Chemical profiling of insect-resistant rice shows that geographical variations produce greater differences in chemical composition than genetic modifications

Genetically modified (GM) rice (event, Bt-T) contains the Bacillus thuringiensis gene for insecticidal properties. To evaluate changes in the chemical compositions of Bt-T and non-GM rice cultivated in two regions, the contents of 48 nutrients and 92 metabolites were determined. Nutrient analysis revealed that the nutrient variation in Bt-T rice was within the range of conventional varieties. Principal component analysis of the nutrient and metabolite data revealed that the geographical location of the cultivated region had greater effects on rice composition than genetic modifications. Lipids and volatile organic compounds were selected for metabolic profiling to detect variations between the cultivated regions.