U.S. patent application number 16/357914 was filed with the patent office on 2020-09-24 for inbred corn line bc136.
The applicant listed for this patent is KWS SAAT SE, Limagrain Europe S.A.. Invention is credited to Phyll CAMMACK, Brandon WARDYN.
Application Number | 20200296910 16/357914 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005073963 |
Filed Date | 2020-09-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200296910 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WARDYN; Brandon ; et
al. |
September 24, 2020 |
INBRED CORN LINE BC136
Abstract
Inbred corn line, designated BC136, are disclosed. The invention
relates to the seeds of inbred corn line BC136, to the plants and
plant parts of inbred corn line BC136 and to methods for producing
a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing inbred corn line
BC136 with itself or another corn line. The invention also relates
to products produced from the seeds, plants, or parts thereof, of
inbred corn line BC136 and/or of the hybrids produced using the
inbred as a parent. The invention further relates to methods for
producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or
more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that
method and to methods for producing other corn lines derived from
inbred corn line BC136.
Inventors: |
WARDYN; Brandon; (Gibbon,
NE) ; CAMMACK; Phyll; (Gibbon, NE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Limagrain Europe S.A.
KWS SAAT SE |
Saint-Beauzire
Einbeck |
|
FR
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005073963 |
Appl. No.: |
16/357914 |
Filed: |
March 19, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01H 6/4684 20180501;
A01H 5/10 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A01H 6/46 20060101
A01H006/46; A01H 5/10 20060101 A01H005/10 |
Claims
1. A seed of inbred corn line designated BC136, wherein a
representative sample of seed of said line was deposited under ATCC
Accession No. PTA-126333.
2. A corn plant, or a part thereof, produced by growing the seed of
claim 1.
3. A corn plant, or a part thereof, having all the physiological
and morphological characteristics of inbred line BC136, wherein a
representative sample of seed of said line was deposited under ATCC
Accession No. PTA-126333.
4. A tissue culture of cells produced from the plant of claim
2.
5. A corn plant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim 4,
wherein the regenerated plant has all the morphological and
physiological characteristics of inbred line BC136, wherein a
representative sample of seed of said line was deposited under ATCC
Accession No. PTA-126333.
6. A method for producing a hybrid corn seed, wherein the method
comprises crossing the plant of claim 2 with a different corn plant
and harvesting the resultant hybrid corn seed.
7. A hybrid corn seed produced by the method of claim 6.
8. An F1 hybrid corn plant, or part thereof, produced by growing
the seed of claim 7.
9. A method for producing inbred corn line BC136, wherein a
representative sample of seed of said line was deposited under ATCC
Accession No. PTA-126333, wherein the method comprises: (a)
planting a collection of seeds comprising seed of a hybrid, one of
whose parents is inbred line BC136, said collection also comprising
seed of said inbred; (b) growing plants from said collection of
seeds; (c) identifying the plants having the physiological and
morphological characteristics of inbred corn line BC136 as inbred
parent plants; (d) controlling pollination of said inbred parent
plants in a manner which preserves the homozygosity of said inbred
parent plant; and (e) harvesting the resultant seed and thereby
producing an inbred corn line having all of the physiological and
morphological characteristics of inbred corn line BC136.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein step (c) comprises identifying
plants with decreased vigor compared to the other plants grown from
the collection of seeds.
11. A method for producing a corn plant that contains in its
genetic material one or more transgenes, wherein the method
comprises crossing the corn plant of claim 2 with either a second
plant of another corn line which contains a transgene or a
transformed corn plant of the inbred corn line BC136, so that the
genetic material of the progeny plant that results from the cross
contains the transgene(s) operably linked to a regulatory element
and wherein the transgene is selected from the group consisting of
male sterility, male fertility, herbicide resistance, insect
resistance, disease resistance, water stress tolerance, and
increased digestibility.
12. A corn plant, or a part thereof, produced by the method of
claim 11.
13. The corn plant of claim 12, wherein the transgene confers
resistance to an herbicide selected from the group consisting of
imidazolinone, sulfonylurea, glyphosate, glufosinate,
L-phosphinothricin, triazine and benzonitrile.
14. The corn plant of claim 12, wherein the transgene encodes a
Bacillus thuringiensis protein.
15. The corn plant of claim 12, wherein the transgene confers
disease resistance.
16. The corn plant of claim 12, wherein the transgene confers water
stress tolerance.
17. The corn plant of claim 12, where in the transgene confers
increased digestibility.
18. A method for producing a hybrid corn seed, wherein the method
comprises crossing the plant of claim 12 with a different corn
plant and harvesting the resultant hybrid corn seed.
19. A method of producing a corn plant with increased waxy starch
or increased amylose starch, wherein the method comprises
transforming the corn plant of claim 2 with a transgene that
modifies waxy starch or amylose starch metabolism, thereby
producing a corn plant with increased waxy starch or amylose starch
metabolism.
20. A corn plant produced by the method of claim 19.
21. A method of introducing one or more desired traits into inbred
corn line BC136, wherein the method comprises: (a) crossing the
inbred line BC136 plants grown from the inbred line BC136 seed,
wherein a representative sample of seed of said line was deposited
under ATCC Accession No. PTA-126333, with plants of another corn
line that comprise one or more desired traits to produce progeny
plants, wherein the one or more desired traits are selected from
the group consisting of male sterility, male fertility, herbicide
resistance, insect resistance, disease resistance, waxy starch,
water stress tolerance, increased amylose starch and increased
digestibility; (b) selecting progeny plants that have the one or
more desired traits to produce selected progeny plants; (c)
crossing the selected progeny plants with the inbred corn line
BC136 plants to produce backcross progeny plants; (d) selecting for
backcross progeny plants that have the one or more desired traits
and all of the physiological and morphological characteristics
listed in Table 1 of inbred corn line BC136 to produce selected
backcross progeny plants; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) one
or more times in succession to produce selected second or higher
backcross progeny plants that comprise the one or more desired
traits and all of the physiological and morphological
characteristics listed in Table 1 of inbred corn line BC136.
22. A corn plant produced by the method of claim 21, wherein the
plant has the one or more desired traits and all of the
physiological and morphological characteristics listed in Table 1
of inbred corn line BC136.
23. A method for producing inbred corn line BC136 seed, wherein a
representative sample of seed of said line was deposited under ATCC
Accession No. PTA-126333, wherein the method comprises crossing a
first inbred parent corn plant with a second inbred parent corn
plant and harvesting the resultant corn seed, wherein both said
first and second inbred corn plant are the corn plant of claim
2.
24. A method for producing inbred corn line BC136 seed, wherein a
representative sample of seed of said line was deposited under ATCC
Accession No. PTA-126333, wherein the method comprises: (a)
planting the inbred corn seed of claim 1; (b) growing a plant from
said seed; (c) controlling pollination in a manner that the pollen
produced by the grown plant pollinates the ovules produced by the
grown plant; and (d) harvesting the resultant seed and thereby
producing an inbred corn line having all of the physiological and
morphological characteristics of inbred corn line BC136.
25. A method for producing a corn seed that contains in its genetic
material one or more transgenes, wherein the method comprises
crossing the corn plant of claim 2 with either a second plant of
another corn line which contains one or more transgenes or a
transformed corn plant of the inbred corn line BC136, wherein the
transgene(s) is operably linked to a regulatory element and wherein
the transgene is selected from the group consisting of male
sterility, male fertility, herbicide resistance, insect resistance,
disease resistance, water stress tolerance, and increased
digestibility; and harvesting the resultant seed.
26. An F1 corn seed, or a part thereof, produced by the method of
claim 25.
27. A method for producing a hybrid corn seed, wherein the method
comprises crossing the plant of claim 22 with a different corn
plant and harvesting the resultant hybrid corn seed.
28. An F1 hybrid corn seed produced by the method of claim 27.
29. A method of producing a corn product, said method comprising
the step of milling the inbred seed of claim 1, thereby producing
the corn product.
30. The method of producing a corn product of claim 29, wherein the
corn product is selected from the group consisting of corn meal,
corn flour, corn starch, corn syrup, corn sweetener and corn
oil.
31. A method of producing a corn product, said method comprising
the step of milling the hybrid seed of claim 7, thereby producing
the corn product.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the corn product is selected
from the group consisting of corn meal, corn flour, corn starch,
corn syrup, corn sweetener and corn oil.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a new and distinctive corn
inbred line (Zea mays, also known as maize), designated BC136.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The disclosures, including the claims, figures and/or
drawings, of each and every patent, patent application, and
publication cited herein are hereby incorporated herein by
reference in their entireties.
[0003] The following description includes information that may be
useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an
admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art
or relevant to the presently claimed inventions, or that any
publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0004] There are numerous steps in the development of any novel,
desirable plant germplasm. Plant breeding begins with the analysis
and definition of problems and weaknesses of the current germplasm,
the establishment of program goals, and the definition of specific
breeding objectives. The next step is selection of germplasm that
possess the traits to meet the program goals. The goal is to
combine in a single variety or hybrid an improved combination of
desirable traits from the parental germplasm. These important
traits may include higher yield, resistance to diseases and
insects, better stalks and roots, tolerance to drought and heat,
reduction of grain moisture at harvest as well as better agronomic
quality. With mechanical harvesting of many crops, uniformity of
plant characteristics such as germination and stand establishment,
growth rate, maturity and plant and ear height is important.
[0005] Choice of breeding or selection methods depends on the mode
of plant reproduction, the heritability of the trait(s) being
improved, and the type of cultivar used commercially (e.g., F.sub.1
hybrid cultivar, pureline cultivar, etc.). For highly heritable
traits, a choice of superior individual plants evaluated at a
single location will be effective, whereas for traits with low
heritability, selection should be based on mean values obtained
from replicated evaluations of families of related plants. Popular
selection methods commonly include pedigree selection, modified
pedigree selection, mass selection, recurrent selection, and
backcross breeding.
[0006] The complexity of inheritance influences choice of breeding
method. Backcross breeding is used to transfer one or a few
favorable genes for a heritable trait into a desirable cultivar.
This approach has been used extensively for breeding
disease-resistant cultivars; nevertheless, it is also suitable for
the adjustment and selection of morphological characters, color
characteristics and simply inherited quantitative characters such
as earliness, plant height or seed size and shape. Various
recurrent selection techniques are used to improve quantitatively
inherited traits controlled by numerous genes. The use of recurrent
selection in self-pollinating crops depends on the ease of
pollination, the frequency of successful hybrids from each
pollination, and the number of hybrid offspring from each
successful cross.
[0007] Each breeding program should include a periodic, objective
evaluation of the efficiency of the breeding procedure. Evaluation
criteria vary depending on the goal and objectives, but should
include gain from selection per year based on comparisons to an
appropriate standard, overall value of the advanced breeding lines,
and number of successful cultivars produced per unit of input
(e.g., per year, per dollar expended, etc.).
[0008] Promising advanced breeding lines are thoroughly tested per
se and in hybrid combination and compared to appropriate standards
in environments representative of the commercial target area(s) for
three or more years. The best lines are candidates for use as
parents in new commercial cultivars; those still deficient in a few
traits may be used as parents to produce new populations for
further selection.
[0009] These processes, which lead to the final step of marketing
and distribution, usually take from eight to twelve years from the
time the first cross is made. Therefore, development of new
cultivars is a time-consuming process that requires precise forward
planning, efficient use of resources, and a focus on clear
objectives.
[0010] A most difficult task is the identification of individuals
that are genetically superior, because for most traits the true
genotypic value is masked by other confounding plant traits or
environmental factors. One method of identifying a superior plant
is to observe its performance relative to other experimental plants
and to a widely grown standard cultivar. If a single observation is
inconclusive, replicated observations provide a better estimate of
its genetic worth.
[0011] The goal of corn breeding is to develop new, unique and
superior corn inbred lines and hybrids. The breeder initially
selects and crosses two or more parental lines, followed by
repeated self pollination or selfing and selection, producing many
new genetic combinations. Another method used to develop new,
unique and superior corn inbred lines and hybrids occurs when the
breeder selects and crosses two or more parental lines, followed by
haploid induction and chromosome doubling that results in the
development of dihaploid inbred lines. The breeder can
theoretically generate billions of different genetic combinations
via crossing, selfing and mutations and the same is true for the
utilization of the dihaploid breeding method.
[0012] Each year, the plant breeder selects the germplasm to
advance to the next generation. This germplasm is grown under
unique and different geographical, climatic and soil conditions,
and further selections are then made, during and at the end of the
growing season. The inbred lines which are developed are
unpredictable. This unpredictability is because the breeder's
selection occurs in unique environments, with no control at the DNA
level (using conventional breeding procedures or dihaploid breeding
procedures), and with millions of different possible genetic
combinations being generated. A breeder of ordinary skill in the
art cannot predict the final resulting lines he develops, except
possibly in a very gross and general fashion. This unpredictability
results in the expenditure of large research funds to develop
several superior new corn inbred lines.
[0013] The development of commercial corn hybrids requires the
development of homozygous inbred lines, the crossing of these
lines, and the evaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and
recurrent selection breeding methods are used to develop inbred
lines from breeding populations. Breeding programs combine
desirable traits from two or more inbred lines or various
broad-based sources into breeding pools from which inbred lines are
developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes or through
the dihaploid breeding method followed by the selection of desired
phenotypes. The new inbreds are crossed with other inbred lines and
the hybrids from these crosses are evaluated to determine which
have commercial potential.
[0014] Pedigree breeding is used commonly for the improvement of
self-pollinating crops or inbred lines of cross-pollinating crops.
Two parents which possess favorable, complementary traits are
crossed to produce an F.sub.1. An F.sub.2 population is produced by
selfing one or several F.sub.1s or by intercrossing two F.sub.1s
(sib mating). Selection of the best individuals is usually begun in
the F.sub.2 population; then, beginning in the F.sub.3, the best
individuals in the best families are selected. Replicated testing
of families, or hybrid combinations involving individuals of these
families, often follows in the F.sub.4 generation to improve the
effectiveness of selection for traits with low heritability. At an
advanced stage of inbreeding (i.e., F.sub.6 and F.sub.7), the best
lines or mixtures of phenotypically similar lines are tested for
potential release as new cultivars. Similarly, the development of
new inbred lines through the dihaploid system requires the
selection of the best inbreds followed by four to five years of
testing in hybrid combinations in replicated plots.
[0015] Mass and recurrent selections can be used to improve
populations of either self- or cross-pollinating crops. A
genetically variable population of heterozygous individuals is
either identified or created by intercrossing several different
parents. The best plants are selected based on individual
superiority, outstanding progeny, or excellent combining ability.
The selected plants are intercrossed to produce a new population in
which further cycles of selection are continued.
