Paradigm Genetics, Inc.

Douglas C Boyes

Carol M Hamilton

Neil E Hoffman

Robert Ascenzi

Keith R Davis

Adel Zayed

Jeffrey P Woessner

J&ouml;rn G&ouml;rlach

Andreas S Kloti

Jorn Gorlach

Andreas S Kl&ouml;ti

Lining Guo

John W Rice

Rao Mulpuri

Daniel N Riggsbee

Joseph Cameron Mitchell

Susanne Kjemtrup

The present inventors have discovered that chorismate mutase and chorismate synthase are essential for plant growth. Specifically, the inhibition of chorismate mutase or chorismate synthase gene expression in plant seedlings results in severe chlorosis, reduced growth and developmental abnormalities. The inventors have proven that chorismate synthase and chorismate mutase can be used as targets for the identification of herbicides. Thus, the invention provides methods for the identification of chemicals that modulate chorismate synthase and chorismate mutase biochemical reactions. The methods of the invention are useful for the identification of herbicides and for the inhibition of plant growth and development.

Methods and compositions for the modulation of chorismate synthase and chorismate mutase expression or activity in plants

The present inventors have discovered that serine acetyltransferase (SAT) is essential for plant growth. Specifically, the inhibition of SAT gene expression in plant seedlings results in reduced growth and altered pigmentation. Thus, SAT is useful as a target for the identification of herbicides. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods for the identification of herbicides by measuring the activity of an SAT in the presence and absence of a compound, wherein an alteration of SAT activity in the presence of the compound indicates the compound as a candidate for a herbicide.

Methods for the identification of inhibitors of serine acetyltransferase activity in plants

Morphological markers are used in a method of visually identifying plants transformed with a nucleotide sequence (e.g., a heterologous gene). The nucleotide sequence is transformed into a plant that exhibits an abnormal phenotype for a morphological marker. If the transformation of the plant is successful, the progeny of the transformed plant will exhibit a normal phenotype. In a preferred embodiment, the plant is Arabidopsis and the morphological marker is Gl1, which is associated with trichome production on plant leaves. The method is also useful for identifying plants that are homozygous for the transformed gene, and for identifying transformants in the T2 generation that are true crosses, rather than self-crosses.

Methods for identifying transgenic plants using morphological markers

Methods for the identification of modulators of magnesium chelatase expression or activity in plants

The present inventors have discovered that chorismate mutase and chorismate synthase are essential for plant growth. Specifically, the inhibition of chorismate mutase or chorismate synthase gene expression in plant seedlings results in severe chlorosis, reduced growth and developmental abnormalities. Thus, in one aspect the invention provides compositions for the modulation of plant growth or development comprising chorismate synthase and chorismate mutase antisense and sense polynucleotides, dsRNA and ribozymes, and related expression cassettes and vectors. The compositions of the invention are particularly useful for the modulation and inhibition of plant growth. The invention further provides plants, plant cells, and seeds containing the polynucleotides of the invention. The inventors have proven that chorismate synthase and chorismate mutase can be used as targets for the identification of herbicides. Thus, the invention provides methods for the identification of chemicals that modulate chorismate synthase and chorismate mutase biochemical reactions. The methods of the invention are useful for the identification of herbicides and for the inhibition of plant growth and development. In addition, the methods of the invention are useful for the identification of compounds that stimulate the expression or function of chorismate synthase or chorismate mutase expression or function. Such compounds can be used to promote plant growth and development.

A spray booth is provided for reproducible application of agrichemicals to plants. The spray booth comprises a support member for supporting a plurality of plants, a cover having a plurality of sides and a top and forming an enclosure with the support member for enclosing the plants therein, an agrichemical source for providing a pressurized agrichemical, and a spray arm having a spray mechanism operably connected to the agrichemical source. Preferably, the spray arm is disposed within the enclosure and over the support member such that it extends across the width of the support member. The spray mechanism is used for spraying a predetermined amount of the agrichemical therefrom in the form of a fine mist along the length of the spray arm. Advantageously, at least one of the support member and the spray arm is laterally moveable relative to the other such that the plants disposed both lengthwise and widthwise on the support member are substantially uniformly misted with the agrichemical. In one embodiment of the present invention, the support member supporting the plants is stationary while the spray arm is adapted to move bidirectionally in a substantially horizontal plane thereabove. In an alternate embodiment, the spray arm is stationary and the support member supporting the plants is adapted to move bidirectionally in a substantially horizontal plane therebelow.

Spray booth for reproducible application of agrichemicals

Growing community of inventors

Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America

Douglas C Boyes