BACKGROUND

Rice is a primary source of nutrition worldwide. With the increase in population and changes in climate change, there is an increased demand for production and adaptable strains. Rice Domestication is a difficult and long-term process that may cause a loss of resistance to pests. The need to develop, better, high-yielding strains without losing the traits of disease resistance is high.

The inventors at the National Centre of Biological Sciences have developed a method of modulating the expression of the laccase gene by inhibiting its binding to miRNA. The inhibition involves transfecting the plant/calli with a short tandem mimic (STTM) which binds to the miRNA, inhibiting its binding to the laccase gene. Another aspect is mutating the laccase gene’s miRNA binding site to prevent the binding of miRNA to the gene.

APPLICATIONS

• Applicable over a wide range of semi-aquatic plants such as maize and tomato.

• Could increase plant rigidity, aiding its growth in flood-prone regions.

• The technology’s expansion to increase the yield of other non-semi aquatic crops can be contemplated.

ADVANTAGES

The current inventive method of domesticating and producing transgenic plants produces crops with the following traits:

• Increased laccase expression.

• Increased crop yield per panicle.

• Increased seed setting rate.

• Increased leaf height.

• Increased leaf width.

• Increased plant height.

IP STATUS

Patent Application No: IN201841039599