Compositions and methods for altering the morphology of plants
Inventors
Assignees
National Science Foundation NSF • Ohio State University Research Foundation
Publication Number
US-8653330-B2
Publication Date
2014-02-18
Expiration Date
2028-09-19
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Abstract
Compounds, methods for producing them and methods for varying the morphology of plants are disclosed. More particularly, a SUN gene can be used to alter the shape of fruit in a plant such as a tomato plant.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to compositions and methods for modifying the phenotype of a plant, particularly by varying plant morphology such as fruit shape. More specifically, the invention involves the use of a SUN gene to alter the shape of fruit in plants such as tomatoes. The SUN locus controls elongated fruit shape by a duplication and repositioning event that leads to novel fruit shapes found in tomato.
The problem addressed is the lack of understanding of molecular bases underlying fruit shape variations in plants and the need to develop traits such as elongated fruit shapes that have agronomical and cultural importance. For example, elongated tomatoes are preferred for mechanical harvesting and processing, and novel shapes like grape tomatoes facilitate consumer differentiation. Prior to this invention, structural genome variations affecting these traits were not well characterized, especially the role of copy number variants mediated by transposable elements in shaping fruit morphology.
The invention uncovers that the SUN locus comprises a 24.3 kb duplicated segment on chromosome 7 derived via an LTR retroelement-mediated transposition from chromosome 10 near the DEFL1 promoter. The repositioning places the SUN gene under regulatory control that increases its expression in developing fruit, resulting in elongated fruit shape in a dosage-dependent and gain-of-function manner. Transgenic and RNAi methods confirm that altered SUN expression modulates fruit and leaf morphology, demonstrating the gene's sufficiency and necessity in regulating these traits.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes three independent claims covering a transformed plant with a SUN coding sequence under DEFL1 promoter, a plant part or progeny thereof, and methods for producing transgenic Lycopersicon plants with altered fruit shape.
Transgenic plant expressing SUN polypeptide under DEFL1 promoter
A transgenic Lycopersicon plant transformed with an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding the SUN protein (SEQ ID NO: 4) operably linked to an isolated DEFL1 promoter, enabling altered fruit shape.
Plant parts and progeny derived from transgenic SUN-expressing plants
Plant parts, seeds, cells, and transgenic progeny of the transformed Lycopersicon plants that carry the SUN gene and exhibit altered fruit shape phenotypes.
Method for making transgenic Lycopersicon plants with altered fruit shape by breeding
A method of producing transgenic Lycopersicon plants having altered fruit shape by breeding a plant transformed with the SUN coding sequence under the DEFL1 promoter with another Lycopersicon plant.
The claims collectively cover transgenic tomato plants expressing SUN protein controlled by the DEFL1 promoter, their derived plant materials, and breeding methods to propagate the fruit shape-altering trait conferred by SUN expression.
Stated Advantages
The invention provides a gain-of-function mutation that controls fruit shape by altering expression of SUN, allowing the production of elongated fruit shapes in tomato.
It enables modulation of plant morphology, including fruit and leaf shape, via manipulation of SUN expression in a dosage-dependent manner.
The transposition-mediated duplication provides a novel genetic mechanism for creating phenotypic variation via repositioning of a gene under different regulatory control.
Documented Applications
Producing transgenic tomato plants with altered elongated fruit shape for agricultural and commercial purposes.
Generating tomato varieties, including near isogenic lines, exhibiting modified leaf and fruit morphology through SUN gene expression alteration.
Utilization of transformed plants and their fruits as food and food products derived from plants expressing SUN gene variants.
Methods for molecular breeding and propagation to improve fruit shape traits by incorporating SUN gene constructs.
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