Heat Stress Tolerance in Plants Description This invention proposes a method to make plants more resistant to (repeated) heat stress. Technical Field  Plant epigenetics This is done by means of using microRNA156 (miRNA156) to increase heat stress tolerance. miRNA156 is expressed under the control of a special heat-inducible Keywords  Heat stress tolerance  microRNA  Heat-inducible promoter promoter to minimize negative side effects such as enhanced leaf induction and later Patent Status  EP 14 152 191.4 filed 01/2014 the application of heat. flowering. The proposed invention expresses miRNA156 exclusively by means of heat. The heatinducible promoter HSP21 ensures that the expression of miR156 is “switched on” by Process Developmental Maturity  Producibility  Laboratory scale Conditions of Use  Sale  Licensing  Option  R&D Cooperation Heat stress Maintenance of acquired thermal tolerance Fig.: Schematic overview Characteristics Contact Dr. Viola Muth [email protected] Tel. +49 331 977-4263 www.brainshell.de ZAB ZukunftsAgentur Brandenburg GmbH Brainshell Steinstrasse 104-106 14480 Potsdam Germany Reference Offer-No. 13-20 May 2014 Previous solutions have been problematic for agriculture because of negative effects on plant growth. This invention solves this problem by expressing protective miRNA only after exposure to heat stress, which means that plant growth is not affected under normal conditions. This represents a major advantage over previous solutions. This technology can therefore contribute to increased crop yields and associated agricultural productivity. Brainshell Brainshell is an independent consulting agency specializing in intellectual property services for businesses. Brainshell manages and markets the patent portfolios of all colleges, universities and research institutes in the State of Brandenburg. We offer entrepreneurs opportunities to utilize outstanding R&D solutions “invented in Brandenburg”. www.inventionstore.de - Free e-mail service to access the latest IP-protected top technologies.