METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR WEED CONTROL

• US 20130254941A1
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Dafu Wang
• Inventors: ADER, DANIEL, Li, Zhaolong, Shah, Ronak Hasmukh, Tao, Nengbing, Wang, Dafu, Finnessy, John J, Kapoor, Mahak
• Granted Patent: US 9,416,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 800/286
• CPC Class Codes: A01H 3/04 by treatment with chemicals
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 2300/00 Combinations or mixtures of active ingredients covered by classes A01N27/00 - A01N65/48 with other active or formulation relevant ingredients, e.g. specific carrier materials or surfactants, covered by classes A01N25/00 - A01N65/48
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 41/06 Sulfonic acid amides
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/84 six-membered rings with one nitrogen atom and either one oxygen atom or one sulfur atom in positions 1,4
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 57/16 containing heterocyclic radicals
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/1137 against enzymes viral enzymes C12N15/1131; receptors C12N15/1138
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8218 Antisense, co-suppression, viral induced gene silencing [VIGS], post-transcriptional induced gene silencing [PTGS]
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8243 involving biosynthetic or metabolic pathways, i.e. metabolic engineering, e.g. nicotine, caffeine
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8274 for herbicide resistance
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/001 acting on the CH-CH group of donors (1.3)
• CPC Class Codes: C12Y 103/03004 Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (1.3.3.4)

Abstract

Novel compositions for use to enhance weed control. Specifically, the present invention provides for methods and compositions that modulate protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase in weed species. The present invention also provides for combinations of compositions and methods that enhance weed control.

Claims

1. A method of plant control comprising:

treating a plant with a composition comprising a polynucleotide and a transfer agent, wherein said polynucleotide is essentially identical or essentially complementary to a PPG oxidase gene sequence or fragment thereof, or to an RNA transcript of said PPG oxidase gene sequence or fragment thereof, wherein said PPG oxidase gene sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO;

1-71 or a polynucleotide fragment thereof, whereby said plant growth or development or reproductive ability is regulated, suppressed or delayed or said plant is more sensitive to a PPG oxidase inhibitor herbicide as a result of said polynucleotide containing composition relative to a plant not treated with said composition.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transfer agent is an organosilicone surfactant composition or compound contained therein.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said polynucleotide fragment is 18 contiguous, 19 contiguous nucleotides, 20 contiguous nucleotides or at least 21 contiguous nucleotides in length and at least 85 percent identical to a PPG oxidase gene sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:

1-71.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said polynucleotide fragment is selected from the group consisting of sense or anti-sense ssDNA or ssRNA, dsRNA, or dsDNA, or dsDNA/RNA hybrids.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plant is selected from the group consisting of Amaranthus albus, Amaranthus graecizans, Amaranthus hybridus, Amaranthus lividus, Amaranthus palmeri, Amaranthus rudis, Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranthus thunbergii, Amaranthus viridis, Ambrosia trifida, Chenopodium album, Commelina diffusa, Conyza canadensis, Digitaria sanguinalis, Euphorbia heterophylla, Kochia scoparia, and Lolium multiflorum.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said composition further comprises said PPG oxidase inhibitor herbicide and external application to a plant with said composition.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said composition further comprises one or more herbicides different from said PPG oxidase inhibitor herbicide.

8. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said composition comprises any combination of two or more of said polynucleotide fragments and external application to a plant with said composition.

9. A composition comprising a polynucleotide and a transfer agent, wherein said polynucleotide is essentially identical or essentially complementary to a PPG oxidase gene sequence, or to an RNA transcript of said PPG oxidase gene sequence, wherein said PPG oxidase gene sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:

1-71 or a polynucleotide fragment thereof and whereby a plant treated with said composition has its growth or development or reproductive ability regulated, suppressed or delayed or said plant is more sensitive to a PPG oxidase inhibitor herbicide or mitosis inhibitor herbicide as a result of said polynucleotide containing composition relative to a plant not treated with said composition.

