Development and application of a quantitative loop-mediated isothermal amplification method for detecting genetically modified maize MON863.

BACKGROUND: A SYBR Green I-based quantitative loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was developed for the rapid detection of genetically modified maize MON863. A set of primers was designed based on the integration region of the Cry3Bb1 and tahsp17 genes. RESULTS: The qualitative and quantitative reaction conditions (dNTPs, betaine, primers, Mg(2+), Bst polymerase, temperature, reaction time) were optimized. The concentrations of Mg(2+) and betaine were found to be important to the LAMP assay. The detection limits of both qualitative and quantitative LAMP for MON863 were as low as 4 haploid genomic DNA, and the LAMP reactions can be completed within 1 h at an isothermal temperature of 65 °C. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrate that this new SYBR Green I-based quantitative LAMP assay system is reliable, sensitive and accurate.