Plants – Rose – Climber
Plant Patent
1999-04-14
2001-06-26
Campell, Bruce R. (Department: 1638)
Plants
Rose
Climber
Plant Patent
active
PP011959
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Camptotheca, botanically known as
Camptotheca lowreyana
, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Katie’. The new Camptotheca is named in honor of Mrs. Katie Northrup of Houston, Tex.
Camptotheca, also known as Xi Shu or Happytrees, are deciduous trees, native to China, and a member of the Nyssaceae family. Three species of Camptotheca are significant sources of naturally-occurring camptothecins, a very promising anti-cancer chemical substance (Li et al., in press). The anti-tumor activity of Camptotheca was first discovered in 1957 (Wall et al., 1966). Clinical trials of camptothecins in the United States, China, Japan and Europe have shown success in treating may types of cancer (Li and Adair, 1994). Some camptothecin drugs have received approval for cancer treatment in more the 20 countries. Recently, three semi-synthetic drugs from camptothecins (Hycamtin, Campto, and 9-Nitrocamptothecin) were approved by the United State Food & Drug Administration for the treatment of ovarian, colorectal and pancreatic cancers. Camptothecins have also recently shown promise as inhibitors of HIV development in animal and human cell cultures (Priel, 1993).
Presently, production of camptothecins relies on Camptotheca trees. However, the production of Camptotheca trees is limited by low temperatures and drought. If new cultivars of Camptotheca that were more hardy and drought-tolerant were developed, the production of Camptotheca trees could be expanded.
The new Camptotheca is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Nacogdoches, Tex. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Camptotheca cultivars that are more freely branching, have a higher camptothecin content and are tolerant to drought and low temperatues.
The new Camptotheca originated from a self-pollination made by the Inventor of the
Camptotheca lowreyana
Li (not patented). The cultivar Katie was discovered and selected by the Inventor within the progeny of the stated cross in a controllled environment in Nacogdoches, Tex., in April, 1995. The selection of this plant was based on its more freely branching habit, smaller leaf size, leaf shape, increased hardiness and tolerance to drought, and higher camptothecin content.
Asexual reproduction of the new Camptotheca by terminal cuttings harvested in a controlled environment in Nacogdoches, Tex., has shown that the unique features of this new Camptotheca are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The new Camptotheca has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength, light intensity, nutrition and water status without, however, any variance in genotype.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Katie’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Katie’ as a new and distinct cultivar:
1. Freely and vigorously branching; dense and full plant habit.
2. Small leaf size.
3. Lanceolate to elliptic leaf shape.
4. Leaves from both juvenile and mature trees have entire margins.
5. Low temperature and drought tolerance.
6. High yield of anti-cancer camptothecin in leaves.
Plants of the new Camptotheca can be compared to plants of the parent cultivar
Camptotheca lowreyana
Li and
Camptotheca acuminata
Decaisne. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Nacogdoches, Tex., plants of the new Camptotheca differ from plants of
Camptotheca lowreyana
Li and
Camptotheca acuminata
Decaisne in the following charcteristics:
1. Plants of the new Camptotheca are more freely branching and denser and fuller than plants of
Camptotheca lowreyana
Li and
Camptotheca acuminata
Decaisne.
2. Leaves of plants of the new Camptotheca are much smaller than leaves of plants of
Camptotheca lowreyana
Li and
Camptotheca acuminata
Decaisne.
3. Leaves of plants of the new Camptotheca are different in shape compared to plants of
Camptotheca lowreyana
Li and
Camptotheca acuminata
Decaisne.
4. Leaves from juvenile plants of the new Camptotheca have entire margins whereas leaves from juvenile plants of
Camptotheca lowreyana
Li and
Camptotheca acuminata
Decaisne have serrated margins.
5. Plants of the new Camptotheca are more tolerant to low temperatures and drought than plants of
Camptotheca lowreyana
Li and
Camptotheca acuminata
Decaisne.
6. Plants of the new Camptotheca have a higher yield of camptothecin than plants of
Camptotheca lowreyana
Li and
Camptotheca acuminata
Decaisne.
A comparison of one-year old plants of the new Camptotheca,
Camptotheca lowreyana
Li, and
Camptotheca acuminata
Decaisne appears in Chart A at the end of the specification.
Campell Bruce R.
Kimball Melissa L.
Stephen R. Austin State University
Whealy C. A.
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