Compositions and Methods for Producing Tobacco Plants and Products Having Altered Alkaloid Levels

摘要

The present disclosure provides the identification of tobacco Nic1 locus. Also provided are tobacco plants with altered total alkaloid and nicotine levels and commercially acceptable leaf grade, their development via breeding or transgenic approaches, and production of tobacco products from these tobacco plants. Also provided are compositions and methods for producing tobacco plants having novel Nic1 mutations or alleles to reduce nicotine levels. Further provided are sequence polymorphisms and molecular markers for breeding tobacco with reduced nicotine or nicotine free while maintaining tobacco leaf grade and tobacco product quality.

主权项

1. A tobacco plant, or part thereof, comprising a mutation in Nic1 locus, a mutation in Nic2 locus, or both, wherein said tobacco plant is capable of producing leaves having a USDA grade index value of at least about 65% of the USDA grade index value of leaves of a control plant when grown in similar growth conditions, wherein said control plant shares an essentially identical genetic background with said tobacco plant except said mutation.