GENETIC MODIFICATION OF CAROTENOID CONTENT IN PLANTS

摘要

The subject invention concerns materials and methods for enhancing or reducing the carotenoid content of a plant. Polynucleotides encoding a plant 9,10 carotenoid dioxygenase enzyme are specifically disclosed. The subject invention also concerns polynucleotides that are antisense to enzyme encoding polynucleotides. Polynucleotides of the invention can be used to transform plants. Depending on the polynucleotide used in transformation, the plant may exhibit an increase or decrease in 9,10 carotenoid dioxygenase enzyme expression and/or activity as compared to a non-transformed plant. The subject invention also concerns plants transformed with a polynucleotide of the present invention. Plants in which endogenous 9,10 carotenoid dioxygenase genes have been modified, such as by gene knockout or introduction of a mutation, wherein 9,10 carotenoid dioxygenase expression in the plant is reduced or eliminated are also contemplated by the subject invention. The subject invention also concerns polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides of the present invention.