HYBRID CARROT VARIETY NUN 89851 CAC

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of Daucus carota, in particular to a new variety of carrot designated NUN 89851 CAC as well as plants, seeds and carrot roots thereof.

Claims

1. A plant, plant part or seed of carrot variety NUN 89851 CAC, wherein a representative sample of said seed has been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB ______.

2. A plant or part thereof grown from the seed of claim 1.

3. The plant part of claim 2, further defined as a leaf, pollen, stem, an ovule, a root, a scion, a rootstock, cutting, flower or a part of any of these or a cell.

4. A Daucus carota plant, or a part thereof which does not significantly differ from the plant of claim 2 in any of the distinguishing characteristics selected from the group consisting of 1) taproot length at market maturity; 2) root shoulder diameter at market maturity; 3) root core (xylem) thickness (midpoint X-section) at market maturity; 4) carrot length (minus taproot) at market maturity; 5) root base type at market maturity; 6) root zoning at market maturity; 7) root flavor harshness at market maturity; 8) blade length; 9) plant top height; and 10) plant top neck diameter.

5. A carrot plant, or a part thereof which does not significantly differ from the plant of claim 2.

6. A tissue or cell culture of regenerable cells of the plant of claim 2.

7. The tissue or cell culture according to claim 6, comprising cells or protoplasts from a plant part selected from the group consisting of embryos, meristems, cotyledons, hypocotyl, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, taproots, pistil, petiole, flower, fruit, seed, stem and stalks.

8. A carrot plant regenerated from the tissue or cell culture of claim 6, wherein the plant has all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of the plant of claim 2 as listed in Table 1, where numerical values are determined at the 5% significance level.

9. A method of producing of the plant of claim 2, or a part thereof, comprising vegetative propagation of the plant of claim 2.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said vegetative propagation comprises regenerating a whole plant from a part of the plant of claim 2.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said part is a cutting, a cell culture or a tissue culture.

12. A vegetative propagated plant of claim 2, or a part thereof, wherein the plant has all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of the plant of claim 2 when determined at the 5% significance level.

13. A method of producing a carrot plant, comprising crossing the plant of claim 2 with a second carrot plant one or more times, and selecting progeny from said crossing and optionally allowing the progeny to form seed.

14. Progeny of the plant of claim 2 obtained by further breeding with said variety.

15. The progeny of claim 14, wherein said progeny have all the distinguishing characteristics 1) to 5) or 1) to 10) of the carrot plant of claim 2 when grown under the same environmental conditions, wherein the distinguishing characteristics are defined as 1) an average taproot length at market maturity of about 41.4 mm (e.g., between 39.3 and 43.5 mm); 2) an average root shoulder diameter at market maturity of about 33.3 mm (e.g., between 31.4 and 34.7 mm); 3) an average root core (xylem) thickness (midpoint X-section) at market maturity of about 7.6 mm (e.g., between 7.2 and 8.0 mm); 4) an average carrot length at market maturity of about 20.0 cm (e.g., between 19.0 and 21.0 cm); 5) medium root base type at market maturity; 6) prominent root zoning at market maturity; 7) mildly harsh root flavor at market maturity; 8) an average blade length of about 19.9 cm (e.g., between 18.9 and 20.9 cm); 9) an average plant top height of about 45.6 cm (e.g., between 43.3 and 47.9 cm); and 10) an average plant top neck diameter of about 12.6 mm (e.g., between 12.0 and 13.2 mm).

16. A carrot plant having one, two or three physiological and/or morphological characteristics which are different from those of the plant of claim 2 and which otherwise has all the physiological and morphological characteristics of the plant of claim 2 as listed in Table 1, when determined at the 5% significance level.

17. A food or feed product comprising the plant part of claim 3 wherein the plant part can be identified as a part of the plant of the invention.

18. A carrot plant comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of the plant of claim 2.

19. The plant of claim 2 further comprising a single locus conversion, wherein said plant has all or all but one, two or three of the morphological and physiological characteristics of the plant of claim 2, optionally wherein the single locus conversion confers a trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism.

20. A method of producing a combination of parental lines of the plant of claim 2 comprising the step of making double haploid cells from haploid cells from the plant of claim 2 or a seed of claim 1.

21. A combination of parental lines produced by the method of claim 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0063] The present invention relates to a Daucus carota variety, referred to as NUN 89851 CAC, whichwhen compared to check variety Nutri-Redhas a longer taproot at market at market maturity (than check variety Nutri-Red), a larger root shoulder diameter at market maturity (than check variety Nutri-Red), a thicker root core at market maturity (than check variety Nutri-Red), a shorter carrot at market maturity (than check variety Nutri-Red), a medium root base type at market maturity (as compared to the pointed base of check variety Nutri-Red), a prominent root zoning at market maturity (as compared to the faint zoning of check variety Nutri-Red), a mildly harsh root flavor at market maturity (as compared to the very harsh flavor of check variety Nutri-Red), shorter blades (than check variety Nutri-Red), a shorter plant at top height (than check variety Nutri-Red) and a smaller plant top neck diameter (than check variety Nutri-Red). Also encompassed by the present invention are progeny plants having all but 1, 2, or 3 of the morphological and/physiological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC and methods of producing plants in accordance with the present invention.

