Molecular Identification of Four Genetically Modified Maize (Bt11, Bt176, Mon810 and T25) by Duplex Quantitative Real-Time PCR

In response to the increasing number of genetically modified (GM) events released on the market, control laboratories explore various strategies to simplify and reduce the number of tests needed to characterise the content in genetically modified organism (GMO) of a given sample. Lastly, multiplexing is considered as one of the possible ways to decrease the time and cost of analysis. Here, we report the development of four duplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for the identification and the quantification of four maize transformation events from which commercial lines have been authorised in Europe namely, Bt11 and Bt176 (Syngenta, DE, USA), Mon810 MaisGard (TM) (Monsanto, MO, USA) and T25 Liberty Link (TM) (Bayer CropScience, Monheim, Germany). The duplex PCR tests combine a maize-specific PCR test hybridising in the Adh1 locus with an event-specific detection system designed on a junction fragment for each of these four GM maize. Real-time PCR tests, suitable to comply with the European regulation, were designed by using TaqmanA (R) chemistry.