Description:
Summary
Proof of concept for a repressor/restorer male sterility system to produce
hybrid seed in Arabidopsis has been achieved. The system can also be used for
pollen and seed containment.
The Problem
Hybrid Vigor is characterised by the production of larger plants, tolerance
to stress, disease resistance, uniformity and improved yield with plants often
being referred to as F1 hybrids. Hybrids can only work in conjunction with
pollination control mechanisms. There are three commonly used methods;
mechanical (expensive, time consuming, laborious), chemical (transitory and
expensive from repeat application of gametocides) and genetic (usually
cytoplasmic male sterility but is generally not 100% reliable due to restorer
genes and can be particularly problematic for corn, oilseed rape and wheat).
The Science and Innovation
Proof of concept for a repressor/restorer male sterility system to produce
hybrid seed in Arabidopsis has been achieved. The system can also be used for
pollen and seed containment. An additional inducible component is
incorporated into the system to obtain homozygous female parent lines. The
strategy ensures that all female progeny are male sterile (other existing male
sterility systems could only produce male sterility in 50% of female
progeny).
Homologues of the Myb103 gene occur in canola, rice, wheat, barley, grape,
corn, sorghum and populus (tree). The homologues in canola, rice and wheat have
been shown to be expressed in anthers. Other transcription factors can also be
targeted using this technology provided that they are essential to male
fertility. Thus this system could potentially be used for any flowering plant.
Recently, male sterile canola has been generated using this system.
The reversible male sterility system is designed so the ‘master’ genes
involved in pollen production can be inactivated in the female parents leading
to male sterility with restoration in the F1 hybrid plants. Furthermore, the
potential incorporation of an inducible activator or repressor in the system
means the plants can be sprayed with the inducer at any stage during development
to control male fertility.
The Intellectual Property
Transgenic Plant Male Sterility PCT/AU2010/001503
Opportunity:
La Trobe University intends to commercialise the technology by partnering
with, or licensing to, a company or companies that combine capabilities in the
development of genetically modified plants and in particular, field trials and
associated regulatory compliance, with the capacity and end-user relationships
required to take this technology to market.