Methods and compositions for tobacco plants with reduced nicotine

Abstract

The present application describes isolated nucleic acids that contain a Nic gene product responsive element, and the use thereof in methods of producing transgenic tobacco plants having reduced levels of nicotine and/or TSNA therein, as well as other plants or host cells that contain altered levels of a protein of interest therein due to inclusion of a cis-acting decoy element therein.

1 - 101 . (canceled)  
     
     
         102 . A cured tobacco comprising a genetic modification, a reduced amount of nicotine and a reduced amount of tobacco specific nitrosamines (TSNAs).  
     
     
         103 . The cured tobacco of  claim 102 , wherein the amount of TSNAs is in the range of 0 to 8000 parts per billion (ppb).  
     
     
         104 . The cured tobacco of  claim 102 , wherein the amount of TSNAs is in the range of 0 to 300 ppb.  
     
     
         105 . The cured tobacco of  claim 102 , wherein the amount of TSNAs is in the range of 0 to 100 ppb.  
     
     
         106 . The cured tobacco of  claim 102 , wherein the amount of one or more TSNAs is not detectable.  
     
     
         107 . The cured tobacco of  claim 102 , wherein the cured tobacco is selected from the group consisting of Burley, Flue and Oriental.  
     
     
         108 . The cured tobacco of  claim 103 , wherein the cured tobacco is Burley.  
     
     
         109 . The cured tobacco of  claim 104 , wherein the cured tobacco is Oriental.  
     
     
         110 . The cured tobacco of  claim 105 , wherein the cured tobacco is Flue.  
     
     
         111 . The cured tobacco of  claim 102 , wherein the tobacco comprises an exogenous nucleic acid comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or an active fragment thereof.  
     
     
         112 . The cured tobacco of  claim 102 , wherein the amount of nicotine is between 0 and 30,000 parts per million (ppm).  
     
     
         113 . The cured tobacco of  claim 102 , wherein the amount of nicotine is between 0 and 20,000 ppm.  
     
     
         114 . The cured tobacco of  claim 102 , wherein the amount of nicotine is between 0 and 10,000 ppm.  
     
     
         115 . A tobacco product comprising the cured tobacco of  claim 102 .  
     
     
         116 . The tobacco product of  claim 115 , wherein the tobacco product is selected from the group consisting of cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff, tobacco, tobacco-containing gum and lozenges.  
     
     
         117 . A method of making the tobacco product of  claim 115 , comprising providing the cured tobacco of  claim 102  and preparing said tobacco product from said cured tobacco.  
     
     
         118 . A method of reducing the amount of a TSNA or a TSNA metabolite in a human that uses tobacco, comprising providing said human the tobacco product of  claim 115 .  
     
     
         119 . A blended tobacco product comprising the cured tobacco of  claim 102 .  
     
     
         120 . The blended tobacco product of  claim 119 , wherein the tobacco product is selected from the group consisting of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, tobacco, tobacco-containing gum and lozenges.  
     
     
         121 . A method of making the blended tobacco product of  claim 119 , comprising providing the cured tobacco of claim  1  and preparing said tobacco product from said cured tobacco.  
     
     
         122 . A tobacco use cessation kit comprising the cured tobacco of  claim 102 .  
     
     
         123 . A method of reducing the carcinogenic potential of a tobacco product, comprising providing the cured tobacco of  claim 102  and preparing a tobacco product from said cured tobacco, whereby the carcinogenic potential of said tobacco product is thereby reduced.  
     
     
         124 . A method of reducing the carcinogenic potential of side stream or main stream tobacco smoke in a human exposed to said side stream or main stream tobacco smoke, comprising providing the cured tobacco of  claim 102  in a product that undergoes pyrolysis, wherein pyrolysis of said product results in side stream or main stream smoke comprising a reduced amount of TSNAs.  
     
     
         125 . A genetically modified Burley tobacco comprising a collective content of TSNAs that is less than 8,000 ppb and an amount of nicotine that is less than 8,000 ppm.