Global climate change has intensified droughts and other extreme weather conditions, leading to serious declines in agricultural productivity. Genetically modified (GM) soybeans with drought tolerance have been developed to enhance crop resilience. Prior to commercialization, GM crops must undergo compositional equivalence assessments to confirm that no unintended compositional differences exist compared to their non-GM counterparts. In this study, we evaluated the nutritional and compositional equivalence of two drought-tolerant GM soybean lines (DIAT7 and DIAT15) compared to their non-GM parental line (Williams 82) and three reference cultivars (Kwangan, U13625, and U14511). Soybeans were cultivated under identical field conditions, and proximate components, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, and antinutritional factors were analyzed using standard methods. Although several analytes exhibited statistically significant differences (p<0.05), all compositional values for DIAT7 and DIAT15 were within the natural variation ranges of the reference cultivated with GM, OECD (2012), and the AFSI Crop Composition Database (v10.1). The GM lines showed protein (36-37%), lipid (19-21%), and total dietary fiber (24-27%) contents similar to those of the reference cultivars. Amino acid profiles were dominated by glutamic acid and aspartic acid, whereas linoleic acid (42-51%) and oleic acid (29-36%) were the major fatty acids, consistent with conventional soybeans. The levels of minerals and antinutrients, including raffinose, stachyose, and phytic acid, were also comparable to the reference ranges. These findings demonstrate that the drought-tolerant GM soybeans DIAT7 and DIAT15 are compositionally and nutritionally equivalent to non-GM soybeans, supporting their substantial equivalence and providing a scientific basis for food and environmental safety evaluation.

Genetically modified (GM) crops have been developed worldwide through the recombinant DNA technology and commercialized by various agricultural biotechnology companies. Commercialization of GM crops will be required the assessment of risk associated with the release of GM crops. The purpose of this research is a molecular characterization of introduced T-DNA in transgenic rice T4~T6 generation lines harboring a pepper MsrB2 gene under the control of stress inducible Rab21 promoter, as a part of biosafety evaluation for drought-tolerant transgenic rice (Agb0103). We identified the structure and sequence of transformation vector of T-DNA and analyzed insertion sites, flanking sequences, and generational stability of inserted T-DNA in transgenic rice lines. The transformation vector was consisted of right border, a drought-tolerant CaMsrB2 gene unit (Rab21 promoter:CaMsrB2:PinII terminator), a selectable marker herbicide resistance unit (CaMV 35S promoter:bar:Nos terminator), and left border in sequential order. Based on the adaptor-ligation PCR and whole genome sequence database, we confirmed that T-DNA was introduced 2 copies (head to head type) at the position of 2,471,957∼ 2,472,049 bp of chromosome No. 8. From the generational stability study, T-DNAs were stably inherited through the T4 to T6 generations, and also stable expression of bar gene from T-DNA was confirmed. It was also confirmed that the backbone DNA of transformation vector containing antibacterial gene was not present in Agb0103 rice genome. These results will be filed to biosafety assessment document of Agb0103.

This study was carried out to develop of macro-protocol and the biosafety guide for drought-tolerant transgenic rice (Agb0103) at large scale GMO field, a total of 4,700 m². In GMO quarantine area of Kyungpook National University, insect species diversities and population densities on Agb0103 and wild type (Ilmi) were investigated. There was no difference between the population densities of insect pests and natural enemies on two varieties, while sometimes insect pest density on Ilmi was slightly higher than on Agb0103, but natural enemy density on Agb0103 was a little higher. These results provided the insect diversity for risk assessment analysis of Agb0103 and suggested that the macro-protocol could be useful to detect GM plants.