Issued: 4/28/2009
Abstract: Genes can be introduced into plants that confer desirable traits such as, drought and stress tolerance, insect and pest resistance, as well as environmental qualities such as phyto-remediation. However, possibility for transgene escape to wild and non-transformed species raises commercial and ecological concerns. Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for generating sterile plants for the prevention of transgene escape.
The threat of transgene escape to other plants is a real concern, and control of this problem is important if transgenic perennial plants are released. Therefore, methods are needed that decrease or prevent the risk of spreading a transgene from a transgenic perennial into the environment through outcrossing. Disclosed herein are methods for generating sterile plants, such as male sterile plants, which decrease transgene escape. Sterile transgenic plants do not produce significant numbers of viable pollen grains, thus decreasing or preventing the potential risk of transgene escape into the surrounding environment by outcrossing with wild species.
Methods to generate sterile perennial plants, such as male and/or female sterile plants, are disclosed herein by functionally deleting floral structures, such as the tapetum. In one example, a cytotoxic molecule, such as a barnase gene or an anti-sense floral-specific gene, is driven by a floral-specific promoter creating defective floral structures, such as sterile pollen. For example, expression of the cytotoxin, that in one example produces a protein product that decreases the presence and/or production of tapetum, results in male sterility.
USPTO Webpage 7525015
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