Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.

E.i. Dupont De Nemours and Company

Plant Bioscience Limited

Caroline Dean

Daniel P O'Keefe

Kenneth Joseph Leto

Patricia A Harder

James A Romesser

Charles A Omer

James M Tepperman

Gordon Grant Simpson

Joanne West

Richard Colin Macknight

Anthony Gendall

Yaron Yakov Levy

Ian Bancroft

Clare Katharine Lister

Urban Johanson

Paul Dijkwel

An isolated nucleic acid obtainable from the VRN2 locus of a plant, which nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide which is capable of affecting one or more physical characteristics of a plant into which the nucleic acid is introduced, the physical characteristics being selected from vernalization response, flowering time, leaf size, and/or shape or shade avoidance response; alleles, fragment and derivatives thereof; polypeptides encoded by such nucleic acids; antibodies to such peptides.

Methods and means for modification of plant characteristics using the vernalization gene VRN2

Disclosed are isolated nucleic acids obtainable from the FRI locus of plants which encode polypeptides capable of specifically altering, particularly delaying, the flowering time of a plant into which the nucleic acid is introduced. One preferred embodiment is the FRI nucleotide sequence which encodes the polypeptide of FIG.(see the sequence of FIG., particularly bases 362-2188 thereof) or sequences degeneratively equivalent to these. Also provided are variant sequences (e.g. alleles, orthologues, derivatives) and complementary sequences, plus vectors, host cells, plants and associated processes of production and methods of use e.g. for influencing or affecting flowering time in a plant by expression or suppression of FRI or variant sequences.

[object Object]

Provided are isolated nucleic acid molecules which comprise VRN1 nucleotide sequences, which encode a polypeptide which is capable of specifically altering the vernalisation response of a plant into which the nucleic acid is introduced and expressed. Examples include cDNA and gDNA sequences (see e.g., Annex I). Also provided are variant molecules which may be derivatives or homologues (e.g., alleles, or paralogues such as RTV1), plus also complementary molecules. Corresponding polypeptides form a further part of the invention. The invention also provides methods and materials for preparing and using these molecules, e.g., in the production of plants having modified vernalisation characteristics. Also provided are methods for influencing and assessing the vernalisation phenotype of a plant.

Methods and means for modification of plant flowering characteristics

The invention discloses nucleic acid encoding an FY polypeptide with the sequence shown in Annex 2. Also provided are vectors, host cells and plants. Methods of the invention include the use of nucleic acids to express or down-regulate FY in plants. The methods may be used to affect flowering time or juvenile phase length in plants.

Methods and means for modification of plant characteristics

Genetic control of flowering

DNA sequences encoding herbicide metabolizing cytochrome P450 enzymes and iron-sulfur proteins that donate electrons to these enzymes, were introduced into plants and microorganisms rendering them able to produce the encoded gene products and to metabolize herbicides.

Expression of herbicide metabolizing cytochromes P450

Expression of herbicide metabolizing cytochromes

Growing community of inventors

Norwich, United Kingdom

Caroline Dean