The maize event MZIR260 was developed through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of immature embryos with plasmid vector pSYN24795. Aim of the modification is a resistance to Fall Army Worm (FAW).

The inserted T-DNA carries two expression cassettes:

• an eCry1Gb.1Ig expression cassette (CS-Cry1Gb_Cry1Ig-SYNTH) which encodes for the insecticidal protein eCry1Gb.1Ig to confer resistance against the fall armyworm (FAW, Spodoptera frugiperda).

• a pmi expression cassette (CS-pmi-ECOLI) coding for the phosphomannose isomerase as selection marker.

Genetic analysis confirmed the integrity of a single insert. Truncations were observed at the right and left border sequences of the pSYN24795 T-DNA during genomic integration of T-DNA. However, since these deletions are located outside of the expression cassettes, they do not affect the functionality of the contained elements. No unintended changes leading to safety concerns were identified during the molecular characterization of the MZIR260 maize.

The transgenes eCry1Gb.1Ig and pmi were shown to be stably inherited and expressed over multiple generations.

Source: FSANZ