Genes encoding acetolactate synthase

Abstract

The present invention provides a gene coding for the following protein (a) or (b) showing a high level of resistance to PC herbicides or sulfonylurea herbicides: (a) a protein which consists of an amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6 and 8; (b) a protein which consists of an amino acid sequence derived from the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6 and 8 by substitution, deletion or addition of at least one or more amino acids, has resistance to a pyrimidinyl carboxy herbicide, and has acetolactate synthase activity.

1 . A gene, which codes for the following protein 
 (a) or (b):    (a) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6, and 8;    (b) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence derived from the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6, and 8 by substitution, deletion or addition of at least one or more amino acids, has resistance to a pyrimidinyl carboxy herbicide, and has acetolactate synthase activity.    
     
     
         2 . An acetolactate synthase protein, which is coded by the gene of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         3 . A recombinant vector, which has the gene of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         4 . A transformant, which has the recombinant vector of  claim 3 .  
     
     
         5 . A plant, which has the gene of  claim 1  and has resistance to a pyrimidinyl carboxy herbicide.  
     
     
         6 . A method for cultivating the plant of  claim 5 , which comprises cultivating the plant in the presence of a pyrimidinyl carboxy herbicide.  
     
     
         7 . A method for selecting a transformant cell having the gene of  claim 1 , which uses the gene as a selection marker.  
     
     
         8 . A method for cultivating a plant having a gene coding for acetolactate synthase, which comprises cultivating the plant in the presence of a pyrithiobac sodium herbicide and/or a pyriminobac herbicide, wherein the acetolactate synthase has an amino acid sequence in which a serine corresponding to serine at position 627 of a wild-type rice acetolactate synthase is replaced by isoleucine.  
     
     
         9 . A method for selecting a transformant cell having a gene coding for acetolactate synthase as a selection maker, which comprises cultivating the cell in the presence of a pyrithiobac sodium herbicide and/or a pyriminobac herbicide, wherein the acetolactate synthase has an amino acid sequence in which a serine corresponding to serine at position 627 of a wild-type rice acetolactate synthase is replaced by isoleucine.