[0016] Backcross breeding has been used to transfer genes for a
simply inherited, highly heritable trait into a desirable cultivar
or inbred line which is the recurrent parent. The source of the
trait to be transferred is called the donor parent. The resulting
plant is expected to have the attributes of the recurrent parent
(e.g., cultivar) and the desirable trait transferred from the donor
parent. After the initial cross, individuals possessing the
phenotype of the donor parent are selected and repeatedly crossed
(backcrossed) to the recurrent parent. The resulting plant is
expected to have the attributes of the recurrent parent (e.g.,
cultivar) and the desirable trait transferred from the donor
parent.
[0017] Descriptions of other breeding methods that are commonly
used for different traits and crops can be found in one of several
reference books (e.g., R. W. Allard, 1960, Principles of Plant
Breeding, John Wiley and Son; Briggs, F. N. and Knowles, P. F.
1967. Introduction to Plant Breeding. Reinhold Publishing
Corporation; N. W. Simmonds, 1979, Principles of Crop Improvement,
Longman Group Limited; W. R. Fehr, 1987, Principles of Crop
Development, Macmillan Publishing Co.; N. F. Jensen, 1988, Plant
Breeding Methodology, John Wiley & Sons).
[0018] Proper testing should detect any major faults and establish
the level of superiority or improvement over current cultivars. In
addition to showing superior performance, there must be a demand
for a new cultivar that is compatible with industry standards or
which creates a new market. The introduction of a new cultivar will
incur additional costs to the seed producer, the grower, processor
and consumer for special advertising and marketing, altered seed
and commercial production practices, and new product utilization.
The testing preceding release of a new cultivar should take into
consideration research and development costs as well as technical
superiority of the final cultivar. For seed-propagated cultivars,
it must be feasible to produce seed easily and economically.
[0019] Once the inbreds that give the best hybrid performance have
been identified, the hybrid seed can be reproduced indefinitely as
long as the homogeneity of the inbred parent is maintained. A
single-cross hybrid is produced when two inbred lines are crossed
to produce the F.sub.1 progeny. A double-cross hybrid is produced
from four inbred lines crossed in pairs (A.times.B and C.times.D)
and then the two F.sub.1 hybrids are crossed again
(A.times.B).times.(C.times.D). Much of the hybrid vigor exhibited
by F.sub.1 hybrids is lost in the next generation (F.sub.2).
Consequently, seed from hybrid varieties is not used for planting
stock.
[0020] Hybrid corn seed is typically produced by a male sterility
system or by incorporating manual or mechanical detasseling.
Alternate strips of two corn inbreds are planted in a field, and
the pollen-bearing tassels are removed from one of the inbreds
(female). Providing that there is sufficient isolation from sources
of foreign corn pollen, the ears of the detasseled inbred will be
fertilized only from the other inbred (male), and the resulting
seed is therefore hybrid and will form hybrid plants.
[0021] The laborious, and occasionally unreliable, detasseling
process can be avoided by using cytoplasmic male-sterile (CMS)
inbreds. Plants of a CMS inbred are male sterile as a result of
factors resulting from the cytoplasmic, as opposed to the nuclear,
genome. Thus, this characteristic is inherited exclusively through
the female parent in corn plants, since only the female provides
cytoplasm to the fertilized seed. CMS plants are fertilized with
pollen from another inbred that is not male-sterile. Pollen from
the second inbred may or may not contribute genes that make the
hybrid plants male-fertile. Seed from detasseled fertile corn and
CMS produced seed of the same hybrid can be blended to insure that
adequate pollen loads are available for fertilization when the
hybrid plants are grown.
[0022] There are several methods of conferring genetic male
sterility available, such as multiple mutant genes at separate
locations within the genome that confer male sterility, as
disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,654,465 and 4,727,219 to Brar et al.
These and all patents referred to are incorporated by reference. In
addition to these methods, Albertsen et al., U.S. Pat. No.
5,432,068, have developed a system of nuclear male sterility which
includes: identifying a gene which is critical to male fertility,
silencing this native gene which is critical to male fertility;
removing the native promoter from the essential male fertility gene
and replacing it with an inducible promoter; inserting this
genetically engineered gene back into the plant; and thus creating
a plant that is male sterile because the inducible promoter is not
"on" resulting in the male fertility gene not being transcribed.
Fertility is restored by inducing, or turning "on," the promoter,
which in turn allows the gene that confers male fertility to be
transcribed.
[0023] There are many other methods of conferring genetic male
sterility in the art, each with its own benefits and drawbacks.
These methods use a variety of approaches such as delivering into
the plant a gene encoding a cytotoxic substance associated with a
male tissue specific promoter or an anti-sense system in which a
gene critical to fertility is identified and an antisense to that
gene is inserted in the plant (see, Fabinjanski, et al. EPO
89/0301053.8 publication number 329,308 and PCT application
PCT/CA90/00037 published as WO 90/08828).
[0024] Another version useful in controlling male sterility makes
use of gametocides. Gametocides are not a genetic system, but
rather a topical application of chemicals. These chemicals affect
cells that are critical to male fertility. The application of these
chemicals affects fertility in the plants only for the growing
season in which the gametocide is applied (see Carlson, G. R., U.S.
Pat. No. 4,936,904). Application of the gametocide, timing of the
application, and genotype often limit the usefulness of the
approach.
[0025] Corn is an important and valuable field crop. Thus, a
continuing goal of plant breeders is to develop stable, high
yielding corn hybrids that are agronomically sound. The reasons for
this goal are obviously to maximize the amount of ears or kernels
produced on the land used and to supply food for both humans and
animals. To accomplish this goal, the corn breeder must select and
develop corn plants that have the traits that result in superior
parental lines for producing hybrids.
[0026] The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations
related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not
exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become
apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the
specification.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0027] The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described
in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to
be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope.
[0028] In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described
problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments
are directed to other improvements.
[0029] According to the invention, there are provided inbred corn
line designated BC136. This invention thus relates to the seeds of
inbred corn line BC136, to the plants or parts thereof of inbred
corn line BC136, to plants or parts thereof having all the
physiological and morphological characteristics of inbred corn line
BC136 and to plants or parts thereof having all the physiological
and morphological characteristics of inbred corn line BC136 listed
in Table 1, including but not limited to as determined at the 5%
significance level when grown in the same environmental
conditions.
[0030] The invention also relates to variants, mutants and trivial
modifications of the seed or plant of inbred corn line BC136. Parts
of the inbred corn plant of the present invention are also
provided, such as e.g., pollen obtained from an inbred plant and an
ovule of the inbred plant. Variants, mutants and trivial
modifications of the seed or plant of the corn line of the present
invention can be generated by methods available to one skilled in
the art, including but not limited to, mutagenesis (e.g., chemical
mutagenesis, radiation mutagenesis, transposon mutagenesis,
insertional mutagenesis, signature tagged mutagenesis,
site-directed mutagenesis, and natural mutagenesis),
knock-outs/knock-ins, antisense and RNA interference. For more
information of mutagenesis in plants, such as agents, protocols,
see Acquaah et al. (Principles of plant genetics and breeding,
Wiley-Blackwell, 2007, ISBN 1405136464, 9781405136464, which is
herein incorporated by reference in its entity).
[0031] As used herein, the verb "comprise" as is used in this
description and in the claims and its conjugations are used in its
non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are
included, but items not specifically mentioned are not
excluded.
[0032] The term "a" or "an" refers to one or more of that entity;
for example, "a gene" refers to one or more genes or at least one
gene. As such, the terms "a" (or "an"), "one or more" and "at least
one" are used interchangeably herein. In addition, reference to "an
element" by the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude the
possibility that more than one of the elements are present, unless
the context clearly requires that there is one and only one of the
elements.
[0033] The invention also relates to a mutagenized population of
inbred corn line BC136, and methods of using such populations. In
some embodiments, the mutagenized population can be used in
screening for new corn lines which comprises one or more or all of
the morphological and physiological characteristics of inbred corn
line BC136. In some embodiments, the new corn lines obtained from
the screening process comprise all of the morphological and
physiological characteristics of inbred corn line BC136, and one or
more additional or different morphological and physiological
characteristics that the inbred corn line BC136 does not have.
[0034] The mutagenized population of the present invention can be
used in Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genomes (TILLING)
screening method, which combines a standard and efficient technique
of mutagenesis with a chemical mutagen (e.g., Ethyl
methanesulfonate (EMS)) with a sensitive DNA screening-technique
that identifies single base mutations (also called point mutations)
in a target gene. Detailed description on methods and compositions
on TILLING.RTM. can be found in Till et al. (Discovery of induced
point mutations in maize genes by TILLING, BMC Plant Biology 2004,
4:12), Weil et al., (TILLING in Grass Species, Plant Physiology
January 2009 vol. 149 no. 1 158-164), Comai, L. and S. Henikoff
("TILLING: practical single-nucleotide mutation discovery." Plant J
45(4): 684-94), McCallum et al., (Nature Biotechnology, 18:
455-457, 2000), McCallum et al., (Plant Physiology, 123: 439-442,
2000), Colbert et al., (Plant Physiol. 126(2): 480-484, 2001), U.S.
Pat. No. 5,994,075, U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2004/0053236A1, and International Patent Application Publication
Nos. WO 2005/055704 and WO 2005/048692, each of which is hereby
incorporated by reference for all purposes.
[0035] The plants and seeds of the present invention include those
that may be of an essentially derived variety as defined in section
41(3) of the Plant Variety Protection Act, i.e., a variety
that:
1. is predominantly derived from inbred corn line BC136, or from a
variety that is predominantly derived from inbred corn line BC136,
while retaining the expression of the essential characteristics
that result from the genotype or combination of genotypes of inbred
corn line BC136; 2. is clearly distinguishable from inbred corn
line BC136; and 3. except for differences that result from the act
of derivation, conforms to the initial variety in the expression of
the essential characteristics that result from the genotype or
combination of genotypes of the initial variety.
[0036] In another aspect, the present invention provides
regenerable cells for use in tissue culture of inbred corn plant
corn line BC136. The tissue culture will preferably be capable of
regenerating plants having all the physiological and morphological
characteristics of the foregoing inbred corn plant. Preferably, the
cells of such tissue cultures will be embryos, ovules, meristematic
cells, seeds, callus, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips,
silk, flowers, kernels, ears, cobs, husks, stalks or the like.
Protoplasts produced from such tissue culture are also included in
the present invention. The corn shoots, roots and whole plants
regenerated from the tissue cultures are also part of the
invention.
[0037] Also included in this invention are methods for producing a
corn plant produced by crossing the inbred corn line BC136 with
itself or another corn line. When crossed with itself, i.e.,
crossed with another inbred corn line BC136 plant or
self-pollinated, the inbred line corn line BC136 will be conserved
(e.g., as an inbred). When crossed with another, different corn
line, an F.sub.1 hybrid seed is produced. F.sub.1 hybrid seeds and
plants produced by growing said hybrid seeds are included in the
present invention. A method for producing an F.sub.1 hybrid corn
seed comprising crossing inbred corn line BC136 corn plant with a
different corn plant and harvesting the resultant hybrid corn seed
are also part of the invention. The hybrid corn seed produced by
the method comprising crossing inbred corn line BC136 corn plant
with a different corn plant and harvesting the resultant hybrid
corn seed are included in the invention, as are included the hybrid
corn plant or parts thereof, seeds included, produced by growing
said hybrid corn seed.
[0038] In another embodiment, this invention relates to a method
for producing the inbred corn line BC136 from a collection of
seeds, the collection containing both inbred corn line BC136 seeds
and hybrid seeds having inbred corn line BC136 as a parental line.
Such a collection of seeds might be a commercial bag of seeds. Said
method comprises planting the collection of seeds. When planted,
the collection of seeds will produce inbred corn line BC136 plants
from inbred corn line BC136 seeds and hybrid plants from hybrid
seeds. The plants having all the physiological and morphological
characteristics of corn inbred BC136 or having a decreased vigor
compared to the other plants grown from the collection of seeds are
identified as inbred corn line BC136 parent plant. Said decreased
vigor is due to the inbreeding depression effect and can be
identified for example by a less vigorous appearance for vegetative
and/or reproductive characteristics including shorter plant height,
small ear size, ear and kernel shape, ear color or other
characteristics. As previously mentioned, if the inbred corn line
BC136 is self-pollinated, the inbred corn line BC136 will be
preserved, therefore, the next step is controlling pollination of
the inbred parent plants in a manner which preserves the
homozygosity of said inbred corn line BC136 parent plant and the
final step is to harvest the resultant seed.
[0039] This invention also relates to methods for producing other
corn lines derived from inbred corn line BC136 and to the corn
lines derived by the use of those methods.
[0040] In another aspect, the present invention provides
transformed inbred corn line BC136 or parts thereof that have been
transformed so that its genetic material contains one or more
transgenes, preferably operably linked to one or more regulatory
elements. Also, the invention provides methods for producing a corn
plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes,
preferably operably linked to one or more regulatory elements, by
crossing transformed inbred corn line BC136 with either a second
plant of another corn line, or a non-transformed corn plant of the
inbred corn line BC136, so that the genetic material of the progeny
that results from the cross contains the transgene(s), preferably
operably linked to one or more regulatory elements. The invention
also provides methods for producing a corn plant that contains in
its genetic material one or more transgene(s), wherein the method
comprises crossing the inbred corn line BC136 with a second plant
of another corn line which contains one or more transgene(s)
operably linked to one or more regulatory element(s) so that the
genetic material of the progeny that results from the cross
contains the transgene(s) operably linked to one or more regulatory
element(s). Transgenic corn plants, or parts thereof produced by
the method are in the scope of the present invention.
[0041] More specifically, the invention comprises methods for
producing corn plants or seeds with at least one trait selected
from the group consisting of male sterile, male fertile, herbicide
resistant, insect resistant, disease resistant, water stress
tolerant corn plants or seeds, or corn plants or seeds with
modified, in particular decreased, phytate content, with modified
waxy and/or amylose starch content, with modified protein content,
with modified oil content or profile, with increased digestibility
or with increased nutritional quality. Said methods comprise
transforming the inbred corn line BC136 corn plant with nucleic
acid molecules that confer, for example, male sterility, male
fertility, herbicide resistance, insect resistance, disease
resistance, water stress tolerance, or that can modify the phytate,
the waxy and/or amylose starches, the protein or the oil contents,
the digestibility or the nutritional qualities, respectively. The
transformed corn plants or seeds obtained from the provided
methods, including, for example, those corn plants or seeds with
male sterility, male fertility, herbicide resistance, insect
resistance, disease resistance, water stress tolerance, modified
phytate, waxy and/or amylose starches, protein or oil contents,
increased digestibility and increased nutritional quality are
included in the present invention. Plants may display one or more
of the above listed traits. For the present invention and the
skilled artisan, disease is understood to be fungal disease, viral
disease, bacterial disease or other plant pathogenic diseases and
disease resistant plant encompasses plants resistant to fungal,
viral, bacterial and other plant pathogens.
