IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,209,249
Granted Patent B2
US 12,209,249 · App. 18/476,495 · Granted Jan 28, 2025

Compositions and methods for producing tobacco plants and products having reduced or eliminated suckers

Inventors: Dongmei Xu (Glen Allen, VA); Chengalrayan Kudithipudi (Midlothian, VA); Yanxin Shen (Glen Allen, VA); Jaemo Yang (Richmond, VA); Jesse Frederick (Richmond, VA); James Strickland (Richmond, VA)
Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
C12N15/8261A24B13/00A24B15/10C07K14/415C12N15/827Y02A40/146
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,209,249
App. No.
18/476,495
Granted
Jan 28, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides the identification of genes involved in sucker growth in tobacco. Also provided are promoters that are preferentially active in tobacco axillary buds. Also provided are modified tobacco plants comprising reduced or no sucker growth. Also provided are methods and compositions for producing modified tobacco plants comprising reduced or no sucker growth.

Claims (20)

1. Cured tobacco material from a modified tobacco plant comprising no or reduced suckers compared to a control tobacco plant of the same variety when grown under comparable conditions, wherein the modified tobacco plant comprises a heterologous axillary meristem-specific promoter functional in a central zone, a peripheral zone, a rib zone, or any combination thereof operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 233.

2. The cured tobacco material of claim 1 , wherein the cured tobacco material comprises leaf material.

3. The cured tobacco material of claim 1 , wherein the cured tobacco material comprises stem material.

4. The cured tobacco material of claim 1 , wherein the cured tobacco material is selected from the group consisting of sun-cured tobacco material, flue-cured tobacco material, air-cured tobacco material, and fire-cured tobacco material.

5. The cured tobacco material of claim 1 , wherein the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence 100% identical to SEQ ID NO: 233.

6. The cured tobacco material of claim 1 , wherein the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase polypeptide is encoded by SEQ ID NO: 232.

7. The cured tobacco material of claim 1 , wherein the heterologous axillary meristem-specific promoter comprises a nucleic acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 113, 115-118, 148, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, and 204.

8. The cured tobacco material of claim 1 , wherein the modified tobacco plant is of a variety selected from the group consisting of BU 64, CC 101, CC 200, CC 13, CC 27, CC 33, CC 35, CC 37, CC 65, CC 67, CC 301, CC 400, CC 500, CC 600, CC 700, CC 800, CC 900, CC 1063, Coker 176, Coker 319, Coker 371 Gold, Coker 48, CU 263, DF911, Galpão, GL 26H, GL 338, GL 350, GL 395, GL 600, GL 737, GL 939, GL 973, GF 157, GF 318, RJR 901, HB 04P, K 149, K 326, K 346, K 358, K394, K 399, K 730, NC 196, NC 37NF, NC 471, NC 55, NC 92, NC2326, NC 95, NC 925, PVH 1118, PVH 1452, PVH 2110, PVH 2254, PVH 2275, VA 116, VA 119, KDH 959, KT 200, KT204LC, KY 10, KY 14, KY 160, KY 17, KY 171, KY 907, KY 907LC, KTY14×L8 LC, Little Crittenden, McNair 373, McNair 944, male sterile KY 14×L8, Narrow Leaf Madole, MS KY171, Narrow Leaf Madole (phph), MS Narrow Leaf Madole, MS TND950, PD 7302LC, PD 7305LC, PD 7309LC, PD 7312LC, PD 7318LC, PD 7319LC, MSTKS 2002, TKF 2002, TKF 6400, TKF 4028, TKF 4024, KT206LC, KT209LC, KT210LC, KT212LC, NC 100, NC 102, NC 2000, NC 291, NC 297, NC 299, NC 3, NC 4, NC 5, NC 6, NC7, NC 606, NC 71, NC 72, NC 810, NC BH 129, NC 2002, Neal Smith Madole, OXFORD 207, ‘Perique’, PVH03, PVH09, PVH19, PVH50, PVH51, R 610, R 630, R 7-11, R 7-12, RG 17, RG 81, RG H51, RGH 4, RGH 51, RS 1410, Speight 168, Speight 172, Speight 179, Speight 210, Speight 220, Speight 225, Speight 227, Speight 234, Speight G-28, Speight G-70, Speight H-6, Speight H20, Speight NF3, TI 1406, TI 1269, TN 86, TN86LC, TN 90, TN90LC, TN 97, TN97LC, TN D94, TN D950, a TR (Tom Rosson) Madole, VA 309, and VA 359.

