Description:
The current assessment method of the GM content in maize is based on grains, whereas the majority of maize is grown in the Netherlands for forage and more and more for bio-energy. Therefore practice and policy makers may need additional tools to monitor the efficacy of coexistence measures to regulate cultivation of maize for the production of (silage) roughages and biogas.
Research objectives:
The collection of quantitative data relevant to the assessment of gm DNA in various non-grain types of maize crops (freshly chopped products, silages, corn-cob mix and digestate) due to unwanted pollination by a transgenic crop. The influence of factors such as product composition, duration of ensiling and digestion on GM content of the products under study will be determined. The ultimate aim is to develop tools to enabling monitoring of the coexistence measures
The gm crop variety is DKC3421YG with event MON-810. The non-gm conventional receptor crop variety is DKC3420. The gm content in the maize is determined with a standard quantitative DNA test (Taqman real-time PCR). Samples of kernels, cobs and other vegetative parts have been collected and dried in fall 2007. They will be ground, mixed in various amounts, and GM content will be determined. Sample heterogeneity of the non-grain fractions of the crop is probably the major problem to get good and representative whole-crop samples, both now and also if this method would be used in monitoring.
Therefore, various mixing and grinding methods will be compared, and multiple samples will be taken to assess the influence of heterogeneity. At two time points mini-silos with silages of GM and non-GM maize have been prepared to study the time course of DNA degeneration during ensiling. A similar study is envisaged to study the presence of transgenic DNA in digestate of biogas production from dried forage maize.
Results and products:
a research report with conclusions and recommendations to the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature management and Food Quality and the Coexistence Primary Sector Committee |
