Methods and compositions for increasing invertase activity in plants

• US 9,920,326 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Fillatti, Joanne J., Froman, Byron, Mroczka, Andrew, Peel, Gregory John
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosen, Jason Deveau
• Application Number:
  US13/619,876
• Time in Patent Office: 2,013 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 63/60 Isolated nucleic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8218 Antisense, co-suppression, viral induced gene silencing [VIGS], post-transcriptional induced gene silencing [PTGS]
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8245 involving modified carbohydrate or sugar alcohol metabolism, e.g. starch biosynthesis
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8266 Abscission; Dehiscence; Senescence
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8295 Cytokinins
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/2431 Beta-fructofuranosidase (3.2.1.26), i.e. invertase
• CPC Class Codes: C12Y 302/01026 Beta-fructofuranosidase (3.2.1.26), i.e. invertase

Abstract

The present invention provides novel compositions for use to enhance crop performance. Specifically, the present invention provides for increased invertase activity, increased sugar content and/or delayed senescence plants. The present invention also provides for combinations of compositions and methods that increase invertase activity, increase sugar content and/or delay senescence in plants.

Claims

1. A method for producing a tomato plant exhibiting increased invertase activity, the method comprising topically applying to a tomato plant surface a composition that comprises:

a. at least one double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) polynucleotide that comprises at least 18 contiguous nucleotides that are identical or complementary to a tomato INVINH1 gene transcript, wherein the dsRNA polynucleotide is not operably linked to a promoter or to a viral vector; and

b. a transfer agent comprising a surfactant comprising an organosilicone preparation that conditions the tomato plant surface to permeation by the dsRNA polynucleotide into cells of the tomato plant;

wherein said tomato plant exhibits increased invertase activity in comparison to a control tomato plant that has not been treated with a composition comprising a polynucleotide and a transfer agent and wherein the increased invertase activity results from suppression of said tomato INVINH1 gene.

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

9.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein one strand of said dsRNA polynucleotide molecule is complementary to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:

41, 42, and 65.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said composition further comprises one or more additional dsRNA polynucleotides that are essentially identical or complementary to a different target gene or transcript thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said dsRNA polynucleotide 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 method 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 method of claim 1, wherein said composition further comprises a non-polynucleotide herbicidal molecule and said tomato plant is resistant to said herbicidal molecule.