The U.S. Patent Office issued three new plant-related utility patents to Portlandbased Exelixis Plant Sciences, Inc. Utility plant patents are handled by Art Unit 1638. Some plants can qualify for both plant and utility patents.

The patents were awarded for a promoter to regulate the expression of genes in plants, a novel protein to detect a new strain of grapevine leaf-roll virus infection in grape plants and a strain of bacillus that has been effective in combating plant fungal and bacterial infections. Exelixis, formerly Agritope, has had 15 U.S. and 7 foreign patents issued. Applications for 39 other patents are pending.

Floyd Zaiger and Family (Zaiger Genetics) have achieved international prominence for their fruit and rootstock hybridizing program. Known around Art Unit 1661 as nice people, the Zaigers have introduced several hundred varieties over the past five decades and hold over 100 U.S. plant patents on varieties developed for home orchard as well as commercial use.

Multinational corporations (e.g., Georgia-Pacific, International Paper, Boise Cascade, and Union Camp) are actively looking for ways to increase the density of trees whose wood is destined for use as paper pulp and in construction. Genetic engineering efforts are underway to reduce branching in trees grown specifically to make furniture, increase growth rates in wood burned for fuel, change fruit trees for modified taste, vary the ripening characteristics of fruit, and so on. A company is even trying to develop a caffeine-free coffee plant. If this could be done, there would be no need for the expensive process required to produce decaf coffee. If plants are your “field” of invention, this challenge could bring you lots of “beans” if you’re able to do it.