WOBURN, Mass., Jan. 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ:YTEN) today reported encouraging results from
the 2017 Field Tests of its novel yield trait gene C3003 in Camelina and canola. Yield10 Bioscience is focused on “building
better plants” by developing proprietary, breakthrough technologies that produce higher yields in major food and feed crops to
enhance global food security with lower inputs of land, water and fertilizer.
The 2017 Field Tests of C3003 were conducted at two sites in Canada. The main objectives of the studies were to evaluate the
performance of the novel yield trait gene C3003 in Camelina and canola. Yield10 researchers transformed plants with genetic
constructs intended to optimize expression of C3003 during different stages of plant and seed development and tested these events
in the field tests. Highlights from the studies include:
- Results for Second Generation (Gen 2.0) C3003 in Camelina: The best events produced improvements in seed yield (up to 7.7%),
harvest index and overall agronomic performance as compared to control plants.
- Results for First Generation (Gen 1) C3003 in canola: The best events produced improvements in seed yield (up to 13.1%) as
compared to control plants.
- The studies met the objective for bulking up seed to enable further evaluation of C3003 in Camelina and canola in field tests
planned for spring 2018.
- Yield10 is evaluating seed oil content and fatty acid profiles of plants from the field tests. This work may take
several months to complete.
“In the results of our field tests, we are pleased to see that the yield characteristics we’ve observed for C3003 in Camelina
are translating quite predictably into canola,” said Kristi Snell, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer of Yield10. “Combining our
metabolic modeling of the trait with the results of our field tests, we are continuing to learn more about the C3003 trait that may
enable us to develop methods to further optimize improvements in seed yield. In our field tests in Camelina, we evaluated two
seed specific promoters (plant regulatory signals), one in replicated field plots and one in smaller scale seed bulk up
experiments, and both show promise for driving performance of the C3003 trait in Camelina. In our field tests planned for spring
2018, we look forward to evaluating our newer second generation (Gen 2.1) C3003 promoter that produced promising seed yield results
during seed bulk up.”
Yield10 also reported today on initial greenhouse studies conducted by an academic collaborator with first and second generation
C3003 in soybean. In line with expectations based on work in Camelina and canola, preliminary data suggests that first generation
C3003 produced seeds with lighter individual seed weight while second generation C3003 produced seeds with individual weights
similar to seeds from control soybean plants. In some events, C3003 produced increased branching of soybean plants, a change that
can lead to an increased number of seed pods per plant which can result in higher seed yield. This will need to be confirmed in
later generations of plants. In 2018, Yield10 intends to use seed produced in this greenhouse study to perform small field
tests of first and second generation C3003 in soybean.
“Our soybean results from the greenhouse are very early, but they suggest that our C3003 trait has potential for improving seed
yield in soybean. This early work is providing us with very useful information about the activity of C3003 that we can use as
we develop additional C3003 constructs for evaluation in soybean,” commented Dr. Snell.
“We are making solid progress developing C3003 as a new trait to boost seed yield in oilseed crops,” said Oliver Peoples, Ph.D.,
President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our C3003 yield trait continues to show promise as we are successfully translating it from
Camelina to canola and soybean. The data and insights we’ve generated in the program this year should provide us with a strong
basis for working with the agricultural industry. We plan to focus on identifying additional collaborators for the C3003 trait in
2018.”
Background on the Novel Yield Trait Gene C3003
Yield10’s “Smart Carbon Grid for Plants” advanced metabolic engineering technology platform incorporates sourcing of new
metabolic functionality from non-plant systems with sophisticated models of carbon-flux pathways to identify gene targets that
enhance carbon capture from photosynthesis and regulate the flow of carbon to seed. This informed, science based approach
allows Yield10 to address the problem of increasing crop yield from a unique perspective compared to other players in the industry.
C3003, which is derived from algae, represents the lead trait in this platform. C3003 appears to be a unique gene that impacts
photorespiration, a biochemical pathway in C3 photosynthetic plants which is responsible for significant losses in yield. The
purpose of increased seed yield is to enable farmers to increase the productivity of their land. Yield10 is progressing the
introduction of the C3003 gene trait as well as improvements to the C3003 trait, such as the second generation trait, in Camelina,
canola, soybean and rice, and expects to report additional results from these activities in 2018.
About Yield10 Bioscience
Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. is focused on developing new technologies to achieve step-change improvements in crop yield to enhance
global food security. Yield10 has an extensive track record of innovation based around optimizing the flow of carbon in living
systems. Yield10 is leveraging its technology platforms and unique knowledge base to design precise alterations to gene
activity and the flow of carbon in plants to produce higher yields with lower inputs of land, water or fertilizer. Yield10 is
advancing several yield traits it has developed in crops such as Camelina, canola, soybean and rice. Yield10 is headquartered in
Woburn, MA and has an Oilseeds center of excellence in Saskatoon, Canada.
For more information about the company, please 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, including, without limitation, expectations regarding the reproducibility of data
from field tests and greenhouse studies, the translation of yield improvements from Camelina or canola 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, the ability to identify collaborators for C3003, 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 assumes no obligation
to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release or with respect to the matters described herein.
Contacts:
Yield10 Bioscience:
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
