The selectable marker-free rice plants containing mcry1Ac insecticidal gene isolated from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) were generated using a non-selection approach by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. The nutritional composition of two lines of transgenic rice plants (RTB5 and RTB11) was compared with that of its non-transgenic counterpart. The results showed that, except for small differences in dietary fiber and some minerals, there was no significant difference between transgenic rice and conventional counterpart variety with respect to their nutrient composition. Most of measured levels of nutrients were within the range of values reported for other commercial cultivars, showing substantial equivalency. Therefore, the insertion of transgenes did not affect the nutritional composition of transgenic RTB5 and RTB11 rice grains.

Content of key nutrients and anti-nutrients of the insect-resistant transgenic rice (Btt12R) developed in Korea that contains a cryIIIA insecticidal gene was compared with those of its non-transgenic counterpart (Oryza sative L. cv. Nakdongbyeo). Grains of Btt12R, its parent cultivar, and two commercial rice plants (cv. Yeonganbyeo and Hwaseongbyeo) grown in the adjoining fields under the same environmental conditions and field management were used for this study. Among the analyzed 47 nutrients (8 proximates, 17 amino acids, 8 fatty acids, 9 minerals, and 5 vitamins) and two anti-nutrients (trypsin inhibitors and phytic acid), although the levels of 17 components differed between Nakdongbyeo and Btt12R, all of the measured values from Btt12R were within the ranges of values observed in the two typical Korean varieties and commercial rice provided by the OECD. These results confirm that the nutritional quality of rice grains was not affected by the insertion of the cryIIIA gene.