# US 10,440,911 B2 · Targeted modification of maize roots to enhance abiotic stress tolerance

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- Number: US 10,440,911 B2
- Document ID: US10440911B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/704,502
- Filed: 2017-09-14
- Published: 2018-03-22
- Granted: 2019-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-16
- Assignees: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation; The Penn State Research Foundation
- Applicants: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation; The Penn State Research Foundation; The University of Nottingham
- Inventors: Shawn Michael Kaeppler; Patompong Saengwilai; Jonathan Paul Lynch; Malcolm John Bennett; James Johnson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10440911B2

## CPC

- C12N 15/8271: {for stress resistance, e.g. heavy metal resistance}
- A01H 1/06: Processes for producing mutations, e.g. treatment with chemicals or with radiation (specific mutations prepared by genetic engineering on plant cell or plant tissues C12N15/00 {; process for producing transgenic plants C12N15/82})
- A01H 5/10: Seeds
- A01H 6/4684: {Zea mays [maize]}
- C07K 14/415: from plants
- C12N 15/82: for plant cells {, e.g. plant artificial chromosomes (PACs)}
- C12N 15/8242: {with non-agronomic quality (output) traits, e.g. for industrial processing; Value added, non-agronomic traits}
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)
- A01H: NEW PLANTS OR {NON-TRANSGENIC} PROCESSES FOR OBTAINING THEM; PLANT REPRODUCTION BY TISSUE CULTURE TECHNIQUES
- C07K: PEPTIDES (peptides in foodstuffs A23; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs, working-up proteins for foodstuffs A23J; preparations for medicinal purposes A61K; peptides containing beta-lactam rings C07D; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, C07D; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type C07D519/02; macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units in their molecules, i.e. when the preparation does not provide for a specific; but for a random sequence of the amino acid units, homopolyamides and block copolyamides derived from amino acids C08G69/00; macromolecular products derived from proteins C08H1/00; preparation of glue or gelatine C09H; single cell proteins, enzymes C12N; genetic engineering processes for obtaining peptides C12N15/00; compositions for measuring or testing processes involving enzymes C12Q; investigation or analysis of biological material G01N33/00)

## Abstract

The present invention relates to crop breeding. More particularly, the present invention relates to targeted modification of root to enhance abiotic stress tolerance in maize. In one aspect, the invention provides recombinant maize exhibiting increased root cortical aerenchyma (RCA). Methods of making the recombinant maize and various methods of plant selection and breeding are further provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A recombinant maize plant tolerant of abiotic stress, comprising a non-natural mutation that increases the function of maize gene GRMZM2G083504, wherein the recombinant maize plant exhibits increased root cortical aerenchyma (RCA) and increased abiotic stress tolerance as compared to a maize plant lacking said mutation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The maize plant of claim 1 wherein the increase in RCA is between 1% and 80%.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The maize plant of claim 1 wherein the non-natural mutation comprises an increase in the number of GRMZM2G083504 copies in the plant.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The maize plant of claim 1 wherein the non-natural mutation comprises a modification of sequences regulating GRMZM2G083504.

### Claim 5

A method of increasing abiotic stress tolerance in maize, comprising introducing in maize a non-natural mutation that increases the function of maize gene GRMZM2G083504, wherein said maize exhibits increased abiotic stress tolerance as compared to maize lacking said mutation.

### Claim 6

A method of increasing root cortical aerenchyma (RCA) in maize, comprising introducing in maize a non-natural mutation that increases the function of maize gene GRMZM2G083504, wherein said maize exhibits increased root cortical aerenchyma (RCA) as compared to maize lacking said mutation.

### Claim 7

A method of identifying an abiotic stress tolerant maize plant, comprising: (a) assaying expression levels of a maize gene GRMZM2G083504 in maize plants; and (b) selecting a maize plant having an increased level of maize gene GRMZM2G083504 expression, wherein said selected maize plant exhibits increased abiotic stress tolerance as compared to a maize plant not having the increased level of maize gene GRMZM2G083504 expression.

### Claim 8

A method for providing an abiotic stress tolerant maize plant variety, comprising: (a) assaying expression levels of maize gene GRMZM2G083504 in maize plants; (b) selecting a maize plant exhibiting increased levels of maize gene GRMZM2G083504 expression; and (c) breeding said selected maize plant exhibiting increased levels of maize gene GRMZM2G083504 to yield a maize plant variety providing increased tolerance to abiotic stress.