Materials and methods for modulating seed size, seed number, and seed sugar content in plants

Abstract

The subject invention concerns materials and methods for modulating seed size in plants. In one embodiment, seed size is decreased relative to wild type seed by inhibiting or knocking out expression of a sorbitol dehydrogenase (Sdh) gene or the gene product thereof. In another embodiment, seed size is increased relative to wild type seed by increasing expression of an Sdh gene or the gene product thereof. The subject invention also concerns materials and methods for modulating seed number or sugar content in plants. In one embodiment, seed number or sugar content is increased relative to wild type seed by inhibiting or knocking out expression of a sorbitol dehydrogenase (Sdh) gene or the gene product thereof. In another embodiment, seed number or sugar content is decreased relative to wild type seed by increasing expression of an Sdh gene or the gene product thereof.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A transgenic maize plant, plant tissue, or plant cell that comprises an insertion of a heterologous nucleotide sequence within the promoter of a sorbitol dehydrogenase (Sdh) plant gene, whereby expression of said gene is disrupted or inhibited, and wherein said maize plant, plant tissue, or plant cell exhibits decreased levels of Sdh enzyme or enzymatic activity and wherein said maize plant exhibits increased kernel number or kernel sugar content or both kernel number and kernel sugar content relative to levels in a corresponding maize plant that does not have said heterologous nucleotide inserted as a result of said disruption or inhibition of expression of said gene. 
     
     
         2 . The transgenic maize plant, plant tissue, or plant cell according to  claim 1 , wherein said maize plant, plant tissue, or plant cell is a sweet corn. 
     
     
         3 . The transgenic maize plant, plant tissue, or plant cell according to  claim 1 , wherein said nucleotide sequence is inserted within 140 base pairs upstream of the transcription start site of said Sdh gene. 
     
     
         4 . The transgenic maize plant, plant tissue, or plant cell according to  claim 1 , wherein said increased sugar is sucrose, glucose, or fructose. 
     
     
         5 . A method for increasing kernel number or kernel sugar content or both kernel number and kernel sugar content in an ear of a maize plant, said method comprising introducing into the plant a heterologous nucleotide sequence that is inserted within the promoter of a sorbitol dehydrogenase (Sdh) gene of the plant, whereby expression of said gene is disrupted or inhibited, and wherein the plant exhibits decreased levels of Sdh enzyme or enzymatic activity as a result of said disruption or inhibition of expression of said gene relative to a maize plant that does not have said heterologous nucleotide introduced in the plant; and wherein said method further comprises pollinating and growing an ear of said maize plant for at least 20 days after pollination, wherein pollen for said pollinating is from a maize plant that does not comprise said heterologous nucleotide sequence, thereby increasing kernel number or kernel sugar content or both kernel number and sugar content in an ear of a maize plant. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising harvesting said ear at between 20 and 25 days after pollination. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said maize plant is a sweet corn. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said nucleotide sequence is inserted within 140 base pairs upstream of the transcription start site of said Sdh gene. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said pollinating maize plant is not an sdh mutant. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said method comprises pollinating and growing an ear of said maize plant for at least 25 days after pollination. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said maize plant is  Zea mays.    
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the increase in kernel sugar content is exhibited in said maize plant at 20 to 25 days after pollination. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said increased sugar is sucrose, glucose, and fructose. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said increased sugar is sucrose. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said increased sugar is fructose. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein kernel starch content at maturity of said kernel is decreased in said maize plant relative to a maize plant that does not have said heterologous nucleotide introduced in the plant. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising harvesting said ear at 25 days after pollination. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said insertion blocks or inhibits the binding of a transcription factor or polymerase. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising harvesting said ear at 20 days after pollination. 
     
     
         20 . A method for selecting for a plant, plant tissue, or plant cell that exhibits increased seed number and/or sugar content, said method comprising determining whether said plant, plant tissue, or plant cell contains a mutant Sdh gene or polynucleotide, and/or determining whether said plant, plant tissue, or plant cell comprises or expresses a mutant Sdh enzyme.