Risk assessment of genetically modified zoysiagrasses ( Zoysia japonica ) in a zebrafish model

Genetically modified (GM) plants have been mainly advanced for the mass production of agricultural plants. However, there are concerns about GM crops which cause side effects on ecosystems and human beings. Zebrafish is a better in vivo model and possess the advantages; small size, large clutches, transparency, low cost, and physiological similarity to mammals. The objective of this study was to assess the safety of non-GM and GM grasses (Zoysia japonica) including JG21, JG21-MS1, JG21-MS2 in zebrafish embryos by examining the survival rates, heart-beating rate, yolk sac edema size, cell death, and morphology. The survival rates, heart-beating rates, and yolk sac edema sizes in non-GM and GM grass-treated zebrafish were similar change with the control group. And, all the groups did not show a significant difference within less than 1.0-fold in cell death by fluorescence levels. These results indicate that the zebrafish model is a useful and simple tool and can be used for risk assessment of GM plants.