IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,575,536
Granted Patent B2
US 12,575,536 · App. 18/424,173 · Granted Mar 17, 2026

Compositions and methods for producing tobacco plants and products having altered alkaloid levels

Inventors: Sreepriya Pramod (Fredericksburg, VA); Marcos Fernando de Godoy Lusso (Chesterfield, VA); Jesse Frederick (Richmond, VA); Andrew Carl Adams (Midlothian, VA); Dongmei Xu (Glen Allen, VA)
Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
A01H6/823A01H1/06A24B3/08A24B3/12A24B13/00A24B15/10A24B15/20A24B15/243C12N15/8218C12N15/8227
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,575,536
App. No.
18/424,173
Granted
Mar 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides tobacco Nic1b locus and associated genes (e.g., a group of ERF genes). Also provided are tobacco plants with altered total alkaloid and nicotine levels and commercially acceptable leaf grade, their development via breeding or transgenic approaches, and production of tobacco products from these tobacco plants. Further provided are compositions and methods for producing tobacco plants having novel mutations or alleles to reduce nicotine levels. Further provided are sequence polymorphisms and molecular markers for breeding tobacco with reduced nicotine or alkaloids while maintaining tobacco leaf grade and tobacco product quality.

Claims (28)

1 . A method of selecting a tobacco plant having a low nicotine trait, the method comprising:

a) isolating nucleic acid molecules from at least one tobacco plant;

b) assaying the nucleic acid molecules for one or more SNP markers selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 125 to 145 and 193 to 201;

c) selecting a low nicotine tobacco plant comprising a nicotine level of less than 3% by dry weight and further comprising the one or more SNP markers; and

d) harvesting the low nicotine tobacco plant or a part thereof.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the low nicotine tobacco plant comprises a nicotine level of less than 2% by dry weight.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more SNP markers are selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 125 to 145.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more SNP markers are selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 193 to 201.

5 . Cured tobacco material from the low nicotine tobacco plant or a part thereof of claim 1 .

6 . A tobacco blend comprising the cured tobacco material of claim 5 .

7 . A tobacco product comprising the cured tobacco material of claim 5 .

8 . The tobacco product of claim 7 , wherein the tobacco product is selected from the group consisting of a cigarette, a cigarillo, a non-ventilated recess filter cigarette, a vented recess filter cigarette, a cigar, snuff, pipe tobacco, cigar tobacco, cigarette tobacco, chewing tobacco, leaf tobacco, shredded tobacco, and cut tobacco.

9 . The tobacco product of claim 7 , wherein the tobacco product is a smokeless tobacco product.

10 . The tobacco product of claim 9 , wherein the smokeless tobacco product is selected from the group consisting of loose leaf chewing tobacco, plug chewing tobacco, moist snuff, and nasal snuff.

11 . A method of selecting a tobacco plant having a low nicotine trait, the method comprising:

a) isolating nucleic acid molecules from at least one tobacco plant;

b) assaying the nucleic acid molecules for a nucleic acid sequence located within a genomic locus having at least 95% identity to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3 to 37, 146, 149, 152 to 156, 202, 203, and 184 to 186;

c) selecting a low nicotine tobacco plant comprising a nicotine level of less than 3% by dry weight and further comprising the nucleic acid sequence; and

d) harvesting the low nicotine tobacco plant or a part thereof.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the low nicotine tobacco plant or a part thereof comprises a nicotine level of less than 2% by dry weight.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the nucleic acid sequence is at least 99% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3 to 37, 146, 149, 152 to 156, 202, 203, and 184 to 186.

14 . Cured tobacco material from the low nicotine tobacco plant or part thereof of claim 11 .

15 . A tobacco blend comprising the cured tobacco material of claim 14 .

16 . A tobacco product comprising the cured tobacco material of claim 14 .

17 . The tobacco product of claim 16 , wherein the tobacco product is selected from the group consisting of a cigarette, a cigarillo, a non-ventilated recess filter cigarette, a vented recess filter cigarette, a cigar, snuff, pipe tobacco, cigar tobacco, cigarette tobacco, chewing tobacco, leaf tobacco, shredded tobacco, and cut tobacco.

18 . The tobacco product of claim 16 , wherein the tobacco product is a smokeless tobacco product.

19 . The tobacco product of claim 18 , wherein the smokeless tobacco product is selected from the group consisting of loose leaf chewing tobacco, plug chewing tobacco, moist snuff, and nasal snuff.

20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the nucleic acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3 to 37, 146, 149, 152 to 156, 202, 203, and 184 to 186.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 10, 2024
From: PRAMOD, SREEPRIYA; DE GODOY LUSSO, MARCOS FERNANDO; FREDERICK, JESSE; ADAMS, ANDREW CARL; XU, DONGMEI
To: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 067060/0951 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 16246308 · Jan 11, 2019
Provisional Application 62685844 · Jun 15, 2018
Provisional Application 62625878 · Feb 2, 2018
Provisional Application 62616959 · Jan 12, 2018
Related Publication 20240292804A1 · Sep 5, 2024
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