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DNA test is broadly used in diagnosis of crop disease and identification of genetic modified organism (GMO) in agriculture. However, rapid, low-cost, user-friendly, and field-deployable DNA test method is still limit. Recently, the RNA programmable nuclease of CRISPR/Cas is engineered as a new nucleic acid detection platform, but their application in plant remains to explore. In this study, we evaluated the Cas12a-based DNA detection for crop disease diagnosis and GMO test. A total of 14 crRNAs were designed to target two Magnaporthe oryzae genes and a synthetic Cry1C gene which encodes Bacillus thuringiensis δ-endotoxin and has been used to develop transgenic rice cultivar (Bt-rice) in China. Using a fluorescent reporter, targeted genes were easily detected by LbCas12a after recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) for all crRNAs, despite that the signal strength varied 2–3-folds between different crRNAs. We further combined the filter paper-based DNA extraction and lateral flow assay (LFA) with RPA-Cas12a for DNA detection. This optimized Cas12a diagnostics method is carried at body temperature and does not require extra instrument except filter paper and LFA strip. Our data show that rice blast pathogen and Bt-rice were efficiently identified from leaf disc samples using this optimized DNA test method with highly active crRNAs. Moreover, LbCas12a exhibited variable nuclease activities on different targets; therefore, highly active crRNA is critical for successful DNA test using Cas12a and LFA. Owing to its simplicity, efficiency, and low-cost, DNA test using CRISPR/Cas12a would be easily applied in field for crop disease diagnosis and GMO administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study describes an event-specific quantitative Real-time PCR detection method for the transgenic Bt rice line Kemingdao 1 (KMD1). This rice line which is not approved in any country so far is likely to be approved in China in the near future. The developed primers amplify a DNA sequence spanning the integration site of the genetic construct in KMD1. DNA sequence information of this unknown site necessary for primer design was achieved using SiteFinding-PCR technique. The specificity of the detection method was shown by testing a number of different transgenic and conventional plant varieties (e.g. rice LL 601, LL 62, Bt 63). As alternative to genomic DNA, we developed double target hybrid amplicons as synthetic calibration standards in Real-time PCR. These amplicons contained both one copy of the KMD1 event-specific sequence and one copy of a sequence of the rice reference gene gos9. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of the method was tested to be 0.05%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper furnishes empirical evidence that Chinese farmers have perceived a strong increase in secondary pests (i.e. pests other than the cotton bollworm) after Bt cotton was introduced. The findings suggesting possible ecological change are based on a survey of 1000 farm households in five provinces in China. We also found that farmers continue to use higher levels of pesticide use than reported in previous studies, most likely to bring secondary pests under control. Another problem associated with the introduction of Bt cotton in China is the low awareness and knowledge of genetic modification by farmers. As a result, farmers are insufficiently capable to assess the possible risks of Bt cotton and link these to agricultural production problems. Lastly, the liberalisation of the Chinese seed market had profound negative effects on farmers, as many of them were confronted with counterfeit seed resulting in yield losses. Against this backdrop, we argue that agro-biotechnological innovations in developing economies should be introduced with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]