[0042] Also included in the invention are methods for producing a
corn plant or seed containing in its genetic material one or more
transgenes involved with fatty acid metabolism, carbohydrate
metabolism, and starch content such as waxy starch or increased
amylose starch. The transgenic corn plants or seeds produced by
these methods are also part of the invention.
[0043] In another aspect, the present invention provides for
methods of introducing one or more desired trait(s) into the inbred
corn line BC136 and plants or seeds obtained from such methods. The
desired trait(s) may be, but not exclusively, a single gene,
preferably a dominant but also a recessive allele. Preferably, the
transferred gene or genes will confer such traits as male
sterility, herbicide resistance, insect resistance, resistance for
bacterial, fungal, or viral disease, male fertility, water stress
tolerance, enhanced nutritional quality, modified waxy content,
modified amylose content, modified protein content, modified oil
content, enhanced plant quality, enhanced digestibility and
industrial usage. The gene or genes may be naturally occurring
gene(s), transgene(s), mutant(s), or genes modified through New
Breeding Techniques. In some embodiments, the method for
introducing the desired trait(s) is a backcrossing process making
use of a series of backcrosses to the inbred corn line BC136 during
which the desired trait(s) is maintained by selection. The single
gene conversion plants that can be obtained by the method are
included in the present invention.
[0044] In some embodiments, the backcross breeding process of
inbred corn line BC136 comprises (a) crossing inbred corn line
BC136 with plants that comprise the desired trait(s) to produce F1
progeny plants. In some embodiments, the process further comprises
(b) selecting the F1 progeny plants that have the desired trait(s);
In some embodiments, the process further comprises (c) crossing the
selected F1 progeny plants with the inbred corn line BC136 plants
to produce backcross progeny plants; In some embodiments, the
process further comprises (d) selecting for backcross progeny
plants that have the desired trait(s) and physiological and
morphological characteristics of the inbred corn line BC136 to
produce selected backcross progeny plants; In some embodiments, the
process further comprises (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) one, two,
three, four, five six, seven, eight, nine or more times in
succession to produce selected, second, third, fourth, fifth,
sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth or higher backcross progeny plants
that have the desired trait(s) and consist essentially of the
phenotypic and morphological characteristics of the inbred corn
line BC136, and/or have all the phenotypic and morphological
characteristics of the inbred corn line BC136, and/or have the
desired trait(s) and the physiological and morphological
characteristics of the inbred corn line BC136 as determined in
Table 1, including but not limited to at a 5% significance level
when grown in the same environmental conditions. The corn plants or
seeds produced by the method are also part of the invention, as are
the inbred corn line BC136 that comprise the desired trait(s).
Backcrossing breeding methods, well known to one skilled in the art
of plant breeding will be further developed in subsequent part of
the specification.
[0045] When dealing with a gene that has been modified, for example
through New Breeding Techniques, the trait (genetic modification)
could be directly modified into the newly developed line/cultivar
such as inbred corn line BC136. Alternatively, if the trait is not
modified into each newly developed line/cultivar such as inbred
corn line BC136, another typical method used by breeders of
ordinary skill in the art to incorporate the modified gene is to
take a line already carrying the gene and to use such line as a
donor line to transfer the gene into the newly developed line. The
same would apply for a naturally occurring trait or one arising
from spontaneous or induced mutations.
[0046] When using a transgene, the trait is generally not
incorporated into each newly developed line such as inbred corn
line BC136 by direct transformation. Rather, the more typical
method used by breeders of ordinary skill in the art to incorporate
the transgene is to take a line already carrying the transgene and
to use such line as a donor line to transfer the transgene into the
newly developed line. The same would apply for a naturally
occurring trait (e.g., a native trait, such as but not limited to
drought tolerance or improved nitrogen utilization) or one arising
from spontaneous or induced mutations. In some embodiments, the
backcross breeding process comprises (a) crossing inbred corn line
BC136 plants with plants of another line that comprise the desired
trait(s). In some embodiments, the process further comprises (b)
selecting the F.sub.1 progeny plants that have the desired
trait(s). In some embodiments, the process further comprises (c)
crossing the selected F.sub.1 progeny plants with the inbred corn
line BC136 plants to produce backcross progeny plants. In some
embodiments, the process further comprises (d) selecting for
backcross progeny plants that have the desired trait(s) and
physiological and morphological characteristics of corn line BC136
to produce selected backcross progeny plants. In some embodiments,
the process further comprises (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) one,
two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or more times in
succession to produce selected, second, third, fourth, fifth,
sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth or higher backcross progeny plants
that comprise the desired trait(s) and all the physiological and
morphological characteristics of corn line BC136 as listed in Table
1, including but not limited to at a 5% significance level when
grown in the same environmental conditions. The corn plants or
seeds produced by the methods are also part of the invention.
Backcrossing breeding methods, well known to one skilled in the art
of plant breeding will be further developed in subsequent parts of
the specification.
[0047] In another aspect of the invention, inbred corn line BC136
may be used as a parent, or a single gene conversion or a
transgenic inbred corn line of BC136 may be used as a parent and
may be crossed with another corn line. Preferably, the single gene
conversions or transgenic inbred lines will confer such traits,
herbicide resistance, insect resistance, resistance for bacterial,
fungal, or viral disease, male fertility, water stress tolerance,
enhanced nutritional quality, modified waxy content, modified
amylose content, modified protein content, modified oil content,
enhanced plant quality, enhanced digestibility and industrial
usage. The gene or genes may be naturally occurring maize gene(s)
(e.g., native traits) or transgene(s) introduced through genetic
engineering techniques. The hybrid corn plants or seeds having
inbred corn line BC136 or a single gene conversion or a transgenic
inbred corn line BC136 as a parental line and having another,
different, corn line as a second parental line as discussed above
are comprised in the present invention.
[0048] Any DNA sequence(s), whether from a different species or
from the same species that is inserted into the genome using
transformation is referred to herein collectively as "transgenes."
In some embodiments of the invention, a transformed variant of
BC136 may contain at least one transgene but could contain at least
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 transgenes. In another embodiment
of the invention, a transformed variant of another corn line used
as the other parental line may contain at least one transgene but
could contain at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 transgenes,
such as LH287, MON810, and MON89034.
[0049] In an embodiment of this invention is a method of making a
backcross conversion of inbred corn line BC136, comprising the
steps of crossing a plant of corn inbred BC136 with a donor plant
comprising a mutant gene(s), a naturally occurring gene(s), or a
gene(s) and/or sequences modified through the use of New Breeding
Techniques, conferring one or more desired trait to produce F.sub.1
progeny plant. In some embodiments, the method comprises
backcrossing the selected F progeny plant to a plant of inbred corn
line BC136, or plant comprising the naturally occurring gene(s),
mutant gene(s) or modified gene(s) and/or sequence conferring the
one or more desired trait. This method may further comprise the
step of obtaining a molecular marker profile of inbred corn line
BC136 and using the molecular marker profile to select for a
progeny plant with the desired trait and the molecular marker
profile of inbred corn line BC136. In the same manner, this method
may be used to produce an F.sub.1 hybrid seed by adding a final
step of crossing the desired trait conversion of inbred corn line
BC136 with a different corn plant to make F.sub.1 hybrid corn seed
comprising a mutant gene or transgene conferring the desired
trait.
[0050] In some embodiments of the invention, the number of loci
that may be backcrossed into inbred corn line BC136 is at least 1,
2, 3, 4, 5, or more. A single locus may contain several genes, such
as a gene for disease resistance, or a gene herbicide resistance.
The gene for herbicide resistance may be used as a selectable
marker and/or as a phenotypic trait. A single locus conversion of
site specific integration system allows for the integration of
multiple genes at the converted locus. In some embodiments, a
single locus conversion of site specific integration system allows
for the integration of multiple genes at the converted locus. A
single locus conversion also allows for making one or more site
specific changes to the plant genome, such as, without limitation,
one or more nucleotide changes, deletions, insertions, etc. In some
embodiments, the single locus conversion is performed by genome
editing, a.k.a. genome editing with engineered nucleases (GEEN). In
some embodiments, the genome editing comprises using one or more
engineered nucleases. In some embodiments, the engineered nucleases
include, but are not limited to Zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs),
Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALENs), the
CRISPR/Cas system, and engineered meganuclease re-engineered homing
endonucleases for DNA guided genome editing (Gao et al., Nature
Biotechnology (2016), doi: 10.1038/nbt.3547). In some embodiments,
the single locus conversion changes one or several nucleotides of
the plant genome. Such genome editing techniques are some of the
techniques now known by a person skilled in the art and herein are
collectively referred to as `New Breeding Techniques`. In some
embodiments, the single locus conversion changes one or several
nucleic acids of the plant genome. In some embodiments, the plant
comprising a single locus conversion and otherwise essentially all
of the phenotypical and morphological characteristics of an inbred
plant of the present invention, such as all of the characteristics
listed in Table 1 when grown under the same environmental
conditions.
[0051] In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides
methods for increasing and producing inbred corn line BC136 seed,
whether by crossing a first inbred parent corn plant with a second
inbred parent corn plant and harvesting the resultant corn seed,
wherein both said first and second inbred corn plant are the inbred
corn line BC136 or by planting an inbred corn seed of the inbred
corn line BC136, growing an inbred corn line BC136 plant from said
seed, controlling a self pollination of the plant where the pollen
produced by the grown inbred corn line BC136 plant pollinates the
ovules produced by the very same inbred corn line BC136 grown plant
and harvesting the resultant seed.
[0052] The invention further provides methods for developing corn
plants in a corn plant breeding program using plant breeding
techniques including recurrent selection, backcrossing, pedigree
breeding, molecular marker (Isozyme Electrophoresis, Restriction
Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs), Randomly Amplified
Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain
Reaction (AP-PCR), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence
Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs). Amplified Fragment Length
Polymorphisms (AFLPs), and Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) which are
also referred to as Microsatellites, etc., enhanced selection,
genetic marker enhanced selection and transformation. Corn seeds,
plants, and parts thereof produced by such breeding methods are
also part of the invention.
[0053] In addition, any and all products made using the corn seeds,
plants and parts thereof obtained from inbred corn line BC136 or
from any corn line produced using inbred corn line BC136 as a
direct or indirect parent are also part of the invention. Examples
of such corn products include but are not limited to corn meal,
corn flour, corn starch, corn syrup, corn sweetener and corn oil.
The origin of the corn used in such corn products can be determined
by tracking the source of the corn used to make the products and/or
by using protein (isozyme, ELISA, etc.) and/or DNA (RFLP, PCR, SSR,
SNP, EST, etc.) testing.
[0054] The invention also relates to variants, mutants and trivial
modifications of the seed or plant of the inbred corn line BC136.
Variants, mutants and trivial modifications of the seed or plant of
inbred corn line BC136 can be generated by methods available to one
skilled in the art, including but not limited to, mutagenesis
(e.g., chemical mutagenesis, radiation mutagenesis, transposon
mutagenesis, insertional mutagenesis, signature tagged mutagenesis,
site-directed mutagenesis, and natural mutagenesis),
knock-outs/knock-ins, antisense, RNA interference and other
techniques such as the New Breeding Techniques. For more
information of mutagenesis in plants, such as agents, protocols,
see Acquaah et al. (Principles of plant genetics and breeding,
Wiley-Blackwell, 2007, ISBN 1405136464, 9781405136464, which is
herein incorporated by reference in its entity).
[0055] The invention also relates to a mutagenized population of
the inbred corn line BC136 and methods of using such populations.
In some embodiments, the mutagenized population can be used in
screening for new corn plants which comprises one or more or all of
the morphological and physiological characteristics of inbred corn
line BC136. In some embodiments, the new corn plants obtained from
the screening process comprise all of the morphological and
physiological characteristics of the inbred corn line BC136, and
one or more additional or different morphological and physiological
characteristics that inbred corn line BC136 does not have.
[0056] In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments
described above, further aspects and embodiments will become
apparent by study of the following descriptions.
Definitions
[0057] In the description and tables which follow, a number of
terms are used. In order to provide a clear and consistent
understanding of the specification and claims, including the scope
to be given such terms, the following definitions are provided:
[0058] Allele. The allele is any of one or more alternative forms
of a gene, all of which relate to one trait or characteristic. In a
diploid cell or organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy
corresponding loci on a pair of homologous chromosomes.
[0059] Backcrossing. Backcrossing is a process in which a breeder
repeatedly crosses hybrid progeny back to one of the parents, for
example, a first generation hybrid F.sub.1 with one of the parental
genotype of the F.sub.1 hybrid.
[0060] BT1-1, BT1. BT1-1 refers to MON810, also known as MON810Bt
or BT1, is the designation given by the Monsanto Company (St.
Louis, Mo.) for the transgenic event that, when expressed in maize,
produces an endotoxin that is efficacious against the European corn
borer, Ostrinia nubilalis and certain other Lepidopteran
larvae.
[0061] Collection of seeds. In the context of the present invention
a collection of seeds will be a grouping of seeds mainly containing
similar kind of seeds, for example hybrid seeds having the inbred
line of the invention as a parental line, but that may also
contain, mixed together with this first kind of seeds, a second,
different kind of seeds, of one of the inbred parent lines, for
example the inbred line of the present invention. A commercial bag
of hybrid seeds having the inbred line of the invention as a
parental line and containing also the inbred line seeds of the
invention would be, for example such a collection of seeds.
[0062] CL. CL, also known as Clearfield is commercial denomination
given to the gene that, when present in maize, allows the use of
imidazolinone herbicides as a weed control agent for both grasses
(i.e., monocotyledons) and broadleaves (i.e., dicotyledons).
[0063] Daily heat unit value. The daily heat unit value (also
referred to as growing degree unit, or GDU) is calculated as
follows: (the maximum daily temperature+the minimum daily
temperature)/2 minus 50. All temperatures are in degrees
Fahrenheit. The maximum temperature threshold is 86 degrees, if
temperatures exceed this, 86 is used. The minimum temperature
threshold is 50 degrees, if temperatures go below this, 50 is used.
For each hybrid, it takes a certain number of GDUs to reach various
stages of plant development. GDUs are a way of measuring plant
maturity. GDUs can also relate to stages of growth for an inbred
line.
