Stevia Plant Suppressed Flower Bud Formation for Leaf Yield
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need to further elucidate gene information on stevia, a plant known for its sweet components but with limited understanding of its gene information and control mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A stevia plant with a low ability to form flower buds is developed, characterized by specific genetic features such as alleles at positions 90 and 108 of SEQ ID NO: 150, and other genetic markers. This plant is produced through crossing and can be identified using genetic screening methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If stevia plant is allowed to form flower buds normally, then reproduction and gene propagation are maintained, but nutrient allocation to leaves and steviol glycoside accumulation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the flower bud formation capability from the stevia plant through genetic modification. By introducing alleles that suppress flowering (such as those at positions 90 and 108 of SEQ ID NO: 150), the plant's reproductive function is removed, allowing all nutrients to be redirected to leaf growth and steviol glycoside production, thus resolving the contradiction between reproduction and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the genetic parameters of the stevia plant by introducing specific alleles (e.g., G at position 90 and/or G at position 108 of SEQ ID NO: 150, and other combinations listed in the patent) that alter the plant's physiological behavior. These parameter changes in the genome result in suppressed flower bud formation while enhancing leaf productivity and steviol glycoside accumulation
2Quantity of substance
If stevia plant is modified to reduce flower bud formation, then leaf productivity and steviol glycoside accumulation increase, but genetic complexity and breeding difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the genetic modification into specific, identifiable alleles at particular positions in the genome (such as positions 90 and 108 of SEQ ID NO: 150, and positions 40, 44, 41, 55-72, 201, 49 of other sequences). This segmentation allows researchers to target specific genetic loci for modification rather than dealing with the entire genome, reducing the complexity of genetic engineering and breeding operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying of specific alleles and genetic markers to track and select plants with desired traits. By creating and propagating specific allele combinations (such as the G allele at position 90 and/or G at position 108), the patent simplifies the breeding process through molecular marking and selection, reducing the complexity of identifying and maintaining desired phenotypes
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a stevia plant having a low ability to form flower buds as compared with the wild type stevia species. The present invention also provides a method of producing such a stevia plant having a low ability to form flower buds, and an extract or a steviol glycoside purified product obtainable from such a plant.