Comparative compositional analysis of transgenic potato resistant to potato tuber moth (PTM) and its non-transformed counterpart

In this study, the compositions of transgenic potatoes (TPs) resistant to potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella) were compared with those of its non-transgenic (NTP) counterparts. The light inducible promoter, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase led to the expression of Cry1Ab only in the leaves and light-treated tubers of the TPs. No significant differences were found in the moisture, ash, dry weight, total soluble protein, carbohydrate, starch, fiber, ascorbate, cations, anions, fatty acids, and glycoalkaloids contents of TP and NTP. Moreover, light treatment significantly affected the contents of ascorbate, acetate and nitrite anions, palmitic, stearic and linolenic fatty acids, α-haconine and α-solanine glycoalkaloids in TP and NTP tubers. While, significant differences were observed in the amino acid contents in light-treated tubers of TPs than the NTP ones. Although, light treatment in potato tubers resulted in marked metabolic changes, all the variations observed in the metabolites compositions were found to be within the desired reference ranges for potato plants. In conclusion, the results indicated that the TPs were substantially and nutritionally equivalent to the NTP counterparts.