Methods and compositions for controlling nematode pests

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9861105-B2
Application number	US-201214232967-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 11, 2012
Priority date	Jul 28, 2011
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

Transgenic plants expressing a Vip3 protein have been found to be efficacious against plant-infesting nematodes. Disclosed are methods of controlling nematode populations using transgenic plants expressing Vip3 protein.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of controlling a Heterodera pest, comprising contacting the Heterodera pest with a transgenic soybean plant or soybean plant part thereof comprising a heterologous nucleic acid molecule that directs expression of a Vip3A protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14 or SEQ ID NO: 16, or a sequence having at least 95% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14 or SEQ ID NO: 16 in the transgenic soybean plant or soybean plant part, wherein the transgenic soybean plant or soybean plant part controls the nematode pest compared to a soybean plant or soybean plant part of the same type that does not express the Vip3A protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14 or SEQ ID NO: 16, or a sequence having at least 95% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14 or SEQ ID NO: 16.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Heterodera pest is Heterodera glycines.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transgenic plant further comprises or expresses at least one additional pesticidal agent selected from the group consisting of a patatin, a lectin, a Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal protein, a Bacillus thuringiensis nematicidal protein, a Xenorhabdus insecticidal protein, a Photorhabdus insecticidal protein, a Bacillus laterosporous insecticidal protein, and a Bacillus sphearicus insecticidal protein.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the Bacillus thuringiensis nematicidal protein is selected from the group consisting of Cry1, Cry3, Cry11, Cry12, Cry13, Cry14, Cry21, and Cry22.

5. A method of producing a soybean plant protected against nematode infestation, comprising:
a. transforming a soybean plant cell with a nucleic acid molecule comprising a plant promoter and encoding a Vip3A protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 1
b. regenerating a transformed soybean plant from the soybean plant cell.

6. A method of producing a soybean plant protected against nematode infestation, comprising:
a. crossing a first parent soybean plant with a second parent soybean plant, wherein said first or second parent soybean plant comprises a heterologous nucleic acid molecule comprising a plant promoter and encoding a Vip3A protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 1, thereby producing a plurality of progeny plants;
b. selecting from the plurality of progeny plants, a transgenic plant that is protected against nematode infestation.

7. A method of controlling Heterodera glycines comprising providing a transgenic soybean plant or plant part comprising an expression cassette having SEQ ID NO: 2 operably linked to a plant promoter capable of driving expression of an encoded Vip3A protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 to levels sufficient to inhibit nematodes, wherein the proliferation of Heterodera glycines cysts on said plant or plant part is reduced compared to Heterodera glycines cysts on a soybean plant or plant part not expressing the Vip3A protein.

8. A method of increasing the vigor or yield in a transgenic soybean plant exposed to a population of nematodes comprising:
a. introgressing a transgenic soybean event into a soybean plant resulting in a transgenic soybean plant, wherein the transgenic soybean event comprises a heterologous nucleic acid molecule comprising a plant promoter and encoding a Vip3A protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the Vip3A protein confers upon the transgenic soybean event resistance to nematodes; and
b. growing the transgenic soybean plant or progeny thereof at a location where nematode infestation is yield limiting to a soybean plant not comprising the heterologous nucleic acid molecule encoding the Vip3A protein, whereby the transgenic soybean plant has increased vigor or yield compared to the control plant.

9. A method of producing a nematode-resistant soybean plant, comprising introducing a nucleic acid molecule comprising a plant promoter and encoding a Vip3A protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 into the soybean plant thereby producing a transgenic soybean plant, wherein the nucleic acid molecule causes the expression of the Vip3A protein in an amount that makes the transgenic soybean plant resistant to nematodes.

10. A method of reducing nematode cyst development on roots of a soybean plant infected by a nematode, comprising introducing into cells of the soybean plant a nucleic acid molecule comprising a plant promoter and capable of directing the expression of a Vip3A protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 1, thereby reducing nematode cyst development on roots of the soybean plant.

11. A method for controlling or preventing nematode growth comprising providing a nematode pest with soybean plant material comprising a heterologous nucleic acid molecule comprising a plant promoter and capable of directing expression of a Vip3A protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein said soybean plant inhibits a nematode biological activity.

12. A method of improving soybean yield, comprising:
a. introducing into a soybean plant a nucleic acid molecule comprising a plant promoter and capable of directing expression of a Vip3A protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 1; and
b. cultivating a plurality of transgenic seeds from the plant of step (a), resulting in a plurality of transgenic plants having enhanced resistance to nematode infestation, thereby improving soybean yield.

Assignees

• Huang Xiang
• Chen Jeng Shong
• Syngenta Participations Ag

Inventors

• Huang Xiang
• Chen Jeng Shong

Classifications

• A01N37/46 Primary

  N-acyl derivatives · CPC title

• C12N15/8285

  for nematode resistance · CPC title

• C12N15/8261

  with agronomic (input) traits, e.g. crop yield · CPC title

• A01N37/44

  containing at least one carboxylic group or a thio analogue, or a derivative thereof, and a nitrogen atom attached to the same carbon skeleton by a single or double bond, this nitrogen atom not being a member of a derivative or of a thio analogue of a carboxylic group, e.g. amino-carboxylic acids · CPC title

• A01N65/20 Primary

  Fabaceae or Leguminosae [Pea or Legume family], e.g. pea, lentil, soybean, clover, acacia, honey locust, derris or millettia · CPC title