Method to enhance yield and purity of hybrid crops

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of herbicide treatment of selected female and male parents in a hybrid seed production system. The system results in enhanced trait purity and efficiency in the hybrid seed production system.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A method for hybrid seed production comprising the steps of:
 a) growing a first plant and a second plant in pollination proximity in a field, wherein the first plant is capable of tolerating a first herbicide in the vegetative tissue and female reproductive tissue but not in the male reproductive tissue, and is capable of tolerating a second herbicide, and further wherein the second plant is capable of tolerating the first herbicide, and is sensitive to the second herbicide;   b) treating the first and second plants, prior to pollination, with an effective amount of the first herbicide to render the first plant male sterile while allowing pollen from the second plant to pollinate the first plant;   c) treating the first and second plants, post pollination, with an effective amount of the second herbicide to halt the further development of the second plant; and   d) harvesting seeds from the first plant.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said first herbicide is glyphosate. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said first herbicide is an imidazolinone. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said first herbicide is a sulfonylurea. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said first herbicide is a sulfonamide. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said first herbicide is an aryloxyphenoxypropionate. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said first herbicide is a cyclohexanedione. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said second herbicide is selected from the group consisting of dinitroaniline herbicide, trifluralin, pendimethalin, ethalfluralin, triazolopyrimidines, chloracetamide, metolachlor, acetochor, dimethenamid-P, alachlor, thiocarbamate, triallate, EPTC, cycloate, benzolfuran, ethofumesate, pyrazolium, difenzoquat-methyl sulfate, a uracil, a phenylurea, a triketone, mesotrione, an isoxazole, isoxaflutole, an acetanilide, an oxadiazole, a triazinone, a sulfonanilide, an amide, an anilide, propanil, a fluorochloridone, a norflurazon, a triazine, atrazine, a triazolinone type herbicide, metribuzin, flucarbazone-Na, propoxycarbazone-Na, glufosinate, asulam, bentazon, bialaphos, bromacil, cyclohexanedione, tralkoxydim, clethodim, sethoxydim, phenylpyrazolin, pinoxaden, dicamba, fosarnine, flupoxam, 2-phenoxypropionate, aryloxy-phenoxypropionate, clodinafop-propargyl, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, diclofop-methyl, fluazifop-P-butyl, quizalofop, picloram, fluormetron, butafenacil, metribuzin, chlorimuron, chlorsulfuron, triasulfuron, mesosulfuron-methyl, foramsulfuron, sulfosulfuron, flumetsulam, halosulfuron, sulfometron, imazamethabenz-methyl, imazaquin, imazethapyr, isoxaben, imazamox, metosulam, pyrithrobac, rimsulfuron, bensulfuron, nicosulfuron, fomesafen, fluoroglycofen, KIEI9201, ET751, carfentrazone, mesotrione, sulcotrione, bypyridilium, paraquat, diquat, bromoxynil and fenoxaprop. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said second herbicide is selected from the group consisting of glyphosate, dinitroaniline herbicide, trifluralin, pendimethalin, ethalfluralin, triazolopyrimidines, chloracetamide, metolachlor, acetochor, dimethenamid-P, alachlor, thiocarbamate, triallate, EPTC, cycloate, benzolfuran, ethofumesate, pyrazolium, difenzoquat-methyl sulfate, a uracil, a phenylurea, a triketone, mesotrione, an isoxazole, isoxaflutole, an acetanilide, an oxadiazole, a triazinone, a sulfonanilide, an amide, an anilide, propanil, a fluorochloridone, a norflurazon, a triazine, atrazine, a triazolinone type herbicide, metribuzin, flucarbazone-Na, propoxycarbazone-Na, glufosinate, asulam, bentazon, bialaphos, bromacil, cyclohexanedione, tralkoxydim, clethodim, sethoxydim, phenylpyrazolin, pinoxaden, dicamba, fosarnine, flupoxam, 2-phenoxypropionate, aryloxy-phenoxypropionate, clodinafop-propargyl, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, diclofop-methyl, fluazifop-P-butyl, quizalofop, picloram, fluormetron, butafenacil, metribuzin, chlorimuron, chlorsulfuron, triasulfuron, mesosulfuron-methyl, foramsulfuron, sulfosulfuron, flumetsulam, halosulfuron, sulfometron, isoxaben, metosulam, pyrithrobac, rimsulfuron, bensulfuron, nicosulfuron, fomesafen, fluoroglycofen, KIEI9201, ET751, carfentrazone, mesotrione, sulcotrione, bypyridilium, paraquat, diquat, bromoxynil and fenoxaprop. