Search

A number of biofortified crops have been generated through transgenic technologies including sorghum. A key step towards the release of genetically modified (GM) biofortified sorghum is its nutritional evaluation and risk assessment study. In this work, two genetically modified sorghum ABS188 and ABS203 were administered on mice to evaluate the effect of their consumption on liver and spleen. Following the molecular analysis of the two GM sorghum, the transgenes Zeamays Phytoene synthase gene (Zm-PSY1) and Pantoea ananatis Carotenoid Biosynthesis gene (PaCrT1) were confirmed in ABS 188 and ABS 203. There was a loss in weight of mice fed with ABS 188 and ABS 203 while weight gain was recorded in mice fed with local sorghum. In conclusion ABS 188 and ABS 203 are considered to be as safe and nutritious as local sorghum, with the advantage that the GM sorghum are biofortified with Vitamin A, Zinc and Iron.

A Key Step towards the Release of Genetically Modified (GM) Biofortified Sorghum is its Nutritional Evaluation and Risk Assessment Study. In this work, two genetically modified sorghum (ABS 188 and ABS 203) and local sorghum were subjected to proximate analysis, Amino acid determination, and mineral analysis. Results of proximate analysis revealed the presence of the following expressed as percentage (%) ABS 188 contains Crude fibre (1.89), Ash (1.87), Crude protein (9.00), Oil (1.36), Lignin (8.83) dry Matter (91.17) and Nitrogen free extract (77.05); ABS 203 contains crude fibre (1.60), Ash (0.95), Crude protein (4.94), Oil (2.56), Lignin (8.37) Dry Matter (91.63) and Nitrogen free extract (81.58); Local sorghum contains crude fibre (2.08), Ash (0.85), Crude protein (4.56), Oil (1.12), Lignin (8.28) Dry Matter (91.72) and Nitrogen free extract (83.11); respectively. ABS 203 has the highest amount of β – Carotene (0.83ug/100mg), followed by 0.57ug/100mg for ABS 188 and 0.42ug/100mg for local sorghum. Results also revealed that the food samples contain almost all the essential amino acids in varying concentration, with glutamic acid occurring highest in the GM sorghum ABS 188 and ABS 203 having the highest for Leucine (14.01g/100g). Zinc was present in trace amount in all the samples (0.0003 – 0.033 mg/kg). In conclusion, ABS 188 and ABS 203 are considered to be as nutritious as local sorghum, with the advantage that the GM sorghum are biofortified with Vitamin A, Zinc and Iron.