Methods for producing plants with improved growth under nitrogen-limited conditions

• US 20060090219A1
• Filed: 12/14/2005
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Miwa, Tetsuya, Kisaka, Hiroaki, Akiyama, Ai
• Application Number:
  US11/302,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20060090219A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 800/278
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8261 with agronomic (input) traits, e.g. crop yield
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/146 Genetically Modified [GMO] plants, e.g. transgenic plants

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of producing a plant which exhibits improved growth and/or yield under reduced nitrogen conditions, that is, under cultivation conditions where nitrogen is limited as compared to ordinary cultivation conditions, by increasing 2-OG content in plants. Particularly, the present invention provides a method of producing a plant which exhibits improved growth and/or yield under conditions where nitrogen is reduced, that is, under cultivation conditions where nitrogen is limited as compared to ordinary cultivation conditions, by introducing a GDH gene or ECASPC gene into plants and expressing the transgene GDH or ECAPS in the plants, which results in increased 2-OG, or by spraying proline on the leaves of plants to increase the 2-OG content, thereby enhancing the incorporation of nitrogen or metabolic activity of plants. Also provided is a method of cultivating such plants under nitrogen-limited conditions.

Claims

1. A method for producing a plant which exhibits improved growth and/or improved yield under nitrogen-limited cultivation conditions, comprising increasing the 2-oxoglutarate (2-OG) content of the plant.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said 2-oxoglutarate content is increased by introducing and expressing a glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) gene into said plant.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said 2-oxoglutarate content is increased by spraying proline on a leaf of said plant.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said 2-oxoglutarate content is increased by introducing and expressing an ECASPC gene into said plant.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said nitrogen-limited cultivation conditions comprise an amount of nitrogen which is between less than the lower limit and 1/10-fold the lower limit of the standard application amount of nitrogen fertilizer.

5. A method for cultivating a plant which has increased 2-OG content, comprising cultivating said plant under nitrogen-limited conditions.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) gene has been introduced into said plant.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said plant has received foliar application of proline.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein an ECASPC gene has been introduced into said plant.

10. The method according to claim 5, wherein said nitrogen-limited conditions comprise an amount of nitrogen which is between less than the lower limit and 1/10 the lower limit of the standard application amount of nitrogen fertilizer.