[0064] Decreased vigor. A plant having a decreased vigor in the
present invention is a plant that, compared to other plants has a
less vigorous appearance for vegetative and/or reproductive
characteristics including shorter plant height, small ear size, ear
and kernel shape, ear color or other characteristics.
[0065] Dropped ears. This is a measure of the number of dropped
ears per plot, and represents the percentage of plants that dropped
an ear prior to harvest.
[0066] Dry down. This is the rate at which a hybrid will reach
acceptable harvest moisture.
[0067] Ear height. The ear height is a measure from the ground to
the upper ear node attachment, and is measured in centimeters.
[0068] Essentially all of the physiological and morphological
characteristics. A plant having essentially all of the
physiological and morphological characteristics means a plant
having the physiological and morphological characteristics of the
recurrent parent, except for the characteristics derived from the
converted gene.
[0069] GDU pollen. The number of heat units from planting until 50%
of the plants in the hybrid are shedding pollen.
[0070] GDU silk. The GDU silk (=heat unit silk) is the number of
growing degree units (GDU) or heat units required for an inbred
line or hybrid to reach silk emergence from the time of
planting.
[0071] Harvest aspect. This is a visual rating given the day of
harvest or the previous day. Hybrids are rated 1 (poorest) to 9
(best) with poorer scores given for poor plant health, visible
signs of fungal infection, poor plant intactness characterized by
missing leaves, tassels, or other vegetative parts, or a
combination of these traits.
[0072] Herbicide resistant or tolerant. A plant containing any
herbicide-resistant gene or any DNA molecule or construct (or
replicate thereof) which is not naturally occurring in the plant
which results in increase tolerance to any herbicide including,
imidazoline, sulfonylurea, glyphosate, glufosinate,
L-phosphinothricin, triazine and benzonitrile. For purposes of this
definition, a DNA molecule or construct shall be considered to be
naturally occurring if it exists in a plant at a high enough
frequency to provide herbicide resistance without further selection
and/or if it has not been produced as a result of tissue culture
selection, mutagenesis, genetic engineering using recombinant DNA
techniques or other in vitro or in vivo modification to the
plant.
[0073] Inbreeding depression. The inbreeding depression is the loss
of performance of the inbreds due to the effect of inbreeding,
i.e., due to the mating of relatives or to self-pollination. It
increases the homozygous recessive alleles leading to plants which
are weaker and smaller and having other less desirable traits.
[0074] Late plant greenness. Similar to a stay green rating. This
is a visual assessment given at around the dent stage but typically
a few weeks before harvest to characterize the degree of greenness
left in the leaves. Plants are rated from 1 (poorest) to 9 (best)
with poorer scores given for plants that have more non-green leaf
tissue typically due to early senescence or from disease.
[0075] MN RM. This represents the Minnesota Relative Maturity
Rating (MN RM) for the hybrid and is based on the harvest moisture
of the grain relative to a standard set of checks of previously
determined MN RM rating. Regression analysis is used to compute
this rating.
[0076] Moisture. The moisture is the actual percentage moisture of
the grain at harvest.
[0077] New Breeding Techniques: New breeding techniques are said of
various new technologies developed and/or used to create new
characteristics in plants through genetic variation, the aim being
targeted mutagenesis, targeted introduction of new genes or gene
silencing (RdDM). Example of such new breeding techniques are
targeted sequence changes facilitated thru the use of Zinc finger
nuclease (ZFN) technology (ZFN-1, ZFN-2 and ZFN-3, see U.S. Pat.
No. 9,145,565, incorporated by reference in its entirety),
Oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis (ODM), Cisgenesis and
intragenesis, RNA-dependent DNA methylation (RdDM, which does not
necessarily change nucleotide sequence but can change the
biological activity of the sequence), Grafting (on GM rootstock),
Reverse breeding, Agro-infiltration (agro-infiltration "sensu
stricto", agro-inoculation, floral dip), Transcription
Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALENs, see U.S. Pat. Nos.
8,586,363 and 9,181,535, incorporated by reference in their
entireties), the CRISPR/Cas system (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,697,359;
8,771,945; 8,795,965; 8,865,406; 8,871,445; 8,889,356; 8,895,308;
8,906,616; 8,932,814; 8,945,839; 8,993,233; and 8,999,641, which
are all hereby incorporated by reference), engineered meganuclease
re-engineered homing endonucleases, DNA guided genome editing (Gao
et al., Nature Biotechnology (2016), doi: 10.1038/nbt.3547,
incorporated by reference in its entirety), and Synthetic
genomics). A complete description of each of these techniques can
be found in the report made by the Joint Research Center (JRC)
Institute for Prospective Technological Studies of the European
Commission in 2011 and titled "New plant breeding
techniques--State-of-the-art and prospects for commercial
development", which is incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
[0078] Plant cell. Plant cell, as used herein includes plant cells
whether isolated, in tissue culture, or incorporated in a plant or
plant part.
[0079] Plant habit. This is a visual assessment assigned during the
late vegetative to early reproductive stages to characterize the
plant's leaf habit. It ranges from decumbent with leaves growing
horizontally from the stalk to a very upright leaf habit, with
leaves growing near vertically from the stalk.
[0080] Plant height. This is a measure of the height of the hybrid
from the ground to the tip of the tassel, and is measured in
centimeters.
[0081] Plant intactness. This is a visual assessment assigned to a
hybrid or inbred at or close to harvest to indicate the degree that
the plant has suffered disintegration through the growing season.
Plants are rated from 1 (poorest) to 9 (best) with poorer scores
given for plants that have more of their leaf blades missing.
[0082] Plant part. As used herein, the term "plant part" includes
any part of the plant including but not limited to leaves, stems,
roots, seeds, grains, embryos, pollens, ovules, flowers, ears,
cobs, husks, stalks, root tips, anthers, silk, tissue, cells and
the like.
[0083] Pollen shed. This is a visual rating assigned at flowering
to describe the abundance of pollen produced by the anthers.
Inbreds are rated 1 (poorest) to 9 (best) with the best scores for
inbreds with tassels that shed more pollen during anthesis.
[0084] Post-anthesis root lodging. This is a percentage plants that
root lodge after anthesis: plants that lean from the vertical axis
at an approximately 30.degree. angle or greater.
[0085] Pre-anthesis brittle snapping. This is a percentage of
"snapped" plants following severe winds prior to anthesis.
[0086] Pre-anthesis root lodging. This is a percentage plants that
root lodge prior to anthesis: plants that lean from the vertical
axis at an approximately 30.degree. angle or greater.
[0087] Predicted RM. This trait for a hybrid, predicted relative
maturity (RM), is based on the harvest moisture of the grain. The
relative maturity rating is based on a known set of checks and
utilizes conventional maturity such as the Comparative Relative
Maturity Rating System or its similar, the Minnesota Relative
Maturity Rating System.
[0088] Quantitative trait loci (QTL). Quantitative trait loci refer
to genetic loci that control to some degree numerically
representable traits that are usually continuously distributed.
[0089] RBDHV, CCR1, CRW2-1. RBDHV, CCR1 or CRW2-1 refers to
MON88017, also known as MON88017CCR1, is the transgenic event that,
when expressed in maize, allows the use of glyphosate as a weed
control agent. In addition, this event produces an endotoxin that
is efficacious against the corn root worm, Diabrotica virgifera,
and certain other Coleopteran larvae.
[0090] Regeneration. Regeneration refers to the development of a
plant from tissue culture.
[0091] RMQKZ, RMQKC, RMQKD, RMQKZ, RMQKC, or RMQKD refers to a
combination of Mon88017 (see below) and Mon89034 transgenes for
insect resistance and gyphosate tolerance. Mon89034 is a transgenic
event expressed in maize, that produces an endotoxin that is
efficacious against the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis and
certain other Lepidopteran larvae.
[0092] RHTTZ, RR2. RHTZZ and RR2 refers to MON603, also known as
MON603RR2, better known as NK603, is the designation for the
transgenic event that, when expressed in maize, allows the use of
glyphosate as a weed control agent on the crop. Another transgenic
event, GA21, when expressed in maize, also allows the use of
glyphosate as a weed control agent on the crop.
[0093] Root lodging. The root lodging is the percentage of plants
that root lodge; i.e., those that lean from the vertical axis at an
approximate 30.degree. angle or greater would be counted as root
lodged.
[0094] Seed quality. This is a visual rating assigned to the
kernels of the inbred. Kernels are rated 1 (poorest) to 9 (best)
with poorer scores given for kernels that are very soft and
shriveled with splitting of the pericarp visible and better scores
for fully formed kernels.
[0095] Seedling vigor. This is the vegetative growth after
emergence at the seedling stage, approximately five leaves.
[0096] Silking ability. This is a visual assessment given during
flowering. Plants are rated on the amount and timing of silk
production. Plants are rated from 1 (poorest) to 9 (best) with
poorer scores given for plants that produce very little silks that
are delayed past pollen shed.
[0097] Single gene converted (conversion). Single gene converted
(conversion) plants refers to plants which are developed by a plant
breeding technique called backcrossing wherein essentially all of
the desired morphological and physiological characteristics of a
variety are recovered in addition to the single gene transferred
into the variety via the backcrossing technique or via genetic
engineering. A single gene converted plant can also be referred to
a plant obtained though mutagenesis or through the use of some new
breeding techniques, whereas the single gene converted plant has
essentially all of the desired morphological and physiological
characteristics of the original variety in addition to the single
gene muted or engineered through the new breeding techniques.
[0098] Stalk lodging. This is the percentage of plants that stalk
lodge, i.e., stalk breakage, as measured by either natural lodging
or pushing the stalks and determining the percentage of plants that
break off below the ear. This is a relative rating of a hybrid to
other hybrids for standability.
[0099] Standability. A term referring to the how well a plant
remains upright towards the end of the growing season. Plants with
excessive stalk breakage and/or root lodging would be considered to
have poor standability.
[0100] Stay green. Stay green is the measure of plant health near
the time of black layer formation (physiological maturity). A high
score indicates better late-season plant health.
[0101] Transgenic. Where an inbred line has been converted to
contain one or more transgenes by single gene conversion or by
direct transformation.
[0102] Variety. A plant variety as used by one skilled in the art
of plant breeding means a plant grouping within a single botanical
taxon of the lowest known rank which can be defined by the
expression of the characteristics resulting from a given genotype
or combination of phenotypes, distinguished from any other plant
grouping by the expression of at least one of the said
characteristics and considered as a unit with regard to its
suitability for being propagated unchanged (International
Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants).
[0103] Yield (Bushels/Acre). The yield is the actual yield of the
grain at harvest adjusted to 15.5% moisture.
[0104] ZKDDZ. ZKDDZ refers to MON810, also known as MON810Bt or
BT1, is the designation given by the Monsanto Company (St. Louis,
Mo.) for the transgenic event that, when expressed in maize,
produces an endotoxin that is efficacious against the European corn
borer, Ostrinia nubilalis and certain other Lepidopteran
larvae.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0105] Inbred corn line BC136 is a corn inbred with superior
characteristics, and provide very good parental lines in crosses
for producing first generation (F.sub.1) hybrid corn. Inbred corn
line BC136 is best adapted to the East, Central, South and Western
regions of the United States Corn Belt in the zones that are
commonly referred to as Zones 5, 6 and 7. Hybrids that are adapted
to these maturity zones can be grown on a significant number of
acres as it relates to the total of the USA corn acres.
[0106] BC136 is an inbred corn line with high yield potential in
hybrids. Hybrids with inbred corn line BC136 as one parental line
produce uniform, consistent sized ears with a high kernel row
number and heavy, hard-textured kernels. Often these hybrid
combinations result in plants which are appreciably better than
average for stalk strength, grain yield, and test weight when
compared to inbred lines of similar maturity and geographical
adaptability. Some of the criteria used to select ears in various
generations include: yield, yield to harvest moisture ratio, stalk
quality, root quality, disease tolerance with emphasis on grey leaf
spot, test weight, late season plant greenness, late season plant
intactness, ear retention, ear height, pollen shedding ability,
silking ability, and corn borer tolerance. During the development
and selection of the line, crosses were made to inbred testers for
the purpose of estimating the line's general and specific combining
ability, and evaluations were run by the Ames, Iowa Research
Station. The inbred was evaluated further as a line and in numerous
crosses by the Ames station and other research stations across the
Corn Belt. The inbred has proven to have an excellent combining
ability in hybrid combinations.
[0107] Inbred corn line BC136 has shown uniformity and stability
for the traits, within the limits of environmental influence for
the traits. This line has been increased with continued observation
for uniformity of plant type. Inbred corn line BC136 has the
following morphologic and other characteristics (based primarily on
data collected at Ames, Iowa, unless otherwise specified).
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 INBRED CORN LINE BC136 VARIETY DESCRIPTION
INFORMATION General Plant Information: 1. Type: BC136 is a yellow,
dent corn inbred 2. Region where developed: Kearney, NE, United
States 3. Maturity: 108 RM Heat Units From planting to 50% of
plants in silk: 1496 GDD From planting to 50% of plants in pollen:
1496 GDD Plant: 1. Plant height to tassel tip: 200 cm 2. Ear height
to base of top ear: 60 cm 3. Average length of top ear internode:
12 cm 4. Average number of tillers: 0 5. Average number of ears per
stalk: 2 6. Anthocyanin of brace roots: Absent Leaf: 1. Width of
ear node leaf: 8 cm 2. Length of ear node leaf: 71 cm 3. Number of
leaves above top ear: 6 4. Leaf angle (from 2nd leaf above ear at
anthesis to stalk above leaf): 11.degree. 5. Leaf color: Munsell
5GY 4/4 6. Leaf sheath pubescence (Rated on scale from 1 = none to
9 = like peach fuzz): 5 7. Marginal waves (Rated on scale from 1 =
none to 9 = many): 3 8. Longitudinal creases (Rated on scale from 1
= none to 9 = many): 3 Tassel: 1. Number of lateral branches: 6 2.
Branch angle from central spike: 18.degree. 3. Tassel length (from
top leaf collar to tassel top): 37 cm 4. Pollen shed (Rated on
scale from 0 = male sterile to 9 = heavy shed): 5 5. Anther color:
Munsell 2.5GY 7/8 6. Glume color: Munsell 5GY 5/8 7. Tassel glume
bands color: Absent Ear (Unhusked Data): 1. Silk color (3 days
after emergence): Munsell 2.5GY 9/6 2. Fresh husk color (25 days
after 50% silking): Munsell 5GY 7/8 3. Dry husk color (65 days
after 50% silking): Munsell 2.5Y 8/6 4. Position of ear: Pendant 5.
