KeyPoint® Mutation Breeding: A Shortcut to Improved Crops

Random mutagenesis of specific genes is a powerful molecular genetic approach to create new or improved plant varieties. KeyGene has developed KeyPoint^®Mutation Breeding, a targeted mutation selection technology, which delivers a series of sequence-characterized novel alleles for any given gene in a single crop generation, starting from any source of mutagenized seed. Three technical components have been designed and optimized to rapidly single out rare individuals carrying desired gene-modifications: (1) mutation detection in deep pools using  KeyGene’s next-generation sequencing-based KeyPoint technology, (2) screening of young plants grown directly from mutagenized seed, (3) bioinformatic algorithms for mutation calling in ultra-large datasets. The technical principles of KeyPoint MB apply to a broad range of mutagens and crop species, and currently KeyGene has successfully applied this technology using EMS, ENU, or NaA as mutagens, to over 15 different crops, e.g  corn, canola, soy, rice and wheat, both monocots and dicots, and crops with varying ploidy levels (2n=2x, 4x, or 6x). Moreover the technology has been used to select beneficial mutant alleles of genes putatively controlling traits like yield, abiotic and biotic stress tolerance, plant architecture, and herbicide tolerance. Here we present an overview of KeyGene’s KeyPoint MB crop track record, including obtained mutation frequencies and mutation spectra. 

The KeyPoint^®technology and related plant screening technology are technologies protected by patents and patent applications owned by Keygene N.V. KeyPoint is a registered trademark of Keygene N.V.