Sterility Marker PCR for Plant Material Contamination Screening
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a simplified method to determine the quality and integrity of plant material, particularly tobacco, by distinguishing between fertile and sterile materials to detect contamination or adulteration, which is not efficiently addressed by existing methods.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the analysis of specific polynucleotide sequences associated with sterility, such as chloroplastic or mitochondrial intergenic spacers, using amplification primers to differentiate between Nicotiana species, allowing for the identification of genetic sources of sterility and detecting contamination through size or sequence differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional quality testing methods are used to check plant material for contamination, then the quality assurance process becomes complex and time-consuming, but the ability to detect contamination and adulteration is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and analyzes specific polynucleotide sequences associated with sterility (such as CMS-related sequences) from the plant material genome. By focusing only on these specific genetic markers rather than performing comprehensive genomic analysis, the method achieves high contamination detection accuracy while keeping the testing procedure relatively simple and efficient
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses DNA amplification techniques to create copies of the target polynucleotide sequences associated with sterility. These amplified copies are then analyzed to determine contamination status. This copying approach allows for sensitive detection of contamination without requiring complex direct observation methods
2Reliability
If comprehensive quality testing is performed at multiple stages of production, then the ability to ensure quality and detect adulteration improves, but the time and resources required increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables quality testing to be performed at early stages of plant material processing (such as at the seed or seedling stage) using polynucleotide sequence analysis. This preliminary testing approach allows contamination to be detected before significant resources are invested in growing and processing the material, thereby ensuring quality reliability while minimizing time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the testing parameter from phenotypic observation (which requires plants to reach certain developmental stages) to genotypic analysis of polynucleotide sequences. This parameter change allows for rapid testing regardless of the plant's developmental stage, improving reliability without increasing testing time
3Productivity
If simplified testing methods are used to quickly assess plant material quality, then the processing speed increases, but the precision of contamination detection decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex genomic information into specific, targeted polynucleotide sequences associated with sterility (such as CMS-related sequences). By analyzing only these segmented, relevant sequences rather than the entire genome, the method achieves both high processing throughput and precise contamination detection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses specific polynucleotide sequences associated with sterility as intermediary markers to detect contamination. These genetic markers serve as intermediaries that provide reliable information about contamination status without requiring direct observation or complex analysis of the entire plant material
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
Enables rapid and high-throughput classification of plant material as contaminated or non-contaminated, ensuring quality and purity by identifying adulteration or contamination based on genetic source of sterility, applicable at various stages of tobacco production.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the sample of polynucleotide with one or more amplification primers to amplify a target polynucleotide sequence associated with sterility; performing an in vitro polynucleotide amplification reaction on the sample to generate one or more amplification products
Data Source
AI summary
A method for classifying a batch of plant material as either being contaminated or non-contaminated includes: (i) providing a sample of polynucleotide from the batch; (ii) contacting the sample with one or more amplification primers to amplify a polynucleotide sequence associated with sterility; (iii) performing an in vitro polynucleotide amplification reaction on the sample to generate one or more amplification products; (iv) determining the size or sequence of the amplification product(s); and (v) comparing the size or sequence of the amplification product(s) with known amplification product(s) from known genetic sources of sterility. If the genetic source of sterility determined in (v) corresponds to the expected genetic source of sterility of the batch then said batch is considered non-contaminated; or wherein if the genetic source of sterility determined in (v) does not correspond to the expected genetic source of sterility of the batch then said batch is considered contaminated.