Comparison of shoot composition and phenotype in Bt-transgenic and conventional potatoes

Integrating foreign gene into a plant’s genome through genetic engineering can lead to insertion, deletion, and re-arrangement phenomena, potentially causing unintended effects in transgenic plants. This research endeavor aimed to compare the phenotypic characteristics and chemical compositions observed in the shoots of Bt- transgenic potato lines (Solanum tuberosum L.). The primary goal of this study was to assess whether any unintended changes have occurred as a result of genetic transformation in plants when compared to their non-transgenic counterparts. A correlation was discerned between the cry1Ab transcript level and Cry1Ab protein content during various phases of the plant growth. However, no marked association was detected between the copy number of the gene and the level of its protein expression. The phenotypic assessment showed differences between transgenic and non-transgenic lines, which may be due to somaclonal variations, a common occurrence during tissue culture in potato genetic transformation. Moreover, the expression of recombined proteins and the insertional effects of the transgenes may have contributed to unintentional variations in composition and phenotypic characteristics between transgenic and non-transgenic control line. Despite significant differences in amino acid levels between transgenic and non-transgenic potato plants, all changes in the metabolite levels fell within the acceptable range for potato cultivars. Hence, the chemical composition of the genetically modified potato plants was equivalent to their non-transgenic counterpart. In conclusion, the results indicated that transgenic potato lines are as safe as non-transgenic control plants.