Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, As Represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food

Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada As Represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food Eastern Cereal & Oilseed, Research Center

Stephen Gleddie

Nicholas J Bate

Laurian Sylvio Robert

John A Simmonds

Linda J Harris

Dwayne Hegedus

Elizabeth Foster

Daniel C W Brown

Ulrike Schafer

This invention is directed to a method for the expression of a gene of interest, or a chimeric or modified gene allowing the localization of a protein, protein fusion, peptide or fragment of interest within the extracellular domain of a floral cell. This method comprises preparing a construct comprising a promoter sequence capable of expressing a gene encoding the protein, protein fusion, peptide, or fragment of interest, within the floral cell; a translated sequence of the protein, protein fusion, peptide, or fragment of interest, which is localized within the extracellular domain of a floral cell; a gene that encodes the protein, protein fusion, peptide, or fragment of interest; and a terminator sequence, and transforming a plant. Plants transformed with such a construct are characterized as having a protein, fragment thereof, or peptide of interest on the surface of a floral cell. Such localized proteins or peptides may be used for the purposes of peptide display, mediating plant sterility, modifying pollen-pistil interactions, altering pollen for insect consumption etc.

Modification of pollen coat protein composition

The invention provides for a chimeric construct comprising a regulatory region obtained from a hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) gene in operative association with a heterologous gene of interest. Even though the HPL gene is known to be expressed in response to wounding, unexpectedly, it was observed that the HPL regulatory region or one or more fragments thereof, result in constitutive expression of the gene of interest in a range of tissues and organs in the absence of any wound or stress treatment. This invention also provides for a transgenic organism comprising the chimeric construct defined above, and a method for preparing a transgenic organism using the chimeric construct.

Hydroperoxide Lyase regulator region

is a plant pathogen, attacking a wide range of plant species including corn (ear and stalk rot), barley, and wheat (head blight).epidemics result in millions of dollars of losses in crop revenues.infection in the cereals reduces both grain yield and quality. Mycotoxins are produced by many fungalspecies and thus the grain becomes contaminated with these mycotoxins, such as the trichothecenes. The major trichothecene produced byis deoxynivalenol (abbreviated as DON, also known as vomitoxin). Trichothecenes are potent protein synthesis inhibitors and are quite toxic to humans and livestock. A yeast gene has been identified which confers upon yeast tolerant of the trichothecene, trichodermin. A corresponding plant gene has been prepared, which has been used to transform plants. These transformed plants have an increased resistance toinfestation.

Tolerance of trichothecene mycotoxins in plants through the modification of the ribosomal protein L3 gene

Growing community of inventors

Ottawa, Canada

Stephen Gleddie