Tocomi-1’, a rice variety with high tocopherol content and a reddish brown color was developed from ‘Dongan’ by a mutation breeding technique using a 120 Gy gamma ray source at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). The heading date of this variety was August 12, which was 2 days later than the original variety ‘Dongan’. The culm and panicle lengths of ‘Tocomi-1’ were 80 cm and 20.3 cm, respectively. The number of tillers per hill was 19.1 and the number of spikelets per panicle was 106.3. The ratio of ripened grain was approximately 87.0% and the weight of 1000 grains was 25.4 g. The pericarp of brown rice was reddish brown in color. The total tocopherol content was 1.65 mg/100g, which was higher than that of the original variety (1.09 mg/100g). In addition, the brown rice of ‘Tocomi-1’ contained 8% more total amino acids. The average yield potential of ‘Tocomi-1’ in grain and brown rice was approximately 6.18 kg/10a and 5.15 kg/10a for 3 years, respectively (Registration No. of Plant Protection Wright: 6813).
This study was carried out to develop of environmental risk assessments and the biosafety guide for Vitamin E enhanced transgenic soybean at LMO (Living Modified Organism) isolation field. In LMO quarantine area of National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, insect species diversities and population densities on vitamin E enhanced transgenic soybean and non-GM soybeans (Willams 82 and Seoritae) were investigated. A total of 17,717 individuals of 77 species from 8 orders were collected in LMO isolation field. In three type soybeans field, total of 5,250 individuals in Vitamin E enhanced transgenic soybean, 5,510 individuals in Willams 82, and 6,957 individuals in Seoritae were collected, respectively. There was no difference between the population densities of insect pests, natural enemies and other insects on Vitamin E enhanced transgenic soybean and Willams 82, while natural enemies density on Seoritae was higher than on Vitamin E enhanced transgenic soybean, but insect pests density on Vitamin E enhanced transgenic soybean was higher. These results provided the insects diversity for risk assessment survey of Vitamin E enhanced transgenic soybean and suggested that the guideline could be useful to detect LMO crops.