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Transgenes Combining AP1 & New Floral Genes Inducing Exceptionally
Early Flowering
BACKGROUND: Prior to this invention,
to optimize flowering in plants, horticulturists had
to exercise strict control over a plant's environment.
This environmental control included manipulating light
and dark cycles, changing the soil nutrient mix, and
varying temperature, water, fertilizers and other factors
which often interact in a complex and synergistic fashion
highly specific for each plant. These environmental
conditions limited the geographical areas where various
plants could be grown or even bred on a small scale
for genetic purposes. Even under ideal growing conditions,
many types of plants such as trees can be used in plant
genetic studies only with difficulty because of their
slow flowering time.
DESCRIPTION: Recently isolated genes
combined in a transgenic plant with AP1 can turn stem-producing,
shoot-producing and other non-flowering tissue into
normal, healthy blossoms earlier than any previous genetic
or horticultural technique, independent of environmental
factors normally coupled to flowering. Scientists at
UCSD anticipate that the genes are able to cause plants
to flower significantly faster than was previously thought
possible, with more fruiting bodies per stem, and more
flowers per stem. The amount of speed-up in cycle time
is a factor of the plant's normal breeding cycle time.
The early flowering response in the new constructs occurs
far earlier even than has been shown with constitutively
expressed AP1 (see attached diagram)
ADVANTAGES: The most immediate advantage
is the faster breeding cycles permissible with these
new genes. Fertile seed is produced almost immediately
after sprouting. Because of the speed advantage, new
plant breeding programs are available now that were
never before practical. Scientists at UCSD anticipate
that converting non-flowering tissue into flowering
tissue will improve the yield of many basic crops such
as tomatoes, garlic, corn, wheat, and broccoli. The
strength of the early flowering response, when combined
with proprietary controllable promoters, should make
more practical chemically-induced flowering of select
crops.
CASE NUMBER: SD98-069
INQUIRIES TO: invent@ucsd.edu
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