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said second herbicide is selected from the group consisting of glyphosate, dinitroaniline herbicide, trifluralin, pendimethalin, ethalfluralin, triazolopyrimidines, chloracetamide, metolachlor, acetochor, dimethenamid-P, alachlor, thiocarbamate, triallate, EPTC, cycloate, benzolfuran, ethofumesate, pyrazolium, difenzoquat-methyl sulfate, a uracil, a phenylurea, a triketone, mesotrione, an isoxazole, isoxaflutole, an acetanilide, an oxadiazole, a triazinone, a sulfonanilide, an amide, an anilide, propanil, a fluorochloridone, a norflurazon, a triazine, atrazine, a triazolinone type herbicide, metribuzin, flucarbazone-Na, propoxycarbazone Na, glufosinate, asulam, bentazon, bialaphos, bromacil, cyclohexanedione, tralkoxydim, clethodim, sethoxydim, phenylpyrazolin, pinoxaden, dicamba, fosamine, flupoxam, 2-phenoxypropionate, aryloxy-phenoxypropionate, clodinafop-propargyl, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, diclofop-methyl, fluazifop-P-butyl, quizalofop, picloram, fluormetron, butafenacil, metribuzin, chlorimuron, flumetsulam, halosulfuron, sulfometron, imazamethabenz-methyl, imazaquin, imazethapyr, isoxaben, imazamox, metosulam, pyrithrobac, fomesafen, fluoroglycofen, KIEI9201, ET751, carfentrazone, mesotrione, sulcotrione, bypyridilium, paraquat, diquat, bromoxynil and fenoxaprop. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said second herbicide is selected from the group consisting of glyphosate, dinitroaniline herbicide, trifluralin, pendimethalin, ethalfluralin, triazolopyrimidines, chloracetamide, metolachlor, acetochor, dimethenamid-P, alachlor, thiocarbamate, triallate, EPIC, cycloate, benzolfuran, ethofumesate, pyrazolium, difenzoquat-methyl sulfate, a uracil, a phenylurea, a triketone, mesotrione, an isoxazole, isoxaflutole, an acetanilide, an oxadiazole, a triazinone, a sulfonanilide, an anilide, propanil, a fluorochloridone, a norflurazon, a triazine, atrazine, a triazolinone type herbicide, metribuzin, flucarbazone-Na, propoxycarbazone-Na, glufosinate, bentazon, bialaphos, bromacil, cyclohexanedione, tralkoxydim, clethodim, sethoxydim, phenylpyrazolin, pinoxaden, dicamba, fosamine, flupoxam, 2-phenoxypropionate, aryloxy-phenoxypropionate, clodinafop-propargyl, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, diclofop-methyl, fluazifop-P-butyl, quizalofop, picloram, fluormetron, butafenacil, metribuzin, chlorimuron, chlorsulfuron, triasulfuron, mesosulfuron-methyl, foramsulfuron, sulfosulfuron, flumetsulam, halosulfuron, sulfometron, imazamethabenz-methyl, imazaquin, imazethapyr, isoxaben, imazamox, metosulam, pyrithrobac, rimsulfuron, bensulfuron, nicosulfuron, fomesafen, fluoroglycofen, KIEI9201, ET751, carfentrazone, mesotrione, sulcotrione, bypyridilium, paraquat, diquat, bromoxynil and fenoxaprop. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said second herbicide is selected from the group consisting of glyphosate, dinitroaniline herbicide, trifluralin, pendimethalin, ethalfluralin, triazolopyrimidines, chloracetamide, metolachlor, acetochor, dimethenamid-P, alachlor, thiocarbamate, triallate, EPIC, cycloate, benzolfuran, ethofumesate, pyrazolium, difenzoquat-methyl sulfate, a uracil, a phenylurea, a triketone, mesotrione, an isoxazole, isoxaflutole, an acetanilide, an oxadiazole, a triazinone, a sulfonanilide, an amide, an anilide, propanil, a fluorochloridone, a norflurazon, a triazine, atrazine, a triazolinone type herbicide, metribuzin, flucarbazone-Na, propoxycarbazone-Na, glufosinate, asulam, bentazon, bialaphos, bromacil, cyclohexanedione, tralkoxydim, clethodim, sethoxydim, phenylpyrazolin, pinoxaden, dicamba, fosamine, flupoxam, 2-phenoxypropionate, picloram, fluormetron, butafenacil, metribuzin, chlorimuron, chlorsulfuron, triasulfuron, mesosulfuron-methyl, foramsulfuron, sulfosulfuron, flumetsulam, halosulfuron, sulfometron, imazamethabenz-methyl, imazaquin, imazethapyr, isoxaben, imazamox, metosulam, pyrithrobac, rimsulfuron, bensulfuron, nicosulfuron, fomesafen, fluoroglycofen, KIEI9201, ET751, carfentrazone, mesotrione, sulcotrione, bypyridilium, paraquat, diquat, bromoxynil. