Maize event MON94804 has been genetically modified to contain the GA20ox_SUP suppression cassette, developed from the coding sequence of the ZmGA20ox3 and ZmGA20ox5 genes from maize, is flanked and separated with three Osa-miR1425 fragments from rice. This cassette suppresses the expression of the ZmGA20ox3 and ZmGA20ox5 genes in maize through RNA interference mechanisms. This leads to a decrease in gibberellic acid (GA) levels in the stalk, causing a reduction in internode length and ultimately resulting in decreased overall plant height compared to conventional control maize. Additionally, the cp4 epsps gene is used as a selectable marker, expressing the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (CP4 EPSPS) protein to confer glyphosate herbicide tolerance to the transformed plant cells. This gene is subsequently segregated out after selection to create MON94804 maize that is free of the cp4 epsps gene.
The food safety assessment performed by the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) as advisory and technical arm of Thai FDA. BIOTEC conduct food safety assessment according to codex guideline and based on the safety data and information provided by the applicant (as specified in Annex 2 attached to Notification of the Ministry of Public Health No.431). According to the existing scientific data and information available during the safety assessment, it is concluded that the maize event MON94804 is substantially equivalent to its conventional counterpart in terms of morphology, nutritional, toxicity and allergenicityallergenicity, except for the short-stature trait, which is the target of genetic modification.
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment :