Abstract: Antifungal polypeptides, isolated from Medicago plants, are shown to control fungal damage to plants. DNA encoding the polypeptides was cloned into vectors for transformation of plant-colonizing microorganisms or plants, thereby providing a method of inhibiting fungal growth on plants. The polypeptides can be formulated into compositions useful in controlling undesired fungi.

Abstract: Fungicides having thiophene rings may be made from the intermediate compound 3-carbomethoxy-4,5-dimethylthiophene. That compound, and related compounds, may be produced by reacting an alpha mercaptoketone, e.g., 3-mercapto-2-butanone, with an acrylate, e.g., methyl-3-methoxy acrylate, in the presence of an alkoxide base, e.g., NaOMe, to form the substituted tetrahydrothiophene, followed by conversion to the aromatic thiophene with an acid treatment. The substituted tetrahydrothiophene is a novel compound.

Abstract: Fungicides having thiophene rings may be made from the intermediate compound 3-carbomethoxy-4,5-dimethylthiophene. That compound, and related compounds, may be produced by reacting an alpha mercaptoketone, e.g., 3-mercapto-2-butanone, with an acrylate, e.g., methyl-3-methoxy acrylate, in the presence of an alkoxide base, e.g., NaOMe, to form the substituted tetrahydrothiophene, followed by conversion to the aromatic thiophene with an acid treatment. The substituted tetrahydrothiophene is a novel compound.

Abstract: A method of controlling Take-all disease of plants by applying, preferably to the seed prior to planting, a fungicide of the formula ##STR1## wherein Z.sub.1 and Z.sub.2 are C and are part of an aromatic ring that is furan;A is selected from --C(X)-amine, --C(O)--SR.sub.3, --NH--C(X)R.sub.4, and --C(.dbd.NR.sub.3)--XR.sub.7 ;B is --W.sub.m --Q(R.sub.2).sub.3 or selected from o-tolyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, and 9-phenanthryl, each optionally substituted with halogen or R.sub.4 ;Q is C, Si, Ge, or Sn;W is --C(R.sub.3).sub.p H.sub.(2-p) --; or when Q is C, W is selected from --C(R.sub.3).sub.p H.sub.(2-p) --, --N(R.sub.3).sub.m H.sub.(1-m) --, --S(O).sub.p --, and --O--;X is O or S;n is 2;m is 0 or 1;p is 0, 1, or 2;R, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.7 are herein defined;or an agronomic salt thereof.

Abstract: A method of controlling Take-all disease of plants by applying, preferably to the seed prior to planting, a fungicide of the formula ##STR1## wherein Z.sub.1 and Z.sub.2 are C or N and are part of an aromatic ring selected from benzene, pyridine, thiophene, furan, pyrrole, pyrazole, thiazole, and isothiazole;A is selected from --C(X)--amine, --C(O)--SR.sub.3, --NH--C(X)R.sub.4, and --C(.dbd.NR.sub.3)--XR.sub.7 ;B is --W.sub.m --Q(R.sub.2).sub.3 or selected from o-tolyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, and 9-phenanthryl, each optionally substituted with halogen or R.sub.4 ;Q is C, Si, Ge, or Sn;W is --C(R.sub.3).sub.p H.sub.(2-p) --; or when Q is C, W is selected from --C(R.sub.3).sub.p H.sub.(2-p) --, --N(R.sub.3).sub.m H.sub.(1-m) --, --S(O).sub.

Abstract: Novel compounds of Formula I and methods of making and using the compounds which are useful as fungicides, particularly in the agricultural field: ##STR1## wherein C.sub.1 and C.sub.2 are carbon atoms which are part of an aromatic ring; W is alkoxyimino, alkoxymethylene or alkylthiomethylene; R.sub.1 is independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, wherein the alkyl or alkoxy are optionally substituted by halogen, and p is 0, 1, or 2; Z is --CH.sub.2 --, --CH(OH)--, --CO--, --O--, --S--, NR.sub.2 wherein R.sub.2 is hydrogen or a lower aliphatic group, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --CH.dbd.CH--, ##STR2## --CH.sub.2 O--, --CH.sub.2 S--, --CH.sub.2 S(O)--, --OCH.sub.2 --, --SCH.sub.2 --, --S(O)CH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 ON.dbd.C(R.sub.3)-- or --CH.dbd.NB wherein B is --O--CO--, --N.dbd.CR.sub.3, or --CR.sub.3 R.sub.4 -- wherein R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independently hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.

Abstract: Introducing sucrose phosphorylase activity into plants by transformation with a gene for the enzyme increases the rate of sucrose hydrolysis, leading to increased starch, oil, and protein levels. The preferred gene is from Streptococcus mutans. Surprisingly, in potatoes transformed to express this gene in tubers, reduced bruise discoloration susceptibility and increased uniformity of starch deposition throughout the tuber are achieved.