9. The cured tobacco material of claim 1 , wherein the modified tobacco plant is of a type selected from the group consisting of Burley tobacco, Maryland tobacco, bright tobacco, Virginia tobacco, Oriental tobacco, Turkish tobacco, and Galpão tobacco.

10. A cigarette product, cigar product, pipe tobacco product, or smokeless tobacco product comprising the cured tobacco material of claim 1 .

11. Cured tobacco material from a modified tobacco plant comprising a heterologous recombinant polynucleotide, wherein the recombinant polynucleotide comprises: (a) an axillary meristem-specific promoter that is functional in a rib zone, a central zone, a peripheral zone, or any combination thereof, and wherein the axillary meristem-specific promoter is operably linked to (b) a structural nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence, wherein the nucleic acid sequence encodes a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase polypeptide at least 95% identical or similar-to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 233.

12. The cured tobacco material of claim 11 , wherein the cured tobacco material comprises leaf material.

13. The cured tobacco material of claim 11 , wherein the cured tobacco material comprises stem material.

14. The cured tobacco material of claim 11 , wherein the cured tobacco material is selected from the group consisting of sun-cured tobacco material, flue-cured tobacco material, air-cured tobacco material, and fire-cured tobacco material.

15. The cured tobacco material of claim 11 , wherein the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence 100% identical to SEQ ID NO: 233.

16. The cured tobacco material of claim 11 , wherein the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase polypeptide is encoded by SEQ ID NO: 232.

17. The cured tobacco material of claim 11 , wherein the axillary meristem-specific promoter comprises a nucleic acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 113, 115-118, 148, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, and 204.

18. The cured tobacco material of claim 11 , wherein the modified tobacco plant is of a variety selected from the group consisting of BU 64, CC 101, CC 200, CC 13, CC 27, CC 33, CC 35, CC 37, CC 65, CC 67, CC 301, CC 400, CC 500, CC 600, CC 700, CC 800, CC 900, CC 1063, Coker 176, Coker 319, Coker 371 Gold, Coker 48, CU 263, DF911, Galpão, GL 26H, GL 338, GL 350, GL 395, GL 600, GL 737, GL 939, GL 973, GF 157, GF 318, RJR 901, HB 04P, K 149, K 326, K 346, K 358, K394, K 399, K 730, NC 196, NC 37NF, NC 471, NC 55, NC 92, NC2326, NC 95, NC 925, PVH 1118, PVH 1452, PVH 2110, PVH 2254, PVH 2275, VA 116, VA 119, KDH 959, KT 200, KT204LC, KY 10, KY 14, KY 160, KY 17, KY 171, KY 907, KY 907LC, KTY14×L8 LC, Little Crittenden, McNair 373, McNair 944, male sterile KY 14×L8, Narrow Leaf Madole, MS KY171, Narrow Leaf Madole (phph), MS Narrow Leaf Madole, MS TND950, PD 7302LC, PD 7305LC, PD 7309LC, PD 7312LC, PD 7318LC, PD 7319LC, MSTKS 2002, TKF 2002, TKF 6400, TKF 4028, TKF 4024, KT206LC, KT209LC, KT210LC, KT212LC, NC 100, NC 102, NC 2000, NC 291, NC 297, NC 299, NC 3, NC 4, NC 5, NC 6, NC7, NC 606, NC 71, NC 72, NC 810, NC BH 129, NC 2002, Neal Smith Madole, OXFORD 207, ‘Perique’, PVH03, PVH09, PVH19, PVH50, PVH51, R 610, R 630, R 7-11, R 7-12, RG 17, RG 81, RG H51, RGH 4, RGH 51, RS 1410, Speight 168, Speight 172, Speight 179, Speight 210, Speight 220, Speight 225, Speight 227, Speight 234, Speight G-28, Speight G-70, Speight H-6, Speight H20, Speight NF3, TI 1406, TI 1269, TN 86, TN86LC, TN 90, TN90LC, TN 97, TN97LC, TN D94, TN D950, a TR (Tom Rosson) Madole, VA 309, and VA 359.

