# US 2019/0166774 A1 · Method to increase crop plant foliage productivity > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0166774 A1 - Document ID: US20190166774A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/313,864 - Filed: 2017-06-28 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-29 - Assignees: The Regents of the University of California - Applicants: The Regents of the University of California - Inventors: Anastasios Melis; Henning Kirst; Peggy G. Lemaux; Stephane T. Gabilly - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190166774A1 ## CPC - C07K 14/415: from plants - A01H 3/00: Processes for modifying phenotypes {, e.g. symbiosis with bacteria} (A01H4/00 takes precedence) - A01H 3/02: by controlling duration, wavelength, intensity, or periodicity of illumination - A01H 6/823: {Nicotiana, e.g. tobacco} - 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) - A01H: NEW PLANTS OR {NON-TRANSGENIC} PROCESSES FOR OBTAINING THEM; PLANT REPRODUCTION BY TISSUE CULTURE TECHNIQUES ## Abstract Methods and compositions are disclosed to improve biomass accumulation in Truncated Light-harvesting Antenna (TLA) crop plant canopies as compared to biomass accumulation measured in wild-type counterparts grown under the same high canopy-density, agronomic, and ambient sunlight conditions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of obtaining plants having increased biomass accumulation, the method comprising cultivating a plurality of Truncated Light-harvesting Antenna (TLA) plants comprising individual TLA plants, wherein each of the TLA plants comprised by the plurality has a photosystem chlorophyll antenna size that is about 75% or less than the photosystem chlorophyll antenna size of a wild-type counterpart plant, wherein the TLA plants are planted: at a density such that plant density of the TLA plants in a monoculture is increased by at least 20%, at least 50%, at least 100%, at least 200%, or at least 300% over the density employed for the counterpart wild type plants. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plants are tobacco or grape vine plants. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the TLA plants are planted in a configuration where plant density is at least 4 plants per m2, at least 8 plants per m2, at least 12 plants/m2, or at least 16 plants/m2. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the plants are in a configuration in which: the plants are separated from one another by about 18 inches or less; the plants are separated from one another by about 15 inches or less; the plants are separated from one another by about 12 inches or less; or the plants are separated from one another by about 9 inches or less. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the chlorophyll antenna size is about 75%, about 70%, about 60%, about 50%, about 30%, or about 25%, or less, of the chlorophyll antenna size of the counterpart wild type plant and at least 20% of the chlorophyll antenna size of the counterpart wild type plant. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b ratio of the leaves in the TLA plants is 4±1, 6±1, 8±1, 12±1, or 20±1, or greater; or where the TLA plants lacks chlorophyll b. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the TLA plants are a species of dicots with broad leaves. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where in the TLA plants are tobacco, soybean, bean, potato, tomato, sorghum, sugar beet, cotton, canola, alfalfa, or grape vine plants. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the TLA plants are monocots with blade-like leaves. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the TLA plants are corn, wheat, barley, miscanthus, switchgrass, or Napier grass. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plants are cultivated under bright sunlight. ### Claim 12 A method of enhancing biomass productivity on a per cultivated surface area, the method comprising cultivating a TLA variant of a crop or wild type plant under conditions in which the planting density of the TLA plants is greater by at least 25%, at least 50%, at least 100%, at least 200%, or at least 300% over that employed for the corresponding wild type plant.