SBIR Phase I: Increased Freezing Tolerance in Plants

9861185这个小企业创新研究一期项目将确定生产耐受快速温度下降到冻结条件的植物的可行性。由于COR（冷调节）基因的诱导，如果允许时间在非冷冻温度下适应冷，大多数植物可以在冷冻中存活。然而，如果最近没有适应寒冷，气温突然降至冰点会损害大多数作物。Thomashow博士（MSU）在拟南芥植物中过度表达CBF1基因，并发现CBF1诱导COR基因并使植物在没有事先冷驯化的情况下存活。本研究将通过测量植物生长、开花时间、生物化学和产量来确定CBF1或其他新分离的CBF基因的组成表达是否对正常生长条件下的拟南芥植物有害。结果应表明技术可行性和CBF基因在生产抗冻作物方面的最佳生物学特性，包括玉米（1995年霜冻损失超过10亿美元）、大豆、小麦、草莓和桉树。拟南芥的研究结果与密切相关的芸苔属作物特别相关。孟德尔生物技术公司拥有商业开发CBF基因的独家许可，并将在第一阶段与密歇根州立大学合作。

9861185 This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will establish the feasibility of producing plants tolerant to rapid temperature drops to freezing conditions. Most plants can survive freezing if allowed time to become cold acclimated at non-freezing temperatures, due to induction of the COR (cold regulated) genes. However, sudden temperature drops to freezing temperatures damage most crops if they have not been recently cold acclimated. Dr. Thomashow (MSU) overexpressed the CBF1 gene in Arabidopsis plants and found that CBF1 induces the COR genes and conditions plants to survive freezing without prior cold acclimation. This research will determine whether constitutive expression of CBF1, or other newly isolated CBF genes, is detrimental to Arabidopsis plants under normal growing conditions by measuring plant growth, flowering time, biochemistry and yields. The results should indicate the technical feasibility and the CBF gene with the best biological properties for producing frost-tolerant crops including corn (1995 frost losses of more than $ 1 Billion), soy, wheat, strawberries, and eucalyptus. Results from Arabidopsis are particularly relevant in the closely related Brassica crops. Mendel Biotechnology has an option to an exclusive license to commercially develop CBF genes and will collaborate with MSU during Phase I.