Genes and vectors for conferring herbicide resistance in plants

A plant expression vector comprising a first gene construct linked to a second gene construct, said first gene construct comprising a first promoter expressible in a plant cell operably linked to a first DNA molecule and said second gene construct comprising a second promoter expressible in a plant cell operably linked to a second DNA molecule, wherein said first DNA molecule encodes a functional AHAS small subunit protein and said first DNA molecule hybridizes to the complement of SEQ ID NO:

• 1 under conditions comprising:
• (a) hybridization at 42° C. for 20 hours in a solution comprising 50% formamide, 2×SSC, 5×Denhardt's solution, 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 0.05 mg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA, and 0.05% NaPPi;
• (b) two washes at room temperature for 10 minutes in a solution comprising 0.4×SSC and 0.1% SDS;
• and
• (c) one wash at 65° C. for 30 minutes in a solution comprising 0.2×SSC and 0.1% SDS;
• and
• wherein said second DNA molecule encodes a eukaryotic AHAS large subunit protein which is resistant to at least one herbicide.

A method for creating a transgenic plant which is resistant to herbicides, said method comprising transforming a plant with a plant expression vector comprising a first gene construct linked to a second gene construct, said first gene construct comprising a first promoter expressible in a plant cell operably linked to a first DNA molecule and said second gene construct comprising a second promoter expressible in a plant cell operably linked to a second DNA molecule, wherein said first DNA molecule comprises a DNA sequence selected from the group consisting of:

• (a) the DNA sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 1;
• (b) the DNA sequence set forth in nucleotides 758 to 4737 of SEQ ID NO:
• 3;
• and
• (c) a DNA secquence encoding the amino acid secquence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 2;
• and wherein said second DNA molecule encodes a eukaryotic AHAS large subunit protein which is resistant to at least one herbicide.

A method for creating a transgenic plant which is resistant to herbicides, said method comprising transforming a plant with a plant expression vector comprising a first gene construct linked to a second gene construct, said first gene construct comprising a first promoter expressible in a plant cell operably linked to a first DNA molecule and said second gene construct comprising a second promoter expressible in a plant cell operably linked to a second DNA molecule, wherein said first DNA molecule encodes a functional AHAS small subunit protein and said first DNA molecule hybridizes to the complement of SEQ ID NO:

• 1 under conditions comprising:
• (a) hybridization at 42° C. for 20 hours in a solution comprising 50% formamide, 2×SSC, 5× Denhardt's solution, 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 0.05 mg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA, and 0.05% NaPPi;
• (b) two washes at room temperature for 10 minutes in a solution comprising 0.4×SSC and 0.1% SDS;
• and
• (c) one wash at 65° C. for 30 minutes in a solution comprising 0.2×SSC and 0.1% SDS and
• wherein said second DNA molecule encodes a eukaryotic AHAS large subunit protein which is resistant to at least one herbicide.

A method for enhancing herbicide resistance in progeny plants of a plant, said method comprising:

• (a) crossing the plant with a transgenic plant whose genetic complement comprises a first DNA sequence and a second DNA sequence, wherein said first DNA sequence comprises a DNA secquence selected from the group consisting of
• (i) the DNA sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 1,
• (ii) the DNA sequence set forth in nucleotides 758 to 4737 of SEQ ID NO:
• 3, and
• (iii) a DNA seciuence encoding the amino acid secquence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 2,
• and wherein said second DNA sequence encodes a herbicide-resistant mutant of the large subunit of a eukaryotic AHAS protein;
• and
• (b) selecting for those progeny plants which exhibit herbicide resistance;
• wherein the first DNA sequence was introduced into said transgenic plant by transformation.

A method for enhancing herbicide resistance in progeny plants of a plant, said method comprising:

• (a) crossing the plant with a transgenic plant whose genetic complement comprises a first DNA sequence and a second DNA sequence, wherein said first DNA sequence encodes a functional AHAS small subunit protein and said first DNA sequence hybridizes to the complement of SEQ ID NO:
• 1 under conditions comprising
• (i) hybridization at 42° C. for 20 hours in a solution comprising 50% formamide, 2×SSC, 5× Denhardt's solution, 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 0.05 mg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA, and 0.05% NaPPi,
• (iii) two washes at room temperature for 10 minutes in a solution comprising 0.4×SSC and 0.1% SDS, and
• (iii) one wash at 65° C. for 30 minutes in a solution comprising 0.2×SSC and 0.1% SDS,
• (b) selecting for those progeny plants which exhibit herbicide resistance;
• wherein the first DNA sequence was introduced into said transgenic plant by transformation and said second DNA sequence encodes a herbicide-resistant mutant of the large subunit of a eukaryotic AHAS protein.