[0064] A carrot plant of NUN 89851 CAC differs from the most similar comparison variety Nutri-Red in one or more characteristics (referred herein to as distinguishing characteristics or distinguishing morphological and/or physiological characteristics (or essential physiological and/or morphological characteristics) selected from: [0065] 1) NUN 89851 CAC has a taproot at market maturity that is at least 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70% or even 70.4% longer than the taproot length of check variety Nutri-Red; [0066] 2) NUN 89851 CAC has a root shoulder diameter at market maturity that is at least 10%, 15%, 18%, 20%, or even 20.4% larger than the diameter at shoulder of check variety Nutri-Red; [0067] 3) NUN 89851 CAC has a root core at market maturity that is at least 7%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 16%, or even 16.9% thicker than check variety Nutri-Red; [0068] 4) NUN 89851 CAC has a carrot length at market maturity that is at least 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, or even 8.3% shorter check variety Nutri-Red; [0069] 5) NUN 89851 CAC has a medium root base at market maturity as compared to the pointed root base of check variety Nutri-Red; [0070] 6) NUN 89851 CAC has prominent root zoning at market maturity as compared to faint root zoning of check variety Nutri-Red; [0071] 7) NUN 89851 CAC has a mildly harsh root flavour at market maturity as compared to the very harsh flavour of check variety Nutri-Red; [0072] 8) NUN 89851 CAC has a blade length that is at least 8%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 16%, or even 16.7% shorter than check variety Nutri-Red; [0073] 9) NUN 89851 CAC has a plant top height that is at least 5%, 8%, 10%, 13%, 14%, or even 14.3% shorter than check variety Nutri-Red; [0074] 10) NUN 89851 CAC has a plant top neck diameter that is at least 10%, 15%, 20%, 30%, 33%, or even 33.3% smaller than check variety Nutri-Red.

[0075] In another embodiment the plant of the invention has a leaf petiole diameter that is at least 15%, 20%, 25%, 27%, or even 27.7% smaller than the petiole diameter of check variety Nutri-Red, a root weight at market maturity that is at least 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 26%, or even 26.3% heavier than the root of check variety Nutri-Red and/or a Brix that is at least 5%, 6%, 7%, or even 7.7% higher than the Brix of check variety Nutri-Red.

[0076] It is understood that significant differences refer to statistically significant differences, when comparing the characteristic between two plant lines or varieties when grown under the same conditions. Preferably at least about 10, 15, 20 or more plants per line or variety are grown under the same conditions (i.e. side by side) and characteristics are measured on at least about 10, 15, 20 or more randomly selected plant or plant parts to obtain averages. Thus, physiological and morphological characteristics or traits are commonly evaluated at a significance level of 1%, 5% or 10%, when measured in plants grown under the same environmental conditions.

[0077] Thus, in one aspect, the invention provides seeds of the carrot variety designated NUN 89851 CAC wherein a representative sample of seeds of said variety was deposited under the Budapest Treaty, with Accession number NCIMB ______.

[0078] Seeds of NUN 89851 CAC are obtainable by crossing the male parent with the female parent and harvesting the seeds produced on the female parent. The resultant NUN 89851 CAC seeds can be grown to produce NUN 89851 CAC plants. In one embodiment a plurality of NUN 89851 CAC seeds are packaged into small and/or large containers (e.g., bags, cartons, cans, etc.). The seeds may be disinfected, primed and/or treated with various compounds, such as seed coatings or crop protection compounds.

[0079] Also provided are plants of carrot variety NUN 89851 CAC, or a root or other plant part thereof, produced from seeds, wherein a representative sample of said seeds has been deposited under the Budapest Treaty, with Accession Number NCIMB ______. Also included is a cell culture or tissue culture produced from such a plant. It is understood that such tissue or cell culture comprising cells or protoplasts from the plant of the invention can be obtained from a plant part selected from the group consisting of embryos, meristems, cotyledons, hypocotyl, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistil, petiole, flower, fruit, seed, stem and stalks. In one embodiment a plant regenerated from such a cell or tissue culture said plant expressing all the morphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC.

[0080] In one embodiment the invention provides a carrot plant regenerated from the tissue or cell culture of NUN 89851 CAC, wherein the plant has all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC as listed in Table 1 when determined at the 5% significance level. In another embodiment, the invention provides a carrot plant regenerated from the tissue or cell culture of NUN 89851 CAC, wherein the plant has all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC when determined at the 5% significance level.

[0081] Plants of NUN 89851 CAC can be produced by seeding directly in the ground (e.g., field) or by germinating the seeds in controlled environment conditions (e.g., greenhouses) and then transplanting the seedlings into the field. For example, the seed can be sown into prepared seed beds where they will remain for the entire production of the crop. Alternatively, the carrot seed may be planted or transplanted in prepared mounds.

[0082] In another aspect, the invention provides for a carrot plant of variety NUN 89851 CAC, a representative sample of seed from said variety has been deposited under the Budapest Treaty, with Accession number NCIMB ______.

[0083] In other aspects, the invention provides for a root or parts thereof of carrot variety NUN 89851 CAC, or a plant part, such as pollen, flowers, shoots or cuttings of variety NUN 89851 CAC or parts thereof.

