A novel hybrid seed system for plants.
A two-component hybrid seed system has been developed that is broadly applicable and provides for effective generation and maintenance of the male-sterile parent, hybrid seed production and full restoration of fertility in the hybrid seed. The technology is based on the functional interaction of two loci that are inserted in the same position on two homologous chromosomes, and thus are 'linked in repulsion', and that jointly code for male sterility and herbicide resistance, both traits being expressed in heterozygous plants only. The localization to the same locus on a chromosome is achieved by the genetic transformation of plants with a construct containing both genetic elements (loci), and subsequent derivatization from the primary pro-locus of the two precursor lines using site-specific deletions. The functional interaction of the two loci is achieved through intein-based trans-splicing of two pairs of complementary protein fragments that provide for male sterility and herbicide resistance. Unlike the hybrid seed systems that are currently in use, the technology relies on the genetic modification of just one parent, and is therefore much simpler to develop and use. Arabidopsis has been used for the proof of principle presented here, but the essential elements of the technology are generic and have been shown to work in many crop species.
Gils
Mario
M
Nordsaat Saatzucht GmbH, Biozentrum Halle, Weinbergweg 22, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany.
Marillonnet
Sylvestre
S
Werner
Stefan
S
Grützner
Ramona
R
Giritch
Anatoli
A
Engler
Carola
C
Schachschneider
Ralf
R
Klimyuk
Victor
V
Gleba
Yuri
Y
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D005838:Genotype; D053209:Herbicide Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D006540:Herbicides / Q000494:pharmacology; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D010641:Phenotype; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012260:Ribonucleases / Q000235:genetics; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D006540:Herbicides; D012260:Ribonucleases; C019760:Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ribonuclease