19. The cured tobacco material of claim 11 , wherein the modified tobacco plant is of a type selected from the group consisting of Burley tobacco, Maryland tobacco, bright tobacco, Virginia tobacco, Oriental tobacco, Turkish tobacco, and Galpão tobacco.

20. A cigarette product, cigar product, pipe tobacco product, or smokeless tobacco product comprising the cured tobacco material of claim 11 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 30, 2023
From: XU, DONGMEI; KUDITHIPUDI, CHENGALRAYAN; SHEN, YANXIN; YANG, JAEMO; FREDERICK, JESSE; STRICKLAND, JAMES
To: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 065389/0684 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 16908891 · Jun 23, 2020
Continuation 15457553 · Mar 13, 2017
Provisional Application 62399181 · Sep 23, 2016
Provisional Application 62307035 · Mar 11, 2016
Related Publication 20240035042A1 · Feb 1, 2024
References Cited (228)
US 4091823A · Kallianos et al. · 1978 [cited by applicant]
US 4516590A · Teng · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4528993A · Sensabaugh, Jr. et al. · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4638816A · Cox et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4660577A · Sensabaugh, Jr. et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4732856A · Fedoroff · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4762785A · Comai · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4778987A · Saaski et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4848373A · Lenkey · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4945050A · Sanford et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4987907A · Townsend · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5004863A · Umbeck · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5013658A · Dooner et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5085325A · Jones et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5104310A · Salt in · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5141131A · Miller, Jr. et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5149645A · Hoekema et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5159135A · Umbeck · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5177010A · Goldman et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5231019A · Paszkowski et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5316931A · Donson et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5372149A · Roth et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5463174A · Maloney et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5464763A · Schilperoort et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5469976A · Burchell · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5491081A · Webb · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5563055A · Townsend et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5565350A · Kmiec · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5589367A · Donson et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5659026A · Baszczynski et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5689035A · Webb · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5731181A · Kmiec · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5756325A · Kmiec · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5760012A · Kmiec et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5789156A · Bujard et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5795972A · Kmiec · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5814618A · Bujard et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5866785A · Donson et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5871984A · Kmiec · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5879918A · Tomes et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5886244A · Tomes et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5889190A · Donson et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5889191A · Turpen · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5932782A · Bidney · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5981840A · Zhao et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 6072050A · Bowen et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 8124851B2 · Dewey et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8319011B2 · Xu et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 9187759B2 · Dewey et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9228194B2 · Dewey