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Wheat

Summary

In 2001 Monsanto was granted an Australian patent directed to transformation of wheat with Agrobacterium. Related applications are still pending in Europe and Canada.

The granted claims of the Australian patent are narrower in their scope than the claims as filed in the European and Canadian applications. In the Australian patent the wheat tissues to be transformed are restricted to certain types of tissues while the applications disclose the transformation of wheat cells derived from any tissue.

Both the Australian patent and the applications disclose the insertion into the cells of genes that confer resistance to selective agents such as gentamycin, kanamycin, and hygromycin. Production of fertile and transgenic wheat plants is also disclosed.

Note that the claim language may be modified during the prosecution process and when granted might not encompass the same scope as the filed claims.

Wheat – Specific Patent Information

Patent Number Title, Independent Claims and Summary of Claims Assignee
AU 738153 C

  • Earliest priority – 21 June 1996
  • Filed – 20 June 1997
  • Granted – 13 September 2001
  • Amended – 1 July 2004
  • Expected expiry – 19 June 2017
 Title – Methods for the production of stably-transformed, fertile wheat employing agrobacterium-mediated transformation and compositions derived therefrom

Claim 1A fertile, transgenic wheat plant, the genome of which has been altered through the genomic introduction of a pre-selected genetic component, said component comprising an exogenous gene positioned under the control of one or more pre-selected genetic control elements, the plant prepared by a process comprising:

A) preparing a DNA composition in vitro, which composition includes the genetic component one desires to introduce into the genome of a wheat plant;
B) introducing said DNA composition into recipient wheat cells by Agrobacterium transformation;
C) regenerating wheat plants from said cells which have received said genetic component; and
D) identifying a fertile, transgenic wheat plant whose genome has been altered through the stable introduction of said genetic component, and wherein said recipient cells comprise an immature embryo, a callus tissue, or suspension cells.
Claim 7A fertile, transgenic wheat plant, the genetic complement of which has been altered through the addition of a DNA composition comprising a pre-selected functional genetic element that includes a transgene selected from the group consisting of an nptll gene, a bla gene, a nptI gene, a dhfr gene, a aphlV gene, a aacC3 gene, a aacC4 gene and a GUS gene, wherein said functional genetic element confers on said wheat plant a phenotypic trait that is not found in the parentage of said plant, wherein said DNA composition was added using Agrobacteriumtransformation of recipient cells comprising an immature embryo, a callus tissue, or suspension cells.
Claim 10A fertile, transgenic wheat plant, the genome of which has been altered through the genomic introduction of a pre-selected genetic component, said component comprising an exogenous gene positioned under the control of one or more pre-selected genetic control elements, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the examples.
Claim 11
A fertile, transgenic wheat plant, the genetic complement of which has been altered through the addition of a DNA composition comprising a pre-selected functional genetic element, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the examples.
Claim 14A method for producing a fertile transgenic wheat plant, comprising the steps of:

A) establishing a regenerable culture from a wheat plant to be transformed, wherein said culture comprises an immature embryo, a callus tissue, or suspension cells;
B) introducing a DNA composition comprising a genetic component one desires to introduce into the genome of said wheat plant, byAgrobacterium transformation;
C) identifying or selecting a transformed cell line; and
D) regenerating a fertile transgenic wheat plant therefrom, wherein said DNA is transmitted through a complete sexual cycle of said transgenic plant to its progeny, wherein said progeny comprises a selectable or screenable marker gene, and wherein said marker gene is chromosomally integrated.
Claim 18A method for producing a fertile transgenic wheat plant, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the examples.
Claim 19A method for producing a transgenic wheat plant, comprising the steps of:

A) establishing a culture from a wheat plant to be transformed, wherein said culture comprises an immature embryo, a callus tissue, or suspension cells;
B) transforming said culture with an Agrobacterium comprising a DNA composition comprising a genetic component one desires to introduce into the genome of said wheat plant;
C) identifying or selecting a transformed cell line; and
D) regenerating a transgenic wheat plant therefrom.
Claim 21A method for producing a transgenic wheat plant, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the examples.

Process for the production of a fertile, transgenic wheat plant by transforming an immature embryo, a callus tissue or suspension cells of wheat with Agrobacterium having an exogenous gene.
The transgene can be selected from: an nptII gene, bla gene, nptI gene, dhfr gene, aphIV gene, aacC3, aacC4 and a GUS gene.
The fertile transgenic wheat plant produces progeny comprising a selectable or screenable marker integrated into the chromosomes.

Monsanto
EP 856060 A1

  • Earliest priority – 21 June 1996
  • Filed – 20 June 1997
  • Application pending
 Title – Methods for the Production of Stably-transformed, Fertile Wheat employing Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and compositions derived therefrom

Claim 1A fertile, transgenic wheat plant, the genome of which has been altered through the genomic introduction of a pre-selected genetic component, said component comprising an exogenous gene positioned under the control of one or more pre-selected genetic control elements, the plant prepared by a process comprising:

A) preparing a DNA composition in vitro, which composition includes the genetic component one desires to introduce into the genome of a wheat plant;
B) introducing said DNA composition into recipient wheat cells by Agrobacterium transformation;
C) regenerating wheat plants from said cells which have received said genetic component; and
D) identifying a fertile, transgenic wheat plant whose genome has been altered through the stable introduction of said genetic component.
Claim 8A fertile, transgenic wheat plant, the genetic complement of which has been altered through the addition of a DNA composition comprising a pre-selected functional genetic element that includes a transgene selected from the group consisting of an nptll gene, a bla gene, a nptI gene, a dhfr gene, a aphlV gene, a aacC3 gene, a aacC4 gene and a GUS gene, wherein said functional genetic element confers on said wheat plant a phenotypic trait that is not found in the parentage of said plant.
Claim 14A method for producing a fertile transgenic wheat plant, comprising the steps of:

A) establishing a regenerable culture from a wheat plant to be transformed;
B) introducing a DNA composition comprising a genetic component one desires to introduce into the genome of said wheat plant, byAgrobacterium transformation;
C) identifying or selecting a transformed cell line; and
D) regenerating a fertile transgenic wheat plant therefrom, wherein said DNA is transmitted through a complete sexual cycle of said transgenic plant to its progeny, wherein said progeny comprises a selectable or screenable marker gene, and wherein said marker gene is chromosomally integrated.
Claim 18A method for producing a transgenic wheat plant, comprising the steps of:

A) establishing a culture from a wheat plant to be transformed;
B) transforming said culture with an Agrobacterium comprising a DNA composition comprising a genetic component one desires to introduce into the genome of said wheat plant;
C) identifying or selecting a transformed cell line; and
D) regenerating a transgenic wheat plant therefrom.

National phase entry of WO 97/48814, this application is still pending.

Insertion of a foreign gene into a wheat plant via Agrobacterium . The foreign gene is selected from a group of genes conferring resistance to different antibiotics, i.e. kanamycin, hygromycin, and also the GUS gene. Regenerating and obtaining fertile transformed wheat plants is also covered by the claims.
Remarks
  1. National phase entry of WO 97/48814 in Canada (CA 2230216) is still pending.
  2. National phase entry of WO 97/48814 in China (CN 1208437) is deemed to be withdrawn on 26 January 2005.
  3. WO 97/48814 has also entered national phase in Czech Republic (CZ 9800867), Hungary (HU 9902123), and Turkey (TR 9800294).
  4. A related patent application in the US (US 2003/24014 A1) is still pending.

Note: Patent information on this page was last updated on 9 February 2006.