Methods and compositions for plant pest control

• US 10,077,451 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2013
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Crawford, Michael J., Li, Xiangqian, Shortt, Barry J., Williams, Deryck Jeremy
• Primary Examiner(s): Ibrahim, Medina Ahmed
• Application Number:
  US14/435,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20150267222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/113 Non-coding nucleic acids modulating the expression of genes, e.g. antisense oligonucleotides; Antisense DNA or RNA; Triplex- forming oligonucleotides; Catalytic nucleic acids, e.g. ribozymes; Nucleic acids used in co-suppression or gene silencing when used in plants C12N15/8218
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8218 Antisense, co-suppression, viral induced gene silencing [VIGS], post-transcriptional induced gene silencing [PTGS]
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8282 for fungal resistance
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8285 for nematode resistance
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2310/11 Antisense
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/146 Genetically Modified [GMO] plants, e.g. transgenic plants

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and compositions to improve fungal disease resistance and/or nematode resistance in various crop plants. The present invention also provides for combinations of compositions and methods to improve fungal disease resistance and/or nematode resistance in various crop plants. Powdery mildews are fungal diseases that affect a wide range of plants including cereals, grasses, vegetables, ornamentals, weeds, shrubs, fruit trees, broad-leaved shade and forest trees, that is caused by different species of fungi in the order Erysiphales.

Claims

1. A method for producing a barley plant exhibiting an improvement in fungal disease resistance comprising topically applying to a barley plant surface a composition that comprises:

a. at least one dsRNA of 24 to about 95 nucleotides in length, wherein the dsRNA comprises a segment of 24 contiguous nucleotides that are identical or fully complementary to SEQ ID NO;

184, wherein said dsRNA is not operably linked to a promoter or to a viral vector and wherein said dsRNA does not become integrated into the plant chromosome; and

b. a transfer agent comprising an organosilicone preparation that conditions the barley plant surface to permeation by the dsRNA molecules into plant cells, wherein said plant exhibits an improvement in fungal disease resistance in comparison to a control barley plant that has not been treated with a composition comprising the dsRNA and a transfer agent, wherein the fungal disease resistance results from suppression of a barley Mildew Resistance Locus O (MLO) gene.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said dsRNA is not physically bound to a biolistic particle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said dsRNA is not transcribed from DNA integrated into a chromosome of the plant.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said dsRNA is 24 nucleotides in length.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said composition further comprises an additional polynucleotide of at least 24 nucleotides in length that is identical or complementary to SEQ ID NO:

29.

6. A composition comprising at least one dsRNA of 24 to about 95 nucleotides in length, wherein the dsRNA comprises a segment of 24 nucleotides that are identical or fully complementary to SEQ ID NO:

184, wherein said dsRNA is not operably linked to a promoter or a viral vector; and

, b) a transfer agent comprising an organosilicone preparation that conditions a plant surface to permeation by the dsRNA molecules into plant cells.

7. The composition of claim 6, wherein said dsRNA is 24 nucleotides in length.

8. The composition of claim 6, wherein said composition further comprises a non-polynucleotide herbicidal molecule, a polynucleotide herbicidal molecule, a polynucleotide that suppresses an herbicide target gene, an insecticide, a fungicide, a nematocide, or a combination thereof.

9. The composition of claim 6, wherein said dsRNA is not physically bound to a biolistic particle.