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said second herbicide is selected from the group consisting of glyphosate, dinitroaniline herbicide, trifluralin, pendimethalin, ethalfluralin, triazolopyrimidines, chloracetamide, metolachlor, acetochor, dimethenamid-P, alachlor, thiocarbamate, triallate, EPTC, cycloate, benzolfuran, ethofumesate, pyrazolium, difenzoquat-methyl sulfate, a uracil, a phenylurea, a triketone, mesotrione, an isoxazole, isoxaflutole, an acetanilide, an oxadiazole, a triazinone, a sulfonanilide, an amide, an anilide, propanil, a fluorochloridone, a norflurazon, a triazine, atrazine, a triazolinone type herbicide, metribuzin, flucarbazone-Na, propoxycarbazone-Na, glufosinate, asulam, bentazon, bialaphos, bromacil, phenylpyrazolin, pinoxaden, dicamba, fosamine, flupoxam, 2-phenoxypropionate, aryloxy-phenoxypropionate, clodinafop-propargyl, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, diclofop-methyl, fluazifop-P-butyl, quizalofop, picloram, fluormetron, butafenacil, metribuzin, chlorimuron, chlorsulfuron, triasulfuron, mesosulfuron-methyl, foramsulfuron, sulfosulfuron, flumetsulam, halosulfuron, sulfometron, imazamethabenz-methyl, imazaquin, imazethapyr, isoxaben, imazamox, metosulam, pyrithrobac, rimsulfuron, bensulfuron, nicosulfuron, fomesafen, fluoroglycofen, KIEI9201, ET751, carfentrazone, mesotrione, sulcotrione, bypyridilium, paraquat, diquat, bromoxynil and fenoxaprop. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said plant is selected from the group consisting of corn ( Zea mays ), canola ( Brassica napus, Brassica rapa  ssp.), alfalfa ( Medicago sativa ), rice ( Oryza sativa ), rape ( Brassica napus ), rye ( Secale cereale ), sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor, Sorghum vulgare ), sunflower ( Helianthus annuus ), wheat ( Triticum aestivum ), soybean ( Glycine max ), tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum ), potato ( Solanum tuberosum ), peanuts ( Arachis hypogaea ), cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum ), sweet potato ( Ipomoea batata ), cassava ( Manihot esculenta ), coffee ( Coffea  spp.), coconut ( Cocos nucifera ), pineapple ( Ananas comosus ), citrus trees ( Citrus  spp.), cocoa ( Theobroma cacao ), tea ( Camellia sinensis ), banana ( Musa  spp.), avocado ( Persea americana ), fig ( Ficus casica ), guava ( Psidium guajava ), mango ( Mangifera indica ), olive ( Olea europaea ), papaya ( Carica papaya ), cashew ( Anacardium occidentale ),  macadamia  ( Macadamia integrifolia ), almond ( Prunus amygdalus ), sugar beets ( Beta vulgaris ), apple ( Malus pumila ), blackberry ( Rubus  sp.), strawberry ( Fragaria ), walnut ( Juglans regia ), grape ( Vitis vinifera ), apricot ( Prunus armeniaca ), cherry ( Prunus ), peach ( Prunus persica ), plum ( Prunus domestica ), pear ( Pyrus communis ), watermelon ( Citrullus vulgaris ), oats, barley, ornamentals, conifers, and turfgrasses (ornamental, recreational or forage), vegetables such as tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum ), lettuce ( Lactuca sativa ), carrots ( Daucus carota ), cauliflower ( Brassica oleracea ), celery ( Apium graveolens ), eggplant ( Solanum melongena ), asparagus ( Asparagus officinalis ), okra ( Abelmoschus esculentus ), green beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris ), lima beans ( Phaseolus limensis ), peas ( Pisum  sp.,  Lathyrus  spp.),  Cucurbita  species such as Hubbard squash ( C. maxima ), Butternut squash ( C. moschata ), zucchini ( C. pepo ), Crookneck squash ( C. melopepo ),  C. argyrosperma, C. argyrosperma  ssp  sororia, C. digitata, C. ecuadorensis, C. foetidissima, C. lundelliana , and  C. martinezii, Cucumis  species such as cucumber ( Cucumis sativus ), cantaloupe ( C. cantalupensis ), and musk melon ( C. melo ). 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said first herbicide tolerance is provided to the female parent and male parent plants by differential expression of a transgene comprising a glyphosate tolerant EPSPS, or a glyphosate inactivating enzyme. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said second herbicide tolerance is provided to the female parent plant by a transgene expressing a herbicide tolerance protein selected from the group consisting dicamba monooxygenase conferring tolerance to auxin-like herbicides such as dicamba, phosphinothricin acetyltransferase conferring tolerance to phosphinothricin or glufosinate, 2,2-dichloropropionic acid dehalogenase conferring tolerance to 2,2-dichloropropionic acid (Dalapon), acetohydroxyacid synthase or acetolactate synthase conferring tolerance to acetolactate synthase inhibitors such as sulfonylurea, imidazolinone, triazolopyrimidine, pyrimidyloxybenzoates and phthalide, haloarylnitrilase for conferring tolerance to bromoxynil, modified acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase for conferring tolerance to cyclohexanedione (sethoxydim) and aryloxyphenoxypropionate (haloxyfop), dihydropteroate synthase for conferring tolerance to sulfonamide herbicides, 32 kD photosystem II polypeptide for conferring tolerance to triazine herbicides, anthranilate synthase for conferring tolerance to 5-methyltryptophan, dihydrodipicolinic acid synthase for conferring to tolerance to aminoethyl cysteine, phytoene desaturase for conferring tolerance to pyridazinone herbicides such as norflurazon, hydroxy-phenyl