Dow AgroSciences LLC, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, announced the publication of an international patent application for its lead commercial herbicide tolerance event in soybeans. The soybean event is part of Dow AgroSciences’ Enlist Weed Control System. As described in published international patent application WO 2011066384, the invention includes soybean plants made tolerant to 2,4-D herbicides by Dow AgroSciences’ novel transformation event and methods of using the soybean plants and 2,4-D herbicide to control glyphosate resistant weeds.

The Dow AgroSciences’ patent filing is expected to provide proprietary protection for soybean plants containing a novel 2,4-D herbicide tolerant trait, methods for controlling glyphosate-resistant weeds, and uses of Dow AgroSciences’ Enlist trait in combination with novel 2,4-D herbicides and other broad spectrum and selective herbicides. The patent application also covers stacking the event with other traits, including traits for tolerance to other herbicides and/or traits conferring insect-resistance in soybeans. The Dow AgroSciences’ patent application was filed as part of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) centralized filing process under which the patent application can be filed in all major industrial countries in the world.

Dow AgroSciences was previously granted patents for crops containing an Enlist 2,4-D tolerance trait in the United States, China, New Zealand and South Africa. Dow AgroSciences has filed for broad patent protection for its Enlist traits in major crop growing countries around the world.

"This is a significant step for the Enlist Weed Control System and reinforces the robust technology we are bringing to farmers around the world as they face weed control challenges,” said Joe Vertin, Global Enlist Leader, Dow AgroSciences. “Our Enlist soybean technology will continue to advance farming and provide the benefits our customers need for increased productivity.”