10. The composition of claim 9, wherein said transfer agent is an organosilicone composition.

11. The composition of claim 9, wherein said polynucleotide fragment is 18 contiguous, 19 contiguous nucleotides, 20 contiguous nucleotides or at least 21 contiguous nucleotides in length and at least 85 percent identical to a PPG oxidase gene sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:

1-71.

12. The composition of claim 9, wherein said polynucleotide is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:

72-1381.

13. The composition of claim 9, wherein said polynucleotide is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:

1382-2221.

14. The composition of claim 9, further comprising a PPG oxidase inhibitor herbicide.

15. The composition of claim 14, wherein said PPG oxidase inhibitor molecule is selected from the group consisting of acifluorfen-Na, bifenox, chlomethoxyfen, chlornitrofen, ethoxyfen-ethtyl, fluoroglycofen-ethyl, fomesafen, halosafen, lactofen, oxyfluorfen, fluazolate, pyraflufen-ethyl, cinidon-ethyl, flumioxazin, flumiclorac-pentyl, fluthiacet-methyl, thidiazimin, oxadiazon, oxadiargyl, pyraclonil, flufenpyr-ethyl, azafenidin, carfentrazone-ethyl, Saflufenacil, sulfentrazone, pentoxazone. benzfendizone, butafenacil, pyrazogyl, and profluazol.

16. The composition of claim 14, further comprising a co-herbicide.

17. A method of reducing expression of a PPG oxidase gene in a plant comprising:

external application to a plant of a composition comprising a polynucleotide and a transfer agent, wherein said polynucleotide is essentially identical or essentially complementary to a PPG oxidase gene sequence or fragment thereof, or to the RNA transcript of said PPG oxidase gene sequence or fragment thereof, wherein said PPG oxidase gene sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO;

1-71 or a polynucleotide fragment thereof, whereby said expression of said PPG oxidase gene is reduced relative to a plant in which the composition was not applied.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said transfer agent is an organosilicone compound.

19. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said polynucleotide fragment is 19 contiguous nucleotides, 20 contiguous nucleotides or at least 21 contiguous nucleotides in length and at least 85 percent identical to a PPG oxidase gene sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:

1-71.

20. The method as claimed in 17, wherein said polynucleotide molecule is selected from the group consisting of sense or anti-sense ssDNA or ssRNA, dsRNA, or dsDNA, or dsDNA/RNA hybrids.

21. A microbial expression cassette comprising a polynucleotide fragment of 18 contiguous, 19 contiguous nucleotides, 20 contiguous nucleotides or at least 21 contiguous nucleotides in length and at least 85 percent identical to a PPG oxidase gene sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:

1-71.

22. A method of making a polynucleotide comprising a) transforming the microbial expression cassette of claim 21 into a microbe;

b) growing said microbe;

c) harvesting a polynucleotide from said microbe, wherein said polynucleotide is at least 18 contiguous, at least 19 contiguous nucleotides, at least 20 contiguous nucleotides or at least 21 contiguous nucleotides in length and at least 85 percent identical to a PPG oxidase gene sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO;

1-71.

23. A method of identifying polynucleotides useful in modulating PPG oxidase gene expression when externally treating a plant comprising:

a) providing a plurality of polynucleotides that comprise a region essentially identical or essentially complementary to a polynucleotide fragment of 18 contiguous, 19 contiguous nucleotides, 20 contiguous nucleotides or at least 21 contiguous nucleotides in length and at least 85 percent identical to a PPG oxidase gene sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO;

1-71;

b) externally treating said plant with one or more of said polynucleotides and a transfer agent;

c) analyzing said plant or extract for modulation of PPG oxidase gene expression, and whereby a plant treated with said composition has its growth or development or reproductive ability regulated, suppressed or delayed or said plant is more sensitive to a PPG oxidase inhibitor herbicide or mitosis inhibitor herbicide as a result of said polynucleotide containing composition relative to a plant not treated with said composition.