et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9228195B2 · Dewey et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9247706B2 · Dewey et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 10731173B2 · Xu et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20020008055A1 · Campbell et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20040118422A1 · Lundin et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20050057263A1 · Moshe et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050178398A1 · Breslin et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060035221A1 · Bergmann et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060191548A1 · Strickland et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060200878A1 · Lutfiyya et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20090249518A1 · Thomas et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20150315603A1 · Bovet · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20160281100A1 · Kudithipudi et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170260535A1 · Xu et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20200318129A1 · Xu et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
CN 001824774 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
CN 104086637 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CN 107250355A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
EP 2383344 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO 0821866 · 1998 [cited by applicant]
WO WO199805199 · 1998 [cited by applicant]
WO WO199849350 · 1998 [cited by applicant]
WO WO199907865 · 1999 [cited by applicant]
WO WO9925921 · 1999 [cited by applicant]
WO WO200058035 · 2000 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2004041006 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2006035221A2 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2008133643 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2011027315 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2016057515A2 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
Jin, Hailing, et al. “Function of a mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in N gene-mediated resistance in tobacco.” The Plant Journal 33.4 (2003): 719-731. (Year: 2003). [cited by examiner]
Benfey et al., 1989, “The CaMV 35S Enhancer Contains At Least Two Domains Which Can Confer Different Developmental and TissueSpecific Patterns”, EMBO J, 8(8):2195-2202 (Year: 1989). [cited by examiner]
Emery, John F., et al. “Radial patterning of [cited by examiner]
Bowie, James U., et al. “Deciphering the message in protein sequences: tolerance to amino acid substitutions.” Science 247.4948 (1990): 1306-1310. (Year: 1990). [cited by examiner]
Jeong, Jin-A., et al. “Transgenic rice plants expressing an active tobacco mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase induce multiple defense responses.” The Plant Pathology Journal 24.4 (2008): 375-383. (Year: 2008). [cited by examiner]
Lu, Wenjing, et al. “Cotton GhMKK1 induces the tolerance of salt and drought stress, and mediates defence responses to pathogen infection in transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana.” PLoS One 8.7 (2013): e68503. (Year: 2013). [cited by examiner]
Takabatake, Reona, et al. “MAP Kinases Function Downstream of HSP90 and Upstream of Mitochondria in TMV Resistance Gene N-Mediated Hypersensitive Cell Death.” Plant and Cell Physiology 50.6 (2009): 1176-1176. (Year: 200… [cited by examiner]
Akaba et al., “Production of Homo- and Hetero-Dimeric Isozymes from Two Aldehyde Oxidase Genes of [cited by applicant]
Allen et al., “Evolution of microRNA genes by inverted duplication of target gene sequences in [cited by applicant]
Allen et al., “microRNA-Directed Phasing during Trans-Acting siRNA Biogenesis in Plants,” [cited by applicant]
Altschul et al., “Basic local alignment search tool,” [cited by applicant]
Altschul et al., “Gapped BLAST and PSI-BLAST: a new generation of protein database search programs,” [cited by applicant]
Amaya et al., “Expression of CENTRORADIALIS (CEN) and CEN-like genes in tobacco reveals a conserved mechanism controlling phase change in diverse species,” [cited by applicant]
Avci et al., “Cysteine proteases XCP 1 and XCP2 aid micro-autolysis within the intact central vacuole during xylogenesis in [cited by applicant]
Axtell et al., “A two-hit trigger for siRNA biogenesis in plants,” Cell, 127(3), pp. 565-577 (Nov. 2006), available online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2006.09.032. [cited by applicant]
