Available Technologies

Introduction

While transgenic plants are commonly associated with possessing herbicidal and insecticidal resistant traits, many transgenic plants are developed for the purpose of raising high yielding food crops from increased seed/fruit production. Crop yield characteristics of plants are genetically controlled through the complex interaction and expression of multiple genes responsible for regulating plant growth and flowering. Gene expression plays important roles in determining floral development and architecture, which ultimately effects timing of plant maturity. A way to enhance crop yield is to over-express genes relevant to flower development and maturity, without reducing seed production. Shortening of the plant development period and limiting plant size without reducing seed production allows for improved crop yields by increasing density in the field while also hastening growth. Considering the growth of the agricultural biotechnology market, there is a need for strategies aimed at increasing the yield potential of food and fiber crops in order to accomplish this goal.

Description of Technology

This technology is a blueberry-derived gene responsible for the regulation of plant growth and floral development. The over-expression of the blueberry MADS-box K domain fragment results in smaller plants and earlier flowering. Seed production per plant is unaffected or enhanced.  This enables high density planting, and seed yield/acre is thereby increased. This gene has the potential to provide increased seed production per acre in a variety of plants while shortening maturity times.

Key Benefits

• Shortens time to maturity – Hastens growth time without altering seed production
• Increased yield – Creates high-yield crops while reducing time-to-flowering, which increases revenues
• Broad applicability – The gene’s nearly universal K-domain is nearly universal provides broad application  in seed/fruit plants

Applications

• Applications where shortened periods of growth are beneficial, while also maintaining seed and fruit production
• Applications where increased planting density or decreased land under cultivation are desirable

Patent Status

Provisional Application Filed

Inventors

Guo-Qing Song, Aaron Walworth, Dongyan Zhao

Tech ID

TEC2013-0077