Herbicide-resistant sunflower plants, polynucleotides encoding herbicide=resistant aceto hydroxy acid synthase large subunit proteins, and methods of use

A sunflower plant, wherein said plant:

• (a) is of line GM40 or GM1606, a representative sample of seeds of the line having been respectively deposited under ATCC Patent Deposit Numbers PTA-6716 and PTA-7606;
• (b) is a progeny or descendant of line GM40 or GM1606, a representative sample of seeds of the line having been respectively deposited under ATCC Patent Deposit Numbers PTA-6716 and PTA-7606;
• (c) is a mutant, recombinant, or a genetically engineered derivative of line GM40 or GM1606, a representative sample of seeds of the line having been respectively deposited under ATCC Patent Deposit Numbers PTA-6716 and, PTA-7606;
• or
• (d) is a plant that is a progeny of any one of the plants of (b)-(c).

A mutagenized or recombinant sunflower polynucleotide encoding a functional AHAS comprising:

• (a) the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1;
• (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2;
• (c) a nucleotide sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1;
• or
• (d) a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein having at least 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2;
• wherein the AHAS encoded by said nucleotide sequence comprises an alanine to threonine substitution or an equivalent position relative to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:12;
• said substitution having been obtained by induced random mutagenesis.

An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence comprising:

• (a) the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2;
• (b) the amino acid sequence encoded by the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• (c) a nucleotide sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, wherein said nucleotide sequence encodes a protein comprising a threonine at position 107 or equivalent position relative to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:12, and wherein said protein comprises herbicide-resistant AHAS activity;
• or
• (d) a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein having at least 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, wherein said protein comprises a threonine at position 107 or equivalent position relative to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:12, and wherein said protein comprises herbicide-resistant AHAS activity.