US 12,077,765 B2
Tobacco plants comprising reduced nicotine and reduced tobacco specific nitrosamines
Chengalrayan Kudithipudi, Midlothian, VA (US); Dongmei Xu, Glen Allen, VA (US); James A. Strickland, Virginia Beach, VA (US); and Marcos Fernando de Godoy Lusso, Chesterfield, VA (US)
Assigned to Altria Client Services LLC, Richmond, VA (US)
Filed by Altria Client Services LLC, Richmond, VA (US)
Filed on Jan. 23, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/750,349.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/796,399, filed on Jan. 24, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0239899 A1, Jul. 30, 2020
Int. Cl. C12N 15/82 (2006.01)
CPC C12N 15/8243 (2013.01) 21 Claims
 
1. A tobacco plant, or part thereof, comprising a first genetic modification comprising a non-natural mutation that introduces a stop codon into SEQ ID NO: 12, wherein said first genetic modification suppresses expression of SEQ ID NO: 12 or activity of a polypeptide encoded therefrom in said tobacco plant, or part thereof, wherein said tobacco plant, or part thereof, further comprises a second genetic modification comprising a transgene comprising SEQ ID NO: 44, and wherein said tobacco plant, or part thereof, further comprises a third genetic modification comprising a transgene comprising SEQ ID NO: SEQ ID NO: 3; and wherein said second genetic modification increases nicotine to nornicotine conversion as compared to a control tobacco plant lacking said second genetic modification; and wherein said third genetic modification increases the level of one or more antioxidants in said tobacco plant, or part thereof, compared to a control plant lacking said second genetic modification.