Modified DCAF8 Gene Reduces Leaf Area for Higher Density Planting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The genetic base of most cultivated cucurbits is narrow, limiting room for recombination and improvement, particularly in cucumber, which hinders yield increase.
Innovation Solution
A modified DCAF8 gene that, when expressed in plants, leads to a reduced leaf area phenotype, allowing for higher planting densities without negatively affecting yield.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional cucumber varieties with standard leaf area are cultivated, then adequate photosynthesis and plant vigour are maintained, but yield per area is limited due to narrow genetic base and inability to increase planting density
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the DCAF8 gene to change the leaf area parameter, creating a reduced leaf area phenotype that allows higher planting density. This parameter change enables more plants per unit area, thereby increasing yield per area despite the narrow genetic base of cultivated cucurbits.
2Productivity
If planting density is increased to improve yield per area, then more plants can be cultivated on the same land, but traditional varieties with standard leaf area cannot accommodate higher density without negative effects on growth and yield
Solution Approach 1:
The modified DCAF8 gene changes the leaf area parameter to a reduced state, allowing multiple plants to be grown in closer proximity. This parameter modification enables higher planting density by reducing the space requirement per plant while maintaining overall productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the plant architecture by reducing individual leaf size, which allows better spatial arrangement of multiple plants. The reduced leaf area creates more space in the canopy structure, enabling higher planting density without compromising individual plant growth.
3Productivity
If leaf area is reduced to enable higher planting density, then growing space efficiency is improved, but photosynthetic capacity of individual plants may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention addresses the photosynthesis limitation by changing the spatial dimension of the plant canopy. Reduced leaf area creates a more open three-dimensional canopy structure that improves light penetration and distribution, allowing efficient photosynthesis across the entire plant population even at higher densities.
Solution Approach 2:
The modified DCAF8 gene product serves multiple functions: it reduces leaf area for higher density planting while simultaneously maintaining photosynthetic efficiency through improved canopy architecture. The single genetic modification achieves both space efficiency and energy efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a modified DCAF8 gene, the wild type of which gene having a coding sequence according to SEQ ID No. 2, encoding the protein of SEQ ID No. 3, or having a coding sequence and a protein sequence that show at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID No. 2 and at least 70% sequence similarity to SEQ ID No. 3, respectively, and wherein the modified DCAF8 gene comprises one or more nucleotides replaced, inserted and/or deleted relative to the wild type, and wherein the modified DCAF8 gene when present homozygously, confers to a cucurbit plant a reduced leaf area phenotype as compared to a cucurbit plant not having the modified gene. The invention further relates to a plant comprising the modified DCAF8 gene of the invention.