Though you may not recognize it by its official name, Palmer Amaranth is well-known and easily recognizable to most. It is fast growing, highly competitive, somewhat aggressive—so much so, that it’s banned from several US states. This natural-born hitchhiker catches rides among wind, water, plants, animals, and equipment to spread and reproduce, growing up to 2-3 inches a day and maturing in just a couple of months.
A single Palmer Amaranth (more commonly known as pigweed) seed can devastate entire crops, resulting in yield losses of up to 91 percent in corn and 79 percent in soybeans. And once the plant matures, it can produce over half a million seeds, making it impossible for farmers to harvest without spreading the contamination. As such, it’s a legal requirement for seed producers in several states to certify that their products are free of Palmer Amaranth contaminants. Still, locating a seed not much larger than a grain of salt is no easy task.
To address this challenge, researchers at CSU and the University of Minnesota have developed a DNA genotyping test that identifies the presence of Palmer Amaranth within seed mixtures. This patented technology (US patents 9,963,750 and 11,866,793) can test up to 200 seeds simultaneously with an accuracy greater than 99.7 percent. It aims to help seed producers limit the spread of the weed and prevent crop losses.
Todd Gaines, associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Biology specializing in molecular weed science, has focused on combatting Palmer Amaranth since his graduate studies. His assay creation began as states implemented regulations to keep the invasive weed out of seed supplies. He worked with Eric Paterson, his graduate student at the time, to identify a unique genetic marker within Palmer Amaranth. Gaines collaborated with Anthony Brusa, a researcher at the University of Minnesota, to gather diverse samples and validate the genetic markers. This technology is the first Palmer Amaranth test to be validated across a genetically diverse panel of 1250 samples collected from 20 different locations. Gaines worked with CSU STRATA to patent the innovation.
“This technology was patented to ensure that the quality of the test is maintained, the research-backed validation is assured, and that those with licenses to perform the assay use the validated methods so their customers can be assured they are getting research-backed, accurate results,” said CSU STRATA Licensing Manager Jessy McGowan.
Patents protect inventors’ efforts to solve problems worldwide by promoting innovation and allowing the development of new products. A patent grants inventors the right to exclude others from making, using, or selling their inventions for about 20 years. CSU STRATA has secured more than 350 US patents on behalf of CSU researchers, covering a wide range of fields from agriculture to engineering and medicine.
Learn more about this technology and explore licensing opportunities at csustrata.org/technology-transfer/available-technology/field-assay-for-identification-of-palmer-amaranth-from-single-seeds-seed-mixtures-and-leaves.
This story is part of CSU STRATA’s Securing Innovation series. The series explores how patents, copyrights, and trademarks drive progress by highlighting stories of innovators throughout the CSU System. Check out our blog for more stories like this.