Husk tightness (Rated on scale from 1 = very loose to 9 = very
tight): 6 6. Husk extension at harvest: Short (0-8 cm) Ear (Husked
Ear Data): 1. Ear length: 11 cm 2. Ear diameter at mid-point: 42 mm
3. Ear weight: 72 g 4. Number of kernel rows: 16 5. Row alignment:
Straight 6. Ear taper: Slight Kernel (Dried): 1. Kernel length: 11
mm 2. Kernel width: 7 mm 3. Kernel thickness: 5 mm 4. Hard
endosperm color: Munsell 2.5Y 7/10 5. Endosperm type: Normal 6.
Weight per 100 kernels (unsized sample): 31 g Cob: 1. Cob diameter
at mid-point: 22 mm 2. Cob color: Munsell 10R 4/6 Agronomic Traits:
1. Dropped ears (at 65 days after anthesis): 0% 2. Pre-anthesis
brittle snapping: 0% 3. Pre-anthesis root lodging: 0% 4.
Post-anthesis root lodging (at 65 days after harvest): 15%
Further Embodiments of the Invention
[0108] This invention is also directed to methods for producing a
corn plant by crossing a first parent corn plant with a second
parent corn plant wherein either the first or second parent corn
plant is an inbred corn plant of inbred corn line BC136. Further,
both first and second parent corn plants can come from the inbred
corn line BC136. When self-pollinated, or crossed with another
inbred corn line BC136 plant, inbred corn line BC136 will be stable
while when crossed with another, different corn line, an F.sub.1
hybrid seed is produced. Such methods of hybridization and
self-pollination of corn are well known to those skilled in the art
of corn breeding.
[0109] An inbred corn line has been produced through several cycles
of self-pollination and is therefore to be considered as a
homozygous line. An inbred line can also be produced though the
dihaploid system which involves doubling the chromosomes from a
haploid plant thus resulting in an inbred line that is genetically
stable (homozygous) and can be reproduced without altering the
inbred line. A hybrid variety is classically created through the
fertilization of an ovule from an inbred parental line by the
pollen of another, different inbred parental line. Due to the
homozygous state of the inbred line, the produced gametes carry a
copy of each parental chromosome. As both the ovule and the pollen
bring a copy of the arrangement and organization of the genes
present in the parental lines, the genome of each parental line is
present in the resulting F.sub.1 hybrid, theoretically in the
arrangement and organization created by the plant breeder in the
original parental line.
[0110] As long as the homozygosity of the parental lines is
maintained, the resulting hybrid cross is stable. The F.sub.1
hybrid is then a combination of phenotypic characteristics issued
from two arrangement and organization of genes, both created by one
skilled in the art through the breeding process.
[0111] Still further, this invention also is directed to methods
for producing an inbred corn line BC136-derived corn plant by
crossing inbred corn line BC136 with a second corn plant and
growing the progeny seed, and repeating the crossing and growing
steps with the inbred corn line BC136-derived plant from 0 to 7
times. Thus, any such methods using the inbred corn line BC136 are
part of this invention: selfing, backcrosses, hybrid production,
crosses to populations, and the like. All plants produced using
inbred corn line BC136 as a parent are within the scope of this
invention, including plants derived from inbred corn line BC136.
Advantageously, the inbred corn line is used in crosses with other,
different, corn inbreds to produce first generation (F.sub.1) corn
hybrid seeds and plants with superior characteristics.
[0112] It should be understood that the inbred can, through routine
manipulation of cytoplasmic or other factors, be produced in a
male-sterile form. Such embodiments are also contemplated within
the scope of the present claims. As used herein, the term plant
includes plant cells, plant protoplasts, plant cell tissue cultures
from which corn plants can be regenerated, plant calli, plant
clumps and plant cells that are intact in plants or parts of
plants, such as embryos, pollen, ovules, flowers, kernels, seeds,
ears, cobs, leaves, husks, stalks, roots, root tips, anthers, silk
and the like.
[0113] Duncan, et al., (Planta, 1985, 165:322-332) indicates that
97% of the plants cultured that produced callus were capable of
plant regeneration. Subsequent experiments with both inbreds and
hybrids produced 91% regenerable callus that produced plants. In a
further study in 1988, Songstad, et al. (Plant Cell Reports,
7:262-265) reports several media additions that enhance
regenerability of callus of two inbred lines. Other published
reports also indicated that "nontraditional" tissues are capable of
producing somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration. K. V. Rao
et al., (Maize Genetics Cooperation Newsletter, 1986, 60:64-65)
refer to somatic embryogenesis from glume callus cultures and B. V.
Conger, et al. (Plant Cell Reports, 1987, 6:345-347) indicate
somatic embryogenesis from the tissue cultures of corn leaf
segments. Thus, it is clear from the literature that the state of
the art is such that these methods of obtaining plants are
routinely used and have a very high rate of success.
[0114] Tissue culture of corn is also described in European Patent
Application, publication 160,390 and in Green and Rhodes, Maize for
Biological Research, Plant Molecular Biology Association,
Charlottesville, Va., 1982, 367-372. Thus, another aspect of this
invention is to provide cells which upon growth and differentiation
produce corn plants having the physiological and morphological
characteristics of inbred corn line BC136.
[0115] The utility of inbred corn line BC136 also extends to
crosses with other species. Commonly, suitable species will be of
the family Graminaceae, and especially of the genera Zea,
Tripsacum, Coix, Schlerachne, Polytoca, Chionachne, and
Trilobachne, of the tribe Maydeae. Potentially suitable for crosses
with BC136 may be the various varieties of grain sorghum, Sorghum
bicolor (L.) Moench.
[0116] With the advent of molecular biological techniques that have
allowed the isolation and characterization of genes that encode
specific protein products, scientists in the field of plant biology
developed a strong interest in engineering the genome of plants to
contain and express foreign genes, or additional, or modified
versions of native, or endogenous, genes (perhaps driven by
different promoters) in order to alter the traits of a plant in a
specific manner. Such foreign additional and/or modified genes are
referred to herein collectively as "transgenes." Over the last
fifteen to twenty years several methods for producing transgenic
plants have been developed, and the present invention, in
particular embodiments, also relates to transformed versions of the
claimed inbred line. An embodiment of the present invention
comprises at least one transformation event in inbred corn line
BC136.
[0117] Plant transformation involves the construction of an
expression vector which will function in plant cells. Such a vector
comprises DNA comprising a gene under control of, or operatively
linked to, a regulatory element (for example, a promoter). The
expression vector may contain one or more such operably linked
gene/regulatory element combinations. The vector(s) may be in the
form of a plasmid, and can be used alone or in combination with
other plasmids, to provide transformed corn plants, using
transformation methods as described below to incorporate transgenes
into the genetic material of the corn plant(s).
Expression Vectors for Corn Transformation: Marker Genes
[0118] Expression vectors include at least one genetic marker,
operably linked to a regulatory element (a promoter, for example)
that allows transformed cells containing the marker to be either
recovered by negative selection, i.e., inhibiting growth of cells
that do not contain the selectable marker gene, or by positive
selection, i.e., screening for the product encoded by the genetic
marker. Many commonly used selectable marker genes for plant
transformation are well known in the transformation arts, and
include, for example, genes that code for enzymes that
metabolically detoxify a selective chemical agent which may be an
antibiotic or a herbicide, or genes that encode an altered target
which is insensitive to the inhibitor. A few positive selection
methods are also known in the art.
[0119] One commonly used selectable marker gene for plant
transformation is the neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) gene,
isolated from transposon Tn5, which, when placed under the control
of plant regulatory signals, confers resistance to kanamycin
(Fraley et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 80:4803 (1983)).
Another commonly used selectable marker gene is the hygromycin
phosphotransferase gene which confers resistance to the antibiotic
hygromycin (Vanden Elzen et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 5:299
(1985)).
[0120] Additional selectable marker genes of bacterial origin that
confer resistance to antibiotics include gentamycin acetyl
transferase, streptomycin phosphotransferase, and
aminoglycoside-3'-adenyl transferase, the bleomycin resistance
determinant (Hayford et al., Plant Physiol. 86:1216 (1988), Jones
et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 210:86 (1987), Svab et al., Plant Mol.
Biol. 14:197 (1990), and Hille et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 7:171
(1986)). Other selectable marker genes confer resistance to
herbicides such as glyphosate, glufosinate or bromoxynil (Comai et
al., Nature 317:741-744 (1985), Gordon-Kamm et al., Plant Cell
2:603-618 (1990) and Stalker et al., Science 242:419-423
(1988)).
[0121] Selectable marker genes for plant transformation that are
not of bacterial origin include, for example, mouse dihydrofolate
reductase, plant 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase and
plant acetolactate synthase (Eichholtz et al., Somatic Cell Mol.
Genet. 13:67 (1987), Shah et al., Science 233:478 (1986), and
Charest et al., Plant Cell Rep. 8:643 (1990)).
[0122] Another class of marker genes for plant transformation
requires screening of presumptively transformed plant cells rather
than direct genetic selection of transformed cells for resistance
to a toxic substance such as an antibiotic. These genes are
particularly useful to quantify or visualize the spatial pattern of
expression of a gene in specific tissues and are frequently
referred to as reporter genes because they can be fused to a gene
or gene regulatory sequence for the investigation of gene
expression. Commonly used genes for screening presumptively
transformed cells include beta-glucuronidase (GUS),
beta-galactosidase, luciferase, and chloramphenicol
acetyltransferase (Jefferson, R. A., Plant Mol. Biol. Rep. 5:387
(1987), Teeri et al., EMBO J. 8:343 (1989), Koncz et al., Proc.
Natl. Acad. Sci U.S.A. 84:131 (1987), and DeBlock et al., EMBO J.
3:1681 (1984). Another approach to the identification of relatively
rare transformation events has been use of a gene that encodes a
dominant constitutive regulator of the Zea mays anthocyanin
pigmentation pathway (Ludwig et al., Science 247:449 (1990)).
[0123] In vivo methods for visualizing GUS activity that do not
require destruction of plant tissue are also available. However,
these in vivo methods for visualizing GUS activity have not proven
useful for recovery of transformed cells because of low
sensitivity, high fluorescent backgrounds and limitations
associated with the use of luciferase genes as selectable
markers.
[0124] A gene encoding Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) has been
utilized as a marker for gene expression in prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cells (Chalfie et al., Science 263:802 (1994)). GFP and
mutants of GFP may be used as screenable markers.
Expression Vectors for Corn Transformation: Promoters
[0125] Genes included in expression vectors must be driven by
nucleotide sequence comprising a regulatory element, for example, a
promoter. Several types of promoters are now well known in the
transformation arts, as are other regulatory elements that can be
used alone or in combination with promoters.
[0126] As used herein, "promoter" includes reference to a region of
DNA upstream from the start of transcription and involved in
recognition and binding of RNA polymerase and other proteins to
initiate transcription. A "plant promoter" is a promoter capable of
initiating transcription in plant cells. Examples of promoters
under developmental control include promoters that preferentially
initiate transcription in certain organs, such as leaves, roots,
seeds and tissues such as fibers, xylem vessels, tracheids, or
sclerenchyma. Such promoters are referred to as "tissue-preferred."
Promoters which initiate transcription only in certain tissue are
referred to as "tissue-specific." A "cell-type" specific promoter
primarily drives expression in certain cell types in one or more
organs, for example, vascular cells in roots or leaves. An
"inducible" promoter is a promoter which is under environmental
control. Examples of environmental conditions that may affect
transcription by inducible promoters include anaerobic conditions
or the presence of light. Tissue-specific, tissue-preferred,
cell-type specific, and inducible promoters constitute the class of
"non-constitutive" promoters. A "constitutive" promoter is a
promoter which is active under most environmental conditions.
[0127] A. Inducible Promoters--An inducible promoter is operably
linked to a gene for expression in corn. Optionally, the inducible
promoter is operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a
signal sequence which is operably linked to a gene for expression
in corn. With an inducible promoter the rate of transcription
increases in response to an inducing agent. Any inducible promoter
can be used in the instant invention. See Ward et al., Plant Mol.
Biol. 22:361-366 (1993). Exemplary inducible promoters include, but
are not limited to, that from the ACEI system which responds to
copper (Mett et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 90:4567-4571
(1993)); In2 gene from maize which responds to benzenesulfonamide
herbicide safeners (Gatz et al., Mol. Gen. Genetics 243:32-38
(1994)) or Tet repressor from Tn10 (Gatz et al., Mol. Gen. Genetics
227:229-237 (1991)). A particularly preferred inducible promoter is
a promoter that responds to an inducing agent to which plants do
not normally respond. An exemplary inducible promoter is the
inducible promoter from a steroid hormone gene, the transcriptional
activity of which is induced by a glucocorticosteroid hormone
(Schena et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88:0421 (1991)).
[0128] B. Constitutive Promoters--A constitutive promoter is
operably linked to a gene for expression in corn or the
constitutive promoter is operably linked to a nucleotide sequence
encoding a signal sequence which is operably linked to a gene for
expression in corn. Many different constitutive promoters can be
utilized in the instant invention. Exemplary constitutive promoters
include, but are not limited to, the promoters from plant viruses
such as the 35S promoter from CaMV (Odell et al., Nature
313:810-812 (1985)) and the promoters from such genes as rice actin
(McElroy et al., Plant Cell 2:163-171 (1990)); ubiquitin
(Christensen et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 12:619-632 (1989) and
Christensen et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 18:675-689 (1992)); pEMU (Last
et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. 81:581-588 (1991)); MAS (Velten et al.,
EMBO J. 3:2723-2730 (1984)) and maize H3 histone (Lepetit et al.,
Mol. Gen. Genetics 231:276-285 (1992) and Atanassova et al., Plant
Journal 2 (3): 291-300 (1992)).
[0129] The ALS promoter, XbaI/NcoI fragment 5' to the Brassica
napus ALS3 structural gene (or a nucleotide sequence similarity to
said XbaI/NcoI fragment), represents a particularly useful
constitutive promoter. See PCT application WO96/30530.
[0130] C. Tissue-specific or Tissue-preferred Promoters--A
tissue-specific promoter is operably linked to a gene for
expression in corn. Optionally, the tissue-specific promoter is
operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence
which is operably linked to a gene for expression in corn. Plants
transformed with a gene of interest operably linked to a
tissue-specific promoter produce the protein product of the
transgene exclusively, or preferentially, in a specific tissue.
[0131] Any tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter can be
utilized in the instant invention. Exemplary tissue-specific or
tissue-preferred promoters include, but are not limited to, a
root-preferred promoter, such as that from the phaseolin gene
(Murai et al., Science 23:476-482 (1983) and Sengupta-Gopalan et
al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82:3320-3324 (1985)); a
leaf-specific and light-induced promoter such as that from cab or
rubisco (Simpson et al., EMBO J. 4(11):2723-2729 (1985) and Timko
et al., Nature 318:579-582 (1985)); an anther-specific promoter
such as that from LAT52 (Twell et al., Mol. Gen. Genetics
217:240-245 (1989)); a pollen-specific promoter such as that from
Zm13 or a microspore-preferred promoter such as that from apg
(Twell et al., Sex. Plant Reprod. 6:217-224 (1993)).
