# US 2014/0208449 A1 · Genetics of gender discrimination in date palm > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0208449 A1 - Document ID: US20140208449A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/008,012 - Filed: 2012-03-29 - Published: 2014-07-24 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-29 - Assignees: Cornell University - Inventors: Joel A. Malek - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140208449A1 ## CPC - C12Q 1/6895: for plants, fungi or algae - C12Q 2600/156: Polymorphic or mutational markers - C12Q 2600/172: Haplotypes - C12Q: MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS (immunoassay G01N33/53); COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES ## Abstract This invention relates to the genetics of gender discrimination in the dioecious date palm. Methods of the present invention involve analyzing DNA or RNA from a date palm plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed for the presence of (i) a nucleic acid sequence or genotype that identifies the sex of the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed or (ii) a molecular marker in linkage disequilibrium with the nucleic acid sequence or genotype. Also disclosed are kits for selecting male and female date palm plants prior to flowering, methods of breeding a date palm plant, and a method of planting a date palm seed of a known sex. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of identifying the sex of a date palm plant, said method comprising: analyzing DNA or RNA from a date palm plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed for the presence of (i) a nucleic acid sequence that identifies the sex of the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed or (ii) a molecular marker in linkage disequilibriumwith the nucleic acid sequence and identifying the sex of the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed based on whether or not the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed contains the nucleic acid sequence or the molecular marker. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said analyzing is carried out to determine the presence of the nucleic acid sequence. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein said analyzing comprises determining the presence of a male allele at the nucleotide corresponding to position 51 of SEQ ID NOs:1-972, or a corresponding RNA sequence. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein where the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed does not contain the male allele the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed is identified as female. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said analyzing is carried out to determine the presence of the molecular marker. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the molecular marker is present in SEQ ID NOs:1-972, or a corresponding RNA sequence. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein where the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed contains the molecular marker, the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed is identified as male. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said analyzing comprises detecting, in a hybridization assay, whether the nucleic acid sequence hybridizes to an oligonucleotide probe. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said analyzing comprises detecting, in a PCR-based assay, whether oligonucleotide primers amplify the nucleic acid sequence. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 further comprising: planting or transplanting the date palm plant, tissue, seed, or germplasm a location suitable for the identified sex. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 further comprising: growing a fruit-bearing plant from the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed and harvesting fruit from the fruit-bearing plant. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 further comprising: breeding the plant whose sex is identified. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 further comprising: marking the plant, tissue, seed, or germplasm based on its identified sex. ### Claim 14 A method of identifying the sex of a date palm plant, said method comprising: analyzing DNA or RNA from a date palm plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed for the presence of (i) a genotype that identifies the sex of the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed, or (ii) a molecular marker linked to the genotype and identifying the sex of the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed based on whether or not the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed contains the genotype or the molecular marker. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein a male genotype is present in the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed and the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed is identified as a male plant. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the genotype is selected from a heterozygous or homozygous male allele at the nucleotides corresponding to position 51 of SEQ ID NOs:1-972. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein a molecular marker associated with a male genotype is present in the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed and the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed is identified as a male plant. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the molecular marker is present in SEQ ID NOs:1-972, or a corresponding RNA sequence. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein said analyzing is carried out with a hybridization assay or a PCR-based assay. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14 further comprising: planting or transplanting the date palm plant, tissue, seed, or germplasm in a location suitable for the identified sex. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14 further comprising: growing a fruit-bearing plant from the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed and harvesting fruit from the fruit-bearing plant. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14 further comprising: breeding the plant whose sex is identified. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14 further comprising: marking the plant, tissue, seed, or germplasm based on its identified sex. ### Claim 24 A method of selecting a male or female date palm plant prior to flowering, said method comprising: detecting in a date palm plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed (i) a genotype that identifies the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed as male or female, or (ii) a molecular marker in linkage disequilibrium with the genotype and selecting the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed possessing the genotype or the molecular marker. