A Taqman MGB real-time PCR assay targeting the TMS1 gene of
Agrobacterium sp. has been developed. PCR of bacterial strains and
isolates from different genus was performed to prove specificity.
Serial decimal dilutions of Agrobacterium sp. showed a consistent
detection sensitivity of 10 CFU/ml. All strains of Agrobacterium sp.
could be detected, and there were no cross-reactions with matrices
or other bacteria also testing naturally contaminated samples.
Rapid, reliable and sensitive detection of Agrobacterium sp. is crucial
to avoid the distribution by contaminated GM plant material
or vectors carrying the pathogen. The selected conserved target
gene allows relative quantitative detection of Agrobacterium sp.
from different sources and host taxa. Moreover, new QRT-PCR tests
were designed for the detection and the quantification of the
screening elements, P-mas, T-Tr7 and T-mas to be used in GMO
analysis. Finally, this work contributes to the knowledge on the
GMO methodologies by providing new QRT-PCR method to avoid
false positives when using detection procedures applied on different
matrixes including food, feed and contaminated raw material
and may be introduced after validation in the different GMO
method databases.