Bartel, “MicroRNAs: Genomics, Biogenesis, Mechanism, and Function,” Cell, 116(2), pp. 281-297 (Jan. 2004), available online: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0092-8674(04)00045-5. [cited by applicant]
Beetham et al., “A tool for functional plant genomics: Chimeric RNA/DNA oligonucleotides cause in vivo gene-specific mutations,” [cited by applicant]
Bender et al., “ [cited by applicant]
Benfey et al., “The CaMV 35S Enhancer Contains At Least Two Domains Which Can Confer Different Developmental and Tissue-Specific Patterns,” [cited by applicant]
The Bogdanove laboratory, “TAL Effector Nucleotide Targeter 2.0,” Retrieved Aug. 4, 2017 from https://tale-nt.cac.cornell.edu/about, Cornell University. [cited by applicant]
Boutros et al., “Genome-Wide RNAi Analysis of Growth and Viability in [cited by applicant]
Bowie et al., “Deciphering the Message in Protein Sequences: Tolerance to Amino Acid Substitutions,” [cited by applicant]
Bowman et al., “Revised North Carolina grade index for flue-cured tobacco,” [cited by applicant]
Byrne, “Shoot Meristem Function and Leaf Polarity: The Role of Class III HD-ZIP Genes,” [cited by applicant]
Canevascini et al., “Tissue-specific expression and promoter analysis of the tobacco ltp1 gene,” [cited by applicant]
Cermak et al., “Efficient design and assembly of custom TALEN and other TAL effector-based constructs for DNA targeting,” [cited by applicant]
Chapters 4B and 4C of Tobacco, Production, Chemistry and Technology, Davis & Nielsen, eds., Blackwell Publishing, pp. 70-103, (1999) (Oxford, UK). [cited by applicant]
Cheng et al., “Auxin Synthesized by the YUCCA Flavin Monooxygenases Is Essential for Embryo genesis and Leaf Formation in [cited by applicant]
Chinese Search Report issued in corresponding Chinese Patent Application No. 2017800289085, dated Sep. 15, 2022, with English translation. [cited by applicant]
Christensen et al., “Sequence analysis and transcriptional regulation by heat shock of polyubiquitin transcripts from maize,” [cited by applicant]
Christensen et al., “Maize polyubiquitin genes: structure, thermal perturbation of expression and transcript splicing, and promoter activity following transfer to protoplasts by electroporation,” [cited by applicant]
Christou et al., “Stable Transformations of Soybean Callus by DNA-Coated Gold Particles,” [cited by applicant]
Crone et al., “The differential expression of a heat shock promoter in floral and reproductive tissues,” [cited by applicant]
Crossway et al., “Overview: Micromanipulation techniques in plant biotechnology,” [cited by applicant]
Database WPI Week 201502, XP002769652, CN 104 086 637 A (Univ Southwest) Oct. 8, 2014. [cited by applicant]
Database WPI Week 200682, XP002769653, CN 1 824 774 A (Jia C) Aug. 30, 2006. [cited by applicant]
D'Halluin et al., “Transgenic Maize Plants by Tissue Electroporation,” [cited by applicant]
De Jong et al., “Chemical-induced apoptotic cell death in tomato cells: involvement of caspase-like proteases,” [cited by applicant]
Devarenne et al., “Adi3 is a Pdk1-interacting AGC kinase that negatively regulates plant cell death,” [cited by applicant]
De Wet et al. “Exogenous gene transfer in maize ( [cited by applicant]
Dietzl et al., “A genome-wide transgenic RNAi library for conditional gene activation in [cited by applicant]
Doyle et al., “TAL effector-nucleotide targeter (TALE-NT) 2.0: tools for T AL Effector design and target prediction effector,” [cited by applicant]
“Draft for Diplomatic Conference for the Revision of the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants,” Mar. 4-19, 1991 (Geneva, Switzerland). [cited by applicant]
Dugas et al., “MicroRNA regulation of gene expression in plants,” [cited by applicant]
Emery et al., “Radial patterning of [cited by applicant]
Escamez et al., “Programmes of cell death and autolysis in tracheary elements: when a suicidal cell arranges its own corpse removal,” [cited by applicant]
Estruch et al., “Transgenic plants: An emerging approach to pest control,” [cited by applicant]
Fedoroff et al., “Cloning of the bronze locus in maize by a simple and generalizable procedure using the transposable controlling element Activator (Ac),” [cited by applicant]
Finer et al., “Transformation of soybean via particle bombardment of embryogenic suspension culture tissue,” [cited by applicant]
Fisher et al., “Topping, Managing Suckers, and Using Ethephon,” Flue-Cured Tobacco Information, North Carolina State University, pp. 96-117 (2016), (electronic copy). [cited by applicant]