Signal Sequences for Targeting Proteins to Subcellular
Compartments
[0132] Transport of protein produced by transgenes to a subcellular
compartment such as the chloroplast, vacuole, peroxisome,
glyoxysome, cell wall or mitochondrion or for secretion into the
apoplast, is accomplished by means of operably linking the
nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence to the 5' and/or 3'
region of a gene encoding the protein of interest. Targeting
sequences at the 5' and/or 3' end of the structural gene may
determine, during protein synthesis and processing, where the
encoded protein is ultimately compartmentalized.
[0133] The presence of a signal sequence directs a polypeptide to
either an intracellular organelle or subcellular compartment or for
secretion to the apoplast. Many signal sequences are known in the
art. See, for example Becker et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 20:49 (1992),
Knox, C., et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 9:3-17 (1987), Lerner et al.,
Plant Physiol. 91:124-129 (1989), Fontes et al., Plant Cell
3:483-496 (1991), Matsuoka et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 88:834
(1991), Gould et al., J. Cell. Biol. 108:1657 (1989), Creissen et
al., Plant J. 2:129 (1991), Kalderon, et al., Cell 39:499-509
(1984), Stiefel, et al., Plant Cell 2:785-793 (1990).
Foreign Protein Genes and Agronomic Genes
[0134] With transgenic plants according to the present invention, a
foreign protein can be produced in commercial quantities. Thus,
techniques for the selection and propagation of transformed plants,
which are well understood in the art, yield a plurality of
transgenic plants which are harvested in a conventional manner, and
a foreign protein then can be extracted from a tissue of interest
or from total biomass. Protein extraction from plant biomass can be
accomplished by known methods which are discussed, for example, by
Heney and Orr, Anal. Biochem. 114:92-6 (1981).
[0135] According to a preferred embodiment, the transgenic plant
provided for commercial production of foreign protein is corn. In
another preferred embodiment, the biomass of interest is seed. For
the relatively small number of transgenic plants that show higher
levels of expression, a genetic map can be generated, primarily via
conventional RFLP, PCR and SSR analysis, which identifies the
approximate chromosomal location of the integrated DNA molecule.
For exemplary methodologies in this regard, see Glick and Thompson,
Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology CRC Press,
Boca Raton 269:284 (1993). Map information concerning chromosomal
location is useful for proprietary protection of a subject
transgenic plant. If unauthorized propagation is undertaken and
crosses made with other germplasm, the map of the integration
region can be compared to similar maps for suspect plants, to
determine if the latter have a common parentage with the subject
plant. Map comparisons would involve hybridizations, RFLP, PCR, SSR
and sequencing, all of which are conventional techniques.
[0136] Likewise, by means of the present invention, agronomic genes
can be expressed in transformed plants. More particularly, plants
can be genetically engineered to express various phenotypes of
agronomic interest. Exemplary genes implicated in this regard
include, but are not limited to, those categorized below:
1. Genes that Confer Resistance to Pests or Disease and that
Encode:
[0137] A. Plant disease resistance genes. Plant defences are often
activated by specific interaction between the product of a disease
resistance gene (R) in the plant and the product of a corresponding
avirulence (Avr) gene in the pathogen. A plant inbred line can be
transformed with cloned resistance gene to engineer plants that are
resistant to specific pathogen strains. See, for example Jones et
al., Science 266:789 (1994) (cloning of the tomato Cf-9 gene for
resistance to Cladosporium fulvum); Martin et al., Science 262:1432
(1993) (tomato Pto gene for resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv.
tomato encodes a protein kinase); Mindrinos et al., Cell 78:1089
(1994) (Arabidopsis RSP2 gene for resistance to Pseudomonas
syringae).
[0138] B. A Bacillus thuringiensis protein, a derivative thereof or
a synthetic polypeptide modeled thereon. See, for example, Geiser
et al., Gene 48:109 (1986), who disclose the cloning and nucleotide
sequence of a Bt alpha-endotoxin gene. Moreover, DNA molecules
encoding alpha-endotoxin genes can be purchased from American Type
Culture Collection, Manassas, Va., for example, under ATCC
Accession Numbers 40098, 67136, 31995 and 31998.
[0139] C. A lectin. See, for example, the article by Van Damme et
al., Plant Molec. Biol. 24:25 (1994), who disclose the nucleotide
sequences of several Clivia miniata mannose-binding lectin
genes.
[0140] D. A vitamin-binding protein such as avidin. See PCT
application US 93/06487. The application teaches the use of avidin
and avidin homologues as larvicides against insect pests.
[0141] E. An enzyme inhibitor, for example, a protease or
proteinase inhibitor or an amylase inhibitor. See, for example, Abe
et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262:16793 (1987) (nucleotide sequence of
rice cysteine proteinase inhibitor), Huub et al., Plant Molec.
Biol. 21:985 (1993) (nucleotide sequence of cDNA encoding tobacco
proteinase inhibitor I), Sumitani et al., Biosci. Biotech. Biochem.
57:1243 (1993) (nucleotide sequence of Streptomyces nitrosporeus
alpha-amylase inhibitor).
[0142] F. An insect-specific hormone or pheromone such as an
ecdysteroid or juvenile hormone, a variant thereof, a mimetic based
thereon, or an antagonist or agonist thereof. See, for example, the
disclosure by Hammock et al., Nature 344:458 (1990), of baculovirus
expression of cloned juvenile hormone esterase, an inactivator of
juvenile hormone.
[0143] G. An insect-specific peptide or neuropeptide which, upon
expression, disrupts the physiology of the affected pest. For
example, see the disclosures of Pratt et al., Biochem. Biophys.
Res. Comm. 163:1243 (1989) (an allostatin is identified in
Diploptera puntata). See also U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,317 to Tomalski
et al., who disclose genes encoding insect-specific, paralytic
neurotoxins.
[0144] H. An insect-specific venom produced in nature by a snake, a
wasp, etc. For example, see Pang et al., Gene 116:165 (1992), for
disclosure of heterologous expression in plants of a gene coding
for a scorpion insectotoxic peptide.
[0145] I. An enzyme responsible for a hyper-accumulation of a
monoterpene, a sesquiterpene, a steroid, a hydroxamic acid, a
phenylpropanoid derivative or another non-protein molecule with
insecticidal activity.
[0146] J. An enzyme involved in the modification, including the
post-translational modification, of a biologically active molecule;
for example, a glycolytic enzyme, a proteolytic enzyme, a lipolytic
enzyme, a nuclease, a cyclase, a transaminase, an esterase, a
hydrolase, a phosphatase, a kinase, a phosphorylase, a polymerase,
an elastase, a chitinase and a glucanase, whether natural or
synthetic. See PCT application WO 93/02197 in the name of Scott et
al., which discloses the nucleotide sequence of a callase gene. DNA
molecules which contain chitinase-encoding sequences can be
obtained, for example, from the ATCC under Accession Numbers 39637
and 67152. See also Kramer et al., Insect Biochem. Molec. Biol.
23:691 (1993), who teach the nucleotide sequence of a cDNA encoding
tobacco hornworm chitinase, and Kawalleck et al., Plant Molec.
Biol. 21:673 (1993), who provide the nucleotide sequence of the
parsley ubi4-2 polyubiquitin gene.
[0147] K. A molecule that stimulates signal transduction. For
example, see the disclosure by Botella et al., Plant Molec. Biol.
24:757 (1994), of nucleotide sequences for mung bean calmodulin
cDNA clones, and Griess et al., Plant Physiol. 104:1467 (1994), who
provide the nucleotide sequence of a maize calmodulin cDNA
clone.
[0148] L. A hydrophobic moment peptide. See PCT application
WO95/16776 (disclosure of peptide derivatives of Tachyplesin which
inhibit fungal plant pathogens) and PCT application WO 95/18855
(teaches synthetic antimicrobial peptides that confer disease
resistance).
[0149] M. A membrane permease, a channel former or a channel
blocker. For example, see the disclosure of Jaynes et al., Plant
Sci 89:43 (1993), of heterologous expression of a cecropin-beta,
lytic peptide analog to render transgenic tobacco plants resistant
to Pseudomonas solanacearum.
[0150] N. A viral-invasive protein or a complex toxin derived
therefrom. For example, the accumulation of viral coat proteins in
transformed plant cells imparts resistance to viral infection
and/or disease development effected by the virus from which the
coat protein gene is derived, as well as by related viruseS. See
Beachy et al., Ann. Rev. Phytopathol. 28:451 (1990). Coat
protein-mediated resistance has been conferred upon transformed
plants against alfalfa mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus, tobacco
streak virus, potato virus X, potato virus Y, tobacco etch virus,
tobacco rattle virus and tobacco mosaic virus. Id.
[0151] O. An insect-specific antibody or an immunotoxin derived
therefrom. Thus, an antibody targeted to a critical metabolic
function in the insect gut would inactivate an affected enzyme,
killing the insect.
[0152] P. A virus-specific antibody. See, for example, Tavladoraki
et al., Nature 366:469 (1993), who show that transgenic plants
expressing recombinant antibody genes are protected from virus
attack.
[0153] Q. A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by a
pathogen or a parasite. Thus, fungal endo-alpha-1,
4-D-polygalacturonases facilitate fungal colonization and plant
nutrient release by solubilising plant cell wall homo-alpha-1,
4-D-galacturonase. See Lamb et al., BioTechnology 10:1436 (1992).
The cloning and characterization of a gene which encodes a bean
endopolygalacturonase-inhibiting protein is described by Toubart et
al., Plant J. 2:367 (1992).
[0154] R. A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by a
plant. For example, Logemann et al., BioTechnology 10:305 (1992),
have shown that transgenic plants expressing the barley
ribosome-inactivating gene have an increased resistance to fungal
disease.
2. Genes that Confer Resistance to an Herbicide, for Example:
[0155] A. An herbicide that inhibits the growing point or meristem,
such as an imidazolinone or a sulfonylurea. Exemplary genes in this
category code for mutant ALS and AHAS enzyme as described, for
example, by Lee et al., EMBO J. 7:1241 (1988), and Miki et al.,
Theor. Appl. Genet. 80:449 (1990), respectively.
[0156] B. Glyphosate (resistance conferred by mutant
5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSP) and aroA genes,
respectively) and other phosphono compounds such as glufosinate
(phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (PAT) and Streptomyces
hygroscopicus (PAT bar genes), and pyridinoxy or phenoxy propionic
acids and cyclohexones (ACCase inhibitor-encoding genes). See, for
example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,835 to Shah et al., which discloses
the nucleotide sequence of a form of EPSP which can confer
glyphosate resistance. A DNA molecule encoding a mutant aroA gene
can be obtained under ATCC accession number 39256, and the
nucleotide sequence of the mutant gene is disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 4,769,061 to Comai. European patent application No. 0 333 033
to Kumada et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,374 to Goodman et al.,
disclose nucleotide sequences of glutamine synthetase genes which
confer resistance to herbicides such as L-phosphinothricin. The
nucleotide sequence of a PAT gene is provided in European
application No. 0 242 246 to Leemans et al. DeGreef et al.,
BioTechnology 7:61 (1989), describe the production of transgenic
plants that express chimeric bar genes coding for PAT activity.
Exemplary of genes conferring resistance to phenoxy propionic acids
and cyclohexones, such as sethoxydim and haloxyfop are the ABC5-S1,
ABC5-S2 and ABC5-S3 genes described by Marshall et al., Theor.
Appl. Genet. 83:435 (1992).
[0157] C. An herbicide that inhibits photosynthesis, such as a
triazine (psbA and gs+ genes) or a benzonitrile (nitrilase gene).
Przibilla et al., Plant Cell 3:169 (1991), describe the
transformation of Chlamydomonas with plasmids encoding mutant psbA
genes. Nucleotide sequences for nitrilase genes are disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,648 to Stalker, and DNA molecules containing
these genes are available under ATCC Accession Numbers 53435,
67441, and 67442. Cloning and expression of DNA coding for a
glutathione S-transferase is described by Hayes et al., Biochem. J.
285:173 (1992).
3. Genes that Confer or Contribute to a Value-Added Trait, Such
as:
[0158] A. Modified fatty acid metabolism, for example, by
transforming a plant with an antisense gene of stearyl-ACP
desaturase to increase stearic acid content of the plant. See
Knutzon et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89:2624 (1992)
[0159] B. Increased resistance to high light stress such as
photo-oxidative damages, for example by transforming a plant with a
gene coding for a protein of the Early Light Induced Protein family
(ELIP) as described in WO 03/074713 in the name of Biogemma.
[0160] C. Modified carbohydrate composition effected, for example,
by transforming plants with a gene coding for an enzyme that alters
the branching pattern of starch. See Shiroza et al., J. Bact.
170:810 (1988) (nucleotide sequence of Streptococcus mutants
fructosyltransferase gene), Steinmetz et al., Mol. Gen. Genet.
20:220 (1985) (nucleotide sequence of Bacillus subtilis
levansucrase gene), Pen et al., BioTechnology 10:292 (1992)
(production of transgenic plants that express Bacillus
lichenifonnis .alpha.-amylase), Elliot et al., Plant Molec. Biol.
21:515 (1993) (nucleotide sequences of tomato invertase genes),
Sogaard et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268:22480 (1993) (site-directed
mutagenesis of barley alpha-amylase gene), and Fisher et al., Plant
Physiol. 102:1045 (1993) (maize endosperm starch branching enzyme
II).
[0161] D. Increased resistance/tolerance to water stress or
drought, for example, by transforming a plant to create a plant
having a modified content in ABA-Water-Stress-Ripening-Induced
proteins (ARS proteins) as described in WO 01/83753 in the name of
Biogemma, or by transforming a plant with a nucleotide sequence
coding for a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase as shown in WO
02/081714. The tolerance of corn to drought can also be increased
by an overexpression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC-C4),
obtained, for example from sorghum.
[0162] E. Increased content of cysteine and glutathione, useful in
the regulation of sulfur compounds and plant resistance against
various stresses such as drought, heat or cold, by transforming a
plant with a gene coding for an Adenosine 5' Phosphosulfate as
shown in WO 01/49855.
[0163] F. Increased nutritional quality, for example, by
introducing a zein gene which genetic sequence has been modified so
that its protein sequence has an increase in lysine and proline.
