METHOD FOR MODULATING PLANT ROOT ARCHITECTURE

摘要

The present invention provides a method for modulating or inhibiting modulation of the root architecture of a plant employing a new class of root architecture regulator (RAR) peptides, nucleotides encoding same, receptors therefor, binding agents thereof or agonists or antagonists thereof. Such methods encompass methods for increasing nutrient uptake by plants, increasing root nodule formation, promoting lateral root growth and development of plants, as well as methods for inhibiting root architecture modification resulting from root knot nematode action on plant roots. Also provided are RAR peptides, polynucleotides encoding RAR peptides and vectors and host cells comprising same, and plants obtained by methods of the invention or comprising RAR-encoding transgenes.

主权项

1. A method for modulating or inhibiting modulation of the root architecture of a plant, said method comprising:
(a) contacting the root zone of said plant with a root architecture regulator peptide (RAR), an analogue thereof or an RAR signaling agonist; or (b) contacting the root zone of said plant with a RAR signaling antagonist; or (c) introducing at least one mutation or exogenous nucleic acid into one or more plant cells which results in modulated RAR expression by a root knot nematode or by cells of a plant regenerated from or comprising said one or more plant cells; or (d) introducing at least one mutation or exogenous nucleic acid into one or more plant cells which results in modulated RAR receptor expression by cells of a plant regenerated from or comprising said one or more plant cells; or (e) introducing at least one mutation or exogenous nucleic acid into one or more plant cells which results in modulated affinity of one or more RARs for their respective RAR receptors, which modulated affinity arises through modifications in the RAR(s), RAR receptor(s) or in both expressed RAR(s) and RAR receptor(s); or (f) introducing at least one exogenous nucleic acid into one or more plant cells which results in expression of one or more root knot nematode RAR binding agents or antagonists.