Transgenic Plants With Recombinant DNA Constructs for Yield Under Stress

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural practices face challenges in enhancing crop yield, nitrogen use efficiency, and water use efficiency in plants, particularly under stress conditions such as drought and nitrogen limitation.

Innovation Solution

Development of recombinant DNA constructs comprising specific polynucleotide sequences with high identity to SEQ ID NOs: 1-39, which are integrated into plant genomes using site-directed integration, modulating endogenous gene expression to alter phenotypes and enhance traits, thereby increasing yield, nitrogen use efficiency, and water use efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional breeding and traditional agricultural practices are used, then crop yield and efficiency can be improved to some extent, but the improvement is limited and cannot meet the demands of growing population and resource constraints

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrop yieldVSAvoidstress tolerance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the genetic parameters of plants by introducing recombinant DNA constructs containing specific polynucleotide sequences (SEQ ID NOs: 1-39) that encode proteins involved in stress response and metabolic pathways. This modifies the plant's genetic makeup to enhance productivity and stress tolerance beyond what conventional breeding can achieve.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite genetic structures by combining multiple polynucleotide sequences into recombinant DNA constructs. These constructs integrate multiple functional elements (promoters, coding sequences, regulatory regions) to simultaneously improve multiple traits including yield, nitrogen use efficiency, and stress tolerance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If conventional breeding methods are used, then some trait improvement is achieved, but the process is time-consuming and cannot rapidly introduce multiple desirable traits

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveyieldVSAvoidbreeding cycle time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-assembling recombinant DNA constructs containing multiple desirable traits before introduction into plants. This allows simultaneous transfer of multiple traits (yield improvement, stress tolerance, nutrient use efficiency) in a single transformation event, bypassing the sequential selection process of conventional breeding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical breeding process (crossing, selection, and repeated backcrossing) with a molecular biology approach using recombinant DNA technology. This substitution enables direct genetic modification to achieve trait improvement without the time-consuming mechanical steps of traditional breeding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If traditional agricultural practices are used, then crops can grow under normal conditions, but they show reduced performance under stress conditions such as drought and nitrogen limitation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestress toleranceVSAvoidyield under stress
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by introducing specific polynucleotide sequences that target particular stress response pathways and metabolic processes. The recombinant DNA constructs are designed to express proteins in specific tissues or at specific developmental stages to enhance stress tolerance without compromising overall plant productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of stress conditions (drought, nitrogen limitation) into beneficial outcomes by introducing genes that enable plants to utilize stress conditions more effectively. The recombinant DNA constructs allow plants to maintain or even improve productivity under stress by activating alternative metabolic pathways and stress protection mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS12421521B2Transgenic plants with enhanced traits
Publication Date: 2025.09.23 MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY LLC

AI summary

This disclosure provides recombinant DNA constructs and transgenic plants having enhanced traits such as increased yield, increased nitrogen use efficiency, and enhanced drought tolerance or water use efficiency. Transgenic plants may include field crops as well as plant propagules, plant parts and progeny of such transgenic plants. Methods of making and using such transgenic plants are also provided. This disclosure also provides methods of producing seed from such transgenic plants, growing such seed, and selecting progeny plants with enhanced traits. Also disclosed are transgenic plants with altered phenotypes which are useful for screening and selecting transgenic events for the desired enhanced trait.