Papaver somniferum strain with high concentration of thebaine
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Publication Number
US-9131649-B2
Publication Date
2015-09-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention is directed to an improved poppy straw, concentrate of poppy straw and opium of Papaver somniferum for the production of thebaine containing little or no oripavine, codeine or morphine. The present invention also provides plants, stands and seeds of Papaver somniferum and methods for the production of thebaine.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a poppy plant of Papaver somniferum having a stably heritable thebaine-only chemotype. Upon harvesting of its poppy capsules, the plant yields a poppy straw in which thebaine constitutes about 95% by weight or greater of an alkaloid combination, with oripavine constituting about 5% by weight or less, and wherein thebaine constitutes about 3.0% or greater of the straw on a dry weight basis.
The thebaine-only chemotype is provided by two independent genes. The first independent gene prevents thebaine being converted to neopinone and prevents oripavine being converted into morphinone, and the second independent gene blocks the pathway between thebaine and oripavine.
The disclosed description supports that the thebaine-only chemotype is stable and heritable across generations, including M2-M5. Alkaloid profiles are determined by UPLC-based alkaloid profiling from capsule straw and green-capsule latex sampling, and the results report selection counts and alkaloid thresholds consistent with a thebaine-only phenotype.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim coverage defines one stably heritable thebaine-only chemotype plant with a quantitative alkaloid profile in harvested poppy straw, and a two-gene genetic basis with specific pathway-blocking functions. It also includes refinement claims with tighter quantitative thresholds, absence constraints, and a method of producing thebaine by harvesting poppy capsules and extracting from the poppy straw.
Stably heritable thebaine-only chemotype poppy plant with quantified straw alkaloid profile
A Papaver somniferum poppy plant having a stably heritable thebaine-only chemotype which upon harvesting of its poppy capsules yields a poppy straw having thebaine constituting about 95% by weight or greater of an alkaloid combination and oripavine constituting about 5% by weight or less, wherein the alkaloid combination comprises morphine, codeine, thebaine and oripavine, and wherein thebaine constitutes about 3.0% or greater of the poppy straw on a dry weight basis.
Two independent genes providing thebaine-only chemotype by pathway prevention and blocking
The thebaine-only chemotype is provided by two independent genes, with one preventing thebaine being converted to neopinone and preventing oripavine being converted into morphinone, and the other blocking the pathway between thebaine and oripavine.
Quantitative refinements to thebaine-only straw and alkaloid composition
Additional quantitative constraints include a thebaine content in poppy straw of about 3.5% or greater on a dry weight basis; a thebaine proportion of about 97% by weight or more with oripavine about 0.7% by weight or less; and oripavine about 0.4% or less of poppy straw by dry weight.
Substantially no morphine or codeine in alkaloid combination
The plant is characterized by an alkaloid combination containing substantially no morphine or codeine.
Producing thebaine by harvesting poppy capsules to make poppy straw and chemically extracting thebaine
A method for producing thebaine by harvesting poppy capsules to make poppy straw and chemically extracting thebaine from the poppy straw.
The coverage centers on a stably heritable Papaver somniferum thebaine-only chemotype with quantified harvested straw alkaloid composition, and a genetic basis defined by two independent genes that prevent specific conversions and block the pathway between thebaine and oripavine.
Stated Advantages
Improved thebaine production from Papaver somniferum using mutagenized poppy strains to obtain stably heritable plants with high thebaine and little or no oripavine.
Addresses cost and supply limitations caused by extraction yield constraints by increasing thebaine yield through targeted alkaloid composition and dry-weight levels.
Documented Applications
Producing thebaine by harvesting poppy capsules to make poppy straw and chemically extracting thebaine from the poppy straw [procedural detail omitted for safety].
Producing alkaloid material from harvested plants in the form of poppy straw, concentrate of poppy straw, and opium with high thebaine and little or no oripavine.
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