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Methods for Improving Seed Characteristics

a technology of seed characteristics and methods, applied in the field of crop improvement, can solve the problems of inability to provide multiple aleurone traits and reliableness, and achieve the effect of improving seed and grain quality, affecting the differentiation of aleurone layers, and improving seed quality

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-10-04
PIONEER HI BRED INT INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes using genes to improve the quality of seeds and grains by changing the number, type, and characteristics of a specific layer called the aleurone cells. This can lead to better nutritional content and a more desirable texture and taste for consumers.

Problems solved by technology

To date, a reliable, multiple aleurone trait has not been available in maize or other cereal crops that could be used in a breeding program to take advantage of the unique characteristics of aleurone cells.

Method used

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Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

example 1

cDNA Library Construction

A. Total RNA Isolation

[0159] Total RNA was isolated from maize tissues with TRizol Reagent (Life Technology Inc. Gaithersburg, Md.) using a modification of the guanidine isothiocyanate / acid-phenol procedure described by Chomczynski and Sacchi (Anal. Biochem. 162, 156 (1987)). In brief, plant tissue samples were pulverized in liquid nitrogen before the addition of the TRizol Reagent, and then were further homogenized with a mortar and pestle. Addition of chloroform followed by centrifugation was conducted for separation of an aqueous phase and an organic phase. The total RNA was recovered by precipitation with isopropyl alcohol from the aqueous phase.

B. Poly(A)+ RNA Isolation

[0160] The selection of poly(A)+ RNA from total RNA was performed using PolyATract system (Promega Corporation. Madison, Wis.). In brief, biotinylated oligo(dT) primers were used to hybridize to the 3′ poly(A) tails on mRNA. The hybrids were captured using streptavidin coupled to pa...

example 2

Sequencing and cDNA Subtraction Procedures used for Maize EST's

A. Sequencing Template Preparation

[0163] Individual colonies were picked and DNA was prepared either by PCR with M13 forward primers and M13 reverse primers, or by plasmid isolation. All the cDNA clones were sequenced using M13 reverse primers.

B. Q-Bot Subtraction Procedure

[0164] cDNA libraries subjected to the subtraction procedure were plated out on 22×22 cm2 agar plate at density of about 3,000 colonies per plate. The plates were incubated in a 37° C. incubator for 12-24 hours. Colonies were picked into 384-well plates by a robot colony picker, Q-bot (GENETIX Limited). These plates were incubated overnight at 37° C.

[0165] Once sufficient colonies were picked, they were pinned onto 22×22 cm2 nylon membranes using Q-bot. Each membrane contained 9,216 colonies or 36,864 colonies. These membranes were placed onto individual agar plates with appropriate antibiotic. The plates were incubated at 37° C. for overnight. ...

example 3

Co-Segregation Analysis of Superal Mutation

[0174] The maize superal mutation is characterized by multiple aleurone layers. Unlike wild-type maize, superal maize can have up to 8 layers of aleurone. It was isolated from the Pioneer TUSC population by phenotypic analysis; aleurone layers showed a red color when stained with the oil-specific stain red-fat7B. In the TUSC collection, a separate mutant with multiple aleurone layers was isolated by a microscopy screen, which when crossed to superal, demonstrated that this represents a second and independent allele.

[0175] The superal mutation is recessive and showed a simple 3:1 segregation in selfed ears.

[0176] Southern blots of the backcross population showed that a 1.6 kb BgIII fragment of mu1 (Del Giudice, L., et al, Mol. Gen. Genet. 222 (1), 71-76 (1990)) was co-segregated with the superal phenotype. When the band was cloned, the sequences flanking the mu1 insertion showed identity to SEQ ID NO:5. SEQ ID NO:5 showed complete co-segr...

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Abstract

Methods are provided for altering grain characteristics by introducing into plants, isolated nucleic acid molecules that can be used to produce transgenic plants characterized by altered number, type, or configuration of aleurone cells within the seed. Also provided are isolated nucleic acids that encode maize superal proteins, vectors capable of expressing such nucleic acid molecules, host cells containing such vectors, and polypeptides encoded by such nucleic acids.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending application U.S. Application Ser. No. 10 / 208,948 filed Jul. 30, 2002 which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 309,719 filed Aug. 2, 2001 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 337,444 filed Oct. 25, 2001, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates to the field of crop improvement. Specifically, the present invention relates to the identification and use of genes encoding molecules involved in altering the number and characteristics of aleurone cells in plant seeds and the use of these genes and mutants thereof to improve nutritional, industrial, and agricultural traits in seed and grain. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Most common cereal grains contain cells called aleurone cells that occur as the most external layer of the endosperm. Aleurone cells are generally oil a...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): C12N15/04C07H21/04C12N15/00C07K14/415C12N15/29C12N15/82
CPCC07K14/415C12N15/8261C12N15/8247C12N15/8234Y02A40/146
Inventor TARCZYNSKI, MITCHELL C.SHEN, BOLI, CHANGJIANGJUNG, RUDOLFGRUIS, DARREN B.
Owner PIONEER HI BRED INT INC
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