Regulation of plant fertility by modulation of GABA levels in flowers
AssigneeThe University of Chicago
InventorsRavishankar Palaivelu, Laura Brass, Daphne Preuss
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention provides methods for the alteration of fertility in plants through modulation of floral GABA levels. The techniques of the invention may find use in plant breeding techniques. Also provided by the invention are assays for the screening of candidate modulators of GABA metabolism or GABA analogs through the identification of affects on fertility following application of the candidate modulator to a plant. The technique provides an alternative to animal testing and is amenable to large scale application.
Claims72
A method of modulating the fertility of a plant comprising treating said plant with GABA or a GABA analog.
A method of modulating the fertility of a plant comprising treating said plant with a GABA transaminase inhibitor.
A method of restoring the fertility of a plant having flowers rendered self-sterile by elevated GABA levels comprising treating said plant with a GABA inhibitor.
A method of plant breeding comprising:
- a) obtaining first and second plants;
- b) treating said first plant with GABA or a GABA analog;
- and
- c) pollinating the first plant with pollen from said second plant.
A method of plant breeding comprising:
- a) obtaining first and second plants;
- b) treating said first plant with a GABA transaminase inhibitor;
- and
- c) pollinating the first plant with pollen from said second plant.
A method of screening for a candidate GABA analog comprising the steps of:
- a) obtaining a test plant;
- b) treating said test plant with a candidate GABA analog;
- and
- c) detecting the effect of said candidate GABA analog on the fertility of the test plant.
A method of screening for a candidate GABA transaminase inhibitor comprising the steps of:
- a) obtaining a test plant;
- b) treating said test plant with a candidate GABA transaminase inhibitor;
- and
- c) detecting the effect of said candidate GABA transaminase inhibitor on the fertility of the test plant.
A method of screening for a candidate GABA inhibitor comprising the steps of:
- a) obtaining a test plant exhibiting decreased fertility as a result of elevated GABA levels;
- b) treating said test plant with a candidate GABA inhibitor;
- and
- c) detecting the effect of said candidate GABA inhibitor on the fertility of the test plant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.