Description:
Summary
Research to improve the nutritional value of oilseed products and the seed
quality and germination of grain crops is being undertaken at La Trobe
University. A team of plant scientists, led by Professor Roger Parish and
Dr Song Li, have identified a missing link in the regulation of seed
development. The researchers – whose work will link closely with the new
AgriBio Centre – have had their study published in the prestigious journal The
Plant Cell.
The Problem
Heterosis is the term used to describe the superior performance of F1 hybrids
over parental lines from which the F1 is derived. In crop plants, heterosis
often manifests in the production of larger plants, tolerance to stress, disease
resistance, uniformity and improved yield. Hybrids can only be used in crops
when effective and economical means of pollination control exist to ensure cross
pollination and prevent self-pollination.
The Science and Innovation
A method for the production of transgenic male sterile plants has been
developed. The method consists of disrupting pollen development in the plant by
blocking the expression of the MYB103 protein.
The Intellectual Property
Nucleic acid molecules and
their use in plant male sterility (PCT/AU2005/000851).
Key References
AtMYB103 regulates tapetum and trichome development in Arabidopsis
thaliana. The Plant Journal 2003 v35 p177. Trudi Higginson, Song Feng Li
and Roger W. Parish