[0084] In one embodiment any plant of the invention comprises at least 3, 4, 5 or more, e.g. 6, 7, 8, 9 or all of the following morphological and/or physiological characteristics (i.e. distinguishing characteristics (average values; measured at harvest or market maturity, as indicated on the USDA Objective description of varietyCarrot (unless indicated otherwise), when grown under the same environmental conditions): [0085] 1) NUN 89851 CAC has an average taproot length at market maturity of about 41.4 mm, that is between 25 and 55 mm, or between 30 and 50 mm, or between 35 and 45 mm, or between 40 and 43 mm, or between 41 and 42 mm, or even between 41.3 and 41.5 mm; [0086] 2) NUN 89851 CAC has an average root shoulder diameter at market maturity of about 33.0 mm, that is between 28 and 38 mm, or between 30 and 36 mm, or between 32 and 34 mm, or even between 32.9 and 33.1 mm; [0087] 3) NUN 89851 CAC has an average root core (xylem) thickness (midpoint X-section) at market maturity of about 7.6 mm, that is between 7 and 10 mm, or between 7.5 and 8.5 mm, or between 7 and 8 mm or even between 7.5 and 7.7 mm; [0088] 4) NUN 89851 CAC has an average carrot length at market maturity of about 20.0 cm, that is between 18.5 and 21.5 cm, or between 19 and 21 cm, or between 19.5 and 20.5 cm, or even between 19.9 and 20.1 cm; [0089] 5) NUN 89851 CAC has medium root base at market maturity; [0090] 6) NUN 89851 CAC has prominent root zoning at market maturity; [0091] 7) NUN 89851 CAC has mildly harsh flavor of the root at market maturity; [0092] 8) NUN 89851 CAC has an average blade length of about 19.9 cm, that is between 17 and 23 cm, or between 18 and 22 cm, or between 19 and 21 cm, or even between 19.8 and 20.0 cm; [0093] 9) NUN 89851 CAC has an average plant top height of about 45.6 cm, that is between 38 and 53 cm, or between 41 and 50 cm, or between 45 and 46 cm, or even between 45.5 and 45.7 cm; and [0094] 10) NUN 89851 CAC has an average plant top neck diameter of about 12.6 mm, that is between and 7 and 18 mm, or between 9 and 16 mm, or between 11 and 14 mm, or between 12 and 13 mm, or even between 12.5 and 12.7 mm.

[0095] In another embodiment, the plant of the invention has an average leaf petiole diameter that is about 3.4 mm, that is between 2.5 and 4.5 mm, or between 3 and 4 mm, or even between 3.3 and 3.5 mm; an average root at market maturity of about 115.3 gram, that is between 95 and 135 gram, or between 110 and 120 gram, or even between 115.2 and 115.4 gram; and/or an average Brix of about 10.24, that is between 9.8 and 10.5, or even between 10.1 and 10.3.

[0096] In still another aspect the invention provides a method of producing a carrot plant, comprising crossing a plant of carrot variety NUN 89851 CAC with a second carrot plant one or more times, and selecting progeny from said crossing.

[0097] In yet another aspect the invention provides a method of producing a carrot plant, comprising selfing a plant of carrot variety NUN 89851 CAC one or more times, and selecting progeny from said selfing.

[0098] In other aspects, the invention provides for progeny of variety NUN 89851 CAC such as progeny obtained by further breeding NUN 89851 CAC. Further breeding NUN 89851 CAC includes selfing NUN 89851 CAC one or more times and/or cross-pollinating NUN 89851 CAC with another carrot plant or variety one or more times. In particular, the invention provides for progeny that retain all the essential morphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC or that retain one or more (e.g. 1) to 4) or 1) to 7) or all) of the distinguishing characteristics of the carrot type described further above, or, in another embodiment, progeny that retain all morphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC as listed in Table 1; when grown under the same environmental conditions, when determined at the 5% significance level. In another aspect, the invention provides for vegetative reproductions of the variety and plants having all but 1, 2, or 3 of the physiological and morphological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC (e.g. as listed in Table 1).

[0099] The morphological and/or physiological differences between plants according to the invention, i.e. NUN 89851 CAC or progeny thereof, or plants having all but 1, 2, or 3 of the physiological and morphological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC (as listed in Table 1); and other known varieties can easily be established by growing NUN 89851 CAC next to the other varieties (in the same field, under the same environmental conditions), preferably in several locations which are suitable for said carrot cultivation, and measuring morphological and/or physiological characteristics of a number of plants (e.g., to calculate an average value and to determine the variation range/uniformity within the variety). For example, trials can be carried out in El Centro Calif., USA (N 32 degrees 74520/W 115 degrees 37179, USA, whereby type, region of adaptation, maturity, plant top dimensions, root length, root diameter, root shape, root color, root surface, taproot length, leaf shape, leaf color, disease resistance, insect resistance and physiological reactions can be measured and directly compared for species of Daucus carota.

[0100] The morphological and physiological characteristics (and distinguishing characteristics) of NUN 89851 CAC, are provided in the Examples, in Table 1. Encompassed herein are also plants derivable from NUN 89851 CAC (e.g. by selfings and/or crossing and/or backcrossing with NUN 89851 CAC and/or progeny thereof) comprising all the physiological and morphological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC listed in Table 1 as determined at the 5% significance level for numerical characteristics or identical for non-numerical characteristics when grown under the same environmental conditions and/or comprising one or more (or all; or all except one, two or three) of the distinguishing characteristics as determined at the 5% significance level when grown under the same environmental conditions.

[0101] Also at-harvest and/or post-harvest characteristics of roots can be compared, such as cold storage holding quality, post-harvest rind firmness and/or flesh firmness can be measured using known methods.

[0102] The morphological and/or physiological characteristics may vary somewhat with variation in the environment (such as temperature, light intensity, day length, humidity, soil, fertilizer use), which is why a comparison under the same environmental conditions is preferred. Colors can best be measured against The Munsell Book of Color (Munsell Color Macbeth Division of Kollmorgan Instruments Corporation) or using the Royal Horticultural Society Chart (World wide web at rhs.org.uk/Plants/RHS-Publications/RHS-colour-charts).

