USE OF BIFUNCTIONAL ALPHA-AMYLASE SUBTILISIN INHIBITOR PROMOTER TO DIRECT EXPRESSION IN THE MATERNAL TISSUE OF A PLANT SEED

摘要

The present invention provides a method of expressing nucleic acid or protein in the maternal tissue of a plant seed operably under the control of a regulatory sequence derived from a bifunctional alpha-amylase subtilisin inhibitor gene (eg., SEQ ID Nos: 1 or 2). More particularly, the invention provides methods for producing an improved seed or bran product by expressing any heterologous protein in the maternal tissue under control of the ASI promoter, such as, for example, a seed having an enhanced protection against a seed-borne plant pathogen, in particular Fusarium graminearum (head scab) and barley stripe mosaic virus; or a seed or bran product that is useful as an oral vaccine by virtue of expressing an antigenic protein of Transmissible Gastro Enteritis Virus (TGEV), or a seed or bran product having enhanced nutritional value as as fodder by virtue of expressing a sulphur-rich protein (Brazil Nut Protein).