Celery QTL Breeding for Reduced Foliage and Machine Harvest
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Solution Overview
Problem
Celery plants produce a large amount of biomass with a significant portion discarded as waste due to their leaf architecture, making them inconvenient for storage and inefficient for machine-harvesting and processing.
Innovation Solution
Introduction of a Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) on chromosome 8 of the celery genome that results in a reduced foliage architecture with two internodes per leaf, optimized for machine-harvesting and processing, identified by specific markers RF1 and RF2.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If celery plants are grown with traditional leaf architecture, then they produce large amount of biomass, but a significant portion is discarded as waste and they are inconvenient for storage and machine-harvesting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the genetic parameters of the celery plant through introduction of a QTL on chromosome 8. This genetic modification changes the morphological parameters of the leaf architecture, specifically reducing the number of internodes from three or more to two, which directly alters the biomass distribution and reduces waste portions while increasing usable biomass proportion.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by creating non-uniform distribution of biomass along the celery plant. The modified leaf architecture concentrates more biomass in the lower, usable portions (stalks and first internodes) while reducing biomass in the upper, unusable portions (higher internodes and leaves). This localized biomass redistribution increases the proportion of usable parts without reducing total plant productivity.
2Ease of manufacture
If celery plants have traditional leaf architecture with multiple internodes, then they produce more total biomass, but they are inefficient for machine-harvesting and processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the morphological parameters of the celery plant by introducing a QTL that reduces the number of internodes per leaf from three or more to exactly two. This parameter change creates a more uniform and predictable plant architecture that is optimized for machine-harvesting efficiency, allowing mechanical harvesters to efficiently cut and process the standardized two-internode structure while maintaining adequate total biomass production.
3Ease of operation
If celery plants have large biomass with multiple leaves and internodes, then they provide ample material, but they are inconvenient for consumer storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the architectural parameters of the celery plant through genetic introduction of a QTL on chromosome 8. This changes the plant's physical form from a traditional multi-internode structure to a compact two-internode structure, making the plant more manageable and convenient for consumer storage while still providing adequate biomass for multiple uses.
Data Source
AI summary
Celery plant (Apium graveolens L. dulce) with QTL on chromosome 8 between SEQ ID No. 1 and SEQ ID No. 2, which when homozygously present is responsible for the presence of two internodes on average per leaf at the harvesting stage (Reduced foliage or “Rf”-type ”). The QTL can be genetically linked to at least one SNP present in SEQ ID No. 1 and/or SEQ ID No. 2. Celery seed deposited as NCIMB 44381 or NCIMB 41513 has the QTL. Celery plant having the QTL or genetic determinant having the QTL leads to the Rf-type (compared to celery not carrying the genetic determinant or QTL). The determinant or QTL is obtainable by introgression from a plant from NCIMB 41513 or 44381. Crossing celery from NCIMB 44381 or NCIMB 41513 with wildtype celery results in segregated F2 progeny population wherein Rf-type is observed in a monogenic recessive fashion. Methods for producing or growing the celery plant, and seeds, propagation material, progeny, and food products of, from the celery plant also disclosed.