Onions (Allium spp)

Summary

The New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research and Seminis Vegetable Seeds have filed patent applications directed to the transformation of Allium spp. (onions) using Agrobacterium.

• The New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research: the PCT application contains a very broad independent claim reciting a method of transforming plants of the Allium genus but lacks recitation of any steps. As such, it is highly unlikely to be granted as filed. If allowed, such a claim would cover any method used to this end. It is possible that converted patents will not contain such a claim. New Zealand application NZ 513184, for example, specifies the target tissue for transformation (embryos or embryo-derived cell cultures), and that transformation is carried out without passage through a callus stage. A preferred explant used in the transformation procedure with Agrobacterium are wounded immature embryos.
• Seminis Vegetable Seeds discloses a method that uses embryogenic callus, embryos or flower buds as a target explant for transformation with Agrobacterium.

Because of their limited subject matter, these applications may be affected by other patents with granted claims to general transformation methods for monocots.

The information contained in this page was believed to be correct at the time it was collated. New patents and patent applications, altered status of patents, and case law may have resulted in changes in the landscape. CAMBIA makes no warranty that it is correct or up to date at this time and accepts no liability for any use that might be made of it. Corrections or updates to the information are welcome. Please send an email to info@bios.net.

CAMBIA Login