Other

The University of Bath

Biogemma UK Limited

Gene Shears Pty. Limited

Roderick John Scott

Wyatt Paul

Pascual Perez

John Draper

Rachel Hodge

Andreas Betzner

Phillipe Lenee

Diane Hird

Eric Huttner

This invention relates to methods for altering cell proliferation in a plant by modulating the expression of an endogenous plant gene whose expression product affects cell proliferation. These methods can be used to modify plant characteristics, such as seed size. In particular, the invention provides methods for modifying cell proliferation in the integuments and/or seed coats of a plant by inhibiting expression of endogenous gene encoding Auxin response factor 2 (ARF2/MNT) or an orthologue thereof, such that the number of cells in the integuments and/or seed coat is increased, resulting in increased seed size. The plant or plant propagating material can be transformed, e.g., with a nucleic acid construct, to increase or decrease the expression of endogenous genes or the orthologues thereof that affect cell proliferation. The invention also relates to modified plants and reproducible plant material produced by the methods, and nucleic acid constructs for use in such methods.

Methods for modulating cell proliferation in the seed coat and/or integument

A method for controlling endosperm size and development in plants. The method employs nucleic acid constructs encoding proteins involved in genomic imprinting, in the production of transgenic plants. The nucleic acid constructs can be used in the production of transgenic plants to affect interspecific hybridisation.

Methods for modifying plant endosperm

The use of DNA sequences comprising a glucanase coding region operably linked to a promoter, or other regulatory sequence, which provides for expression of the DNA sequence with appropriate tissue and/or temporal specificity, in the preparation of a male sterile transgenic tomato plant is disclosed. In preferred embodiments the promoter is a tapetum specific promoter, eg an A3 or an A9 promoter. DNA sequences comprising the PR-Glucanase coding region and an A3 or an A9 promoter, preferably an A9 promoter are also described, as are transgenic tomato plants, plant cells, propagating material, seeds, antisense DNA sequences and ribozyme encoding DNA sequences for restoration of male-fertility.

Use of DNA sequences for male sterility in transgenic plants

The present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences encoding tapetum specific promoters, for use in Artificial Male Sterility systems in plants. In particular, the promoters may be the pMAC2 promoter; the pMAC20 promoter; or promoter sequences which naturally controls the expression of a coding sequence substantially homologous to the MAC2 or MAC20 coding sequences. Also provided are regulatory elements of the promoters; plant cells and plants transformed with the promoter sequences.

Tapetum-specific promoters

Methods for the production of modified plants are provided. In these methods a first line and a second line are crossed to produce a plant having a phenotypic trait, wherein neither the first or second lines possess the phenotypic trait, and wherein at least one of the parent lines is transgenic. Plants produced by the methods of the invention are also described.

Method for the production of modified plants

Callase-related DNAs and their use in artificial male sterility

Tapetum-specific promoters, designated A3 and A9 and capable of driving expression of 12.9 kDa and 11.6 kDa proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana and related proteins within the family Brassicaceae, have been discovered, isolated and cloned. The promoters can be used to drive male sterility DNA such as that coding for a nuclease, protease or glucanase. Alternatively or in addition, male sterility can be achieved by disrupting the proper expression of the A3 and/or A9 genes, for example by transcribing RNA which is antisense to the RNA normally transcribed from the A3 and A9 genes, or by expressing DNA coding for a ribozyme specific for at least one of the A3 and A9 genes.

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Leicester, United Kingdom

Roderick John Scott