Disease resistant plants
AssigneeThe Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
InventorsSrinivasa Rao Uppalapati, Kirankumar Mysore, Wensheng Li, Lloyd Sumner, Richard A. Dixon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention provides transgenic plants with resistance to infection by a root-infecting fungal plant pathogen such as Phymatotrichopsis omnivora. Also provided are methods of making such plants. Further provided are nucleic acid vectors for producing such a plant. Additionally, methods are provided for growing a dicotyledonous plant that is resistant to root rot disease in soil that comprises Phymatotrichopsis omnivora, or another pathogen.
Claims29
A transgenic alfalfa plant comprising a first selected DNA that down-regulates the activity of caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase (COMT) or caffeoyl CoA 3-O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT) in the plant through inhibition of transcription or translation of a COMT or CCoAOMT gene, wherein COMT or CCoAOMT activity is down-regulated (a) in the roots of the plant, (b) in response to infection by a root-infecting fungal plant pathogen, or (c) during infection by Phymatotrichopsis omnivore or Colletotrichum spp., wherein the first selected DNA is expressed primarily in the roots of the plant, and wherein the plant exhibits resistance to Phymatotrichopsis omnivore or Colletotrichum spp. as a result of the presence of said first selected DNA.
A method of rendering an alfalfa plant that is otherwise susceptible to Phymatotrichopsis Root Rot, or to a disease caused by Colletotrichum sp., more resistant to such a disease, the method comprising:
- expressing in an alfalfa plant a first selected DNA that down-regulates the activity of caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase (COMT) or caffeoyl CoA 3-O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT) in the modified plant through inhibition of transcription or translation of a COMT or CCoAOMT gene, wherein COMT or CCoAOMT activity is down-regulated (a) primarily in the roots of the modified plant, (b) primarily in response to infection by a root-infecting fungal plant pathogen;
- or (c) during infection by Phymatotrichopsis omnivora, or Colletotrichum spp.
A nucleic acid vector comprising a first selected DNA that down-regulates activity of caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase (COMT) or caffeoyl CoA 3-O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT) in the plant through inhibition of transcription or translation of a COMT or CCoAOMT gene, such that, when the vector is transformed into an alfalfa plant, the first selected DNA is expressed (a) primarily in the roots of the resulting transgenic plant, (b) primarily in response to infection of the resulting transgenic plant by a root-infecting fungal plant pathogen;
- or (c) during infection by Phymatotrichopsis omnivora, or Colletotrichum spp.
A method of growing an alfalfa plant that is naturally susceptible to Phymatotrichopsis Root Rot or to a disease caused by Colletotrichum sp., in soil or a field or crop that comprises Phymatotrichopsis omnivora or Colletotrichum sp., the method comprising:
- expressing a first selected DNA in the alfalfa plant that down-regulates the activity of caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase (COMT) or caffeoyl CoA 3-O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT) in the alfalfa plant through inhibition of transcription or translation of a COMT or CCoAOMT gene, and
- growing the alfalfa plant expressing the first selected DNA in the soil or the field.
A method of treating an alfalfa plant that is susceptible to a fungal plant pathogen, the method comprising providing 7,4-dihydroxyflavone to the plant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.