Franco-Zorilla et al., “Target mimicry provides a new mechanism for regulation of microRNA activity,” [cited by applicant]
Gälweiler et al., “Regulation of Polar Auxin Transport by AtPIN1 in [cited by applicant]
Gatz et al., “Regulation of a modified CaMV 35S promoter by the Tn10-encoded Tet repressor in transgenic tobacco,” [cited by applicant]
Goehring et al., “Screening and large-scale expression of membrane proteins in mammalian cells for structural studies,” [cited by applicant]
Goldman et al., “Female sterile tobacco plants are produced by stigma-specific cell ablation,” [cited by applicant]
Gonzalez-Grandio et al., “BRANCHEDI Promotes Axillary Bud Dormancy in Response to Shade in [cited by applicant]
Greb et al., “Molecular analysis of the Lateral Suppressor gene in [cited by applicant]
Greene et al, “Spectrum of Chemically Induced Mutations From a Large-Scale Reverse-Genetic Screen in [cited by applicant]
Griffiths-Jones et al., “Rfam: an RNA family database,” Nucleic Acids Research, 31(1), pp. 439-441 (Jan. 2003), available online: https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkg006. [cited by applicant]
Guevara-Garcia et al., Tissue-specific and wound-inducible pattern of expression of the mannopine synthase promoter is determined by the interaction between positive and negative cis-regulatory elements, Plant Journal, … [cited by applicant]
Guo et al., “Protein tolerance to random amino acid change,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 101(25), pp. 9205-9210 (Jun. 2004), available online: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0403255101. [cited by applicant]
Hansen et al., “Wound-inducible and organ-specific expression of ORF13 from Agrobacterium rhizogenes 8196 T-DNA in transgenic tobacco plants,” Molecular and General Genetics, 254, pp. 337-343 (Apr. 1997), available onli… [cited by applicant]
Hartley, “Barnase and barstar: two small proteins to fold and fit together,” [cited by applicant]
Hildering et al., “Chimeric structure of tomato plants after seed treatment with EMS and X-rays.” [cited by applicant]
Hoekema et al., “A binary plant vector strategy based on separation ofvir- and T-region of the [cited by applicant]
Hormoz, “Amino acid composition of proteins reduces deleterious impact of mutations,” [cited by applicant]
Horsch et al., “A simple and General Method for Transferring Genes into Plants,” Science, 227(4691), pp. 1229-1231 (Mar. 1985), available online: DOI: 10.1126/science.227.4691.1229. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion mailed Jul. 3, 2007, in International Application No. PCT/US2017/022156. [cited by applicant]
IUBMB Enzyme Nomenclature (2005), accessed online on Sep. 12, 2019. [cited by applicant]
Jeong et al., “Transgenic Rice Plants Expressing an Active Tobacco Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Kinase Induce Multiple Defense Responses,” [cited by applicant]
Jin et al., “Function of a mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in N gene-mediated resistance in tobacco,” [cited by applicant]
Jones-Rhoades et al., “Computational Identification of Plant MicroRNAs and their Targets, Including a Stress-Induced miRNA,” Molecular Cell, 14(6), pp. 787-799 (Jun. 2004), available online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mo… [cited by applicant]
Kaeppler et al., “Silicon carbide fiber-mediated DNA delivery into plant cells,” [cited by applicant]
Kaeppler et al., “Silicon carbide fiber-mediated stable transformation of plant cells,” [cited by applicant]
Katoh et al., “Specific residues at every third position of siRNA shape its efficient RNAi activity,” [cited by applicant]
Kawamata et al., “Temporal and Spatial Pattern of Expression of the Pea Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase Genel Promoter in Transgenic Tobacco,” [cited by applicant]
Keller et al., “ [cited by applicant]
Khvorova et al., “Functional siRNAs and miRNAs Exhibit Strand Bias,” [cited by applicant]
Kim, “MicroRNA biogenesis: coordinated cropping and dicing,” [cited by applicant]
Lam, “Analysis of Tissue-Specific Elements in the CaMV 35S Promoter,” In: Nover, L. (eds) Plant Promoters and Transcription Factors. Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation, 20, pp. 181-196 (1994), available online… [cited by applicant]
Last et al., “pEMU: an improved promoter for gene expression in cereal cells,” Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 81, pp. 581-588 (May 1991), available online: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00226722. [cited by applicant]
