Author(s)

Patrick Guertler, Ottmar Goerlich, Ulrich Busch

Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany.

For the official surveillance of genetically modified crops, efficient and simple detection methods need to be on hand to implement the strict requirements regarding approval, labelling and traceability determined by the European Union. Therefore, a multiplex ligation dependent probe amplification (MLPA) module was developed for simultaneous detection of five genetically modified rapeseed events (MS8, RF3, GT73, Falcon GS40/90 and T45). Probes were designed and concentrations were adapted in order to obtain high sensitivity and specificity. This MLPA module was validated using certified reference materials and its applicability was tested analyzing routine honey, mustard and rapeseed samples. The limit of detection was determined by analyzing a dilution series (n = 16 for each concentration) of respective transgenic DNA. After optimization, the MLPA revealed limits of detection between 10 to 50 copies of the transgene DNA/assay. The method proved to be sensitive and highly reproducible. When analyzing routine samples, results obtained applying the MLPA module were similar compared to real-time PCR.

MLPA, Genetically Modified Organism, Rapeseed, Capillary Electrophoresis, Detection

Guertler, P. , Goerlich, O. and Busch, U. (2014) Development of a Multiplex Ligation Dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) Module for Simultaneous Detection of Five Genetically Modified Rapeseed Events. Agricultural Sciences, 5, 530-539. doi: 10.4236/as.2014.56055.