Effect of PpeGID1c on vegetative growth of fruit trees

US9944940B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture · US

Inventors

• Christopher D. Dardick · Kearneysville, US
• Ralph Scorza · Harpers Ferry, US
• Courtney A. Hollender · Ballenger Creek, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 11, 2015
• Grant date: Apr 17, 2018
• Expiry date: Oct 23, 2035

Classification

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

Abstract

The genetic basis for a recessive dwarf trait (dw) in peach (Prunus persica) was determined. Using a sequencing-based bulk-segregant mapping strategy, dw was positioned on the distal end of peach chromosome 6. At the center of the mapped locus, a SNP leading to a premature stop codon was identified within the coding region of a homolog of the Giberellic Acid (GA) receptor GID1 (GA Insensitive Dwarf 1). Silencing of GID1c in the closely related species Prunus domestica (plum) led to dwarf phenotypes with shortened internodes similar to dw/dw peaches. The degree of GID1c silencing corresponded to the degree of dwarfing. Anatomical expression studies showed that GID1c was highly expressed in all actively growing peach tissues, but more predominant in apical meristems and roots. These data establish that GID1c serves a primary role in the rapid growth and elongation of peach vegetative tissues, thus providing new methods to control tree size without impacting flower or fruit development.