The increased nutritional quality can also be attained by
introducing into the maize plant an albumin 2S gene from sunflower
that has been modified by the addition of the KDEL peptide sequence
to keep and accumulate the albumin protein in the endoplasmic
reticulum.
[0164] G. Decreased phytate content: 1) Introduction of a
phytase-encoding gene would enhance breakdown of phytate, adding
more free phosphate to the transformed plant. For example, see Van
Hartingsveldt et al., Gene 127:87 (1993), for a disclosure of the
nucleotide sequence of an Aspergillus niger phytase gene. 2) A gene
could be introduced that reduced phytate content. In maize, this,
for example, could be accomplished, by cloning and then
reintroducing DNA associated with the single allele which is
responsible for maize mutants characterized by low levels of phytic
acid. See Raboy et al., Maydica 35:383 (1990).
4. Genes that Control Male Sterility
[0165] A. Introduction of a deacetylase gene under the control of a
tapetum-specific promoter and with the application of the chemical
N-Ac-PPT. See international publication WO 01/29237.
[0166] B. Introduction of various stamen-specific promoters. See
international publications WO 92/13956 and WO 92/13957.
[0167] C. Introduction of the barnase and the barstar genes. See
Paul et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 19:611-622, 1992).
Examples of Transgenes
[0168] MON810, also known as MON810Bt or BT1, is the designation
given by the Monsanto Company (St. Louis, Mo.) for the transgenic
event that, when expressed in maize, produces an endotoxin that is
efficacious against the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis and
certain other Lepidopteran larvae.
[0169] MON603, also known as MON603RR2, better known as NK603, is
the designation for the transgenic event that, when expressed in
maize, allows the use of glyphosate as a weed control agent on the
crop. Another transgenic event, GA21, when expressed in maize, also
allows the use of glyphosate as a weed control agent on the
crop.
[0170] MON89034, a designation given by the Monsanto Company (St.
Louis, Mo.) for the transgenic event that, when expressed in maize,
produces an endotoxin that is efficacious against the European corn
borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda,
and certain other Lepidopteran larvae.
[0171] MON88017, also known as MON88017CCR1, is the transgenic
event that, when expressed in maize, allows the use of glyphosate
as a weed control agent. In addition, this event produces an
endotoxin that is efficacious against the corn root worm,
Diabrotica virgifera, and certain other Coleopteran larvae.
[0172] HERCULEX Corn Borer, better known as HX1 or TC1507, is the
designation for the transgenic event that, when expressed in maize,
produces an endotoxin that is efficacious against the European corn
borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, and certain other Lepidopteran larvae.
In addition, the transgenic event was developed to allow the crop
to be tolerant to the use of glufosinate ammonium, the active
ingredient in phosphinothricin herbicides.
[0173] HERCULEX Root Worm, or DAS59122-7, is the designation for
the transgenic event that, when expressed in maize, produces an
endotoxin that is efficacious against the corn root worm,
Diabrotica virgifera, and certain other Coleopteran larvae. In
addition, the transgenic event was developed to allow the crop to
be tolerant to the use of glufosinate ammonium, the active
ingredient in phosphinothricin herbicides.
[0174] T25 is the designation for the transgenic event that, when
expressed in maize, allows the crop to be tolerant to the use of
glufosinate ammonium, the active ingredient in phosphinothricin
herbicides.
Methods for Corn Transformation
[0175] Numerous methods for plant transformation have been
developed, including biological and physical plant transformation
protocols. See, for example, Miki et al., "Procedures for
Introducing Foreign DNA into Plants" in Methods in Plant Molecular
Biology and Biotechnology, Glick B. R. and Thompson, J. E. Eds.
(CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, 1993) pages 67-88. In addition,
expression vectors and in vitro culture methods for plant cell or
tissue transformation and regeneration of plants are available.
See, for example, Gruber et al., "Vectors for Plant Transformation"
in Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Glick B.
R. and Thompson, J. E. Eds. (CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, 1993)
pages 89-119.
[0176] A. Agrobacterium-mediated Transformation--One method for
introducing an expression vector into plants is based on the
natural transformation system of Agrobacterium. See, for example,
Horsch et al., Science 227:1229 (1985). A. tumefaciens and A.
rhizogenes are plant pathogenic soil bacteria which genetically
transform plant cells. The Ti and Ri plasmids of A. tumefaciens and
A. rhizogenes, respectively, carry genes responsible for genetic
transformation of the plant. See, for example, Kado, C. I., Crit.
Rev. Plant Sci. 10:1 (1991). Descriptions of Agrobacterium vector
systems and methods for Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer are
provided by Gruber et al., supra, Miki et al., supra, and Moloney
et al., Plant Cell Reports 8:238 (1989). See also, U.S. Pat. No.
5,591,616 issued Jan. 7, 1997.
[0177] B. Direct Gene Transfer--Despite the fact the host range for
Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is broad, some major cereal
crop species and gymnosperms have generally been recalcitrant to
this mode of gene transfer, even though some success has recently
been achieved in rice and corn. Hiei et al., The Plant Journal
6:271-282 (1994) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,616 issued Jan. 7, 1997.
Several methods of plant transformation, collectively referred to
as direct gene transfer, have been developed as an alternative to
Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.
[0178] A generally applicable method of plant transformation is
microprojectile-mediated transformation wherein DNA is carried on
the surface of microprojectiles measuring 1 to 4 micron. The
expression vector is introduced into plant tissues with a biolistic
device that accelerates the microprojectiles to speeds of 300 to
600 m/s which is sufficient to penetrate plant cell walls and
membranes. Sanford et al., Part. Sci. Technol. 5:27 (1987),
Sanford, J. C., Trends Biotech. 6:299 (1988), Klein et al.,
BioTechnology 6:559-563 (1988), Sanford, J. C., Physiol Plant 7:206
(1990), Klein et al., BioTechnology 10:268 (1992). In corn, several
target tissues can be bombarded with DNA-coated microprojectiles in
order to produce transgenic plants, including, for example, callus
(Type I or Type II), immature embryos, and meristematic tissue.
[0179] Another method for physical delivery of DNA to plants is
sonication of target cells. Zhang et al., BioTechnology 9:996
(1991). Alternatively, liposome and spheroplast fusion have been
used to introduce expression vectors into plants. Deshayes et al.,
EMBO J., 4:2731 (1985), Christou et al., Proc Natl. Acad. Sci.
U.S.A. 84:3962 (1987). Direct uptake of DNA into protoplasts using
CaCl.sub.2 precipitation, polyvinyl alcohol or poly-L-ornithine has
also been reported. Hain et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 199:161 (1985)
and Draper et al., Plant Cell Physiol. 23:451 (1982).
Electroporation of protoplasts and whole cells and tissues have
also been described. D'Halluin et al., Plant Cell 4:1495-1505
(1992) and Spencer et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 24:51-61 (1994).
[0180] Following transformation of corn target tissues, expression
of the above-described selectable marker genes allows for
preferential selection of transformed cells, tissues and/or plants,
using regeneration and selection methods now well known in the
art.
[0181] The foregoing methods for transformation would typically be
used for producing a transgenic inbred line. The transgenic inbred
line could then be crossed, with another (non-transformed or
transformed) inbred line, in order to produce a new transgenic
inbred line. Alternatively, a genetic trait which has been
engineered into a particular corn line using the foregoing
transformation techniques could be moved into another line using
traditional backcrossing techniques that are well known in the
plant breeding arts. For example, a backcrossing approach could be
used to move an engineered trait from a public, non-elite inbred
line into an elite inbred line, or from an inbred line containing a
foreign gene in its genome into an inbred line or lines which do
not contain that gene. As used herein, "crossing" can refer to a
simple X by Y cross, or the process of backcrossing, depending on
the context.
[0182] When the term inbred corn plant is used in the context of
the present invention, this also includes any inbred corn plant
where one or more desired traits have been introduced through
backcrossing methods, whether such trait is a naturally occurring
one or a transgenic one. Backcrossing methods can be used with the
present invention to improve or introduce one or more
characteristic into the inbred. The term backcrossing as used
herein refers to the repeated crossing of a hybrid progeny back to
one of the parental corn plants for that inbred. The parental corn
plant which contributes the gene or the genes for the desired
characteristic is termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. This
terminology refers to the fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used
one time in the backcross protocol and therefore does not recur.
The parental corn plant to which the gene or genes from the
nonrecurrent parent are transferred is known as the recurrent
parent as it is used for several rounds in the backcrossing
protocol (Fehr, 1987).
[0183] In a typical backcross protocol, the original inbred of
interest (recurrent parent) is crossed to a second inbred
(nonrecurrent parent) that carries the gene or genes of interest to
be transferred. The resulting progeny from this cross are then
crossed again to the recurrent parent and the process is repeated
until a corn plant is obtained wherein all the desired
morphological and physiological characteristics of the recurrent
parent are recovered in the converted plant in addition to the gene
or genes transferred from the nonrecurrent parent. It should be
noted that some, one, two, three or more, self-pollination and
growing of a population might be included between two successive
backcrosses. Indeed, an appropriate selection in the population
produced by the self-pollination, i.e., selection for the desired
trait and physiological and morphological characteristics of the
recurrent parent might be equivalent to one, two or even three
additional backcrosses in a continuous series without rigorous
selection, saving time, money and effort for the breeder. The
backcross process could also be accelerated through a step of
haploid induction together by a molecular marker screening to
identify the backcross progeny plants that have the closest genetic
resemblance with the recurrent line, together with the gene or
genes of interest to be transferred. A non-limiting example of such
a protocol would be the following: a) the first generation F.sub.1
produced by the cross of the recurrent parent A by the donor parent
B is backcrossed to parent A, b) selection is practiced for the
plants having the desired trait of parent B, c) selected plants are
self-pollinated to produce a population of plants where selection
is practiced for the plants having the desired trait of parent B
and the physiological and morphological characteristics of parent
A, d) the selected plants are backcrossed one, two, three, four,
five or more times to parent A to produce selected backcross
progeny plants comprising the desired trait of parent B and the
physiological and morphological characteristics of parent A. Step
c) may or may not be repeated and included between the backcrosses
of step d. Step c) may or may not be followed by a step of haploid
induction followed by molecular marker screening.
[0184] The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important
step for a successful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a
backcross protocol is to alter or substitute one or more trait(s)
or characteristic(s) in the original inbred. To accomplish this, a
gene or genes of the recurrent inbred is modified or substituted
with the desired gene or genes from the nonrecurrent parent, while
retaining essentially all of the rest of the desired genetic, and
therefore the desired physiological and morphological, constitution
of the original inbred. The choice of the particular nonrecurrent
parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one of the
major purposes is to add some commercially desirable, agronomically
important trait(s) to the plant. The exact backcrossing protocol
will depend on the characteristic(s) or trait(s) being altered to
determine an appropriate testing protocol. Although backcrossing
methods are simplified when the characteristic being transferred is
a single gene and dominant allele, multiple genes and recessive
allele(s) may also be transferred and therefore, backcross breeding
is by no means restricted to character(s) governed by one or a few
genes. In fact the number of genes might be less important than the
identification of the character(s) in the segregating population.
In this instance it may then be necessary to introduce a test of
the progeny to determine if the desired characteristic(s) has been
successfully transferred. Such tests encompass not only visual
inspection and simple crossing, but also follow up of the
characteristic(s) through genetically associated markers and
molecular assisted breeding tools. For example, selection of
progeny containing the transferred trait is done by direct
selection, visual inspection for a trait associated with a dominant
allele, while the selection of progeny for a trait that is
transferred via a recessive allele, such as the waxy starch
characteristic, require selfing the progeny to determine which
plant carry the recessive allele(s).
[0185] Many single gene traits have been identified that are not
regularly selected for in the development of a new inbred but that
can be improved by backcrossing techniques. Single gene traits may
or may not be transgenic, i.e., they may be naturally present in
the nonrecurrent parent, examples of these traits include but are
not limited to, male sterility, waxy starch, amylose starch,
herbicide resistance, resistance for bacterial, fungal, or viral
disease, insect resistance, male fertility, water stress tolerance,
enhanced nutritional quality, industrial usage, increased
digestibility, yield stability and yield enhancement. An example of
this is the Rp1D gene which controls resistance to rust fungus by
preventing P. sorghi from producing spores. The Rp1D gene is
usually preferred over the other Rp genes because it is widely
effective against all races of rust, but the emergence of new races
has lead to the use of other Rp genes comprising, for example, the
Rp1E, Rp1G, Rp1I, Rp1K or "compound" genes which combine two or
more Rp genes including Rp1GI, Rp1GDJ, etc. These genes are
generally inherited through the nucleus. Some known exceptions to
this are the genes for male sterility, some of which are inherited
cytoplasmically, but still act as single gene traits. Several of
these single gene traits are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,777,196;
5,948,957 and 5,969,212, the disclosures of which are specifically
hereby incorporated by reference. Genes related to digestibility
are known to one skilled in the art, such as those described in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,20,302, 8,143,482 and 8,088,95. Each of the
references mentioned above is herein incorporated into reference by
its entirety.
[0186] In 1981, the backcross method of breeding accounted for 17%
of the total breeding effort for inbred line development in the
United States, according to, Hallauer, A. R. et al., (1988) "Corn
Breeding" in Corn and Corn Improvement, No. 18, pp. 463-481. The
backcross breeding method provides a precise way of improving
varieties that excel in a large number of attributes but are
deficient in a few characteristics (Allard, 1960, Principles of
Plant Breeding, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). The method makes use
of a series of backcrosses to the variety to be improved during
which the character or the characters in which improvement is
sought is maintained by selection. At the end of the backcrossing,
the gene or genes being transferred unlike all other genes will be
heterozygous. Selfing after the last backcross produces
homozygosity for this gene pair(s) and, coupled with selection,
will result in a variety with exactly the adaptation, yielding
ability and quality characteristics of the recurrent parent but
superior to that parent in the particular characteristic(s) for
which the improvement program was undertaken. Therefore, this
method provides the plant breeder with a high degree of genetic
control of his work.
[0187] Backcrossing is a powerful mechanism for achieving
homozygosity and any population obtained by backcrossing may
rapidly converge on the genotype of the recurrent parent. When
backcrossing is made the basis of a plant breeding program, the
genotype of the recurrent parent will be modified with regards to
genes being transferred, which are maintained in the population by
selection.
[0188] Examples of successful backcrosses are the transfer of stem
rust resistance from "Hope" wheat to "Bart" wheat and the transfer
of bunt resistance to "Bart" wheat to create "Bart 38" which has
resistance to both stem rust and bunt. Also highlighted by Allard
is the successful transfer of mildew, leaf spot and wilt
resistances in "California Common" alfalfa to create "Caliverde."
