Plant Cell RBOH Reduction for Necrotroph Resistance and Drought Tolerance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, a cosmopolitan fungal pathogen, causes significant damage to crop plants, particularly in soybeans, with existing host resistance being inadequate, leading to yield-limiting diseases like Sclerotinia Stem Rot (SSR).
Innovation Solution
Modifying plant cells to reduce or eliminate the expression of specific respiratory burst oxidase homolog (RBOH) proteins, such as GmRBOHB, GmRBOHL, GmRBOHP, and GmRBOHQ, to decrease NADPH oxidase activity, thereby reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, enhancing resistance to necrotrophs like S. sclerotiorum and improving drought tolerance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If plant cells are modified to reduce RBOH protein expression and NADPH oxidase activity, then resistance to necrotrophs like S. sclerotiorum is enhanced, but reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the expression level parameter of RBOH proteins in plant cells, reducing their expression to alter NADPH oxidase activity and ROS production, thereby changing the plant's resistance characteristics against necrotrophs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts or removes specific RBOH proteins (GmRBOHB, GmRBOHL, GmRBOHP, GmRBOHQ) from the plant cell through genetic modification, eliminating their harmful ROS production while maintaining beneficial resistance functions
2Reliability
If RBOH protein expression is reduced to enhance resistance to S. sclerotiorum, then disease resistance is improved, but drought tolerance may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality modification by selectively reducing RBOH expression in specific tissues or cell types where ROS production contributes to disease susceptibility, while preserving RBOH function in tissues where it is needed for drought response and overall plant health
3Reliability
If NADPH oxidase activity is decreased by reducing RBOH expression, then necrotroph resistance is enhanced, but symbiotic interactions like nodulation are affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality control by spatially regulating RBOH expression reduction, applying it selectively to tissues susceptible to necrotroph infection while preserving RBOH function in root nodules and other symbiotic interfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the RBOH protein family into different members with distinct functions, allowing selective reduction of specific RBOHs (GmRBOHB, GmRBOHL, GmRBOHP, GmRBOHQ) involved in necrotroph resistance while maintaining other RBOHs that support symbiotic interactions
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 modification of plant cells to reduce RBOH protein expression leads to enhanced resistance against S. sclerotiorum infection and increased drought tolerance, while also affecting nodulation and symbiotic interactions.
Implementation Method 1
The plant cells may be modified to eliminate or reduce as compared to a control plant cell the NADPH oxidase activity or expression of at least one, two, three, four, or more respiratory burst oxidase homolog (RBOH) protein(s)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention generally relates to plant cells and plants modified to increase resistance to necrotrophs or drought and methods of selecting and using the same. More specifically, the invention relates in part to plant cells and/or plants modified to eliminate or reduce as compared to control plants cell the NADPH oxidase activity or expression of certain respiratory burst oxidase homolog (RBOH) proteins and methods of selecting for and using the same.