Plant Genetic Systems N.v.

Bayer Bioscience N.v.

Bayer Cropscience Nv

Aventis Cropscience, N.v.

Frank Michiels

Kirk Johnson

Marc De Beuckeleer

Mark E Williams

Johan Botterman

Marc Cornelissen

The invention provides specific transgenic rice plants, plant material and seeds, characterized in that these products harbor a specific transformation event at a specific location in the rice genome. Tools are also provided which allow rapid and unequivocal identification of the event in biological samples.

Herbicide tolerant rice plants and methods for identifying same

This invention pertains to plants, plant material and seeds characterized by harboring a specific transformation event particularly by the presence of the bar gene under control of a CaMV 35S promoter, at a specific location in the rice genome. The rice plants of the invention combine glufosinate tolerance with optimal overall agronomic performance, genetic stability and adaptability to different genetic backgrounds.

Glufosinate tolerant rice

An improved barstar gene and improved barstar protein can be used to neutralize the activity of a barnase in eukaryotic cells, particular in plant cells. The improved barstar gene can be used to produce fertility restorer plants capable of restoring the fertility to a line of male-sterile plants that contain in the nuclear genome of their cells a chimeric gene comprising a stamen-selective promoter and a DNA coding for a barnase. Restorer plants containing the barstar gene in the restorer plant's nuclear genome is also disclosed.

Barstar gene

This invention pertains to rice plants, plant material and seeds characterized by harboring a specific transformation event particularly by the presence of the bar gene under control of a CaMV 35S promoter, at a specific location in the rice genome. The rice plants of the invention combine glufosinate tolerance with optimal overall agronomic performance, genetic stability and adaptability to different genetic backgrounds.

Improved barstar DNAs, such as synthetic barstar DNAs, produce high amounts of barstar protein in eucaryotic cells, particularly in plant cells, and especially in stamen cells such as tapetum cells. Synthetic barstar DNAs have less than 40% A and T nucleotides. Other improved barstar DNAs encode improved barstar proteins which have an N-terminus which starts with Met-Xaa wherein Xaa is Alanine, Valine, Glycine, Aspartic acid or Glutamic acid. Plan cells and plants contain the improved barstar DNAs and/or express the improved barstar protein.

A plant having in the nuclear genome of its cells foreign DNA comprising i) a male-sterility gene comprising a male-sterility DNA encoding a sterility RNA, protein or polypeptide which, when produced or overproduced in a stamen cell of the plant, significantly disturbs the metabolism, functioning and/or development of the stamen cell, and, a sterility promoter directing expression of the male-sterility DNA selectively in specific stamen cells of said plant, the male-sterility DNA being in the same transcriptional unit as, and under the control of, the sterility promoter, and ii) a coregulating gene comprising a coregulating DNA encoding a coregulating RNA, protein or polypeptide which, when produced in plant cells wherein said sterility RNA, protein or polypeptide is produced, prevents the activity of said sterility RNA, protein or polypeptide, and a coregulating promoter which is selected from the group consisting of a promoter directing expression of said coregulating DNA in non-stamen cells of said plant, while directing low-level expression in said specific stamen cells; and a promoter comprising a minimal promoter element, whereby said coregulating DNA is in a transcriptional unit which is different from the transcriptional unit of said sterility DNA and wherein said plant is male sterile.

Method to obtain male sterile plants

The invention relates to an elite event glufosinate tolerant rice plant transformed with a bar gene, such as a 35S-bar gene, where the gene is inserted into the location defined by SEQ ID &lsqb;No&rsqb; NO: 9 within the rice genome, and methods of making and using the glufosinate tolerant rice plant.

Growing community of inventors

Singapore, Singapore

Frank Michiels