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Tomato

Summary

In a United States granted patent Calgene discloses methods to transform tomato cotyledons with A. tumefaciens having a gene of interest. The construct to be integrated into the tomato cells contains transcription initiation and termination regulatory regions, a gene of interest and at least a right T-DNA border. In one of the claimed methods, the bacterium carries binary vectors. Tomato cells resistant to the herbicide glyphosate are also part of the invention.

Specific Patent Information

Patent Number Title, Independent Claims and Summary of Claims Assignee
US 5565347

  • Earliest priority – 10 June 1986
  • Filed – 30 August 1993
  • Granted – 15 October 1996
  • Expected expiry – 15 October 2013
 Title – Transformation and foreign gene expression with plant species

Claim 1A transformed Lycopersicon esculentum cotyledon cell, wherein said cell is present in an in vitro cell culture.
Claim 2A method for transforming tomato species cells, said method comprising:

A) pre-incubating tomato cotyledon sections with medium conditioned by a plant cell feeder culture;
B) co-cultivating said cotyledon sections with Agrobacterium tumefaciens cells comprising vir genes, wherein said Agrobacterium cells further comprise DNA construct comprising:
(i) transcriptional initiation and termination regulatory regions functional in tomato plant cells and
(ii) a gene other than the wild-type gene associated with at least one of said transcriptional initiation and termination regions, and
(iii) at least a right T-DNA border, whereby said construct becomes integrated into the genome of cells in said cotyledon section to provide transformed tomato plant cells; C) incubating said transformed tomato plant cells in a regeneration medium comprising a bacteriocide and a means for selection of said transformed tomato plant cells as the result of a marker on said DNA construct, whereby transformed tomato shoots develop; and
D) transferring said transformed shoots to a rooting medium to produce transformed tomato plants.
Claim 9A method for modifying the genotype of tomato plant cells, said method comprising:

A) pre-incubating tomato cotyledon sections with medium conditioned by a plant cell feeder culture,
B) contacting said cotyledon sections with a culture of a disarmed Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain comprising vir genes and a binary vector plasmid comprising at least the right T-DNA border and a gene of interest, wherein said gene of interest is under regulatory control of transcriptional initiation and termination regions functional in tomato plant cells, and wherein said gene of interest is integrated into the genome of cells in said tomato cotyledon sections, and
C) isolating said tomato cells comprising said integrated gene of interest.
Claim 16A method for transforming tomato species cells, said method comprising:

A) co-cultivating tomato cotyledon sections with Agrobacterium tumefaciens cells comprising vir genes, wherein said Agrobacterium cells further comprise a DNA construct comprising transcriptional initiation and termination regulatory regions functional in tomato plant cells and a gene other than the wild-type gene associated with at least one of said transcriptional initiation and termination regions, and at least a right T-DNA border, whereby said construct becomes integrated into the genome of cells in said cotyledon section to provide transformed tomato plant cells;
B) incubating said transformed tomato plant cells in a regeneration medium comprising a bacteriocide and a means for selection of said transformed tomato plant cells as the result of a marker on said DNA construct, whereby transformed tomato shoots develop; and
C) transferring said transformed shoots to a rooting medium to produce transformed tomato plants.
Claim 19A method for modifying the genotype of tomato plant cells, said method comprising:

A) contacting tomato cotyledon sections with a culture of a disarmed Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain comprising vir genes and a binary vector plasmid comprising at least the right T-DNA border and a gene of interest, wherein said gene of interest is under regulatory control of transcriptional initiation and termination regions functional in tomato plant cells, and wherein said gene of interest is integrated into the genome of cells in said tomato cotyledon sections, and
B) isolating said tomato cells comprising said integrated gene of interest.

Transformation of tomato cotyledon sections with A. tumefaciens carrying a construct with a foreign gene. Transformed tissues are regenerated into tomato plants. Disarmed A. tumefaciens having a binary vector with a foreign gene is used to transform tomato cells.

Calgene Inc.
Remarks
  1. Related application in Australia (AU 73351/87) has lapsed on 17 January 1991.
  2. Related application in China (CN 87104202) has been withdrawn on 12 December 1990.
  3. Related application in Europe (EP 249432) has been deemed to be withdrawn on 20 March 1991.
  4. Related application in New Zealand (NZ 220642) has been granted and registered on 26 April 1996 and has expired.
  5. Other related patent documents in Israel (IL 82704) and Japan (JP S63/068088).

Note: Patent information on this page was last updated on 28 March 2006.