Genetic engineering of novel plant phenotypes
AssigneeDNA Plant Technology Corporation
InventorsRichard A. Jorgensen, Carolyn A. Napoli
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Abstract
Methods are provided for producing plants exhibiting one or more desired phenotypic traits. In particular, transgenotes are selected that comprise a DNA segment operably linked to a promoter, wherein transcription products of the segment are substantially homologous to corresponding transcripts of endogenous flavonoid biosynthetic pathway genes.
Claims31
A method for producing a plant exhibiting at least one modified phenotypic trait by suppressing expression of an endogenous gene in the plant, said method comprising the steps of:
- transforming plant cells with a polynucleotide to produce transgenote cells, the polynucleotide comprising a promoter operably linked to a DNA segment such that transcripts of the segment are produced in the sense orientation in the transgenote cells which segment transcripts have at least 65% sequence identity to transcripts of said endogenous gene and are effective to suppress expression of said endogenous gene in said plant cell;
- growing plants from one or more of said transgenote cells, wherein production of mRNA encoded by the endogenous gene is reduced in one or more of the plants;
- and
- selecting a plant exhibiting said modified phenotypic trait.
A method for reducing production of a protein product of an endogenous gene in a plant, said protein affecting a phenotypic trait in the plant, said method comprising the steps of:
- growing plants from a plant cell transformed with a DNA segment under operational control of a promoter, wherein transcripts of the DNA segment are in the sense orientation produced which are substantially homologous to transcripts of an endogenous gene encoding the protein, and wherein production of the protein is reduced;
- and
- identifying a plant that exhibits a phenotypic change by screening the plants for modification of the phenotypic trait.
A method for modifying the coloration of chrysanthemum flowers comprising altering flower pigment production by transforming a chrysanthemum cell with a chalcone synthase gene or gene segment contained in a disabled Ti plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, wherein said chalcone synthase gene is operably linked to a promoter.
A method of modifying a plant cell phenotype by reducing the level of mRNA encoded by an endogenous gene in the plant cell, said method comprising:
- growing plant cells transformed with a polynucleotide comprising a transcribable DNA segment located downstream from an operably linked promoter, whereby the segment is transcribed in the cell in the sense orientation, wherein the transcribed DNA segment has a sequence complementary to the mRNA endoded by the endogenous gene and whereby transcription of the DNA segment is effective to reduce the level of mRNA transcribed by said endogenous gene;
- and
- screening the cells for the modified phenotype.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.