pyruvate dioxygenase for conferring tolerance to cyclopropylisoxazole herbicides such as isoxaflutole, modified protoporphyrinogen oxidase I for conferring tolerance to protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitors, and aryloxyalkanoate dioxygenase for conferring tolerance to an herbicide containing an aryloxyalkanoate moiety, phenoxy auxins (such as 2,4-D and dichlorprop), pyridyloxy auxins (such as fluoroxypyr and triclopyr), aryloxyphenoxypropionates (AOPP) acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase inhibitors (such as haloxyfop, quizalofop, and diclofop), and 5-substituted phenoxyacetate protoporphyrinogen oxidase IX inhibitors (such as pyraflufen and flumiclorac). 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the parent plants or seeds are planted in pollinating proximity in the field in a same row. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein a ratio of female to male parent plants or seeds planted in the same row is 1:1 or greater. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein a ratio of female to male parent plants or seeds planted in the same row is 2:1 or greater. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein a ratio of female to male parent plants or seeds planted in the same row is 3:1 or greater. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein a ratio of female to male parent plants or seeds planted in the same row is 4:1 or greater. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein a ratio of female to male parent plants or seeds planted in the same row is 5:1 or greater. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein a ratio of female to male parent plants or seeds planted in the same row is sufficient to provide a hybrid seed. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the parent plants or seeds are planted separately in rows in pollinating proximity to each other in the field. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein a ratio of female to male parent plant rows is 1:1 or greater in the field. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein a ratio of female to male parent plant rows is 2:1 or greater in the field. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein a ratio of female to male parent plant rows is 3:1 or greater in the field. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein a ratio of female to male parent plant rows is 4:1 or greater in the field. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein a ratio of female to male parent plant rows is 5:1 or greater in the field. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein a ratio of female to male parent plants or seeds planted in separate rows in the field is sufficient to provide a hybrid seed. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the field is treated with the second herbicide, to which the female parent plant is tolerant and the male parent plant is sensitive, within one week after pollination. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the field is treated with the second herbicide, to which the female parent plant is tolerant and the male parent plant is sensitive, within two weeks after pollination. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the field is treated with the second herbicide, to which the female parent plant is tolerant and the male parent plant is sensitive, within three weeks after pollination. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the field is treated with the second herbicide, to which the female parent plant is tolerant and the male parent plant is sensitive, within four weeks after pollination. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the field is treated with the second herbicide, to which the female parent plant is tolerant and the male parent plant is sensitive, within four weeks of seed maturity. 
     
     
         62 - 71 . (canceled) 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein a ratio of female to male parent plants or seeds planted in the same row is 6:1 or greater. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein a ratio of female to male parent plants or seeds planted in the same row is 7:1 or greater. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein a ratio of female to male parent plants or seeds planted in the same row is 8:1 or greater. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein a ratio of female to male parent plant rows is 6:1 or greater in the field. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein a ratio of female to male parent plant rows is 7:1 or greater in the field. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein a ratio of female to male parent plant rows is 8:1 or greater in the field.