[0103] In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides for carrot roots of variety NUN 89851 CAC, or a part of the root. In another embodiment, the invention provides for a container comprising or consisting of a plurality of harvested carrot roots of NUN 89851 CAC, or progeny thereof, or a derived variety.

[0104] In yet a further embodiment, the invention provides for a method of producing a new carrot plant. The method comprises crossing a plant of the invention NUN 89851 CAC, or a plant comprising all but 1, 2, or 3 of the morphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC (as listed in Table 1), or a progeny plant thereof, either as male or as female parent, with a second carrot plant (or a wild relative of carrot) one or more times, and/or selfing a carrot plant according to the invention i.e. NUN 89851 CAC, or a progeny plant thereof, one or more times, and selecting progeny from said crossing and/or selfing. The second carrot plant may for example be a line or variety of the species Daucus carota, or other Daucus species or even other Apiaceae species.

[0105] Progeny are a later generation (of seeds) produced from the first cross of the F1 hybrid with another plant (F2) or with itself (S2), or any further generation produced by crossing and/or selfing (F3, F4, etc.) and/or backcrossing (BC2, BC3, etc.) one or more selected plants of the F2 and/or S2 and/or BC2 generation (or plants of any further generation, e.g. the F3) with another carrot plant (and/or with a wild relative of carrot). Progeny may have all the physiological and morphological characteristics of carrot variety NUN 89851 CAC when grown under the same environmental conditions and/or progeny may have (be selected for having) one or more of the distinguishing characteristics of carrot of the invention. Using common breeding methods such as backcrossing or recurrent selection, one or more specific characteristics may be introduced into NUN 89851 CAC, to provide or a plant comprising all but 1, 2, or 3 or more of the morphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC (as listed in Table 1).

[0106] The invention provides for methods of producing plants which retain all the morphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC. The invention provides also for methods of producing a plant comprising all but 1, 2, or 3 or more of the morphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC (e.g. as listed in Table 1), but which are still genetically closely related to NUN 89851 CAC. The relatedness can, for example be determined by fingerprinting techniques (e.g., making use of isozyme markers and/or molecular markers such as SNP markers, AFLP markers, microsatellites, minisatellites, RAPD markers, RFLP markers and others). A plant is closely related to NUN 89851 CAC if its DNA fingerprint is at least 80%, 90%, 95% or 98% identical to the fingerprint of NUN 89851 CAC. In a preferred embodiment AFLP markers are used for DNA fingerprinting (Shim and Jrgensen, Theor Appl Genet (2000) 101:227-233). A closely related plant may have a Jaccard's Similarity index of at least about 0.8, preferably at least about 0.9, 0.95, 0.98 or more (Jhang et al., J. Agricultural Sci. 2010-Vol 148 (2) pp 171-181). The invention also provides plants and varieties obtained by these methods. Plants may be produced by crossing and/or selfing, or alternatively, a plant may simply be identified and selected amongst NUN 89851 CAC plants, or progeny thereof, e.g. by identifying a variant within NUN 89851 CAC or progeny thereof (e.g. produced by selfing) which variant differs from NUN 89851 CAC in one, two or three of the morphological and/or physiological characteristics (e.g. in one, two or three distinguishing characteristics), e.g. those listed in Table 1 or others. In one embodiment the invention provides a carrot plant having a Jaccard's Similarity index with NUN 89851 CAC of at least 0.8, e.g. at least 0.85, 0.9, 0.95, 0.98 or even at least 0.99.

[0107] By crossing and/or selfing also (one or more) single traits may be introduced into the variety of the invention i.e. NUN 89851 CAC (e.g., using backcrossing breeding schemes), while retaining the remaining morphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC and/or while retaining one or more distinguishing characteristics. A single trait converted plant may thereby be produced. For example, disease resistance genes may be introduced, genes responsible for one or more quality traits, yield, etc. Both single genes (dominant or recessive) and one or more QTLs (quantitative trait loci) may be transferred into NUN 89851 CAC by breeding with NUN 89851 CAC.

[0108] Any pest or disease resistance genes may be introduced into a plant according to the invention, i.e. NUN 89851 CAC, progeny thereof or into a plant comprising all but 1, 2, or 3 or more of the morphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC (e.g. as listed in Table 1). Resistance to one or more of the following diseases or pests is preferably introduced into plants of the invention: Alternaria Blight, Aster Yellows, Cavity Spot, Cercospora Blight, Motley Dwarf Virus, Powdery Mildew, Pythium Root Dieback, Schlerotinia Decay and Root Knot (Nematode). Other resistance genes, against pathogenic viruses, fungi, bacteria, nematodes, insects or other pests may also be introduced, as well as resistance to physiological reactions, for example Bolting and Root splitting.

[0109] Thus, invention also provides a method for developing a carrot plant in a carrot breeding program, using a carrot plant of the invention, or its parts as a source of plant breeding material. Suitable plant breeding techniques are recurrent selection, backcrossing, pedigree breeding, mass selection, mutation breeding and/or genetic marker enhanced selection. For example, in one aspect, the method comprises crossing NUN 89851 CAC or progeny thereof, or a plant comprising all but 1, 2, or 3 or more of the morphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC (e.g. as listed in Table 1), with a different carrot plant, and wherein one or more offspring of the crossing are subject to one or more plant breeding techniques selected from the group consisting of recurrent selection, backcrossing, pedigree breeding, mass selection, mutation breeding and genetic marker enhanced selection (see e.g. Stein and Nothnagel, (1995) Plant Breeding 114, 1-11). For breeding methods in general see Principles of Plant Genetics and Breeding, 2007, George Acquaah, Blackwell Publishing, ISBN-13: 978-1-4051-3646-4.

