Patents by Inventor Michael G. Willits

Michael G. Willits has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Flavonol expressing domesticated tomato and method of production
    Patent number: 9185857
    Abstract: The present invention includes non-transgenic domesticated tomato plants that express flavonols in the flesh and peel of the tomato fruit, and includes the seeds and fruits of such plants. The method of the invention includes assaying tomato plants for expression of one or more of the flavonol biosynthesis genes in the flesh and/or expression of CHI in the peel. The method of the invention includes selecting wild tomato species that express CHI in the fruit peel, and/or one or more genes of the flavonol biosynthesis pathway in the flesh, and introgressing the genetic factors responsible for this expression from the wild tomato species into a domesticated tomato plant using traditional breeding techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Syngenta Participations AG
    Inventors: Michael G. Willits, Vincenzo Deluca, Gerson Graser, Catherine M. Kramer, Rogerio T. N. Prata
  • FLAVONOL EXPRESSING DOMESTICATED TOMATO AND METHOD OF PRODUCTION
    Publication number: 20110113500
    Abstract: The present invention includes non-transgenic domesticated tomato plants that express flavonols in the flesh and peel of the tomato fruit, and includes the seeds and fruits of such plants. The method of the invention includes assaying tomato plants for expression of one or more of the flavonol biosynthesis genes in the flesh and/or expression of CHI in the peel. The method of the invention includes selecting wild tomato species that express CHI in the fruit peel, and/or one or more genes of the flavonol biosynthesis pathway in the flesh, and introgressing the genetic factors responsible for this expression from the wild tomato species into a domesticated tomato plant using traditional breeding techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Michael G. Willits, Vincenzo Deluca, Gerson Graser, Catherine M. Kramer, Rogerio T.N. Prata
  • Flavonol expressing domesticated tomato and method of production
    Patent number: 7851680
    Abstract: The present invention includes non-transgenic domesticated tomato plants that express flavonols in the flesh and peel of the tomato fruit, and includes the seeds and fruits of such plants. The method of the invention includes assaying tomato plants for expression of one or more of the flavonol biosynthesis genes in the flesh and/or expression of CHI in the peel. The method of the invention includes selecting wild tomato species that express CHI in the fruit peel, and/or one or more genes of the flavonol biosynthesis pathway in the flesh, and introgressing the genetic factors responsible for this expression from the wild tomato species into a domesticated tomato plant using traditional breeding techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Syngenta Participations AG
    Inventors: Michael G. Willits, Vincenzo Deluca, Gerson Graser, Catherine M. Kramer, Rogerio T. N. Prata
  • Novel plant genes and uses thereof
    Publication number: 20030159171
    Abstract: Homologues of the Arabidopsis NIM1 gene, which is involved in the signal transduction cascade leading to systemic acquired resistance (SAR), are isolated from Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco), Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato), Brassica napus (oilseed rape), Arabidopsis thaliana, Beta vulgaris (sugarbeet), Helianthus annuus (sunflower), and Solanum tuberosum (potato). The invention further concerns transformation vectors and processes for expressing the NIM1 homologues in transgenic plants to increase SAR gene expression and enhance broad spectrum disease resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Applicant: Syngenta Participations AG
    Inventors: John Manuel Salmeron, Laura Jean Weislo, Michael G. Willits
  • Plant genes and uses thereof
    Patent number: 6528702
    Abstract: Homologues of the Arabidopsis NIM1 gene, which is involved in the signal transduction cascade leading to systemic acquired resistance (SAR), are isolated from Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco), Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato), Brassica napus (oilseed rape), Arabidopsis thaliana, Beta vulgaris (sugarbeet), Helianthus annuus (sunflower), and Solanum tuberosum (potato). The invention further concerns transformation vectors and processes for expressing the NIM1 homologues in transgenic plants to increase SAR gene expression and enhance broad spectrum disease resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Syngenta Participations AG
    Inventors: John Manuel Salmeron, Laura Jean Weislo, Michael G. Willits