Ultra-Chasmogamous Wheat via Sof1 Gene Suppression for Cross-Pollination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing barley varieties exhibit insufficient flowering ability for efficient cross-pollination, limiting hybrid seed productivity due to inherent self-pollination tendencies and the inefficacy of heterosis techniques in improving flowering traits.

Innovation Solution

The Sof1 gene in barley is suppressed to enhance flowering ability by introducing mutations, particularly a 22-bp deletion in the Sof1 gene, followed by crossbreeding with chasmogamous varieties to achieve significantly larger lodicules, facilitating easier pollen dispersal and pollination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If barley varieties are inherently self-pollinating to maintain genetic stability, then genetic stability is preserved, but cross-pollination efficiency and hybrid seed productivity are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegenetic stabilityVSAvoidhybrid seed productivity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the flowering parameter by suppressing the Sof1 gene function, which alters the flowering behavior from self-pollinating to cross-pollinating. This parameter change enables the plant to open its flowers and accept foreign pollen, thereby improving hybrid seed productivity while maintaining genetic stability through controlled genetic modification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If chasmogamous Cly1.a gene is utilized to increase lodicule width and thickness, then flowering ability is partially improved, but the improvement is insufficient for dramatic enhancement of hybrid seed productivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflowering abilityVSAvoidhybrid seed productivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies parameter changes by suppressing the Sof1 gene function, which causes dramatic enlargement of lodicules (increasing their width and thickness far beyond what Cly1.a alone can achieve). This parameter change in lodicule size mechanically pushes the lemma and palea outward more effectively, dramatically improving flowering ability and hybrid seed productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4578949A1Ultra-chasmogamous wheat, method for producing ultra-chasmogamous wheat, and method for evaluating ultra-chasmogamous wheat
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 KWS SAAT SE & CO KGAA
  • EP4578949A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1H
  • EP4578949A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2F
  • EP4578949A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

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.