The maize (Zea mays) was produced through cross‑breeding of modified parental varieties SYN-E3272-5, SYN-BTØ11-1, SYN-IR162-4, and MON-ØØØ21-9.
Maize SYN-E3272-5 was modified for optimized bioethanol production. The LM maize also includes a selectable marker. To achieve this trait, the maize expresses a thermostable alpha-amylase encoded by the chimeric amy797E gene, derived from alpha-amylase gene segments originating from strains of the order Thermococcales (thermostable bacteria), which remains active under high temperature to catalyze the hydrolysis of starch into dextrins and optimize the starch liquefaction process. For the transformants selection marker, the maize expresses the manA gene from Escherichia coli, also known as pmi, which encodes for phosphomannose isomerase. which allows mannose utilization.

Maize SYN-BTØ11-1 was modified for resistance to the Lepidoptera insect European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) and tolerance to glufosinate-ammonium herbicides. To achieve resistance to the European corn borer, the maize expresses cry1Ab gene from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, which have a pore forming mode-of-action in the epithelial lining of feeding larvae; cry1Ab produces a crystal delta-endotoxin that binds to specific midgut receptors in the insect larva, forming pores that disrupt osmotic balance and cause fatal cell lysis. To achieve resistance to glufosinate, the maize expresses the gene from Streptomyces viridochromogenes encoding phosphinothricin N-acetyltransferase encoding gene, which inactivates the active compound L-phosphinothricin through acetylation of the primary amino group.
Maize SYN-IR162-4 was modified for resistance against lepidopteran insect pests including fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), true armyworm (Pseudaletia unipuncta), beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua), corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon), western bean cutworm (Striacosta albicosta). The LM maize was also modified to express a selectable marker. To achieve resistance against lepidopteran insects, the maize expresses the vegetative insecticidal protein gene (vip3Aa20), a variant of the native vip3Aa gene isolated from Bacillus thuringiensis strain AB88, which is secreted during the vegetative growth phase of the bacterium; Vip3Aa20 is a vegetative insecticidal protein that binds to specific midgut receptors distinct from those recognized by Cry proteins, disrupts the integrity of epithelial cell membranes, and ultimately causes gut paralysis and death of the feeding larvae. For the selection marker, the maize expresses the manA gene from Escherichia coli, which encodes for phosphomannose isomerase.
Maize MON-ØØØ21-9 was modified for tolerance to glyphosate-containing herbicides. To achieve glyphosate tolerance, the maize expresses the modified enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase, encoded by the mepsps gene. The isolated endogenous maize epsps gene was modified through site-directed mutagenesis, such that its encoded enzyme was insensitive to inactivation by glyphosate, and inserted into the inbred AT maize variety. The modified maize line permits farmers to use glyphosate-containing herbicides for weed control in the cultivation of maize.