Sof1 Gene Suppression for Chasmogamous Triticeae Flowering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing barley varieties exhibit low hybrid seed productivity due to insufficient flowering ability, hindered by self-pollination, despite efforts to enhance cross-pollination through genes like Cly1.a, which alone do not provide a dramatic improvement.
Innovation Solution
Identification and suppression of the Sof1 gene, responsible for limiting lodicule expansion, using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, combined with crossbreeding to introduce the chasmogamous Cly1.a gene, resulting in significantly longer lodicules and improved flowering ability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the Cly1.a gene is introduced to increase lodicule size, then flowering ability is improved, but the improvement is insufficient to achieve dramatic increase in hybrid seed productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two genetic modifications: introducing the chasmogamous Cly1.a gene to increase lodicule size, and simultaneously suppressing the Sof1 gene function to further enhance lodicule expansion. This merging of multiple genetic factors produces a synergistic effect that achieves dramatic improvement in flowering ability and hybrid seed productivity, overcoming the limitation of using Cly1.a alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies key parameters of the flowering system by changing the expression levels of specific genes: increasing Cly1.a expression to enlarge lodicules, and decreasing Sof1 expression to remove suppression on lodicule expansion. These parameter changes in gene expression levels lead to significant increases in lodicule size and flowering angle, thereby dramatically improving cross-pollination efficiency and hybrid seed productivity.
2Productivity
If barley varieties are inherently self-pollinating to maintain genetic stability, then breeding complexity is reduced, but cross-pollination efficiency and hybrid seed productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pollination mode parameter by genetically modifying the flowering characteristics. Through introducing Cly1.a and suppressing Sof1, the patent transforms the closed cleistogamous flowering mode into an open chasmogamous mode with large lodicules and wide flowering angles. This parameter change in pollination mode enables efficient cross-pollination while maintaining genetic stability through controlled breeding programs.
3Ease of operation
If lodicule size is increased to facilitate pollen dispersal, then flowering ability improves, but the mechanism for achieving sufficient lodicule expansion is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent identifies and manipulates key intermediary genes in the lodicule development pathway: Cly1.a acts as a positive regulator that promotes lodicule growth, while Sof1 acts as a negative regulator that suppresses lodicule expansion. By introducing Cly1.a and suppressing Sof1, the patent removes the regulatory bottleneck and enables dramatic lodicule expansion. This intermediary gene approach provides a clear genetic mechanism for controlling lodicule size.
Data Source
AI summary
It was found that the flowering ability of a Triticeae plant could be improved by suppressing the function of the Sof1 gene, and that the flowering ability of a Triticeae plant can be evaluated based on suppression of the function of the Sof1 gene. A method for producing a a Triticeae plant with improved flowering ability and a method for improving flowering ability of a Triticeae plant are also disclosed.