MIPS Project Detail:

Plant Sensory Systems, LLC

Production of Nematode-Resistant Soybean

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Company

Plant Sensory Systems, LLC

Baltimore

Baltimore City

County

, Maryland

Founded:

2007

Website:

https://www.plantsensorysystems.com/

Company Description:

Plant Sensory Systems LLC is a privately held agricultural biotechnology company that develops proprietary plant technologies for sustainable food, feed, fiber, biofuel and bio-based products. PSS has expertise in modifying plant metabolic pathways and selects those pathways with real commercial value to develop into high-value products. The company is located at bwtech@UMBC Research and Technology Park.

MIPS Project

Production of Nematode-Resistant Soybean

Project #

4704

|

MIPS Round

47 |

Starting Date:

Feb 2011

MIPS Project Challenge:
Researchers planned to develop a soybean that is resistant to nematode damage. PSS’s technology is a genetic modification of plants that increases the level of a molecule that in elevated concentrations detrimentally affects nematode mobility and egg production. Results would likely be applicable to all plant-parasitic nematodes and would be a value-added trait for all crops.

Project Scope:
Towson University researchers worked with scientists at Plant Sensory Systems and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Benjamin Matthews) to make a genetic modification to soybean roots by introducing a new gene, called a transgene, and to determine if the genetic changes increased the plants’ tolerance to nematode infection. University researchers developed and tested methods to measure the accumulation of a chemical compound that was produced by the transgene product. Researchers also tested a genetic switch, called a promoter, to make sure that the promoter would activate the transgene in the tissues where the nematodes feed.

MIPS funding was the impetus in bringing together a team of talented plant scientists from the university, federal government and small business sectors to work together on a project that addresses a critical agronomic need. The positive results of the project substantially broaden the commercial potential of the tested PSS technology

Frank Turano, Founder and CRO, Plant Sensory Systems

Results:

PSS is in discussion with several large seed companies regarding licensing opportunities and has received angel investments.

In December, 2012, PSS was awarded a $2.2 million grant for biofuel research from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). In January, 2012, PSS was awarded U.S. Patent No. 8,106,261, which relates to the production of GABA in cells. Additional IP coverage for the technology was obtained in U.S. Patent Nos. 8,581,040 and 8,581,041, which were awarded in November, 2013, and U.S. Patent No. 9,487,792, which was awarded in November, 2016.

In June, 2014, the company was awarded U.S. Patent No. 8,742,204, which relates to the binding of metabolites in cells. In March, 2016, the company was awarded U.S. Patent No. 9,267,148, which relates to the production of taurine in cells with a biosynthetic pathway that, when moved into plants, can deliver taurine in its seeds. In April, 2017, the company was awarded a $750,000 NSF SBIR grant as a direct result of MIPS to use PSS’ biotechnology approach to increase the essential nutrients in soybean seeds for use in aquafeed.

As of August, 2017, PSS had six employees.