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, wherein a male genotype is detected in the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, wherein the genotype is selected from a heterozygous or homozygous male allele at the nucleotides corresponding to position 51 of SEQ ID NOs:1-972. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, wherein a female genotype is detected in the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed, said female genotype comprising a homozygous female allele at the nucleotides corresponding to position 51 of SEQ ID NOs:1-972. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, wherein the molecular marker is detected. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method according to claim 28, wherein the molecular marker is present in SEQ ID NOs:1-972. ### Claim 30 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24 further comprising: planting or transplanting the selected date palm plant, tissue, seed, or germplasm in a location suitable for its sex. ### Claim 31 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24 further comprising: growing a fruit-bearing plant from the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed and harvesting fruit from the fruit-bearing plant. ### Claim 32 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24 further comprising: breeding the plant whose sex is identified. ### Claim 33 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24 further comprising: marking the selected plant, seed, or germplasm as male or female. ### Claim 34 A kit for selecting a male or female date palm plant prior to flowering, said kit comprising: primers or probes for detecting in a date palm plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed (i) a genotype that identifies the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed as male or female, or (ii) a molecular marker in linkage disequilibrium with the genotype and instructions for using the primers or probes for detecting the genotype or the molecular marker. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The kit according to claim 34, wherein the primers or probes detect the genotype. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The kit according to claim 35, wherein the genotype is a heterozygous or homozygous male allele at position 51 of SEQ ID NOs:1-972 for selecting a male date palm plant. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The kit according to claim 35, wherein the genotype is a homozygous female allele at the nucleotides corresponding to position 51 of SEQ ID NOs:1-972 for selecting a female date palm plant. ### Claim 38 (depends on 34) The kit according to claim 34, wherein the primers or probes detect the molecular marker. ### Claim 39 A method of selecting a male or female date palm plant prior to flowering, said method comprising: detecting in a date palm plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed (i) a nucleic acid sequence that identifies the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed as male or female or (ii) a molecular marker in linkage disequilibrium with the nucleic acid sequence and selecting the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed possessing the nucleic acid sequence or the molecular marker. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The method according to claim 39, wherein the nucleic acid sequence is detected. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The method according to claim 40, wherein the nucleic acid sequence comprises a male allele at the nucleotide corresponding to position 51 of SEQ NOs:1-972, or a corresponding RNA sequence and the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed selected is male. ### Claim 42 (depends on 39) The method according to claim 39, wherein the molecular marker is detected. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The method according to claim 42, wherein the molecular marker is present in SEQ ID NOs:1-972, or a corresponding RNA sequence. ### Claim 44 (depends on 39) The method according to claim 39 further comprising: planting or transplanting the selected date palm plant, tissue, seed, or germplasm in a location suitable for its sex. ### Claim 45 (depends on 39) The method according to claim 39 further comprising: breeding the plant whose sex is identified. ### Claim 46 (depends on 39) The method according to claim 39 further comprising: marking the selected plant, seed, or germplasm as male or female. ### Claim 47 A kit for selecting a male or female date palm plant prior to flowering, said kit comprising: primers or probes for detecting in a date palm plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed (i) a nucleic acid sequence that identifies the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed as male or female or (ii) a molecular marker in linkage disequilibrium with the nucleic acid sequence and instructions for using the primers or probes for detecting the nucleic acid sequence or the molecular marker. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The kit according to claim 47, wherein the primers or probes detect the nucleic acid sequence. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The kit according to claim 48, wherein the nucleic acid sequence detected comprises a male allele at the nucleotide corresponding to position 51 of SEQ ID NOs:1-972, or a corresponding RNA molecule, and the plant, tissue, germplasm, or seed selected is male. ### Claim 50 (depends on 47) The kit according to claim 47, wherein the primers or probes detect the molecular marker. ### Claim 51 A method of breeding a date palm plant, said method comprising: providing a date palm plant having a sex determined by detecting in the plant or a seed, tissue, or germplasm from which it was derived (i) a genotype that identifies the plant as either male or female, or (ii) a molecular marker in linkage disequilibrium with the genotype and breeding the date palm plant with a plant of the opposite sex. ### Claim 52 A method of breeding a date palm plant, said method comprising: providing a date palm plant having a sex determined by detecting in the plant or a seed, tissue, or germplasm from which it was derived (i) a nucleic acid sequence that identifies the plant as male or female or (ii) a molecular marker in linkage disequilibrium with the nucleic acid sequence and breeding the date palm plant with a plant of the opposite sex. ### Claim 53 A method of planting a date palm seed of a known sex, said method comprising: providing a seed having a known male or female sex and planting the seed.