[0110] The invention thus also provides a method of introducing a single locus conversion, or single trait conversion or introducing a desired trait, into a carrot plant according to the invention and/or into NUN 89851 CAC comprising: [0111] (a) crossing a carrot plant of variety NUN 89851 CAC, a representative sample of seed of said variety having been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB ______, with a second carrot plant comprising a desired single locus to produce F2 progeny plants; [0112] (b) selecting F2 progeny plants that have the single locus; [0113] (c) crossing the selected progeny plants with a plant of NUN 89851 CAC, to produce backcross progeny plants; [0114] (d) selecting backcross progeny plants that have the single locus and one or more (or all) distinguishing characteristics of carrot according to the invention and/or all the physiological and morphological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC to produce selected backcross progeny plants; and [0115] (e) optionally repeating steps (c) and (d) one or more times in succession to produce selected second, third or fourth or higher backcross progeny plants that comprise the single locus and otherwise one or more (or all) the distinguishing characteristics of the carrots according to the invention and/or comprise all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC, when grown in the same environmental conditions. The invention further relates to plants obtained by this method.

[0116] The above method is provided, wherein the single locus confers a trait, wherein the trait is pest resistance or disease resistance.

[0117] In one embodiment the trait is disease resistance and the resistance is conferred to Alternaria Blight, Aster Yellows, Cavity Spot, Cercospora Blight, Motley Dwarf Virus, Powdery Mildew, Pythium Root Dieback and Schlerotinia Decay.

[0118] The invention also provides a carrot plant comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of carrot variety NUN 89851 CAC, a sample of seed of said variety having been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB ______; optionally further comprising a single locus conversion, wherein said plant has essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of the plant comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of carrot NUN 89851 CAC. In another embodiment, this single locus conversion confers a trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism.

[0119] In one embodiment, NUN 89851 CAC may also be mutated (by e.g. irradiation, chemical mutagenesis, heat treatment, etc.) and mutated seeds or plants may be selected in order to change one or more characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC. Methods such as TILLING may be applied to carrot populations in order to identify mutants. Similarly, NUN 89851 CAC may be transformed and regenerated, whereby one or more chimeric genes are introduced into the variety or into a plant comprising all but 1, 2, 3, or more of the morphological and physiological characteristics (e.g. as listed in Table 1). Transformation can be carried out using standard methods, such as Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation or biolistics, followed by selection of the transformed cells and regeneration into plants. A desired trait (e.g. genes conferring pest or disease resistance, herbicide, fungicide or insecticide tolerance, etc.) can be introduced into NUN 89851 CAC, or progeny thereof, by transforming NUN 89851 CAC or progeny thereof with a transgene that confers the desired trait, wherein the transformed plant retains all the phenotypic and/or morphological and/or physiological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC or the progeny thereof and contains the desired trait.

[0120] The invention also provides for progeny of hybrid (F1) variety NUN 89851 CAC obtained by further breeding with NUN 89851 CAC. In one aspect progeny are F2 progeny obtained by crossing NUN 89851 CAC with another plant or S2 progeny obtained by selfing NUN 89851 CAC. Also encompassed are F3 progeny obtained by selfing the F2 plants. Further breeding encompasses traditional breeding (e.g., selfing, crossing, backcrossing), marker assisted breeding, and/or mutation breeding. In one embodiment, the progeny have one or more (or all) of the distinguishing characteristics mentioned further above when grown under the same environmental conditions. In a further embodiment the progeny have all the physiological and morphological characteristics of variety NUN 89851 CAC when grown under the same environmental conditions. In another embodiment the progeny have one, two, or three distinct traits (qualitative or quantitative) introduced into NUN 89851 CAC, while retaining all the other physiological and morphological characteristics of variety NUN 89851 CAC when grown under the same environmental conditions.

[0121] The invention also provides a plant having one, two or three physiological and/or morphological characteristics which are different from those of NUN 89851 CAC and which otherwise has all the physiological and morphological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC, wherein a representative sample of seed of variety NUN 89851 CAC has been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB ______. In particular plants which differ from NUN 89851 CAC in none, one, two or three of the characteristics mentioned in Table 1 are encompassed.

[0122] In one aspect, the plant having one, two or three physiological and/or morphological characteristics which are different from those of NUN 89851 CAC and which otherwise has all the physiological and morphological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC differs from NUN 89851 CAC in one, two or three of the distinguishing morphological and/or physiological characteristics selected from 1) average taproot length at market maturity; 2) average root shoulder diameter at market maturity; 3) average root core (xylem) thickness (midpoint X-section) at market maturity; 4) average carrot length (minus taproot) at market maturity; 5) root base type at market maturity; 6) root zoning at market maturity; 7) root flavor harshness at market maturity; 8) average blade length; 9) average plant top height; and 10) average plant top neck diameter.

