Genomics Approaches For Improving Nutritional Quality Of Food Crop Species

Technology Description:  Agricultural Research Service scientists and researchers from Cornell University have isolated a gene that could be used to increase carotenoid content in foods.  The gene causes high levels of beta-carotene to accumulate in various parts of the plant that normally do not contain carotenoids.  Carotenoids are fat-soluble pigments responsible for color shading in plant leaves, fruits and flowers. Beta carotene, lycopene, and lutein—more commonly recognized—are carotenoids.  Beta carotene gives carrots their orange color, while lutein is a major yellow pigment of corn and leafy green vegetables.   Some of the current technology focused on increasing caroteniod content in crops has proven difficult to raise carotenoid to levels necessary for optimal human health.  This technology offers a new strategy to enrich carotenoids in crops.  Laboratory and field studies have demonstrated the success of this gene in increasing beta carotene in cauliflower plants.  Carotenoids act as biological antioxidants, protecting cells and tissues from damage caused by naturally occurring free radicals in the body.  Beta carotene is a potentially important means of lessening vitamin A deficiency, a serious nutritional problem worldwide. There is an increasing demand for foods with enhanced nutritional value.  This gene could be used to produce plants enriched with carotenoids, which may provide protection against certain diseases. The gene may also be used to impart color variation in plants, and as animal feed additives. Biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical companies could use this technology to develop foods enriched with carotenoid content.  The technology could be used to produce high market value products with enhanced nutritional content.   Reference:  Please refer to S.N. 11/639,064 (Docket #0021.07), “Use of the Cauliflower Orange (OR) Gene to Enhance Carotenoid Levels in Staple Crops,” which was filed on December 14, 2006, and is a Continuation in Part of S.N. 11/296,025 (Docket #0186.03), “The OR Gene and Its Use in Manipulating Carotenoid Content and Composition in Plants and Other Organisms,” which was filed on December 27, 2005.  Foreign rights are not available.   Inventors:   Li Li U.S. Plant, Soil and Nutrition Research Ithaca, NY  14853-2901 Phone: (697) 255-5708    Fax: (607) 255-1132 1137@cornell.edu David F. Garvin Plant Science Research Saint Paul, MN  55108-6026 Phone: (612) 625-1975    Fax: (612) 649-5058  garvi007@umn.edu Julia Vrebalov Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Res. Ithaca, NY  14853 Phone: (607) 254-1259    Fax: (607) 254-1242 Lu Shan Cornell University Boyce Thompson Institute Ithaca, NY  14853 Phone: (607) 255-7825    Fax: (607) 255-1132 Diana Marie O’Halloran Cornell University Boyce Thompson Institute Phone: (607) 255-7825    Fax: (607) 255-1132