Methods and compositions for improving plant traits
AssigneePivot Bio, Inc.
InventorsKarsten Temme, Alvin Tamsir, Sarah Bloch, Rosemary Clark, Emily Tung
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are methods of increasing nitrogen fixation in a non-leguminous plant. The methods can comprise exposing the plant to a plurality of bacteria. Each member of the plurality comprises one or more genetic variations introduced into one or more genes or non-coding polynucleotides of the bacteria's nitrogen fixation or assimilation genetic regulatory network, such that the bacteria are capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen in the presence of exogenous nitrogen. The bacteria are not intergeneric microorganisms. Additionally, the bacteria, in planta, produce 1% or more of the fixed nitrogen in the plant.
Claims13
A method of increasing the amount of atmospheric derived nitrogen in a corn plant in a field, comprising:
- exposing said corn plant in said field to a plurality of engineered diazotrophic bacteria, said plurality of engineered diazotrophic bacteria comprising at least one genetic variation introduced into a nitrogen fixation genetic regulatory network, thereby increasing an amount of atmospheric derived nitrogen within said corn plant that is exposed to said plurality of engineered diazotrophic bacteria relative to a corn plant that is exposed to a same amount of a plurality of non-engineered diazotrophic bacteria that are the same species as said plurality of engineered diazotrophic bacteria,
- wherein said at least one genetic variation introduced into said nitrogen fixation genetic regulatory network comprises a mutation that results in one or more of:
- increased expression or activity of NifA, or decreased expression or activity of NifL;
- wherein at least one genetic variation introduced into said nitrogen fixation genetic regulatory network comprises insertion of a heterologous sequence found within a genome of a bacteria of the genus of said plurality of engineered diazotrophic bacteria;
- wherein the genetic material of said plurality of engineered diazotrophic bacteria consists essentially of genetic material from bacteria of the genus of said plurality of engineered diazotrophic bacteria;
- and
- wherein nitrogen fixation activity of said plurality of engineered diazotrophic bacteria in non-nitrogen-limiting conditions is greater than nitrogen fixation activity, in similar non-nitrogen-limiting conditions, of a same amount of said plurality of non-engineered diazotrophic bacteria that are the same species as said plurality of engineered diazotrophic bacteria.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.