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Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonolobus, Fabaceae)

(Update July 2003)

Guar, also called “cluster bean”, and formerly referred to as Cyamopsis psoralioides, is a native plant of India where it is grown principally for its green fodder and for the pods that are used for food and feed. As a legume it is capable of fixing nitrogen through symbiotic rhizobia. Its seed gum (galactomannan gum) has a wide variety of food and other commercial uses.

Patents owned and applications filed by Danisco A/S (DK)

Specific Patent Information

Patent Number Title, Independent Claims and Summary of Claims Assignee
US 6307127

  • Earliest priority – 10 June 1994
  • Filed – 4 April 1997
  • Granted – 23 October 2001
  • Expired – 23 November 2005
 Title – Transformation of guar

Claim 1
A method for producing a genetically modified plant or part thereof of the genus Cyamopsis, comprising the steps of

(1) introducing a recombinant DNA sequence into at least one cell or protoplast by means of a β-lactamase producing Agrobacterium and
(2) generating genetically modified explants using at least one selection or shoot growth medium comprising
(a) at least one β-lactamase inhibitor and
(b) at least one auxin inhibitor or ethylene inhibitor, so as to obtain a genetically modified plant or part thereof containing in its genome
at least one recombinant DNA sequence.
Claim 22
A method for producing a genetically modified plant or part thereof of the genus Cyamopsis, comprising the steps of

(1) introducing a recombinant DNA sequence into at least one cell or protoplast by means of a β-lactamase producing Agrobacterium and
(2) generating genetically modified explants using at least one selection or shoot growth medium comprising a nickel salt, so as to obtain a genetically modified plant or part thereof containing in its genome at least one recombinant DNA sequence.
Claim 28
A method for producing a genetically modified plant or part thereof of the genus Cyamopsis, comprising the steps of

(1) introducing a recombinant DNA sequence into at least one cell or protoplast by means of a β-lactamase producing Agrobacterium and
(2) generating genetically modified explants using at least one selection or shoot growth medium comprising at least one β-lactamase inhibitor.

US 6307127 has expired due to non-payment of maintenance fees as reported by the USPTO.

This granted patent discloses a method to transform the leguminous plant guar using Agrobacterium .

  • An auxin or ethylene inhibitor is added during selection to inhibit callus formation and induce shoot formation.
  • A beta-lactamase inhibitor is added to inhibit the formation of auxin-like substances produced by degradation of carbenicillin added to kill the bacteria after co-cultivation. This is an additional means of preventing callus proliferation.

Danisco A/S
US 2001/034887 A1

  • Earliest priority – 10 June 1994
  • Filed – 22 May 2001
  • Application abandoned – 1 June 2003
 Title – Transformation of guar

Claim 1
A genetically modified plant of the genus Cyamopsis or part thereof, said plant or plant part comprising in its genome at least one recombinant DNA sequence.
Claim 4
A method for producing a genetically modified plant of the genus Cyamopsis or part thereof, comprising the steps of

(i) introducing a recombinant DNA sequence carrying a selectable marker into at least one cell or protoplast derived from said genus to obtain a transformed cell or protoplast, and
(ii) generating from said transformed cell or protoplast genetically modified explants using at least one selection medium and/or at least one shoot growth medium comprising at least one beta-lactamase inhibitor so as to obtain a genetically modified plant or part thereof containing in its genome at least one recombinant DNA sequence.
Claim 25
A method for producing a genetically modified plant of the genus Cyamopsis or part thereof, comprising the steps of

(i) introducing a recombinant DNA sequence carrying a selectable marker into at least one cell or protoplast derived from said genus to obtain a transformed cell or protoplast, and
(ii) generating from said transformed cell or protoplast genetically modified explants using at least one selection medium and/or at least one shoot growth medium comprising a nickel salt, so as to obtain a genetically modified plant or part thereof containing in its genome at least one recombinant DNA sequence.
Claim 29
A method for producing a genetically modified plant or part thereof of a plant species, comprising the steps of
(i) introducing a recombinant DNA sequence carrying a selectable marker into at least one cell or protoplast derived from said genus to obtain a transformed cell or protoplast, and
(ii) generating from said transformed cell or protoplast genetically modified explants using at least one selection medium an/or at least one shoot growth medium comprising at least one penicillin-like antibiotic and at least one beta-lactamase inhibitor so as to obtain a genetically modified plant or part thereof containing in its genome at least one recombinant DNA sequence.

US 2001/034887 is a continuation of now granted US 6307127.

This application recites a method of producing a genetically modified plant of the genus Cyamopsis that is not limited to Agrobacterium-mediated trasnformation.
AU 690999 B2

  • Earliest priority – 10 June 1994
  • Filed – 6 June 1995
  • Granted – 7 May 1998
  • Expected expiry – 6 June 2015
 Title – Transformation of guar
WO 1995/34667 A2

  • Earliest priority – 10 June 1994
  • Filed – 6 June 1995
  • OPI – 21 December 1995
 Title – Transformation of guar

Claim 1
A genetically modified plant or part thereof of the genus Cyamopsis, said plant or plant part comprising in its genome at least one recombinant DNA sequence.
Claim 4
A method for producing a genetically modified plant or part thereof of the genus Cyamopsis, comprising the steps of

  • introducing a recombinant DNA sequence into at least one cell or protoplast and
  • generating genetically modified explants using at least one selection or shoot growth medium comprising at least one compound selected from an auxin inhibitor, a beta-lactamase inhibitor and an ethylene inhibitor, so as to obtain a genetically modified plant or part thereof containing in its genome at least one recombinant DNA sequence.
Claim 23
A method for producing a genetically modified plant in which at least one medium used for selection or growth of cells, protoplasts, callus or plant parts comprises at least one substance that inhibits bacterial growth or that increases the effect of a bacterial growth inhibitor without having any substantial plant growth regulating or plant toxic effect.
Claim 30
Chimeric plants capable of producing transgenic seeds and obtained by grafting a genetically modified shoot cultivated in vitro onto a non-in vitro cultivated plant.
Remarks
  1. National phase entry of WO 1995/34667 in Australia (AU 690999 B2) has been granted on 7 May 1998 and expired on 29 January 2004.
  2. National phase entry of WO 1995/34667 in Europe (EP 766743) is deemed to be withdrawn on 13 August 2003 as reported by INPADOC.
  3. National phase entry of WO 1995/34667 in Japan (JP H10/501139) is pending.
  4. National phase entry of WO 1995/34667 in New Zealand (NZ 287848) has been granted on 26 June 1998 and expired on 13 December 2005 as reported by IPONZ.
  5. National phase entry of WO 1995/34667 in Canada (CA 2192552) is deemed dead on 7 June 2004 as reported by CIPO.
  6. Other national phase entries of WO 1995/34667 include Brazil (BR 9507970; application refused as reported by INPADOC), Poland (PL 317578), and Russia (RU 2173345).

Note: Patent information on this page was last updated on 17 March 2006.