Ionomics and lipidomics for evaluating the transgenic (cp4-EPSPS gene) and non-transgenic soybean seed generations

Abstract This work evaluates three generations of transgenic and non-transgenic soybean plants through multiomics namely ionomics and lipidomics. Transgenic variety was inserted with cp4-EPSPS gene, which confers resistance to glyphosate. Comparisons between soybeans were carried out from seeds obtained during summer season on south hemisphere, grown in the same soil and without intentional stress factors. Essential and non-essential elements, B, Al, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Mo, and Ba, and fatty acids were evaluated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), respectively. After checking the accuracy of the method employed, chemometric analysis (using Principal Component Analysis, Hierarchical CusterAnalysis, and correlation heatmaps) indicated that some elements may share mechanisms of transport and are to some extent, correlating with fatty acids, allowing for differentiation of all generations and soybean species. Results reforce the importance of multiomics approach to evaluate genetic modified organism such as plants.