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Cornell Research Foundation Inc.

Cornell University

United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture

Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research

Boyce Thompson Institute Inc.

Julia Vrebalov

Steven D Tanksley

James J Giovannoni

Li Li

Jocelyn Kenneth Rose

David F Garvin

Diana M O'Halloran

Tal Isaacson-Lustig

Frederick Noensie

Shan Lu

Disclosed is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence that is at least 90% identical to a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 4, wherein the protein has an aspartic acid (Asp) at amino acid position 106 Transgenic plants comp&#x3c0;sing the nucleic acid have reduced or delayed softening and detenoration of fruit compared to wild-type plants Methods of genetic screening for plants having reduced or delayed softening and detenoration of fruit, isolated oligonucleotides, and a method of imparting to a plant the dfd trait are also disclosed.

Delayed fruit deterioration allele in plants and methods of detection

The cauliflower (L. var.) Or gene is a semi-dominant, single-locus mutation. It induces the accumulation of high levels of beta-carotene in various tissues that are normally devoid of carotenoids, turning them orange. Using a map-based cloning strategy, we identified a single candidate gene representing Or and successfully verified its identity by phenotypic complementation in the wild type cauliflower. The Or gene encodes a plastid membrane protein containing the DnaJ zinc figure domain. A likely gain-of-function mutation from a 4.3-kb retrotransposon insertion in the Or allele confers the orange phenotype in the mutant. Southern blot analysis revealed that Or is a single-copy sequence in the cauliflower genome. High level of expression of the Or gene and the protein was found in very young leaves, curds, and flowers at comparable abundance between wild type and the Or mutant. Or likely functions in regulating the differentiation of some non-photosynthetic plastids into chromoplasts, which provide the deposition 'sink' for carotenoid accumulation. Or orthologs with high degree of sequence homology were found in many other higher plants, including, tomato, maize, and rice. Successful phenotypic complementation of Or inprovides strong evidence that Or can work across species to enhance carotenoid accumulation in other important crops.

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The current invention provides nucleic acid sequences encoding the NOR gene. Compositions comprising this sequence are described, as are plants transformed with such compositions. Further provided are methods for the expression of the NOR gene. The methods of the invention include the direct creation of transgenic plants with the NOR gene by genetic transformation, as well as by plant breeding methods. The sequences of the invention represent a valuable new tool for the creation of transgenic plants, preferably having one or more added beneficial characteristics.

NOR gene compositions and methods for use thereof

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Ithaca, NY, United States of America

Julia Vrebalov