Multicellular living organisms and unmodified parts thereof and – Method of introducing a polynucleotide molecule into or... – The polynucleotide confers pathogen or pest resistance
Patent
1997-01-06
1999-06-08
Fox, David T.
Multicellular living organisms and unmodified parts thereof and
Method of introducing a polynucleotide molecule into or...
The polynucleotide confers pathogen or pest resistance
800265, 800268, 800285, 800287, 800298, 435 691, 435418, 435419, 435468, 536 236, 536 241, 536 245, A01H 500, C12N 1529, C12N 1582, C12N 504
Patent
active
059106298
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the use, in a transgenic plant, of newly-identified fungus-responsive elements of the prp1-1 promoter (fungus-responsive prp1-1 elements) to induce, in response to a fungus infection of the plant, the expression of a DNA fragment substantially selectively in cells of the plant around the site of the fungal infection. The use of the fungus-responsive prp1-1 elements of this invention is especially valuable in transgenic plants for controlling a foreign DNA fragment that is to be expressed selectively in the cells of the plant which immediately surround the fungal infection site.
This invention further relates to a first or fungus-responsive chimeric gene that can be used to transform a plant and that comprises a first foreign DNA that: immediately surrounding a fungal infection site, can either i) kill or at least disable the plant cells immediately surrounding the fungal infection site or ii) kill, disable or repel one or more fungi in the fungal infection site; and fungus-responsive prp1-1 element.
This invention further relates to a cell of a plant, the genome of which is transformed to contain the first chimeric gene and optionally a second or restorer chimeric gene; the second chimeric gene contains a second promoter that controls a second foreign DNA encoding a product which allows the inhibition or inactivation of the first foreign DNA or its encoded product at least in cells of the plant other than those immediately surrounding a fungal infection site, particularly when the first foreign DNA encodes a product that can kill or adversely disturb such other plant cells.
This invention yet further relates to: a) the fungus-resistant transgenic plant, such as a Solanaceae (e.g., tomato or potato) or Brassicaceae (e.g., oilseed rape) plant, which is regenerated from the plant cell of this invention transformed with the first and optionally the second chimeric gene of this invention, b) fungus-resistant transgenic plants derived from the regenerated transgenic plant and seeds of such plants, and c) plant cell cultures comprising the transformed plant cells of this invention.
The plants of this invention are characterized by the fungus-responsive expression of the first chimeric gene of this invention in plant cells surrounding, preferably immediately surrounding, the fungal infection site and either: chimeric gene in all other plant cells; or expression of the second chimeric gene of this invention, of the effects of any expression of the first chimeric gene in all other plant cells--thereby rendering the plants resistant to fungal infections.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The fungi are a very old group of microorganisms. Harmful fungi cause diseases of man, other animals, and especially plants. About 8000 species of fungi can cause plant diseases, and all plants are attacked by some kind of fungi. Some plant-pathogenic fungi can attack many plant species, others attack only one.
In general, fungal plant diseases can be classified into two types: those caused by soilborn fungi and those caused by airborn fungi. Soilborn fungi cause some of the most widespread and serious plant diseases, such as root and stem rot caused by Fusarium spp. and root rot caused by Phytophthora spp.
Since airborn fungi can be spread long distances by wind, they can cause devastating losses, particularly in crops which are grown over large regions. A number of these pathogens have caused widespread epidemics in a variety of crops. Important diseases caused by airborn fungi are stem rust (Puccinia graminis) on wheat, corn smut (Ustilago maydis) on corn, and late blight disease (Phytophthora infestans) on potato and tomato.
Most of these fungal diseases are difficult to combat, and farmers and growers must use a combination of practices, such as sanitary measures, resistant cultivars, and effective fungicides, against such diseases. Hundreds of million dollars are spent annually for chemical control of plant-pathogenic fungi. As a result, there is today a real need for new, more eff
REFERENCES:
J. Cell. Biochem., vol. 19B, 1995, pp. 161, Abstract No. B4-224, G. Strittter et al.
Mol. Gen. Genet., vol. 236, l993, pp. 179-186, N. Martini et al.
Fox David T.
Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Wissenschaften e.v.
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