Melon Plant CYSDV Tolerance Introgression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for introducing disease tolerance alleles into cultivated melon lines are hindered by the introduction of deleterious traits, such as reduced fruit set and yield, associated with cucurbit yellow stunt disorder virus (CYSDV) tolerance, due to incomplete understanding of genetic factors and lack of accurate markers for marker-assisted selection (MAS).

Innovation Solution

Development of recombinant introgressions on chromosome 9 that confer improved tolerance to CYSDV without detrimental effects on fruit yield or plant vigor, using specific alleles and markers like NU0220874, NU0219432, and NCMEL009102569, allowing for homozygous deployment and accurate tracking through MAS.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If disease tolerance alleles are introduced into cultivated melon lines, then tolerance to cucurbit yellow stunt disorder virus is improved, but fruit set and yield are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisease toleranceVSAvoidfruit yield
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the donor genome to isolate only the specific disease tolerance allele from the large genomic region, creating a minimal introgression that excludes linked deleterious traits. This is achieved through marker-assisted selection to track and retain only the necessary genomic segment conferring CYSDV tolerance while eliminating surrounding regions that cause reduced fruit set and yield.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the beneficial disease tolerance allele from its original genetic context in the donor line, separating it from the deleterious traits that are genetically linked. This extraction process involves repeated backcrossing and marker-assisted selection to obtain a pure disease tolerance allele introgression without the associated negative traits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If disease tolerance alleles are introduced into cultivated melon lines, then tolerance to cucurbit yellow stunt disorder virus is improved, but plant vigor is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisease toleranceVSAvoidplant vigor
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the donor genome to isolate only the specific disease tolerance allele, creating a minimal introgression that excludes linked deleterious traits affecting plant vigor. This is achieved through marker-assisted selection to track and retain only the necessary genomic segment conferring CYSDV tolerance while eliminating surrounding regions that cause vigor reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the beneficial disease tolerance allele from its original genetic context in the donor line, separating it from the deleterious traits that are genetically linked. This extraction process involves repeated backcrossing and marker-assisted selection to obtain a pure disease tolerance allele introgression without the associated negative traits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If conventional breeding methods are used to introduce disease tolerance, then disease tolerance is achieved, but accurate tracking of desirable traits is difficult without validated markers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisease toleranceVSAvoidtrait tracking accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements marker-assisted selection using validated molecular markers that provide continuous feedback on the presence and status of the disease tolerance allele during breeding. This allows breeders to accurately track the introgression through generations, select for desired genotypes, and verify the absence of linked deleterious traits, thereby improving measurement precision for trait tracking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3005862A1Melon plants with improved disease tolerance
Publication Date: 2016.04.13 SEMINIS VEGETABLE SEEDS INC
  • EP3005862A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3005862A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3005862A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure provides melon plants exhibiting tolerance to cucurbit yellow stunt disorder virus (CYSDV) and lacking negative traits associated with CYSDV tolerance such as increased fruit size and reduced fruit set. Such plants may comprise novel introgressed genomic regions associated with disease tolerance. In certain aspects, compositions, including novel polymorphic markers and methods for producing, breeding, identifying, and selecting plants or germplasm with a disease tolerance phenotype are provided.