Multi-Herbicide Tolerant Plants via GAT and ALS Polypeptides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current herbicide-tolerant crop plants have limitations due to incomplete spectrum of activity against common weed species, leading to the development of herbicide-resistant weeds and a need for customized weed management systems that reduce herbicide applications and tilling, while also delaying the emergence of resistant weeds.
Innovation Solution
Development of plants tolerant to multiple herbicides, including glyphosate and ALS inhibitors, through the expression of specific polynucleotides encoding GAT and ALS inhibitor-tolerant polypeptides, allowing for the use of herbicide blends that provide enhanced weed control with reduced herbicide application rates and increased flexibility in weed management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If single herbicide-tolerant crop plants are used, then herbicide application is simplified, but weed control spectrum is incomplete and herbicide-resistant weeds develop
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the herbicide tolerance system into multiple independent segments (different herbicide tolerance genes) that can be combined in crops. Each segment provides tolerance to specific herbicides, allowing growers to select and combine segments that cover the desired weed spectrum, thereby resolving the limitation of single-herbicide tolerance while maintaining application simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates multi-functional crop plants that can tolerate multiple different herbicides through the expression of multiple herbicide tolerance genes. This universal tolerance capability allows a single crop variety to be used with diverse herbicide programs, expanding the weed control spectrum without complicating the application process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple herbicide tolerance genes are expressed in crops, then weed control flexibility and spectrum are improved, but plant genetic complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex genetic information into separate, well-defined herbicide tolerance genes, each with a specific function. This modular approach allows the complexity to be managed systematically, with each segment contributing a specific herbicide tolerance mechanism that can be independently optimized and combined.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple herbicide tolerance genes into a single plant genome, creating a composite genetic system that provides broad-spectrum weed control. By combining the functions of multiple genes, the plant achieves enhanced versatility while the genes are integrated into a unified genetic architecture that manages complexity.
3Loss of substance
If herbicide application rates are reduced, then agricultural costs and environmental impact are decreased, but herbicide effectiveness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces herbicide tolerance genes as intermediary elements that modify the plant's interaction with herbicides. These genes act as mediators that allow the plant to withstand lower herbicide rates by providing metabolic pathways that detoxify or inactivate the herbicide, thereby maintaining effectiveness at reduced application rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physiological parameters of the crop plant through genetic modification, altering its sensitivity to herbicides. By modifying enzyme systems and metabolic pathways through the introduced genes, the plant's tolerance parameters are changed, allowing effective weed control at lower herbicide concentrations while maintaining crop health.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The plants exhibit modified tolerance to herbicides, enabling the application of herbicides at lower concentrations and the use of herbicide blends that are more effective and economical, while delaying the development of herbicide-resistant weeds, thus improving weed control and reducing agricultural costs.
Implementation Method 1
a polynucleotide which encodes a polypeptide that confers tolerance to glyphosate... a GAT (glyphosate-N-acetyltransferase) polypeptide
Implementation Method 2
a polynucleotide encoding an ALS inhibitor-tolerant polypeptide... tolerance to at least one additional herbicide
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and compositions are provided related to improved plants that are tolerant to more than one herbicide. Particularly, the invention provides plants that are tolerant of glyphosate and are tolerant to at least one ALS inhibitor, and methods of use thereof. The glyphosate/ALS inhibitor-tolerant plants comprise a polynucleotide that encodes a polypeptide that confers tolerance to glyphosate and a polynucleotide that encodes an ALS inhibitor-tolerant polypeptide. In specific embodiments, a plant of the invention expresses a GAT polypeptide and an HRA polypeptide. Methods to control weeds, improve plant yield, and increase transformation efficiencies are provided.