This new "Caliverde" variety produced through the backcross process
is indistinguishable from "California Common" except for its
resistance to the three named diseases.
[0189] One of the advantages of the backcross method is that the
breeding program can be carried out in almost every environment
that will allow the development of the character being transferred.
Another advantage of the backcross method is that more than one
character or trait can be transferred, either through several
backcrosses or through the use of transformation and then
backcrossing.
[0190] The backcross technique is not only desirable when breeding
for disease resistance but also for the adjustment of morphological
characters, color characteristics and simply inherited quantitative
characters such as earliness, plant height and seed size and shape.
In this regard, a medium grain type variety, "Calady," has been
produced by Jones and Davis. In dealing with quantitative
characteristics, they selected the donor parent with the view of
sacrificing some of the intensity of the character for which it was
chosen, i.e., grain size. "Lady Wright," a long grain variety was
used as the donor parent and "Coloro," a short grain one as the
recurrent parent. After four backcrosses, the medium grain type
variety "Calady" was produced.
DEPOSIT INFORMATION
[0191] A deposit of the inbred corn line of this invention is
maintained by AgReliant Genetics, LLC, 1107 Baseline Road, Esmond,
Ill., 60129. AgReliant maintains the seed deposit on behalf of
Limagrain Europe S. A. and KWS SAAT SE. In addition, a sample of
the inbred corn seed of this invention has been deposited with the
American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University Boulevard,
Manassas, Va. 20110. The deposit for the inbred corn line BC136 was
made on Nov. 1, 2019.
[0192] To satisfy the enablement requirements of 35 U.S.C. 112, and
to certify that the deposit of the isolated strain (i.e., corn
inbred) of the present invention meets the criteria set forth in 37
CFR 1.801-1.809 and Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP)
2402-2411.05, Applicants hereby make the following statements
regarding the deposited inbred corn line BC136 (deposited as ATCC
Accession No. PTA-126333):
[0193] If the deposit is made under the terms of the Budapest
Treaty, the instant invention will be irrevocably and without
restriction released to the public upon the granting of a
patent.
[0194] If the deposit is made not under the terms of the Budapest
Treaty, Applicant(s) provides assurance of compliance by following
statements: [0195] 1. During the pendency of this application,
access to the invention will be afforded to the Commissioner upon
request; [0196] 2. All restrictions on availability to the public
will be irrevocably removed upon granting of the patent under
conditions specified in 37 CFR 1.808; [0197] 3. The deposit will be
maintained in a public repository for a period of 30 years or 5
years after the last request or for the effective life of the
patent, whichever is longer; [0198] 4. A test of the viability of
the biological material at the time of deposit will be conducted by
the public depository under 37 CFR 1.807; and [0199] 5. The deposit
will be replaced if it should ever become unavailable.
[0200] Access to this deposit will be available during the pendency
of this application to persons determined by the Commissioner of
Patents and Trademarks to be entitled thereto under 37 C.F.R.
.sctn. 1.14 and 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 122. Upon granting of any claims
in this application, all restrictions on the availability to the
public of the variety will be irrevocably removed by affording
access to a deposit of at least 2,500 seeds of the same variety
with the ATCC.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0201] Corn is used as human food, livestock feed, and as raw
material in industry. The food uses of corn, in addition to human
consumption of corn kernels, include both products of dry- and
wet-milling industries. The principal products of corn dry-milling
are grits, meal and flour. Corn meal is flour ground to fine,
medium, and coarse consistencies from dried corn. In the United
States, the finely ground corn meal is also referred to as corn
flour. However, the term "corn flour" denotes corn starch in the
United Kingdom. Corn meal has a long shelf life and is used to
produce an assortment of products, including but not limited to
tortillas, taco shells, bread, cereal and muffins.
[0202] The corn wet-milling industry can provide corn starch, corn
syrups, corn sweeteners and dextrose for food use. Corn syrup is
used in foods to soften texture, add volume, prevent
crystallization of sugar and enhance flavor. Corn syrup is distinct
from high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which is created when corn
syrup undergoes enzymatic processing, producing a sweeter compound
that contains higher levels of fructose.
[0203] Corn oil is recovered from corn germ, which is a by-product
of both dry- and wet-milling industries. Corn oil which is high in
mono and poly unsaturated fats, is used for reducing fat and trans
fat in numerous food products.
[0204] Corn, including both grain and non-grain portions of the
plant, is also used extensively as livestock feed, primarily for
beef cattle, dairy cattle, hogs and poultry.
[0205] Industrial uses of corn include production of ethanol, corn
starch in the wet-milling industry and corn flour in the
dry-milling industry. Corn ethanol is ethanol produced from corn as
a biomass through industrial fermentation, chemical processing and
distillation. Corn is the main feedstock used for producing ethanol
fuel in the United States. The industrial applications of corn
starch and flour are based on functional properties, such as
viscosity, film formation, adhesive properties, and ability to
suspend particles. Corn starch and flour also have application in
the paper and textile industries. Other industrial uses include
applications in adhesives, building materials, foundry binders,
laundry starches, explosives, oil-well muds and other mining
applications.
[0206] Plant parts other than the grain of corn are also used in
industry, for example, stalks and husks are made into paper and
wallboard and cobs are used for fuel and to make charcoal.
[0207] The seed of inbred corn line BC136, the plant produced from
the inbred seed, the hybrid corn plant produced from the crossing
of the inbred, hybrid seed, and various parts of the hybrid corn
plant and transgenic versions of the foregoing, can be utilized for
human food, livestock feed, and as a raw material in industry.
TABLES OF FIELD TEST TRIALS
[0208] In the tables that follow, exemplary traits and
characteristics of hybrid combinations having inbred corn line
BC136 as a parental line are given compared to other hybrids. The
data collected are presented for key characteristics and traits.
The field tests are experimental trials and have been made at
numerous locations, with one or two replications per location under
supervision of the applicant. Information about these experimental
hybrids as compared to the check hybrids is presented.
Field Test Trials:
[0209] Information for each pedigree includes: [0210] 1. Mean yield
of the hybrid (YLD) across all locations (bushels/acre) is shown in
column 2. [0211] 2. A mean for the percentage moisture (Mst %) for
the hybrid across all locations is shown in column 3. [0212] 3. A
mean of the yield divided by the percentage moisture (Y/M) for the
hybrid across all locations is shown in column 4. [0213] 4. Test
weight (TWgt) is the grain density as measured in pounds per bushel
and is shown in column 5. [0214] 5. A mean of the percentage of
plants with stalk lodging (SL %) across all locations is shown in
column 6. [0215] 6. A mean of the percentage of plants with root
lodging (RL %) across all locations is shown in column 7. [0216] 7.
Ear Height (EHT) is a physical measurement taken from the ground
level to the node of attachment for the upper ear. It is expressed
to the nearest tenth of a foot and is shown in column 8. [0217] 8.
Plant Height (PLHT) is a physical measurement taken from the ground
level to the tip of the tassel. It is expressed to the nearest
tenth of a foot and is shown in column 9. [0218] 9. Harvest
Appearance (HA n) is a rating made by a trained person on the date
of harvest. Harvest appearance is the rater's impression of the
hybrid based on, but not limited to, a combination of factors to
include plant intactness, tissue health appearance and ease of
harvest as it relates to stalk lodging and root lodging. A scale of
1=Lowest to 9=Highest/Most Desirable is used and is listed in
column 10.
Inbred Corn Line BC136
TABLE-US-00002 [0219] TABLE 2 Comparative Data for an Experimental
Hybrid Having BC136 as One Inbred Parent Overall Comparisons: Year
1 field trials, 15 reps Pedigree YLD Mst % Y/M TWgt SL % RL % EHT
PLHT HA n Control Hybrid 14 207.8 16.0 13.2 56.4 5.2 2.0 3.1 8.2
4.9 P0589AM 223.9 16.1 14.2 56.6 2.8 0.0 3.5 8.7 5.4 Control Hybrid
18 222.6 16.4 14.0 55.6 1.7 1.8 3.6 8.8 5.5 Control Hybrid 1 212.2
16.5 13.0 56.7 9.8 0.0 3.4 8.9 4.9 Experimental Hybrid 1 222.9 16.5
13.8 57.2 6.5 0.0 3.4 8.8 5.6 Control Hybrid 11 216.9 16.5 13.4
58.5 5.3 0.0 3.0 8.4 4.8 Control Hybrid 10 204.9 16.8 12.3 58.2 4.6
0.0 3.0 8.5 5.3 DKC58-06RIB 215.8 17.4 12.6 57.7 5.4 0.0 3.1 8.5
4.7 P0805AM 227.2 17.4 13.2 57.5 4.7 1.3 3.4 9.2 5.8
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Comparative Data for an Experimental Hybrid
Having BC136 as One Inbred Parent Overall Comparisons: Year 1 field
trials, 15 reps Pedigree YLD Mst % Y/M TWgt SL % RL % EHT PLHT HA n
Experimental Hybrid 2 233.4 18.9 12.8 54.8 4.2 1.5 3.4 9.4 6.2
Control Hybrid 21 218.8 19.9 11.2 56.6 0.9 0.0 3.1 8.9 5.8 Control
Hybrid 6 217.1 20.1 11.1 55.6 0.0 0.3 3.3 8.9 6.1 P1197AM 237.8
20.2 12.2 55.3 4.9 1.0 3.8 9.0 5.9 DKC61-54RIB 221.1 20.6 11.1 56.2
1.2 0.0 3.6 8.7 6.1 Control Hybrid 12 228.8 20.7 11.3 56.2 2.7 0.3
3.8 9.5 6.1 Control Hybrid 2 224.1 21.3 10.8 56.2 0.0 0.0 3.3 8.3
6.9
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Comparative Data for an Experimental Hybrid
Having BC136 as One Inbred Parent Overall Comparisons: Year 2 field
trials, 76 reps Pedigree YLD Mst % Y/M TWgt SL % RL % EHT PLHT HA n
Experimental Hybrid 2 227.0 16.0 14.6 55.8 2.5 0.4 4.1 8.6 6.0
Control Hybrid 20 217.2 16.9 13.0 59.2 2.5 0.2 3.6 8.0 4.8
DKC60-88RIB 227.1 17.0 13.6 57.8 2.4 0.6 3.8 8.4 5.1 Control Hybrid
15 218.8 17.2 12.9 57.0 1.5 0.2 4.1 8.1 5.1 P1197AM 226.5 17.3 13.3
57.2 1.8 0.8 4.1 8.5 5.5 Control Hybrid 8 215.1 17.3 12.6 59.5 1.9
0.3 4.0 8.3 5.7 Control Hybrid 13 212.4 17.3 12.5 57.3 3.0 0.6 4.2
8.8 5.3 Control Hybrid 17 218.3 17.3 12.8 58.1 2.2 0.3 3.8 8.0 5.0
Control Hybrid 16 218.5 17.5 12.8 58.0 3.3 1.1 4.3 8.2 5.5 Control
Hybrid 19 227.7 18.0 12.9 57.0 2.4 0.6 4.4 8.5 6.2 Control Hybrid 3
220.2 18.1 12.4 58.5 2.4 0.1 3.6 7.9 5.8 Control Hybrid 7 222.1
18.2 12.5 56.2 2.2 0.3 4.1 8.7 6.4 Control Hybrid 2 227.2 18.8 12.3
57.5 0.8 0.1 3.6 8.1 6.3
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Comparative Data for an Experimental Hybrid
Having BC136 as One Inbred Parent Overall Comparisons: Year 2 field
trials, 14 reps Pedigree YLD Mst % Y/M TWgt SL % RL % EHT PLHT HA n
Control Hybrid 14 195.6 16.7 11.8 57.0 6.3 0.0 3.6 8.1 5.0 Control
Hybrid 9 229.4 17.2 13.5 57.6 0.2 0.0 3.8 8.6 5.5 Control Hybrid 4
219.0 17.6 12.5 58.6 2.9 0.0 3.9 8.6 5.7 P0506AM 223.8 17.8 12.7
57.2 2.5 1.4 4.4 8.8 5.8 Experimental Hybrid 1 231.9 17.8 13.2 57.0
1.7 0.0 3.7 8.2 6.2 Control Hybrid 11 227.3 17.9 12.9 58.2 2.8 0.0
4.0 8.2 5.6 Control Hybrid 20 229.7 18.3 12.6 58.9 2.3 0.0 4.4 9.0
4.9 Control Hybrid 5 223.8 18.4 12.3 56.2 5.0 0.0 3.7 8.6 6.3
Control Hybrid 18 231.7 18.6 12.8 55.5 -0.1 0.0 4.3 8.5 6.2
DKC58-06RIB 223.3 19.0 11.9 57.2 0.0 0.0 3.9 8.3 6.3
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Comparative Data for an Experimental Hybrid
Having BC136 as One Inbred Parent Overall Comparisons: Year 2 field
trials, 18 reps Pedigree YLD Mst % Y/M TWgt SL % RL % EHT PLHT HA n
Experimental Hybrid 3 228.6 17.5 13.1 58.1 2.0 2.4 4.1 8.6 5.2
Control Hybrid 20 225.2 17.5 12.9 59.3 6.1 0.5 3.9 8.9 4.2 P1197AM
245.3 17.8 13.8 57.2 2.6 1.6 3.7 8.4 5.2 Control Hybrid 17 230.9
17.9 13.0 58.0 1.0 0.0 3.6 8.2 5.1 DKC60-88RIB 227.2 18.0 12.8 57.5
5.5 0.5 3.9 8.5 5.2 Control Hybrid 13 223.8 18.0 12.5 57.1 2.9 0.0
4.2 9.0 5.0 Control Hybrid 16 232.7 18.4 12.9 57.9 3.9 0.7 4.1 8.4
5.6 Control Hybrid 19 226.7 18.9 12.1 56.6 4.4 3.2 4.2 8.9 6.0
[0220] The foregoing detailed description has been given for
clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations
should be understood there from as modifications will be obvious to
those skilled in the art.
[0221] While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have
been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize
certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations
thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended
claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include
all such modifications, permutations, additions and
sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.
[0222] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms
herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of
ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although
any methods and materials, similar or equivalent to those described
herein, can be used in the practice or testing of the present
invention, the preferred methods and materials are described
herein. All publications, patents, and patent publications cited
are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety for all
purposes.
[0223] The publications discussed herein are provided solely for
their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present
application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that
the present invention is not entitled to antedate such publication
by virtue of prior invention.
[0224] While the invention has been described in connection with
specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is
capable of further modifications and this application is intended
to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention
following, in general, the principles of the invention and
including such departures from the present disclosure as come
within known or customary practice within the art to which the
invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features
hereinbefore set forth and as follows in the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *