Vernalization-Independent Lisianthus Plants via Genetic Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) plants require cold treatment (vernalization) for bolting and flowering, which is a burden for growers, especially in regions with unfavorable weather conditions, and there is a need for plants that can bolt and flower without this treatment while maintaining commercially successful phenotypes.
Innovation Solution
Introduction of a minimal segment of chromosome equivalent to linkage group 2 from the vernalization-independent wild Eustoma exaltatum into the genome of E. grandiflorum, which confers vernalization independence and increases the number of floral stems in a second flowering flush, allowing bolting and flowering without cold exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cold treatment (vernalization) is applied to lisianthus plants, then bolting and flowering are induced, but cultivation time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the requirement for cold treatment (vernalization) from the lisianthus cultivation process by introducing a specific genetic element from E. exaltatum. This genetic modification allows the plant to bolt and flower without the traditional cold exposure step, directly removing this time-consuming requirement while preserving the desired flowering outcome.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physiological parameter of temperature requirement for flowering induction. By introducing the genetic element, the plant's response to temperature is modified so that cold treatment is no longer necessary to induce bolting and flowering. This parameter change eliminates the need for the vernalization step entirely.
2Reliability
If cold treatment (vernalization) is applied to lisianthus plants, then bolting and flowering are induced, but cultivation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the costly cold treatment step from the cultivation process by genetic modification. The introduced genetic element from E. exaltatum enables flowering induction without vernalization, eliminating equipment and operational costs associated with cold storage and temperature control infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the temperature requirement parameter through genetic engineering, changing the plant's physiological response so that expensive cold treatment infrastructure and operations are no longer needed. This parameter change directly reduces cultivation costs while maintaining reliable flowering induction.
3Reliability
If cold treatment (vernalization) is applied to lisianthus plants, then uniform flowering is achieved, but growth period is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the uniform flowering response from the cold treatment process and embeds it directly in the plant's genetics. The introduced genetic element ensures uniform bolting and flowering occurs naturally without requiring the time-consuming vernalization step, thus maintaining flowering uniformity while shortening the overall growth period.
4Adaptability or versatility
If vernalization-independent traits are introduced from E. exaltatum, then cold treatment requirement is eliminated, but potential deleterious effects on growth patterns may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by introducing only a specific minimal genetic segment from E. exaltatum rather than the entire genome. This targeted approach isolates the vernalization-independent trait while minimizing the risk of introducing unwanted characteristics, thus achieving adaptability without compromising growth pattern stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by introducing a specific genetic element with a defined function (vernalization independence) at a specific location in the E. grandiflorum genome. This localized genetic modification ensures that only the desired trait is altered while other growth-related properties remain unchanged, maintaining reliability of growth patterns.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided relates to a crop Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) plants that do not require cold treatment (vernalization) for the inductions of bolting and flowering, and to means and methods for producing same.