differences among treatments on May 20. However, treatment D showed a high diversity index, dominance, and evenness index on July 4, and the highest Simpson index and evenness index on August 22. Nematode maturity index (MI) was in the range of 2.15-3.63; nematode channel ratio (NCR) was 0.28-0.57 for the three sampling times in each treatment. Thus, the H', λ, J', MI, and NCR of the nematodes varied with time. These results suggest that sole cropping or mixed cropping of transgenic canola with wild brown mustard had no short-term impact on the soil nematode community.