Lee et al., “A systematic RN Ai screen identifies a critical role for mitochondria in C. elegans longevity,” Nature Genetics, 33, pp. 40-48 (Jan. 2003), available online: https://doi.org/10.1038/ng1056. [cited by applicant]
Long et al., “A member of the KNOTTED class of homeodomain proteins encoded by the STM gene of [cited by applicant]
Lu et al., “Cotton GhMKKI Induces the Tolerance of Salt and Drought Stress, and Mediates Defense Responses to Pathogen Infection in Transgenic [cited by applicant]
Mallory et al., “MicroRNA control of [cited by applicant]
Matsuoka et al., “Tissue-specific light-regulated expression directed by the promoter of a C4 gene, maize pyruvate, orthophosphate dikinase, in a C3 plant, rice,” [cited by applicant]
Mayo et al., “Genetic transformation of tobacco NT1 cells with Agrobacterium tumefaciens,” [cited by applicant]
McCabe et al., “Stable Transformation of Soybean ( [cited by applicant]
McCallum et al., “Targeted screening for induced mutations,” Nature [cited by applicant]
McConnell et al., “Role of [cited by applicant]
McNellis et al., “Glucocorticoid-inducible expression of a bacterial avirulence gene in transgenic [cited by applicant]
Miller “Memorandum: Proposed Burley Tobacco Grade Index,” Legacy Tobacco Document Library, The University of Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station (Bates Document #523267826-523267833) (Jul. 1988) (Knoxville, USA). [cited by applicant]
Miller et al., “A grade index for type 22 and 23 fire-cured tobacco,” Tobacco Science, Tobacco International, 192(22), pp. 55-57 with cover page, (Dec. 1990) (New York, USA). [cited by applicant]
Murchison et al., “miRNAs on the move: miRNA biogenesis and the RNAi machinery,” [cited by applicant]
Neu et al., “ [cited by applicant]
Odell et al., “Identification of DNA sequences required for activity of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter,” [cited by applicant]
Official Standard Grades for Burley Tobacco (U.S. Type 31 and Foreign Type 93), effective Nov. 5, 1990 (55 F.R. 40645). [cited by applicant]
Official Standard Grades for Flue-Cured Tobacco (U.S. Types 11, 12, 13, 14 and Foreign Type 92), effective Mar. 27, 1989 (54 F.R. 7925). [cited by applicant]
Official Standard Grades for Pennsylvania Seedleaf Tobacco (U.S. Type 41), effective Jan. 8, 1965 (29 F.R. 16854). [cited by applicant]
Official Standard Grades for Ohio Cigar-Leaf Tobacco (U.S. Types 42, 43, and 44), effective Dec. 8, 1963 (28 F.R. 11719 and 28 F.R. 11926). [cited by applicant]
Official Standard Grades for Wisconsin Cigar-Binder Tobacco (U.S. Types 54 and 55), effective Nov. 20, 1969 (34 F.R. 17061). [cited by applicant]
Official Standard Grades for Georgia and Florida Shade-Grown Cigar-Wrapper Tobacco (U.S. Type 62), Effective Apr. 1971. [cited by applicant]
Orozco et al., “Localization of Light-Inducible and Tissue-Specific Regions of the Spinach Ribulose Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase (Rubisco) Activase Promoter in Transgenic Tobacco Plants,” [cited by applicant]
Ortiz-Morea et al., “Global analysis of the sugarcane microtranscriptome reveals a unique composition of small RNAs associated with axillary bud outgrowth,” [cited by applicant]
Parizotto et al., “In vivo investigation of the transcription, processing, endonucleolytic activity, and functional relevance of the spatial distribution of a plant miRNA,” [cited by applicant]
Paszkowski et al., “Direct Gene Transfer to Plants,” [cited by applicant]
Porta et al., “Use of viral replicons for the expression of genes in plants,” [cited by applicant]
Qi et al., “Comprehensive analysis of differential genes and miRNA profiles for discovery of topping-responsive genes in flue-cured tobacco roots,” [cited by applicant]
Rajani et al., “The [cited by applicant]
Reynolds et al., “Rational siRNA design for RNA interference,” [cited by applicant]
Rhoades et al., “Prediction of Plant MicroRNA Targets,” [cited by applicant]
Riggs et al., “Stable transformation of tobacco by electroporation: Evidence for plasmid concatenation,” [cited by applicant]
Rinehart et al., “Tissue-Specific and Developmental Regulation of Cotton Gene FbL2A (Demonstration of Promoter Activity in Transgenic Plants),” [cited by applicant]
Russell et al., “Tissue-Specific Expression in Transgenic Maize of Four Endosperm Promoters From Maize and Rice,” [cited by applicant]
Schena et al., “A steroid-inducible gene expression system for plant cells,” [cited by applicant]
