DNA construct to confer multiple traits on plants

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a DNA construct formed from a fusion gene which includes a trait DNA molecule and a silencer DNA molecule. The trait DNA molecule has a length that is insufficient to impart a desired trait to plants transformed with the trait DNA molecule. The silencer DNA molecule is operatively coupled to the trait DNA molecule with the trait and silencer DNA molecules collectively having sufficient length to impart the trait to plants transformed with the DNA construct. Expression systems, host cells, plants, and plant seeds containing the DNA construct are disclosed. The present invention is also directed to imparting multiple traits to a plant.

1 . A DNA construct comprising: 
 a fusion gene comprising:    a trait DNA molecule which has a length that is insufficient to impart a desired trait to plants transformed with said trait DNA molecule and    a silencer DNA molecule operatively coupled to said trait DNA molecule, wherein said trait DNA molecule and said silencer DNA molecule collectively impart the trait to plants transformed with said DNA construct.    
     
     
         2 . The DNA construct according to  claim 1 , wherein the trait DNA and silencer DNA molecules do not interact with one another.  
     
     
         3 . The DNA construct according to  claim 1 , wherein the silencer DNA molecule is positioned 3′ to the trait DNA molecule.  
     
     
         4 . A host cell transformed with the DNA construct of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         5 . The host cell according to  claim 4 , wherein said host cell is bacterial.  
     
     
         6 . A transgenic plant transformed with the DNA construct according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         7 . The transgenic plant according to  claim 6 , wherein the silencer DNA molecule is heterologous to the plant.  
     
     
         8 . The transgenic plant according to  claim 6 , wherein the trait DNA molecule is heterologous to the plant.  
     
     
         9 . A DNA construct comprising: 
 a fusion gene comprising:    a plurality of trait DNA molecules at least some of which have a length that is insufficient to impart that trait to plants transformed with that trait DNA molecule but said plurality of trait DNA molecules collectively impart their traits to plants transformed with said DNA construct and to effect silencing of the fusion gene.    
     
     
         10 . The DNA construct according to  claim 9 , wherein the trait DNA is a viral cDNA molecule and the trait is viral disease resistance.  
     
     
         11 . The DNA construct according to  claim 9  wherein the trait DNA is a plant DNA molecule and the trait is a plant genetic trait.  
     
     
         12 . A DNA expression vector comprising the DNA construct of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         13 . A host cell transformed with the DNA construct of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         14 . A transgenic plant transformed with the DNA construct of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         15 . A transgenic plant seed transformed with the DNA construct of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         16 . The transgenic plant according to  claim 14 , wherein the trait DNA molecules are viral cDNA molecules and the traits are viral disease resistance, said cDNA molecule being selected from the group consisting of a DNA molecule encoding a coat protein, a DNA molecule encoding a replicase, a DNA molecule not encoding a protein, a DNA molecule encoding a viral gene product, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The transgenic plant according to  claim 14 , wherein the trait DNA molecules are plant DNA molecules and the traits are plant genetic traits, said DNA molecules effecting plant characteristics selected from the group consisting of color, enzyme production, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         18 . A method of imparting a trait to plants comprising: 
 transforming a plant with the DNA construct according to  claim 9 .    
     
     
         19 . A method of imparting a trait to plants comprising: 
 planting a transgenic plant seed according to  claim 15  and    propagating a plant from the planted transgenic plant seed.