BBX21 Transgenic Potato Construct for Yield and Water Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current transgenic events in crops, such as overexpressing photoreceptors, often improve some plant characteristics but negatively affect water use efficiency and yield due to pleiotropic effects, while the role of B-box transcription factors like BBX21 in adult plant development and agronomic species is poorly understood.

Innovation Solution

The genetic engineering of a polynucleotide construct containing the BBX21 gene from Arabidopsis thaliana, which encodes a B-box protein, is used to create transgenic plants that exhibit improved traits like increased yield, reduced photoinhibition, and maintained water use efficiency by altering signaling pathways.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If photoreceptors are overexpressed to improve plant characteristics, then some plant characteristics are improved, but water use efficiency and yield are negatively affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplant characteristicsVSAvoidyield

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the target gene from photoreceptors to B-box transcription factors (specifically BBX21), altering the molecular parameter being modified to achieve different physiological outcomes that do not include the negative water use efficiency effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The B-box transcription factor acts as an intermediary in the signaling pathway between light perception and plant development responses, mediating the effects to achieve improved characteristics without the harmful pleiotropic effects of direct photoreceptor overexpression

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If photoreceptors are overexpressed to improve plant characteristics, then some plant characteristics are improved, but water use efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplant characteristicsVSAvoidwater use efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the molecular target from photoreceptors to B-box transcription factors, fundamentally altering the physiological parameter being modified to achieve improved plant characteristics without compromising water use efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the previously harmful pleiotropic effects of photoreceptor overexpression into beneficial outcomes by using B-box transcription factors that provide similar advantages without the negative water use efficiency impacts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If diffusing structures are used to reduce light stress, then photoinhibition is reduced, but the practice is not feasible for extensive crops

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovephotoinhibitionVSAvoidfeasibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical diffusing structures with a biological solution by modifying plant genetics to express B-box transcription factors, thereby achieving photoprotection through molecular rather than structural means

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The transgenic plants produce their own photoprotection mechanism through endogenous expression of B-box transcription factors, making them self-sufficient and eliminating the need for external diffusing structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11535858B2Polynucleotide construct for improving agricultural characteristics in crop plants

Publication Date: 2022.12.27 CONSEJO NAT DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Y TECH (CONICET)

AI summary

The present invention generally relates to the field of genetic engineering and obtaining transgenic traits for agronomic applications. More specifically, the present invention relates to a specific transgenic event in agricultural crops that improves plant characteristics. Yet more specifically, the invention relates to a polynucleotide construct comprising a gene from Arabidopsis thaliana. In particular, the polynucleotide construct of the invention comprises the gene AtBBX21 which encodes a B-box protein from Arabidopsis thaliana. The transgenic event of the invention increases green and seed yield, reduces photoinhibition, improves water use efficiency, increases tuber and chlorophyll production and improves photosynthetic rates, among others. The polynucleotide construct of the invention comprises a sequence depicted as SEQ ID NO: 1. The invention also provides a transgenic plant transformed with said polynucleotide construct, wherein said plant exhibits improved characteristics. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the transgenic plant is a potato (Solanum tuberosum) plant that overexpresses a gene from Arabidopsis thaliana, wherein said potato plant exhibits improved characteristics.