Perennial monocotyledon grafting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11903346-B2
Application number	US-201917293865-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2019
Priority date	Nov 14, 2018
Publication date	Feb 20, 2024
Grant date	Feb 20, 2024

Abstract

The invention relates to the grafting of perennial monocots such as bananas and oil palms. Processes for the production of such plants are disclosed herein.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of producing a grafted perennial monocot plant, comprising:
(a) providing a rootstock source comprising mesocotyl and radicle tissue of a first perennial monocot plant;
(b) providing a scion source comprising mesocotyl and plumule tissue of a second, different perennial monocot plant;
(c) placing said rootstock source in contact with said scion source such that said rootstock and scion sources are fused;
(d) allowing fusion of rootstock and scion sources such that functional vascular connections form between the rootstock and scion sources; and
(e) generating a grafted perennial monocot plant from said fused rootstock and scion sources.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first and second perennial monocot plants are both:
(i) commelinid monocots; or
(ii) lilioid monocots.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fusion between the rootstock source and the scion source is stable over the lifespan of the grafted perennial monocot plant.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
(i) step (c) comprises applying one or more of: a paste comprising soaked endosperm of the same perennial monocot species, an adhesive, and grafting wax at the contact between said rootstock source and said scion source;
(ii) step (d) comprises growing the fused rootstock and scion sources on nitrocellulose membrane; and/or
(iii) step (e) comprises generating the grafted perennial monocot plant in tissue culture or on soil.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
(i) a step of surface sterilising the rootstock source and/or the scion source prior to step (a); and/or
(ii) assessing the presence of functional vascular connections between the rootstock source and the scion source after step (d).

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the assessing comprises:
(i) pulling the rootstock source and the scion source apart, wherein resistance indicates the presence of functional vascular connections between the rootstock and scion sources; or
(ii) applying a tracking dye to the rootstock source and observing the scion source, wherein the presence of tracking dye in the scion source indicates the presence of functional vascular connections between the rootstock and scion sources.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scion source is obtained by micropropagation in tissue culture and the rootstock source is obtained from embryonic tissue and/or obtained by micropropagation in tissue culture.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the embryonic tissue is obtained from a seed.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the seed is cut with a cutting edge with a thickness of 0.1 to 0.3 mm.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the scion source is micropropagated on nutrient medium containing a cytokinin.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the rootstock source and the scion source are from a perennial monocot plant of:
(i) the same species; or
(ii) a different species within the same order.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the perennial monocot plant is a banana or plantain (Musaceae).

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the grafted banana or plantain plant is generated within 5 to 20 days.

14. A grafted perennial monocot plant comprising functional vascular connections between the rootstock source and the scion source, wherein the grafted perennial monocot plant is produced by the method of claim 1 .

15. The grafted perennial monocot plant of claim 14 , wherein the rootstock source and the scion source are from a perennial monocot plant of:
(i) the same species; or
(ii) a different species within the same order.

16. The grafted perennial monocot plant of claim 14 , wherein the perennial monocot plant is a banana or plantain (Musaceae).

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scion source and the rootstock source are obtained from:
(i) a first embryonic tissue and a second embryonic tissue;
(ii) by micropropagation in tissue culture; and/or
(iii) a first bulb and a second bulb.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first and second bulbs are transversely cut.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein:
(A) said first and second embryonic tissues are obtained from a first seed and a second seed, and said first and second seeds:
(i) comprise their seed coats;
(ii) are dry or imbibed in water; and/or
(iii) are partially germinated in the dark; or

(B) said first seed is imbibed in water; preferably for 8 to 72 hours; and said second seed is dry;

before the first and second embryonic tissues are obtained from said first and second seeds.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first and second seeds are:
(i) transversely cut; or
(ii) cut with a tissue puncher.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the scion source is tissue cultured on nutrient medium containing a cytokinin.

22. The method of claim 17 , wherein the rootstock source and the scion source are from a perennial monocot plant of:
(i) the same species; or
(ii) a different species within the same order.

23. The method of claim 17 , wherein the perennial monocot plant is a crop plant or an ornamental plant.

24. The grafted perennial monocot plant of claim 14 , wherein the perennial monocot plant is a crop plant or an ornamental plant.

25. The grafted perennial monocot plant of claim 24 , wherein the perennial monocot plant is:
(i) a palm (Arecaceae);
(ii) an orchid (Orchidaceae);
(iii) a bamboo (Babusaea), a sugarcane ( Saccharum sp.), agave ( Agave tequilana ), ginger ( Zingiber officinale ), turmeric ( Curcuma longa ), cardamom ( Elettaria cardamomum ), asparagus ( Asparagus officinalis ), pineapple ( Ananas comosus ), or water chestnut ( Eleocharis dulcis ); or
(iv) a bulbous plant selected from Agapanthus, Allium, Alstroemeria, Amaryllis, Arum, Asphodelus, Calochortus, Camassia, Canna, Colchicum, Convallaria, Crinum, Crocosmia, Crocus, Dierama, Eucomis, Freesia, Fritillaria, Galanthus, Galtonia, Gladiolus, Gloriosa, Haemanthus, Hyacinthus, Hymenocallis, Hippeastrum, Iris, Ixia, Leucojum, Lilium, Muscari, Narcissus, Nerine, Ornithogalum, Pancratium, Paradisea, Polianthes, Scilla, Sprekelia, Sternbergia, Trillium, Tritonia, Tulipa, Watsonia, Zantedeschia, and Zephyranthes.

26. The method of claim 23 , wherein the perennial monocot plant is:
(i) a palm (Arecaceae);
(ii) an orchid (Orchidaceae);
(iii) a bamboo (Babusaea), a sugarcane ( Saccharum sp.), agave ( Agave tequilana ), ginger ( Zingiber officinale ), turmeric ( Curcuma longa ), cardamom ( Elettaria cardamomum ), asparagus ( Asparagus officinalis ), pineapple ( Ananas comosus ), or water chestnut ( Eleocharis dulcis ); or
(iv) a bulbous plant selected from Agapanthus, Allium, Alstroemeria, Amaryllis, Arum, Asphodelus, Calochortus, Camassia, Canna, Colchicum, Convallaria, Crinum, Crocosmia, Crocus, Dierama, Eucomis, Freesia, Fritillaria, Galanthus, Galtonia, Gladiolus, Gloriosa, Haemanthus, Hyacinthus, Hymenocallis, Hippeastrum, Iris, Ixia, Leucojum, Lilium, Muscari, Narcissus, Nerine, Ornithogalum, Pancratium, Paradisea, Polianthes, Scilla, Sprekelia, Sternbergia, Trillium, Tritonia, Tulipa, Watsonia, Zantedeschia, and Zephyranthes.

Assignees

• Cambridge Entpr Ltd

Inventors

• Reeves Gregory
• Hibberd Julian

Classifications

• A01G2/30 Primary

  Grafting (grafting-wax  A01N3/04) · CPC title

• A01H4/005

  Methods for micropropagation; Vegetative plant propagation using cell or tissue culture techniques · CPC title

• A01G2/35 Primary

  Cutting; Inserting · CPC title