A method for detecting transgenic rapeseed using pollen collected by Apis mellifera L.

With the continuous expansion of the planting area of genetically modified (GM) crops, the demand for efficient and comprehensive monitoring systems is becoming increasingly urgent. To establish a method suitable for large-scale monitoring of genetically modified rapeseed planting, beehives were strategically deployed at specific locations around genetically modified rapeseed fields, and the TaqMan quantitative PCR (qPCR) method was used to detect and analyze the genetically modified components in the rapeseed pollen collected by bees. The results demonstrated that the average Ct values for the CaMV35S promoter, Bar gene, NPTII gene, and HPT gene in the pollen of each hive were 27.91, 29.58, 31.49, and 31.97, respectively. The average ΔCt values for these four genes in hive pollen from 100 to 200 m were - 0.35, 1.66, 2.58, and 5.06, respectively, which were significantly lower than those from 300 to 1100 m (2.85, 4.01, 6.66, and 5.63). The results of this study have demonstrated the feasibility of using pollen collected by bees for large-scale detection of genetically modified rapeseed plants. This early warning model for GM crop spread based on bee pollination provides an efficient and practical solution for monitoring and managing genetically modified crops.