ABSTRACT

Maize landraces diversity is important for many smallholder and indigenous populations. Gene flow constitutes a threat to the genetic conservation of several locally adapted maize landraces and, risk management depends on monitoring transgenic occurrence in non-GM maize. This study evaluated the occurrence of exogenous proteins from GM-maize in maize landraces and teosinte cultivated in the Alto Jequitinhonha region, State of Minas Gerais. Gene flow from GM maize to non-transgenic varieties was evaluated in eight maize groups and one teosinte variety. A transgenic maize variety was used as a positive control. Proteins Cry1F and Cry2Ab2 were monitored using the Protein Detection Assay kit (Envirologix QuickStix® kit protocols for detecting Cry1F and Cry2Ab2 proteins). Transgenic proteins were not detected in the leaves of landraces and teosinte cultivated in the Alto Jequitinhonha region.

Keywords
transgenic; non-transgenic; gene flow; Zea mays ; smallholder