Methods and compositions for delaying senescence and improving disease tolerance and yield in plants

• US 10,435,702 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2017
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Deikman, Jill, Schwartz, Steven H., Zheng, Wei, Gabriels, Suzan Herma Elisabeth Johanna, Hresko, Michelle C., Li, Xiangqian, Tao, Nengbing, Williams, Deryck J., Xiong, Hui
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosen, Jason Deveau
• Application Number:
  US15/808,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20180119160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8218 Antisense, co-suppression, viral induced gene silencing [VIGS], post-transcriptional induced gene silencing [PTGS]
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8249 involving ethylene biosynthesis, senescence or fruit development, e.g. modified tomato ripening, cut flower shelf-life
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8266 Abscission; Dehiscence; Senescence
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8279 for biotic stress resistance, pathogen resistance, disease resistance
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8282 for fungal resistance

Abstract

The present invention provides novel compositions for use to enhance crop performance. Specifically, the present invention provides for delayed senescence and/or improved yield enhancement in various crops. The present invention also provides for combinations of compositions and methods that provide for delayed senescence and/or improved yield.

Claims

1. A composition comprising:

(i) a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) polynucleotide molecule that comprises at least 18 contiguous nucleotides that are identical or complementary to a tomato plant EIN2 gene or transcript of said tomato plant gene, wherein said dsRNA polynucleotide molecule is not operably linked to a promoter or to a viral vector; and

(ii) a transfer agent comprising an organosilicone preparation that conditions a surface of the tomato plant to permeation by the dsRNA polynucleotide molecule into cells of the tomato plant.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein one strand of said dsRNA polynucleotide molecule is complementary to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:

624, 625, and 626.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition comprises a combination of two or more of said dsRNA polynucleotide molecules.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises one or more additional dsRNA polynucleotide molecules that are identical or complementary to a different target gene or transcript thereof.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein said dsRNA polynucleotide molecule is at least 18 to about 24, about 25 to about 50, about 51 to about 100, about 101 to about 300, about 301 to about 500, or at least about 500 or more residues in length.

6. The composition of claim 1, 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.

7. The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition further comprises a non-polynucleotide herbicidal molecule.

8. A method for topically applying to a tomato plant surface the composition of claim 1, the method comprising spraying the composition onto the surface of a tomato plant.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the composition is sprayed onto the surface of a tomato plant with a boom that extends over a crop, a boomless sprayer, an agricultural sprayer, a crop dusting airplane, a pressurized backpack sprayer, a track sprayer, or a laboratory sprayer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the agricultural sprayer is adapted for directional, broadcast, or banded spraying.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the tomato plant surface is the surface of one or more tomato plant part selected from the group consisting of a leaf, flower, stem, tassel, meristem, pollen, and ovule.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the tomato plant surface is the underside of a leaf.

13. The composition of claim 1, wherein said dsRNA polynucleotide molecule comprises at least 18 contiguous nucleotides that are identical or complementary to SEQ ID NO:

17.