The introduction of Genetically Modified Crops (GMO) has changed the traditional agriculture practices in the world. In India, the GM era started with the introduction of Bt cotton in 2002 which has grown from an area of 50,000 to about 12 million acres by 2012. The requirement for GMO testing comes from the seed industry as well as the regulatory authority of India who wants to watch closely and to regulate the movement of GMO according to the national guidelines. While the seed industry involved in selling GM seeds wants to ensure the presence of modified trait in the GM seeds sold, regulatory agencies want to ensure that seeds sold to the farmers have only the approved events of GMOs. Of the several bioanalytical tools available for the detection of transgene in GMO, ELISA tests are the most popular in India. PCR testing is primarily done for zygocity verification. Rapid lateral flow immunostrips are rarely used because of cost constraints. Adventitious presence (AP) testing is normally not done in India. The current status and challenges for the application of these technologies in the light of GM detection in India will be discussed.

Bioanalytical technologies for GM detection in India

246th National Meeting (2013)

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