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Shoot apex transformation

Shoot apex transformation – patent granted to The Texas A & M University System

In the invention disclosed in this United States patent, shoot apex tissue from any plant is subjected to gene transfer via Agrobacterium. According to the inventors, the use of such tissue permits rapid propagation of plants without encountering problems of somaclonal variation.

Specific Patent Information

Patent Number Title, Independent Claims and Summary of Claims Assignee
US 5164310

  • Earliest priority – 1 June 1988
  • Filed – 5 February 1991
  • Granted – 17 November 1992
  • Expected expiry – 5 February 2011
 Title – Method for transforming plants via the shoot apex

Claim 1
A method of transforming excised shoot apical tissue comprising:

a) excising shoot apical tissue consisting essential of the apical dome and two or more primordial leaves,

b) placing said excised tissue in a suitable growth medium,

c) inoculating said apical tissue with Agrobacterium tumefaciens to transform said tissue.
Claim 8
A method for transforming an excised shoot apex comprising:

a) excising a shoot apex,
b) placing said apex in a suitable growth medium,
c) inoculating said apical tissue with Agrobacterium tumefaciens to transform said tissue.

The United States patent 5 164 310 claims a method to transform shoot apices, which contain the apical dome with meristematic tissue and some primordial leaves, with A. tumefaciens. According to the inventors, shoot cultures develop roots directly and rapidly, and plant regeneration is achieved within six weeks after transformation.

Texas A&M Univeristy System
Remarks
  1. National phase entry of WO 89/12102 in Australia (AU 3756889) has lapsed on 26 April 1991.
  2. Related patent application filed in China (CN 1042638) is deemed withdrawn on 1 April 1992.
  3. National phase entry of WO 89/12102 in Europe (EP 419533) is deemed withdrawn on 10 April 1993.
  4. National phase entry of WO 89/12102 in Japan (JP 2996995) has been granted on 29 October 1999.
  5. Other related patent applications filed in Denmark (DK 285590), Spain (ES 2017024, reported on INPADOC as lapsed), Ireland (IE 65516), Israel (IL 90440), South Africa (ZA 8904379).
  6. Related patent in New Zealand (NZ 229340) has been granted and published as registered on 26 May 2000.

Note: Patent information on this page was last updated on 22 February 2006.