[0123] In another embodiment the plant having one, two or three physiological and/or morphological characteristics which are different from those of NUN 89851 CAC and which otherwise has all the physiological and morphological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC differs from NUN 89851 CAC in one, two or three morphological or physiological characteristic other than the distinguishing morphological and/or physiological characteristics (or essential physiological and/or morphological characteristics) of NUN 89851 CAC selected from: 1) average taproot length at market maturity; 2) average root shoulder diameter at market maturity; 3) average root core (xylem) thickness (midpoint X-section) at market maturity; 4) average carrot length (minus taproot) at market maturity; 5) root base type at market maturity; 6) root zoning at market maturity; 7) root flavor harshness at market maturity; 8) average blade length; 9) average plant top height; and 10) average plant top neck diameter.

[0124] Carrots according to the invention, such as the variety NUN 89851 CAC, or its progeny, or a plant having all physiological and/or morphological characteristics but one, two or three which are different from those of NUN 89851 CAC, can also be reproduced using vegetative reproduction methods. Therefore, the invention provides for a method of producing plants, or a part thereof, of variety NUN 89851 CAC, comprising vegetative propagation of variety NUN 89851 CAC. Vegetative propagation comprises regenerating a whole plant from a plant part of variety NUN 89851 CAC (or from its progeny or from or a plant having all physiological and/or morphological characteristics but one, two or three, which are different from those of NUN 89851 CAC), such as a cutting, a cell culture or a tissue culture.

[0125] The invention also concerns methods of vegetatively propagating a plant of the invention. In certain embodiments, the method comprises the steps of: (a) collecting tissue or cells capable of being propagated from a plant of the invention; (b) cultivating said tissue or cells to obtain proliferated shoots; and (c) rooting said proliferated shoots, to obtain rooted plantlets. Steps (b) and (c) may also be reversed, i.e. first cultivating said tissue to obtain roots and then cultivating the tissue to obtain shoots, thereby obtaining rooted plantlets. The rooted plantlets may then be further grown, to obtain plants. In one embodiment, the method further comprises step (d) growing plants from said rooted plantlets

[0126] The invention also provides for a vegetatively propagated plant of variety NUN 89851 CAC (or from its progeny or from or a plant having all but one, two or three physiological and/or morphological characteristics which are different from those of NUN 89851 CAC, or a part thereof, having one or more distinguishing characteristics and/or all the morphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC (except for the characteristics differing), when grown under the same environmental conditions.

[0127] Parts of NUN 89851 CAC (or of its progeny or of a plant having all physiological and/or morphological characteristics but one, two or three which are different from those of NUN 89851 CAC) encompass any cells, tissues, organs obtainable from the seedlings or plants, such as but not limited to: carrot roots or parts thereof, cuttings, hypocotyl, cotyledon, pollen, scion and the like. Such parts can be stored and/or processed further. Encompassed are therefore also food or feed products comprising one or more of such parts, such as canned, chopped, cooked, roasted, preserved, frozen, dried, pickled, or juiced carrot root from NUN 89851 CAC or from progeny thereof, or from a derived variety, such as a plant having all but one, two or three physiological and/or morphological characteristics which are different from those of NUN 89851 CAC.

[0128] In one aspect haploid plants and/or double haploid plants of NUN 89851 CAC, or a plant having all but one, two or three physiological and/or morphological characteristics which are different from those of NUN 89851 CAC, or progeny of any of these, are encompassed herein. Haploid and double haploid (DH) plants can, for example, be produced by cell or tissue culture and chromosome doubling agents and regeneration into a whole plant. For DH production chromosome doubling may be induced using known methods, such as colchicine treatment or the like.

[0129] Also provided are plant parts derived from variety NUN 89851 CAC (or from its progeny or from a plant having all but one, two or three physiological and/or morphological characteristics which are different from those of NUN 89851 CAC), or from a vegetatively propagated plant of NUN 89851 CAC (or from its progeny or from a plant having all but one, two or three physiological and/or morphological characteristics which are different from those of NUN 89851 CAC), being selected from the group consisting of: harvested roots or parts thereof, pollen, cells, leaves or parts thereof, petioles, cotyledons, hypocotyls, shoots or parts thereof, stems or parts thereof, or vines or parts thereof, roots or parts thereof, cuttings, or flowers.

[0130] In one embodiment, the invention provides for extracts of a plant described herein and compositions comprising or consisting of such extracts. In a preferred embodiment, the extract consists of or comprises tissue of a plant described herein or is obtained from such tissue.

[0131] In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of determining the genotype of a plant of the invention comprising detecting in the genome (e.g., a sample of nucleic acids) of the plant at least a first polymorphism. The method may, in certain embodiments, comprise detecting a plurality of polymorphisms in the genome of the plant, for example by obtaining a sample of nucleic acid from a plant and detecting in said nucleic acids a plurality of polymorphisms. The method may further comprise storing the results of the step of detecting the plurality of polymorphisms on a computer readable medium

[0132] The invention also provides for a food or feed product comprising or consisting of a plant part described herein wherein the plant part can be identified as a part of the plant of the invention. Preferably, the plant part is a carrot root or part thereof and/or an extract from a root or another plant part described herein. The food or feed product may be fresh or processed, e.g., dried, grinded, powdered, pickled, chopped, cooked, juiced, preserved, pickled, or powdered canned, steamed, boiled, blanched and/or frozen, etc.

[0133] For example, containers such as cans, boxes, crates, bags, cartons, Modified Atmosphere Packagings, films (e.g. biodegradable films), etc. comprising plant parts of plants (fresh and/or processed) described herein are also provided herein.

[0134] Marketable carrot roots are generally sorted by size and quality after harvest. Alternatively the carrot roots can be sorted by Brix or sugar content.

