Use of MTNAC33 gene and an encoded protein thereby in improving the biomass and drought tolerance of Medicago sativa L.

US12227752B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignees

• QINGDAO INSTITUTE OF BIOENERGY AND BIOPROCESS TECHNOLOGY, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES · CN
• Inner Mongolia Pratacultural Technology Innovation Center Co. Ltd · CN

Inventors

• Chunxiang Fu · Qingdao, CN
• Ruijuan Yang · Shanghai, CN
• Wenwen Liu · Beijing, CN
• Zhaoming Wang · Hefei, CN
• Feng Yuan · Shanghai, CN
• Ying Sun · Waltham, US
• Shiqie Bai · Qingdao, CN
• Chuanen Zhou · Qingdao, CN
• Jiajun Yan · Lo Wu, CN
• Yaling Liu · Ambler, US
• Xiaowei Zhang · Union, US
• Shanshan Jiang · Beijing, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 25, 2024
• Grant date: Feb 18, 2025
• Expiry date: Jul 25, 2044

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02A40/146
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of MtNAC33 gene and a protein encoded thereby in the cultivation of high-biomass and drought-tolerant alfalfa, belonging to the technical field of plant genetic engineering. The plant protein encoded by MtNAC33 gene has the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, and MtNAC33 gene has the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1. In the present invention, the drought tolerance of Arabidopsis thaliana and alfalfa can be significantly improved by regulating the expression level of MtNAC33 in alfalfa. The phenotypes of delayed flowering, increased leaf-to-stem ratio and more biomass in alfalfa were also developed, which has an important effect for genetic improvement of stress resistance and biomass of forage grass and other crops.