Functional Peptide Antimicrobial Activity Against Plant Pathogens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions lack a short, easily synthesizable functional peptide with broad antimicrobial activity against various plant pathogens, which is essential for environmentally friendly agriculture.
Innovation Solution
Identification and utilization of a peptide sequence (YYGFPAFSERTRKFWRIWKGKTS or variants with 85% identity) expressed in tomato xylem sap, which can be used to create an agricultural chemical for controlling plant pathogens like Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium oxysporum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If defensin is used as an antimicrobial peptide, then antimicrobial activity is achieved, but synthesis difficulty and cost increase due to its length (40 or more amino acids)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the full-length defensin peptide into shorter functional segments (partial peptides with 10-30 amino acids) that retain antimicrobial activity. This segmentation reduces synthesis complexity and cost while maintaining the essential protective function against plant pathogens.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and identifies specific functional regions from the defensin sequence that are responsible for antimicrobial activity. By taking out only the essential functional portions rather than synthesizing the complete peptide, the invention achieves reduced synthesis difficulty while preserving reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If a short peptide is synthesized, then synthesis ease improves, but antimicrobial activity against wide variety of plant pathogens may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs short peptides that possess multi-functional activity,能够有效对抗多种植物病原菌（包括真菌和细菌）。通过优化肽段序列和结构，使单一短肽段具备广泛的抗菌谱，实现一个肽段多种功能的 universality，从而在保持合成简便性的同时扩大了适应范围。
Solution Approach 2:
The patent systematically varies peptide parameters such as amino acid sequence, length, and structural features to optimize both synthesis ease and antimicrobial spectrum. By adjusting these parameters, the invention achieves short peptides that maintain broad spectral activity despite reduced length.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If environmental conservation-type agriculture is implemented, then chemical substance usage is reduced, but effective plant pathogen control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs peptide-based agricultural chemicals that are biodegradable and environmentally friendly, replacing persistent chemical substances. These peptide-based solutions provide effective pathogen control while being compatible with environmental conservation goals, as they decompose naturally without long-term ecological harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter from synthetic chemicals to biological peptides, maintaining pathogen control effectiveness while reducing harmful environmental impacts. This parameter change aligns with environmental conservation-type agriculture by using naturally derived, biodegradable substances.
Data Source
AI summary
Antimicrobial activity exhibited against a wide variety of plant pathogens. A functional peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence: YYGFPAFSERTRKFWRIWKGKTS (SEQ ID NO: 1) or an amino acid sequence having an identity of 85% or more with respect to the amino acid sequence, or consisting of a partial peptide thereof.