# US 9,040,775 B2 · Method for modifying plant architecture and enhancing plant biomass and/or sucrose yield

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- Number: US 9,040,775 B2
- Document ID: US9040775B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/415,544
- Filed: 2012-03-08
- Published: 2012-07-26
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2006-10-27
- Assignees: Monsanto Do Brasil Ltda.
- Applicants: Paula Gonçalves De Araujo; Jesus Aparecido Ferro; Marcos Alegria; Ricardo Augusto Dante
- Inventors: Paula Gonçalves De Araujo; Jesus Aparecido Ferro; Marcos Alegria; Ricardo Augusto Dante
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9040775B2

## CPC

- C12N 15/8261: {with agronomic (input) traits, e.g. crop yield}
- C12N 9/0071: {acting on paired donors with incorporation of molecular oxygen (1.14)}
- C12N 15/8245: {involving modified carbohydrate or sugar alcohol metabolism, e.g. starch biosynthesis}
- Y02A 40/146: Genetically Modified [GMO] plants, e.g. transgenic plants
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

## Abstract

The present invention relates to methodology and constructs for modifying plant architecture and enhancing plant biomass and/or sucrose yield.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A transgenic plant comprising a nucleic acid construct that downregulates expression of an endogenous Ss2-ODD1 functional homolog DNA sequence of the transgenic plant by antisense suppression, sense co-suppression, RNA interference, or enzymatic RNA targeted to said Ss2-ODD1 functional homolog such that the expression of said Ss2-ODD1 functional homolog DNA sequence is reduced compared to a wild-type control plant thereby resulting in the transgenic plant having increased sucrose yield or increased biomass compared to said wild-type control plant, and wherein said transgenic plant is selected from the group consisting of the following:
(a) sorghum, wherein said endogenous Ss2-ODD1 functional homolog DNA sequence encodes a 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase protein comprising SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15 and SEQ ID NO:16, and said 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase protein is Sb2-ODD1 shown in FIG. 2;
(b) corn, wherein said endogenous Ss2-ODD1 functional homolog DNA sequence encodes a protein comprising SEQ ID NO:63; and
(c) rice, wherein said endogenous Ss2-ODD1 functional homolog DNA sequence encodes a protein comprising SEQ ID NO:64.

### Claim 2

A method for producing sucrose, said method comprising obtaining sucrose from a transgenic plant having a nucleic acid construct that suppresses expression of an endogenous Ss2-ODD1 functional homolog protein by antisense suppression, sense co-suppression, RNA interference, or enzymatic RNA targeted to said Ss2-ODD1 functional homolog in said transgenic plant compared to a wild-type control plant that does not contain the nucleic acid construct thereby resulting in said transgenic plant having increased sucrose yield compared to said wild-type control plant, wherein said transgenic plant is selected from the group consisting of the following:
(a) sorghum, wherein said endogenous Ss2-ODD1 functional homolog DNA sequence encodes a 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase protein comprising SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15 and SEQ ID NO:16, and said 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase protein is Sb2-ODD1 shown in FIG. 2;
(b) corn, wherein said endogenous Ss2-ODD1 functional homolog DNA sequence encodes a protein comprising SEQ ID NO:63; and
(c) rice, wherein said endogenous Ss2-ODD1 functional homolog DNA sequence encodes a protein comprising SEQ ID NO:64.

### Claim 3

A method for producing biomass, said method comprising obtaining biomass from a transgenic plant having a nucleic acid construct that suppresses expression of an endogenous Ss2-ODD1 functional homolog protein by antisense suppression, sense co-suppression, RNA interference, or enzymatic RNA targeted to said Ss2-ODD1 functional homolog in said transgenic plant compared to a wild-type control plant that does not contain the nucleic acid construct thereby resulting in said transgenic plant having increased biomass compared to said wild-type control plant, wherein said transgenic plant is selected from the group consisting of the following:
(a) sorghum, wherein said endogenous Ss2-ODD1 functional homolog DNA sequence encodes a 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase protein comprising SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15 and SEQ ID NO:16, and said 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase protein is Sb2-ODD1 shown in FIG. 2;
(b) corn, wherein said endogenous Ss2-ODD1 functional homolog DNA sequence encodes a protein comprising SEQ ID NO:63; and
(c) rice, wherein said endogenous Ss2-ODD1 functional homolog DNA sequence encodes a protein comprising SEQ ID NO:64.

### Claim 4

A method for enhancing sucrose yield in a plant, said method comprising suppressing expression of an endogenous Ss2-ODD1 functional homolog protein by antisense suppression, sense co-suppression, RNA interference, or enzymatic RNA targeted to said Ss2-ODD1 functional homolog in said plant thereby resulting in said a transgenic plant having increased sucrose yield compared to a wild-type control plant, wherein said transgenic plant is selected from the group consisting of the following:
(a) sorghum, wherein said endogenous Ss2-ODD1 functional homolog DNA sequence encodes a 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase protein comprising SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15 and SEQ ID NO:16, and said 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase protein is Sb2-ODD1 shown in FIG. 2;
(b) corn, wherein said endogenous Ss2-ODD1 functional homolog DNA sequence encodes a protein comprising SEQ ID NO:63; and
(c) rice, wherein said endogenous Ss2-ODD1 functional homolog DNA sequence encodes a protein comprising SEQ ID NO:64.