Shillito et al., “[19] Direct gene transfer to protoplasts of dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plants by a number of methods, including electroporation,” [cited by applicant]
Singh et al., “Cytological characterization of transgenic soybean,” [cited by applicant]
Singh et al., “RNA-sequencing Reveals Global Transcriptomic Changes in Nicotiana tabacum Responding to Topping and Treatment of Axillary-shoot Control Chemicals,” [cited by applicant]
Stepanova et al., “TAA1-Mediated Auxin Biosynthesis Is Essential for Hormone Crosstalk and Plant Development,” [cited by applicant]
Stirnberg et al., “MAX1 and MAX2 control shoot lateral branching in [cited by applicant]
Sun et al., “Inhibition of tobacco axillary bud differentiation by silencing CUP-Shaped COTYLEDON 3,” [cited by applicant]
Sunkar et al., “Novel and Stress-Regulated MicroRNAs and Other Small RNAs from Arabidopsis,” [cited by applicant]
Takabatake et al., “MAP Kinases Function Downstream of HSP90 and Upstream of Mitochondria in TMV Resistance Gene N-Mediated Hypersensitive Cell Death,” [cited by applicant]
Tanaka, et al., “Studies on Biological Effects of Ion Beams on Lethality, Molecular Nature of Mutation, Mutation Rate, and Spectrum of Mutation Phenotype for Mutation Breeding in Higher Plants,” [cited by applicant]
Tanaka-Ueguchi et al., “Over-expression of a tobacco homeobox gene,NTH15, decreases the expression of a gibberellin biosynthetic gene encoding GA 20-oxidase,” [cited by applicant]
Tomes et al., “Direct DNA Transfer into Intact Plant Cells Via Microprojectile Bombardment,” [cited by applicant]
Trobacher et al., “Induction of a ricinosomal-protease and programmed cell Death in tomato endosperm by gibberellic acid,” [cited by applicant]
Tso “Seed to Smoke,” Chapter 1 in Davis and Nielsen (ed.), [cited by applicant]
Van Camp et al., “Tissue-Specific Activity of Two Manganese Superoxide Dismutase Promoters in Transgenic Tobacco1,” [cited by applicant]
Velten et al., “Isolation of a dual plant promoter fragment from the Ti plasmid of [cited by applicant]
Verkerk, “Chimerism of the tomato plant after seed irradiation with fast neutrons,” [cited by applicant]
Wang et al., “MicroRNA171c-Targeted SCL6-II, SCL6-III, and SCL6-IV Genes Regulate Shoot Branching in [cited by applicant]
Watanabe et al., “ [cited by applicant]
Weising et al., “Foreign Genes in Plants: Transfer, Structure, Expression, and Applications,” [cited by applicant]
Wernsman et al., “Chapter Seventeen: Tobacco” in [cited by applicant]
Wilke et al., “Predicting the Tolerance of Proteins to Random Amino Acid Substitution,” [cited by applicant]
Wu et al., “LcMKK, a novel group A mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase gene in Lycium chinense, confers dehydration and drought tolerance in transgenic tobacco via scavenging ROS and modulating expression of stress-… [cited by applicant]
Yadav et al., “WUSCHEL protein movement mediates stem cell homeostasis in the [cited by applicant]
Yamada et al., “The Transport Inhibitor RESPONSE2 Gene Is Required for Auxin Synthesis and Diverse Aspects of Plant Development,” [cited by applicant]
Yamamoto et al., “The Promoter of a Pine Photosynthetic Gene Allows Expression of a β-Glucuronidase Reporter Gene in Transgenic Rice Plants in a Light-Independent but Tissue-Specific Manner,” [cited by applicant]
Yamamoto et al., “Light-Responsive Elements of the Tobacco PSI-D Gene Are Located Both Upstream and Within the Transcribed Region,” [cited by applicant]
Zeng et al., “Both Natural and Designed Micro RNAs Can Inhibit the Expression of Cognate mRNAs When Expressed in Human Cells,” [cited by applicant]
Zhang et al., “Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases Enable Efficient Plant Genome Engineering,” [cited by applicant]
Ma et al., “Expression Of T-CYT Gene In Transgenic Tobacco And Influence Thereof On Growth And Development,” [cited by applicant]
Schmid et al., “Developmental and Environmental Regulation of a Bean Chalcone Synthase Promoter in Transgenic Tobacco,” [cited by applicant]
Search Report issued in Chinese Patent Application No. 2017800289085, dated Apr. 25, 2022, 7 pages (with English translation). [cited by applicant]
Search Report issued in Chinese Patent Application No. 2017800289085, dated Sep. 15, 2022, 4 pages (with English translation). [cited by applicant]
“Q14TB0 ⋅ Q14TB0_TOBAC—Mitogen-activated protein kinase 2, NtMEK2,” UniProt ID Q14TB0_TOBAC, Integrated Aug. 22, 2006, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]