Development of a screening method for the monitoring of 38 genetically modified maize events in food and feed in South Korea

Development of ultrafast PCR assays for the event-specific detection of eleven approved genetically modified canola events in South Korea

In Korea, genetically modified (GM) canola events derived from eleven single events have been authorized for food and feed, but not for cultivation. Therefore, the development of a rapid and accurate on-site detection method is crucial for the management of these approved GM canola events. In this study, ultrafast polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for the event-specific detection of eleven GM canola events were developed. The limit of detection (LOD) on DNA-based and powder-based GM canola samples of each primer set using the ultrafast PCR ranged from 0.1% to 0.01%, while the quantitative analysis of these ultrafast PCR assays, indicated that the correlation coefficient (R²) ranged from 0.98 to 0.9903. These results indicate that the developed assays may have sufficient specificity and LOD capacity to detect the eleven specific GM canola events for the attendant management and monitoring, thus preventing GM canola from contaminating the natural environment.

Detection of GM Canola MS11, DP-073496-4, and MON88302 events using multiplex PCR coupled with capillary electrophoresis

As of 2020, 11 GM canola events have been authorized as food for humans in Korea. However, there are no simultaneous multiplex detection methods for 3 GM canola events (DP-073496-4, MON88302, and MS11). Thus, we established the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method coupled with capillary electrophoresis to detect 3 GM canola events. To verify the specificity of event-specific primers, various GM crops of 3 GM soybean events, 6 GM maize events, 2 GM cotton events and 11 GM canola events were prepared. The limit of detection of the developed multiplex PCR was approximately 0.0125% for 3 GM canola events. Certified GM canola and stacked events were analyzed to validate the developed multiplex PCR. This study focuses on establishing multiplex PCR coupled with capillary electrophoresis for newly approved GM canola events and contributes to efficient monitoring GM canola samples in Korea.

Development of a Systematic qPCR Array for Screening GM Soybeans

A screening method using the 35S promoter and nos terminator for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is not sufficient to cover all GM soybean events. In this study, a real-time polymerase chain reaction (also known as quantitative polymerase chain reaction, qPCR) array targeting eight screening assays combined with a prediction system was developed for the rapid tracking of GM soybeans. Each assay’s specificity was tested and confirmed using 17 GM soybean events that have been approved in Korea. The sensitivity of each assay was determined to range from 0.01% to 0.05% using DNA mixtures with different GM ratios, and it was validated by the results of three experimenters. The applicability of this study was tested by monitoring 23 processed foods containing soybeans. It was figured out that 13 of the 23 samples included GM soybeans. The prediction system combined with screening results will be helpful to trace the absence/presence of GM soybean events. This new qPCR array and prediction system for GM soybean detection provides rapid, convenient and reliable results to users.

A simple and accurate PCR method for detection of genetically modified rice

BACKGROUND

Legislation regulating for labeling and use of genetically modified (GM) crops are increased considerably worldwide in order to health and safety assurance of consumers. For this purpose, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method has been developed for detection of GM rice in people's food diet.

METHODS

In this study, eighty-one non-labeled rice samples were collected randomly from different market sites of Tehran, Iran. In order to analysis, rice genomic DNA was extracted using MBST DNA extraction kit and subsequently, sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) gene was used to confirm the quality of extracted DNA. Then, cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter and Agrobacterium nopaline synthase (NOS) terminator were selected as screening targets for detection of GM rice sequences by PCR.

RESULTS

According to our results, 2 out of 81 (2.4%) samples tested were positive for CaMV 35S promoter while no positive result was detected for NOS terminator.

CONCLUSION

The obtained data indicated that this method is capable to identify the GM rice varieties. Furthermore, it can demonstrate the possibility of the presence of GM rice in Tehran's market, thus putting emphasis on the requirement for developing a precise approach to evaluate this product.