[0135] Carrots may also be grown for use in grafting or inosculation as rootstocks (stocks) or scions (scions). Typically, different types of carrots are grafted to enhance disease resistance, which is usually conferred by the rootstock, while retaining the horticultural qualities usually conferred by the scion. It is not uncommon for grafting to occur between cultivated carrot varieties and related Daucus species. Methods of grafting and vegetative propagation are well-known in the art.

[0136] So in one aspect the invention relates to a plant comprising a rootstock or scion of NUN 89851 CAC.

[0137] Using methods known in the art like reverse breeding, it is possible to produce parental lines for a hybrid plant such as NUN 89851 CAC; where normally the hybrid is produced from the parental lines. Such methods are based on the segregation of individual alleles in the spores produced by a desired plant and/or in the progeny derived from the self-pollination of that desired plant, and on the subsequent identification of suitable progeny plants in one generation, or in a limited number of inbred cycles. Such a method is known from WO2014076249 or from Wijnker et al, Nature Protocols Volume: 9, Pages: 761-772 (2014) DOI: doi:10.1038/nprot.2014.049, which are enclosed by reference. Such method for producing parental lines for a hybrid organism, comprises the steps of: a) defining a set of genetic markers that are present in a heterozygous form (H) in a partially heterozygous starting organism; b) producing doubled haploid lines from spores of the starting organism: c) genetically characterizing the doubled haploid lines thus obtained for the said set of genetic markers to determine whether they are present in a first homozygous form (A) or in a second homozygous form (B); d) selecting at least one pair of doubled haploid lines that have complementary alleles for at least a subset of the genetic markers, wherein each member of the pair is suitable as a parental line for a hybrid organism.

[0138] Thus in one aspect, the invention relates to a method of producing a combination of parental lines of a plant of the invention (NUN 89851 CAC) comprising the step of making double haploid cells from haploid cells from the plant of the invention (NUN 89851 CAC) or a seed of that plant; and optionally crossing these parental lines to produce and collect seeds. In another aspect, the invention relates to a combination of parental lines produced by this method. In still another aspect said combination of parental lines can be used to produce a seed or plant of NUN 89851 CAC when these parental lines are crossed. In still another aspect, the invention relates to a combination of parental lines from which a seed or plant having all but one, two or three physiological and/or morphological characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC can be produced; or in another aspect, wherein a seed or plant having the distinguishing characteristics 1)-4) or 1)-7) of NUN 89851 CAC, as herein defined, can be produced when grown under the same environmental conditions. In still another aspect, the invention relates to a combination of parental lines from which a seed or plant having all the characteristics of NUN 89851 CAC as defined in Table 1 can be produced when grown under the same conditions.

[0139] All documents (e.g., patent publications) are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

CITED REFERENCES

[0140] ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3003780 [0141] http://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/RHS-Publications/RHS-colour-charts [0142] http://www.upov.int/edocs/tgdocs/en/tg076.pdf [0143] Acquaah, Principles of Plant Genetics and Breeding, 2007, Blackwell Publishing, ISBN-13: 978-1-4051-3646-4 [0144] Arnholdt-Schmitt et al., 1995 Theor Appl Genet (1995) 91:809-815 [0145] Stein and Nothnagel, (1995) Plant Breeding 114, 1-11 [0146] Larkin and Scowcroft, (1981) Theor. Appl. Genet. 60, 197-214) [0147] Jhang et al., J. Agricultural Sci. 2010-Vol 148 (2) pp 171-181 [0148] Shim and Jrgensen, Theor Appl Genet (2000) 101:227-233 [0149] Wijnker et al, Nature Protocols Volume: 9, Pages: 761-772 (2014) DOI: doi:10.1038/nprot.2014.049 [0150] US 2006/0168701 [0151] WO2014076249

EXAMPLES

Development of NUN 89851 CAC

[0152] The hybrid NUN 89851 CAC was developed from a male and female proprietary inbred line of Nunhems. The female and male parents were crossed to produce hybrid (F1) seeds of NUN 89851 CAC. The seeds of NUN 89851 CAC can be grown to produce hybrid plants and parts thereof (e.g. carrot root). The hybrid NUN 89851 CAC can be propagated by seeds or vegetative.

[0153] The hybrid variety is uniform and genetically stable. This has been established through evaluation of horticultural characteristics. Several hybrid seed production events resulted in no observable deviation in genetic stability. Coupled with the confirmation of genetic stability of the female and male parents the Applicant concluded that NUN 89851 CAC is uniform and stable.

Deposit Information

[0154] A total of 2500 seeds of the hybrid variety NUN 89851 CAC were deposited according to the Budapest Treaty by Nunhems B.V. on ______, at or at the NCIMB Ltd., Ferguson Building, Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9YA, United Kingdom (NCIMB). The deposit has been assigned or NCIMB ______. A deposit of NUN 89851 CAC and of the male and female parent line is also maintained at Nunhems B.V. Access to the deposit will be available during the pendency of this application to persons determined by the Director of the U.S. Patent Office to be entitled thereto upon request. Subject to 37 C.F.R. 1.808(b), all restrictions imposed by the depositor on the availability to the public of the deposited material will be irrevocably removed upon the granting of the patent. The deposit will be maintained for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the most recent request, or for the enforceable life of the patent whichever is longer, and will be replaced if it ever becomes nonviable during that period. Applicant does not waive any rights granted under this patent on this application or under the Plant Variety Protection Act (7 USC 2321 et seq.).