24. The method as claimed in 23, wherein said plant is selected from the group consisting of Amaranthus albus, Amaranthus graecizans, Amaranthus hybridus, Amaranthus lividus, Amaranthus palmeri, Amaranthus rudis, Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranthus thunbergii, Amaranthus viridis, Ambrosia trifida, Chenopodium album, Commelina diffusa, Conyza canadensis, Digitaria sanguinalis, Euphorbia heterophylla, Kochia scoparia, and Lolium multiflorum.

25. The method as claimed in 23, wherein said PPG oxidase gene expression is reduced relative to a plant not treated with said polynucleotide fragment and a transfer agent.

26. The method as claimed in 23, wherein said transfer agent is an organosilicone compound.

27. An agricultural chemical composition comprising an admixture of a polynucleotide and a PPG oxidase inhibitor herbicide and a co-herbicide, wherein said polynucleotide is essentially identical or essentially complementary to a portion of a PPG oxidase gene sequence, or to a portion of an RNA transcript of said PPG oxidase gene sequence, wherein said PPG oxidase gene sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:

1-71 or a polynucleotide fragment thereof, and whereby a plant treated with said composition has its growth or development or reproductive ability regulated, suppressed or delayed or said plant is more sensitive to a PPG oxidase inhibitor herbicide or mitosis inhibitor herbicide as a result of said polynucleotide containing composition relative to a plant not treated with said composition.

28. The agricultural chemical composition of claim 27, wherein said co-herbicide is selected from the group consisting of amide herbicides, arsenical herbicides, benzothiazole herbicides, benzoylcyclohexanedione herbicides, benzofuranyl alkylsulfonate herbicides, cyclohexene oxime herbicides, cyclopropylisoxazole herbicides, dicarboximide herbicides, dinitroaniline herbicides, dinitrophenol herbicides, dithiocarbamate herbicides, glycine herbicides, halogenated aliphatic herbicides, imidazolinone herbicides, inorganic herbicides, nitrile herbicides, organophosphorus herbicides, oxadiazolone herbicides, oxazole herbicides, phenoxy herbicides, phenylenediamine herbicides, pyridazine herbicides, pyridazinone herbicides, pyridine herbicides, pyrimidinediamine herbicides, pyrimidinyloxybenzylamine herbicides, quaternary ammonium herbicides, thiocarbamate herbicides, thiocarbonate herbicides, thiourea herbicides, triazine herbicides, triazinone herbicides, triazolone herbicides, triazolopyrimidine herbicides, uracil herbicides, and urea herbicides.

29. An agricultural chemical composition comprising an admixture of a polynucleotide and a PPG oxidase inhibitor herbicide and a pesticide, wherein said polynucleotide is essentially identical or essentially complementary to a portion of a PPG oxidase gene sequence, or to a portion of an RNA transcript of said PPG oxidase gene sequence, wherein said PPG oxidase gene sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:

1-71 or a polynucleotide fragment thereof, whereby a field of crop plants in need of weed and pest control are treated with said composition, and whereby a plant treated with said composition has its growth or development or reproductive ability regulated, suppressed or delayed or said plant is more sensitive to a PPG oxidase inhibitor herbicide or mitosis inhibitor herbicide as a result of said polynucleotide containing composition relative to a plant not treated with said composition.

30. The agricultural chemical composition of claim 29, wherein said pesticide is selected from the group consisting of insecticides, fungicides, nematocides, bactericides, acaricides, growth regulators, chemosterilants, semiochemicals, repellents, attractants, pheromones, feeding stimulants, and biopesticides.

31. A herbicide mixture comprising a PPG oxidase inhibitor and a polynucleotide mixture comprising SEQ ID NO:

2216, 2218 and 2220, and whereby a plant treated with said composition has its growth or development or reproductive ability regulated, suppressed or delayed or said plant is more sensitive to a PPG oxidase inhibitor herbicide or mitosis inhibitor herbicide as a result of said polynucleotide containing composition relative to a plant not treated with said composition.