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EP-4147569-B1 - TOMATO PLANTS ALLOWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MITES

EP4147569B1EP 4147569 B1EP4147569 B1EP 4147569B1EP-4147569-B1

Inventors

  • VAN HERWIJNEN, ZEGER OTTO
  • DRÄGER, Dörthe Bettina
  • BOLCKMANS, KAREL JOZEF FLORENT
  • DE JOODE, JASPER
  • VAN HOUTEN, YVONNE MARIA

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20150817

Claims (13)

  1. Modified Slmyc2 gene, comprising at least one modification which comprises at least one SNP in SEQ ID NO. 6 that results in the presence of a premature stop codon within the coding sequence or a shift in reading frame or comprises a mutation in the coding sequence that codes for a different amino acid and which modification leads to the reduction or absence of SlMYC2 protein activity, wherein the modified Slmyc2 gene is located on chromosome 8 and capable of conferring an aberrant glandular hair phenotype to a Solanum lycopersicum plant.
  2. Modified Slmyc2 gene as claimed in claim 1, wherein the modification is selected from a modification that decreases the mRNA level of the Slmyc2 gene, a modification that decreases the level of the SlMYC2 protein and/or a modification that decreases the activity of the SlMYC2 protein, as compared to the wild type Slmyc2 gene of SEQ ID No. 5.
  3. Modified Slmyc2 gene as claimed in claim 1, wherein the modification is an SNP in SEQ ID NO. 6 that results in the presence of a premature stop codon within the coding sequence.
  4. Modified Slmyc2 gene as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the aberrant glandular hair phenotype is characterized by the reduction and preferably absence of terpenes, in particular α-pinene, myrcene, carene, α-phellandrene, β-phellandrene, p-cymene, limonene, δ-elemene, β-caryophyllene and/or α-humulene, and/or is characterized by deformed glandular hairs.
  5. A Solanum lycopersicum plant comprising a modified Slmyc2 gene as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 4.
  6. A Solanum lycopersicum plant as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plant exhibits an aberrant glandular hair phenotype which allows for the establishment of predatory mites, in particular Amblyseius swirskii and / or Amblydromalus limonicus, on said Solanum lycopersicum plant.
  7. A Solanum lycopersicum seed comprising the modified Slmyc2 gene as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the plant that can be grown from the seed shows the aberrant glandular hair phenotype.
  8. Progeny plant of a Solanum lycopersicum plant as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the progeny plant comprises the modified Slmyc2 gene, as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 4.
  9. Propagation material capable of developing into and/or being derived from a Solanum lycopersicum plant as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the propagation material comprises the modified Slmyc2 gene as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 4 and wherein the propagation material is selected from a group consisting of microspores, pollen, ovaries, ovules, embryos, embryo sacs, egg cells, cuttings, roots, root tips, hypocotyls, cotyledons, stems, leaves, flowers, anthers, seeds, meristematic cells, protoplasts and cells, or a tissue culture thereof.
  10. Use of a modified Slmyc2 gene as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 4 for the development of a Solanum lycopersicum plant on which predatory mites, in particular Amblyseius swirskii and / or Amblydromalus limonicus can establish, wherein the development of the Solanum lycopersicum plant comprises the introduction of the modified Slmyc2 gene in the Solanum lycopersicum plant, using genetic modification.
  11. Use as claimed in claim 10, wherein the establishment of predatory mites, in particular Amblyseius swirskii and / or Amblydromalus limonicus, is allowed by an aberrant glandular hair phenotype.
  12. Use as claimed in claim 11, wherein the aberrant glandular hair phenotype is characterized by the reduction and preferably absence of terpenes, in particular α-pinene, myrcene, carene, α-phellandrene, β-phellandrene, p-cymene, limonene, δ-elemene, β-caryophyllene and/or α-humulene, and/or is characterized by deformed glandular hairs.
  13. Use of a Solanum lycopersicum plant as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, for the cultivation and preservation of predatory mites, or a colony therefrom.

Description

Field of the invention The present invention relates to a Solanum lycopersicum plant that has an aberrant glandular hair phenotype. The invention also relates to the seeds and progeny of such plants and to propagation material for obtaining such plants. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of the plants, seeds and propagation material for conferring the aberrant glandular hair phenotype to tomato plants. The invention also relates to sequences and the use of sequences for identifying the aberrant glandular hair phenotype. Background of the invention Plants of the species Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) belong to the nightshade family, also known as Solanaceae. Within this family it is nowadays grouped in the genus Solanum, which does not only harbor tomato, but also the important food crops potato and eggplant. It is a perennial, herbaceous, flowering plant species which is native to South America. Other species that are related to tomato within the Solanum genus are for example Solanum pimpinellifolium, Solanum chilense, Solanum peruvianum and Solanum habrochaites. Although it is known that crossing can be considerably difficult, these species are used to obtain traits that are valuable in growing tomato plants. In the recent history, advancement in tomato breeding has led to tomato varieties having, for example higher yield, higher disease resistance and increased shelf life. Commercial vegetable production, including the production of tomato, is affected by many conditions. The choice of the grower for a certain variety is a determining factor, and forms the genetic basis for the result that can be achieved. In addition, there are many external factors that influence the outcome. Growing conditions like climate, soil, and the use of inputs like fertilizer play a major role. There are various ways of cultivating tomatoes and other crops, among which, the most common are: open field, greenhouse and shade house production. Although the species can be grown under a wide range of climatic conditions, it performs most successfully under dry and warm conditions. In addition to this, the presence of pests and diseases also affects the total yield that can be reached. Pest and disease management in the production of tomato and other crops can, depending on the way the plants are grown, be done in several ways. On the one hand, breeding focuses on the addition of resistances to pests and diseases to the trait portfolio of plants. Wild relatives of certain species often form a useful source of such resistant germplasm. Alternatively, the growing conditions can be modified in such a way that temperature, humidity levels or light intensity are selected to create less favourable settings for the development of diseases and pests. Often the temperatures that are favourable for the successful production of plants and/or fruits, are also favourable for important pest such as whiteflies. Thirdly, herbicides or pesticides can be used to eradicate weeds and pests, respectively. However, the use of such chemical compounds is under discussion as it might leave residues on plants and fruits that could be compromising to the health of consumers when said plants and/or fruits are consumed. When vegetables are grown in greenhouses, a fourth pest management alternative is available to growers, which is known as biological pest control. By releasing living organisms that exert their predacious, parasitical and/or herbivorous capacity together with an active human management role, natural enemies can be used to control certain pests. There are various insects known in the art that are commercially reared for use in greenhouses. One of the important insect families in this respect is formed by the Phytoseiidae that is widely used in the biological control of whiteflies, spider mites and thrips. In addition, WO06/057552 describes a method for biological pest control by making use of the phytoseiid predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii. However, these mites are not able to establish themselves on tomato plants, meaning that they are not able to live and reproduce. This makes them unsuitable for use as an efficient biological pest control. Tomato growers can be blocked by the absence of such biological pest controls, because good resistances aimed at insects especially for whitefly, are not yet present in tomato varieties. If a greenhouse is infested by whiteflies, a complete batch of plants might become useless for high yield and high quality vegetable production as the plants might be severely affected. The same applies to the phytoseiid predatory mite Amblydromalus limonicus, that is also not capable to establish on tomato plants. For the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis, it is known that it can be used to combat Tetranychus urticae (red spider mite) on tomato plants, but this predator exclusively feeds on Tetranychus species and thus cannot be deployed to combat infestations of other species. For another predatory mite, Ne