	US 12,234,469 B2
	Compositions and methods for producing tobacco plants and products having altered alkaloid levels
Sreepriya Pramod, Fredericksburg, VA (US); Marcos Fernando de Godoy Lusso, Chesterfield, VA (US); Jesse Frederick, Richmond, VA (US); Andrew Adams, Midlothian, VA (US); and Dongmei Xu, Glen Allen, VA (US)
Assigned to Altria Client Services LLC, Richmond, VA (US)
Filed by ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC, Richmond, VA (US)
Filed on Jun. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/337,161.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/034,061, filed on Jun. 3, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0010324 A1, Jan. 13, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C12N 15/82 (2006.01)

CPC C12N 15/8243 (2013.01)

7 Claims

1. A modified tobacco plant, or part thereof, comprising a non-natural mutation in a polynucleotide, the polynucleotide having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having 100% identity or similarity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 73; wherein said modified tobacco plant comprises nicotine at a level below 60% of the nicotine level of a control plant when grown in similar growth conditions, wherein said non-natural mutation introduces a stop codon; wherein said control plant shares an essentially identical genetic background with said modified tobacco plant except said non-natural mutation; and wherein said non-natural mutation results in a reduced level of expression of said polynucleotide as compared to said control tobacco plant.