Screening of Solanum tuberosum cultivars for the "ac2" genetic modification

Abstract

In 2001, genetically modified potatoes carrying the ac2 gene were developed. This gene was originally found in amaranth seeds (Amaranthus caudatus) and is expressed into the fungicidal peptide Ac-AMP2. The purpose of the present study was to test 105 potato cultivars (Solanum tuberosum) registered in the Czech Republic for the presence of the above mentioned genetic modification "ac2" with the use of a previously published method (Pribylova et al., 2006). The method was based on the simultaneous detection of the ac2 gene from amaranth seeds as well as the StTS1 gene from potatoes as an internal amplification control. The results showed none of tested potatoes cultivars were positive for the genetic modification "ac2". These results confirmed the currently valid legislative in the Czech Republic and the European Union, where the use of genetically modified potatoes carrying the gene for the fungicidal peptide from amaranth is not allowed, was respected.

Keywords

• gmo
• transgenic potato
• food safety
• amaranthus caudatus
• antimicrobial peptide