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| Technology Profile |
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Title: Improved Lettuce Seed Germination
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Industry: Agrochemical/Aquaculture
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| Owner: University of California, Davis |
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Description:
TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION
Seeds of cultivated lettuce varieties fail to germinate when planted at temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). This results in poor germination and seedling emergence in warm season plantings. Researchers at the University of California, Davis have discovered genes and molecular markers that respectively endow and predict the ability of lettuce seeds to germinate at temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit).
APPLICATIONS
These genes and molecular markers could help scientists produce lettuce varieties whose seeds can germinate at higher temperatures, resulting in improved germination and seedling emergence in hot weather plantings. Molecular markers that will aid introgression of the trait via sexual crosses or transgenic approaches to modify expression of the target gene can be employed. This could reduce dependence on seed prehydration or priming treatments, the current method of making lettuce seeds heat resistant, which increase seed costs and can reduce seed storage life.
ADVANTAGES
Breeding or engineering lettuce seeds with the high temperature germination trait identified by UC Davis researchers will:
- Improve the reliability of germination and stand establishment in warm seasons;
- Enable marker-assisted back-crossing strategies in existing lettuce cultivars;
- Adapt a wider range of lettuce varieties to hot weather seasons;
- Eliminate the need to treat (prime) lettuce seeds before planting in some varieties;
- Achieve greater improvements in temperature tolerance if priming is needed.
PATENT STATUS
United States Patent Pending
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Contact Info
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Manager: Randi Jenkins
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Institution: University of California, Davis
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Email: (email this person)
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