Methods and compositions for weed control using EPSPS polynucleotides

• US 10,334,848 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2015
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Navarro, Santiago X.
• Primary Examiner(s): O Hara, Eileen B
• Application Number:
  US15/111,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20160330967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,630 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A01H 3/04 by treatment with chemicals
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 37/40 having at least one carboxylic group or a thio analogue, or a derivative thereof, and one oxygen or sulfur atom attached to the same aromatic ring system
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 57/20 containing acyclic or cycloaliphatic radicals
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8218 Antisense, co-suppression, viral induced gene silencing [VIGS], post-transcriptional induced gene silencing [PTGS]
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8261 with agronomic (input) traits, e.g. crop yield
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8274 for herbicide resistance
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8275 Glyphosate
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8287 for fertility modification, e.g. apomixis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/146 Genetically Modified [GMO] plants, e.g. transgenic plants

Abstract

Provided are novel polynucleotide compositions for enhancing the herbicidal activity of glyphosate. Specifically provided are methods and compositions for modulating 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) in plant species. The present compositions and methods are useful in controlling glyphosate resistant weeds.

Claims

1. A method of controlling growth, development or reproductive ability of a plant, comprising:

topically treating the plant with a composition comprising a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) polynucleotide and a transfer agent, wherein the dsRNA polynucleotide comprises (a) a strand consisting of SEQ ID NO;

3 or 5; and

(b) a strand comprising the reverse complement of (a), whereby the growth, development or reproductive ability of the plant is reduced, relative to a plant not treated with the composition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transfer agent is selected from the group consisting of an organosilicone surfactant, a cationic lipid reagent, and a plant hormone.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the cationic lipid reagent is N41-(2,3-Dioleoyloxy)propyll-N,N,N-trimethylammonium methyl-sulfate (DOTAP), or wherein the plant hormone is brassinosteroid.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of Amaranthus palmeri, Amaranthus rudis, Amaranthus albus, Amaranthus chlorostachys, Amaranthus graecizans, Amaranthus hybridus, Amaranthus lividus, Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranthus thunbergii, Amaranthus viridis, Lolium multiflorum, Lolium rigidum, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ambrosia trifida, Euphorbia heterophylla, Kochia scoparia, Abutilon theophrasti, Sorghum halepense, Chenopodium album, Commelina diffusa, Convolvulus arvensis, Conyza canadensis, Digitaria sanguinalis, and Xanthium strumarium.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises one or more of an EPSPS-inhibitor herbicide and two different dsRNA polynucleotides, one consisting of a strand of SEQ ID NO:

3 and its reverse complement, and the other consisting of a strand of SEQ ID NO;

5 and its reverse complement.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the composition further comprises a component selected from the group consisting of an auxin-like herbicide, 3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and one or more herbicides different from the one or more of the EPSPS-inhibitor herbicide.

7. A composition comprising:

a dsRNA polynucleotide and a transfer agent, wherein the dsRNA polynucleotide comprises (a) a strand consisting of SEQ ID NO;

3 or 5; and

(b) a strand comprising the reverse complement of (a).

8. The composition of claim 7, wherein the transfer agent is selected from the group consisting of an organosilicone surfactant, a cationic lipid reagent, and brassinosteroid.

9. The composition of claim 8, wherein the composition further comprises ammonium sulfate.

10. The composition of claim 8, wherein the cationic lipid reagent is N41-(2,3-Dioleoyloxy)propyll-N,N,N-trimethylammonium methyl-sulfate (DOTAP).

11. The composition of claim 7, further comprising an EPSPS-inhibitor herbicide.

12. The composition of claim 11, wherein the EPSPS-inhibitor herbicide is glyphosate.

13. The composition of claim 11, further comprising a non-EPSPS-inhibitor herbicide.

14. The composition of claim 13, wherein the non-EPSPS-inhibitor herbicide is 3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid.

15. A method of sensitizing a weedy plant to an EPSPS-inhibitor herbicide comprising:

treating the weedy plant with a dsRNA polynucleotide, wherein the dsRNA polynucleotide comprises (a) a strand consisting of SEQ ID NO;

3 or 5; and

(b) a strand comprising the reverse complement of (a), whereby the weedy plant is more sensitive to the EPSPS-inhibitor herbicide relative to a weedy plant not treated with the dsRNA polynucleotide.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the EPSPS-inhibitor herbicide is glyphosate.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the weedy plant is resistant to glyphosate, 3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid, sulfonylurea, or a combination thereof.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the weedy plant is selected from the group consisting of Amaranthus palmeri, Amaranthus rudis, Amaranthus albus, Amaranthus chlorostachys, Amaranthus graecizans, Amaranthus hybridus, Amaranthus lividus, Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranthus thunbergii, Amaranthus viridis, Lolium multiflorum, Lolium rigidum, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ambrosia trifida, Euphorbia heterophylla, Kochia scoparia, Abutilon theophrasti, Sorghum halepense, Chenopodium album, Commelina diffusa, Convolvulus arvensis, Conyza canadensis, Digitaria sanguinalis, and Xanthium strumarium.