Tomato Plants with SlARF8 Mutations for Yield Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for improving plant yield, such as in tomato plants, are limited by their dependence on optimal environmental conditions, and they often result in severe yield loss under unfavorable conditions like extreme temperatures.
Innovation Solution
The development of genetically modified tomato plants with altered SlARF8 gene dosages, specifically through loss of function mutations, which leads to increased yield stability, earlier fruit setting, and enhanced resistance to pathogenic infections, even under extreme temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional breeding methods are used to improve yield, then yield potential can be increased, but yield stability under unfavorable environmental conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the genetic parameter by modifying the SlARF8 gene dosage through loss-of-function mutations. This parameter change decouples fruit set from fertilization dependence, allowing plants to maintain stable yields under unfavorable environmental conditions while preserving yield potential. The altered gene dosage creates a new physiological state that is more resilient to environmental stress.
2Reliability
If fertilization-dependent fruit set is maintained, then natural fruit development occurs, but fruit set is compromised under non-optimal temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the dependence of fruit set on fertilization by disrupting the SlARF8 gene. This removes the constraint that normally couples fruit development to successful pollination and fertilization. As a result, fruits can develop independently of fertilization status, ensuring reliable fruit set even when pollination fails due to non-optimal temperatures or other environmental stressors.
3Productivity
If auxin application is used to promote fruit production, then fruit set improves under cool conditions, but chemical input and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The genetically modified plants possess an inherent capability to set fruit without external auxin application. The loss-of-function mutations in SlARF8 create a constitutive parthenocarpic response that automatically promotes fruit development under cool conditions or when pollination is inefficient. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external chemical interventions, simplifying cultivation while maintaining improved fruit production.
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 genetically modified tomato plants exhibit significantly increased yield stability, with multiple developmental effects including early onset of fruit set, increased number of fruit-bearing branches, and increased number of flowers that set fruit, while also showing resistance to pathogenic infections.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a CRISPR-Cas system and a polynucleotide template capable of homology-directed repair in a plant cell
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention, is directed to a method for selecting an improved genetically modified Solanum plant, the method including: determining the presence of at least one inactive allele of auxin responsive factor (ARF) 8 gene in the genome of the genetically modified Solanum plant or a part derived therefrom; and (b) selecting a genetically modified Solanum plant determined as having a genome including the at least one inactive allele of ARF8 gene, wherein the improvement is at least any one of: (i) increased yield; (ii) increased resistance to a pathogen; (iii) earlier fruit setting; and (iv) any combination of (i) to (iii), compared to a wild-type variant of said Solanum plant, thereby, selecting an improved genetically modified Solanum plant.