DETECTION OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED SOYBEAN SEED, SOYBEAN MEAL AND RICE IN KARBALA CITY OF IRAQ

Abstract

Rice and soybean are two high-demanded grains for human foods and animal feeds. The current study aimed as first time in one of Iraqi region to find genetically modified soybean seed, soybean meal and rice grain samples utilizing the Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter and nopaline synthase (NOS) terminator catalyst like Agrobacterium tumefaciens NOS (ANOS) terminator, in PCR tests. A total of 55 samples of soybeans seed, soybean meal, and rice cereal were collected from the market in Karbala, Iraq. The samples were collected from markets in Karbala city during January-March 2021, and evaluated in the Food Laboratory, College of Al Safwa University of Karbala, Iraq. DNA was isolated from dry vegetable samples. Two genes, including CaMV-35S and NOS terminator, that are routinely used in genetic engineering were employed to evaluate genetically modified crops. The present study revealed CaMV-35S and NOS genes in soybean meals. In conclusion, the obtained results indicated that all rice samples tested with the same primers were genetically unaltered. Whereas, there is genetically alternations in soybean seeds and soybean meal.