Cold-tolerant plant

Abstract

The present invention relates to the identification and molecular characterization as well as to the use of genes and markers from a chromosomal interval which has a locus for cold tolerance in maize. The invention further relates to the development of molecular markers for assisting in growth, in particular for preventing a fixing of a “selective sweep” in a region with a low recombination rate, and to the provision of transgenic and non-transgenic plants, in particular maize plants, which show a newly mediated or increased cold tolerance.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A nucleic acid, which comprises a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of
 a) a nucleic acid sequence with one of the SEQ ID NOs: 29, or a functional fragment thereof,   b) a nucleic acid sequence which is complementary to a sequence from a),   c) a nucleic acid sequence which has at least 90% identity with a sequence from a) or b),   d) a nucleic acid sequence which differs from a nucleic acid sequence according to a), b) or c) depending on the degeneracy of the genetic code,   e) a nucleic acid sequence which hybridizes with a nucleic acid sequence according to a), b) or c) under stringent conditions,   f) a nucleic acid sequence which codes for a protein with one of the SEQ ID NOs: 30 or a homologue, analogue or orthologue thereof,   and which is operatively connected with either a promoter which comprises the nucleotide sequence with SEQ ID NO: 33, or a modified form of a promoter which comprises the nucleotide sequence with SEQ ID NO: 34, wherein the modified form produces a comparable expression rate or level of expression as the promoter which comprises the nucleotide sequence with SEQ ID NO: 33.   
     
     
         16 . A method for the production of a chill-tolerant plant, comprising the following steps:
 A) mutagenization of plant cells or of portions of a plant and subsequent regeneration of plants from the mutagenized plant cells or mutagenized parts, or mutagenization of plants, and   B) identification of a plant from A) which, in an endogenous DNA sequence which is identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of
 (i) a nucleic acid sequence with one of the SEQ ID NOs: 27, 
 (ii) a nucleic acid sequence which is complementary to a sequence from i), 
 (iii) a nucleic acid sequence which has at least 90% identity with a sequence from (i) or (ii), 
 (iv) a nucleic acid sequence which differs from a nucleic acid sequence according to (i), (ii) or (iii) in accordance with the degeneracy of the genetic code, 
 (v) a nucleic acid sequence which hybridizes with a nucleic acid sequence according to (i), (ii) or (iii) under stringent conditions, or 
 (vi) a nucleic acid sequence which codes for a protein with one of the SEQ ID NOs: 28, or a homologue, analogue or orthologue thereof, or 
 in a regulatory sequence of the endogenous DNA sequence, has at least one mutation which causes an alteration in the transcription or expression rate or level of transcription or expression of the endogenous DNA sequence in the identified plant compared with a non-mutagenized wild type plant or an alteration in the activity or stability of a protein or polypeptide coded by the endogenous DNA sequence in the identified plant compared with a non-mutagenized wild type plant. 
   
     
     
         17 . A plant which can be produced or is produced using the method as claimed in  claim 16 , or a portion of the plant. 
     
     
         18 . An expression cassette, comprising the nucleic acid as claimed in  claim 15 . 
     
     
         19 . A vector, comprising the nucleic acid as claimed in  claim 15  or an expression cassette comprising the nucleic acid. 
     
     
         20 . A transgenic plant cell comprising the nucleic acid as claimed in  claim 15  as a transgene; an expression cassette comprising the nucleic acid; or a vector comprising the nucleic acid. 
     
     
         21 . A transgenic plant or a portion thereof, comprising the transgenic plant cell as claimed in  claim 20 . 
     
     
         22 . A method for the production of a transgenic chill-tolerant plant, comprising the following steps:
 A) providing the nucleic acid as claimed in  claim 15 ; an expression cassette comprising the nucleic acid; or a vector comprising the nucleic acid,   B) transformation at least one plant cell by introduction of the nucleic acid, the expression cassette or the vector from A),   C) regenerating transgenic plants from the at least one transformed plant cell from B), and   D) identifying a transgenic, chill-tolerant plant from C).