miRNA396 AND GROWTH REGULATING FACTORS FOR CYST NEMATODE TOLERANCE IN PLANTS

• Main Authors: HEWEZI TAREK, BAUM THOMAS J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 11.02.2016
• Subjects: BEER; BIOCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; CULTURE MEDIA; ENZYMOLOGY; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; METALLURGY; MICROBIOLOGY; MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; SPIRITS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE; VINEGAR; WINE

The present invention presents methods to alter the genetic composition of crop plants susceptible to nematode infection to improve tolerance to the same. Methods and compositions for modulating key pathways involved in the syncytial event of nematode infection and for preventing the cascade of differential gene expression caused by the same as disclosed. Applicants have found that the microRNA miR396 acts as a master switch of syncytial gene expression changes in plants after infection, and further that miR396 and certain growth regulating transcription factors (GRF) are connected through feedback interaction in syncytium initiation and maintenance.