Engineering increased suberin levels by altering gene expression patterns in a cell-type specific manner
The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for increasing suberin production in plants.
1 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence: i) encoding a MYB41 amino acid sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 14 or ii) set forth in SEQ ID NO: 13 or SEQ ID NO: 15, wherein the nucleic acid sequence is operably linked to a nucleic acid sequence encoding a heterologous promoter, wherein expression of the isolated nucleic acid molecule in a plant results in increased levels of suberin as compared to wild-type check plants lacking the isolated nucleic acid molecule, wherein the heterologous promoter is a promoter of a FACT gene or a promoter of a HORST gene.
2 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 , wherein the increased levels of suberin occur by generating additional periderm cells or depositing more suberin in existing periderm cells.
3 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence identity is at least 85% identity, at least 90% identity, at least 95% identity, at least 96% identity, at least 97% identity, at least 98% identity, or at least 99% identity to SEQ ID NO: 14.
4 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence identity is 100% to SEQ ID NO: 14.
5 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 , wherein the heterologous promoter comprises a nucleic acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2.
6 . A transformation vector comprising one or more of the nucleic acid molecules of claim 1 .
7 . A method of transforming a plant cell comprising introducing the transformation vector of claim 6 into the plant cell, whereby the transformed cell produces increased levels of suberin as compared to an untransformed wild-type check plant cell.
8 . The method of claim 7 further comprising producing transformed plant tissue from the transformed plant cell.
9 . The method of claim 8 further comprising producing a transformed plantlet from the transformed plant tissue, wherein the transformed plantlet produces increased levels of suberin as compared to untransformed wild-type check plantlets lacking the isolated nucleic acid molecule.
10 . The method of claim 9 further comprising producing a progeny of the transformed plantlet, wherein the progeny produces increased levels of suberin as compared to untransformed wild-type check plantlets lacking the isolated nucleic acid molecule.
11 . The method of claim 10 further comprising growing the transformed plantlet or the progeny of the transformed plantlet into a mature transformed plant, wherein the mature transformed plant produces increased levels of suberin as compared to mature untransformed wild-type checks lacking the isolated nucleic acid molecule.
12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein there is minimal or no expression of the nucleic acid molecule in cells that are not associated with normal suberin production.
13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein there is minimal or no expression of the nucleic acid molecule in rosette leaves.
14 . The method of claim 11 further comprising using the mature transformed plant or a clone of the mature transformed plant in a breeding method.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the breeding method comprises selfing or crossing the mature transformed plant or the clone of the mature transformed plant.
16 . A plant breeding method comprising crossing a first plant comprising the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 with a second plant of the same species and selecting resultant progeny of the cross based on increased levels of suberin as compared to wild-type check plants.
17 . The plant breeding method of claim 16 further comprising producing clones of the resultant progeny of the cross wherein the clones are selected based on increased levels of suberin as compared to wild-type check plants.
18 . The plant breeding method of claim 16 , wherein the progeny of the cross that display increased levels of suberin as compared to wild-type check plants are selected using molecular markers that are designed to detect and/or identify an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence; i) encoding a MYB41 amino acid sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 14 or ii) set forth in SEQ ID NO: 13 or SEQ ID NO: 15, wherein the nucleic acid sequence is operably linked to a nucleic acid sequence encoding a heterologous promoter, wherein expression of the isolated nucleic acid molecule in a plant results in increased levels of suberin as compared to wild-type check plants lacking the isolated nucleic acid molecule, wherein the heterologous promoter is a promoter of a FACT gene or a promoter of a HORST gene.
19 . The method of claim 16 further comprising using the selected progeny in a breeding method.