Aad-1 event das-40278-9, related transgenic corn lines, and event-specific identification thereof

Abstract

This invention relates in part to plant breeding and herbicide tolerant plants. This invention includes a novel AAD-1 transformation event in corn plants comprising a polynucleotide sequence, as described herein, inserted into a specific site within the genome of a corn cell. In some embodiments, said event/polynucleotide sequence can be “stacked” with other traits, including, for example, other herbicide tolerance gene(s) and/or insect-inhibitory proteins. Additionally, the subject invention provides assays for detecting the presence of the subject event in a sample (or corn grain, for example). The assays can be based on the DNA sequence of the recombinant construct, inserted into the corn genome, and on the genomic sequences flanking the insertion site. Kits and conditions useful in conducting the assays are also provided.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A transgenic corn plant comprising a recombinant polynucleotide that encodes an aryloxyalkanoate dioxygenase (AAD-1) protein that exhibits aryloxyalkanoate dioxygenase activity, wherein said activity enzymatically degrades a phenoxy auxin herbicide and an (R)-aryloxyphenoxypropionate herbicide, wherein said recombinant polynucleotide hybridizes under stringent conditions with a sequence consisting of nucleotides 6679 to 6700 of SEQ ID NO: 29 or nucleotides 1863 to 1875 of SEQ ID NO: 29, or the full complement of nucleotides 6679 to 6700 of SEQ ID NO: 29 or nucleotides 1863 to 1875 of SEQ ID NO: 29. 
     
     
         2 . The transgenic corn plant of  claim 1  wherein said AAD-1 protein has at least 95% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 9. 
     
     
         3 . The transgenic corn plant of  claim 1  wherein said plant comprises event DAS-40278-9 as present in the seed deposited with American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) under Accession No. PTA-10244. 
     
     
         4 . A corn seed comprising a recombinant polynucleotide that encodes an aryloxyalkanoate dioxygenase (AAD-1) protein that exhibits aryloxyalkanoate dioxygenase activity, wherein said activity enzymatically degrades a phenoxy auxin herbicide and an (R)-aryloxyphenoxypropionate herbicide, wherein said recombinant polynucleotide hybridizes under stringent conditions with a sequence consisting of nucleotides 6679 to 6700 of SEQ ID NO: 29 or nucleotides 1863 to 1875 of SEQ ID NO: 29, or the full complement of nucleotides 6679 to 6700 of SEQ ID NO: 29 or nucleotides 1863 to 1875 of SEQ ID NO: 29. 
     
     
         5 . A corn plant produced by growing the seed of  claim 4 , said plant comprising said recombinant polynucleotide. 
     
     
         6 . A progeny plant of the corn plant of  claim 5 , said progeny plant comprising said recombinant polynucleotide. 
     
     
         7 . A part of the plant of  claim 5  wherein said part is selected from the group consisting of pollen, ovule, flowers, shoots, roots, and leaves, said part comprising said recombinant polynucleotide. 
     
     
         8 . A method of breeding a corn plant, said method comprising crossing a first corn plant, comprising a recombinant polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent conditions with a sequence consisting of nucleotides 6679 to 6700 of SEQ ID NO: 29 or nucleotides 1863 to 1875 of SEQ ID NO: 29, or the full complement of nucleotides 6679 to 6700 of SEQ ID NO: 29 or nucleotides 1863 to 1875 of SEQ ID NO: 29, with a second corn plant to produce a third corn plant, and assaying said third corn plant for the presence of said recombinant polynucleotide in the genome of the third plant. 
     
     
         9 . A method of controlling weeds, said method comprising applying an aryloxyalkanoate herbicide to plants growing in a field, wherein said plants growing in the field comprise a plant of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said herbicide is selected from the group consisting of 2,4-D; 2,4-DB; 2,4-DP, MCPP, MCPA; and MCPB. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said herbicide is an (R)-aryloxyphenoxypropionate herbicide, optionally wherein the herbicide is (R)-quizalofop or (R)-haloxyfop. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said method comprises applying a second herbicide to said plants growing in the field. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said second herbicide is selected from the group consisting of glyphosate and dicamba. 
     
     
         14 . A method of controlling weeds, said method comprising applying an aryloxyalkanoate herbicide to a field, and planting the seed of  claim 4  in said field within 14 days after applying the herbicide. 
     
     
         15 . A method of controlling glyphosate-resistant weeds in an area comprising a plant of  claim 1 , wherein said plant further comprises a glyphosate tolerance trait, said method comprising applying an aryloxyalkanoate herbicide to said area. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said herbicide is a phenoxy auxin or (R)-aryloxyphenoxypropionate herbicide. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said herbicide is applied from a tank mix with glyphosate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein at least one of said weeds is a glyphosate-resistant volunteer of a different species than said plant. 
     
     
         19 . A method of controlling weeds in an area under cultivation, said area comprising a plurality of plants of  claim 1 , said method comprising applying an aryloxy alkanoate herbicide over the top of the plants. 
     
     
         20 . A method of controlling weeds in an area under cultivation, said method comprising applying an aryloxy alkanoate herbicide to a field planted with the seed of  claim 4 , wherein the herbicide is applied pre-emergence, post-emergence, or pre-emergence and post-emergence to the plants, parts of the plants, and/or to the area under cultivation. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , said method comprising applying said herbicide jointly with or separately from a second herbicide. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , said method comprising applying said herbicide jointly with or separately from a second herbicide.