WOBURN, Mass., March 09, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ: YTEN ) today announced greenhouse results in its model Camelina system showing that its second generation novel yield trait gene C3003 produces significant improvements in seed yield. The second generation C3003 yield gene trait was designed to be expressed only in the seed of the Camelina plant. Yield10 plans to test this promising yield trait in field trials planned for the upcoming 2017 spring growing season.
“The trends seen in our greenhouse data on second generation C3003 provide further validation for our approach to increasing yield in crops, and build on the field test data we recently reported for the first generation trait showing significant increases in seed yield,” said Oliver Peoples, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Yield10. “The data emerging on C3003 and related improvements to the trait support the work we are doing in 2017 toward translating this trait into commercially important crops such as canola, soybean and rice.”
Results
Stable Camelina seed lines expressing the second generation yield trait gene C3003 were grown and evaluated in a greenhouse study. The best performing Camelina line produced up to a 24 percent increase in seed yield (seed weight per plant), while maintaining a typical individual seed weight compared to control plants. The Company noted that results from greenhouse studies are indicative of trends, and that further field tests will be needed to verify the results.
“Our initial greenhouse results on second generation C3003 are very encouraging and warrant further study under field test conditions,” said Kristi Snell, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer of Yield10. “We plan to study second generation C3003 in Camelina in field tests planned for the 2017 growing season and report results from the study in fourth quarter 2017.”
Background on the Novel Yield Trait Gene C3003
Yield10’s “Smart Carbon Grid for Plants” technology platform focuses on identifying gene targets that enhance carbon capture from photosynthesis and regulate the flow of carbon to seed. C3003 represents the lead trait in this platform. C3003 appears to be a very unique gene that impacts photorespiration, a biochemical pathway in C3 photosynthetic plants which is responsible for significant losses in yield. Yield10 is progressing the introduction of the C3003 gene trait and improvements to the C3003 trait, such as the second generation trait, in Camelina, canola, soybean and rice, and expects to disclose additional results from a number of these activities throughout 2017.
About Yield10 Bioscience
Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. is focused on developing disruptive technologies for producing step-change improvements in crop yield to enhance global food security. Yield10 is leveraging an extensive track record of innovation based around optimizing the flow of carbon intermediates in living systems. By working on new approaches to improve fundamental elements of plant photosynthetic efficiency and optimizing carbon metabolism to direct more carbon to seed production, Yield10 is advancing several yield traits it has developed in crops such as Camelina, canola, soybean and corn. Yield10 is based in Woburn, MA.
For more information visit www.Yield10bio.com (YTEN-G)
Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements in this release do not constitute guarantees of future performance. Investors are cautioned that statements in this press release which are not strictly historical statements, including, without limitation, expectations regarding the reproducibility of data from greenhouse and field tests, the translation of yield improvements from Camelina to other crops, the potential to produce improvements in seed yield while also maintaining typical seed weight and oil composition, the timing of completion of additional greenhouse and field test studies and the timing for reporting results of those studies, and progress of Yield10 Bioscience, Inc., constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including the risks and uncertainties detailed in Yield10 Bioscience’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Yield10 Bioscience assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release or with respect to the announcements described herein.
Contact: Lynne H. Brum, 617-682-4693, LBrum@yield10bio.com Investor Relations Contact: Amato and Partners, LLC 90 Park Avenue, 17th Floor New York, NY 10016 admin@amatoandpartners.com