[0155] The most similar variety to NUN 89851 CAC is Nutri-Red, a commercial variety from Seminis. In Table 1 a comparison between NUN 89851 CAC and Nutri-Red is shown based on a trial in the USA. Trial location: El Centro, Calif. USA, (coordinates: 32.74520 N, 115.37179 W). Harvesting date for NUN 89851 was Feb. 11, 2015.

[0156] Two replications of 50 plants each, from which 15 plants or plant parts were randomly selected to measure characteristics. In Table 1 the USDA descriptors of NUN 89851 CAC (this application) and reference Nutri-Red (commercial variety) are summarized. In Table 2, additional descriptors of NUN 89851 CAC and Nutri-Red are summarized.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 USDA descriptor NUN 89851 Nutri-Red 1. TYPE 1 = Amsterdam; 2 = Flakee; 3 = Berlicum; 4 = 6/7 6 Chantenay; 5 = Danvers; 6 = Imperator; 7 = Nantes; 8 = (Red) (Red Emperator) Other (Specify) 2. REGION OF ADAPTATION IN THE U.S.A.: 1 = Northeast; 2 = Northwest; 3 = Southeast; 4 = 7 7 Southwest; 5 = North Central; 6 = South Central; 7 = Most Regions 3. MARKET MATURITY No. Days from Seeding to Harvest 110-140 110-140 4. PLANT TOP: (At Harvest Stage) Habit: 2 2 1 = Erect; 2 = Semi-erect; 3 = Prostrate Plant Top Height (from Shoulder to Top of Crown) 45.6 cm 53.2 cm Plant Top Neck Diameter 12.6 mm 18.8 mm Top Attachment: 1 1 1 = Single 2 = Multiple 5. LEAF: (Al Harvest Stage) Name of Color Chart: RHS Colour Cart 2 3 Blade Color: 1 = Light Green; 2 = Medium Green; 3 = Dark Green; 4 = Other (Specify) Color Chart Value Green Green 137B N137A Blade Divisions: 2 2 1 = Fine; 2 = Medium; 3 = Coarse Blade Length (Without Petiole) 19.9 cm 23.9 cm Petiole Length from Crown to First Pinna 23.4 cm 27.2 cm Petiole Anthocyanin: 1 1 1 = Absent; 2 = Present Petiole Pubescence: 1 1 1 = Absent; 2 = Present 6. ROOT: (At Market Maturity) Cortex Thickness (Midpoint X-Section) 9.6 mm 9.0 mm Core Thickness (Midpoint X-Section) 7.6 mm 6.5 mm Carrot Length (Minus Taproot) 20.0 cm 21.8 cm Length of Taproot 41.4 mm 24.3 mm Diameter at Shoulder 33.0 mm 27.4 mm Diameter at Midpoint 26.9 mm 24.6 mm Amount Exposed (Above Ground): 1 = None; 2 = 1-10%; 1 1 3 = 11-20%; 4 = 21-30%; 5 = 31-40%; 6 = >40% Shape: 2 2 1 = Round; 2 = Conic; 3 = Cylindrical Collar: 2 2 1 = Sunken; 2 = Level; 3 = Square Shoulder: 2 2 1 = Rounded; 2 = Sloping; 3 = Square Base: 2 1 1 = Pointed; 2 = Medium; 3 = Blunt Surface Smoothness: 2 2 1 = Very Smooth; 2 = Dimpled or Corrugated Number of Secondary Root Scars: 2 2 1 = None; 2 = Few; 3 = Many Appearance of Secondary Root Scars: 2 2 1 = Not Prominent; 2 = Prominent Halo: 2 2 1 = None; 2 = Faint; 3 = Prominent Zoning: 3 2 1 = None; 2 = Faint; 3 = Prominent Flavor Harshness: 3 1 1 = Very Harsh; 2 = Moderately Harsh; 3 = Mildly Harsh Flavor Sweetness: 2 1 1 = Not Sweet; 2 = Moderately Sweet; 3 = Very Sweet COLORS: Color choices: 1 = white; 2 = yellow; 3 = orange; 4 = red; 5 = green; 7 = salmon; 8 = light; 9 = dark; 10 = other; color examples: 02 = yellow; 34 = orange-red; 94 = dark red Name of Color Chart: RHS Colour Chart Below Ground Exterior Color Shoulder 04: Greyed- 84: Greyed- purple 187B orange 175C Skin 04: Greyed- 84: Greyed- red 178B orange 175C X-Section Interior Color Core 04: Greyed- 84: Greyed- red 179A orange 179B Phloem 04: Greyed- 84: Greyed- red 179A orange 179B 7. FLOWER 8. DISEASE REACTIONS: (1 = Susceptible; 2 = Resistant; give races if known) Root Knot Nematode 1 1 9. INSECT REACTIONS: (1 = Susceptible; 2 = Resistant; give races if known) 10. PHYSIOLOGICAL REACTIONS: (1 = Susceptible and 2 = Resistant) Bolting 2 2 Root Splitting 2 2

[0157] These are typical values. Values may vary due to environment. Other values that are substantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention. N.A.=not applicable; n.r.=not recorded.

[0158] The carrot weight, Brix and the leaf petiole diameter were also determined for NUN 89851 and in the most similar variety Nutri-Red (Table 2).

[0159] To determine weight, soil was removed from the mature, harvested roots and they were weighed on standard scales.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 NUN 89851 Nutri-Red Weight 115.3 gram 91.3 gram Brix 10.24 9.51 Petiole diameter (leaf) 3.4 mm 4.7 mm

[0160] These are typical values. Values may vary due to environment. Other values that are substantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention.