Abstract: A method by which the shelf life of fresh tomato pieces can be substantially increased is provided. According to the method, cored fresh tomatoes are contacted with a chlorine solution, cut into pieces, contacted with an aqueous solution of a calcium salt, and packaged in a container having a gas permeability of about 90 to about 160 cc of oxygen/100 square inch/day. The packaging is carried such that the residual oxygen level in the container after sealing is between about 2% and about 10%. In a preferred embodiment, the processing steps are carried out at an ambient temperature of between about 34.degree. F. and about 50.degree. F.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods useful in the production of transgenic plants. In particular, the invention relates to P119 plant promoter sequences and to expression cassettes containing P119 plant promoter sequences. The invention also relates to vectors and transgenic plants containing P119 plant promoter sequences that are operably linked to heterologous DNA sequences. In addition, the invention relates to methods of producing transgenic plants by using vectors containing P119 promoter sequences.

Abstract: Novel plants are described which produce and secrete chitinase as the result of the introduction of foreign DNA linked to a sequence encoding chitinase, an enzyme capable of degrading chitin present in fungi and nematodes. Novel plants that are resistant to cold damage are also described which are created by introduction of DNA encoding for the production of chitinase. The plants of the invention may also have enhanced levels of reducing sugars or sweetness, or produce fruit having enhanced levels of reducing sugars or sweetness, or may be selected for enhanced post-harvest storage life.

Abstract: Novel plants are described which produce and secrete chitinase as the result of the introduction of foreign DNA linked to a sequence encoding chitinase, an enzyme capable of degrading chitin present in fungi and nematodes. Novel plants that are resistant to cold damage are also described which are created by introduction of DNA encoding for the production of chitinase. The plants of the invention may also have enhanced levels of reducing sugars or sweetness, or produce fruit having enhanced levels of reducing sugars or sweetness, or may be selected for enhanced post-harvest storage life.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating vacuolar pH. Isolated DNA constructs comprising sequences substantially identical to a Ph gene are provided. The methods typically involve introducing the construct into a plant, whereby vacuolar pH is modified in the transgenic plant.

Abstract: Polynucleotides encoding Pea ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase subunits are provided that are useful for changing the phenotype of higher plants, especially the garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) and other legumes, in regard to starch and sucrose biosynthesis. In particular, the invention relates to affecting the sucrose and starch content of edible plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel tomato lines having disease resistance, and producing a tomato(es) having a weight of at least 140 g with high pigment and reduced blossom end scar size relative to "Suncoast". Due to the reduced blossom end scar size, the tomatoes of the present invention have an increased marketable yield relative to "Suncoast".

Abstract: Viable bacteria may be detected in biological samples by exposing bacterial cultures obtained from the samples to transducing particles having a known host range. Such transducing particles carry a heterologous gene capable of altering the phenotype of the bacteria in a readily detectable manner. For example, the transducing particles may carry an ice nucleation gene and the alteration of phenotype may be detected using an ice nucleation assay. By employing a panel of phage, unknown bacteria may be typed based on the pattern of reactivity observed. The method is particularly useful for detecting viable bacteria which may have been debilitated by exposure to sterilizing conditions, such as in food processing. The method is also useful for tracking a target bacteria in the ambient environment.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel tomato lines having disease resistance, and producing a tomato(es) having a weight of at least 140 g with high pigment and reduced blossom end scar size relative to "Suncoast". Due to the reduced blossom end scar size, the tomatoes of the present invention have an increased marketable yield relative to "Suncoast".

Abstract: Novel bacteria strains and plants are described which produce and secrete chitinase and other proteins as the result of the introduction of foreign DNA linked to a sequence encoding chitinase, an enzyme capable of degrading chitin present in fungi and nematodes. The bacterial strains have utility in producing chitinase for the purpose of inhibiting plant pathogens. Novel pathogen resistant plants are also described which are created by introduction of DNA encoding for the production of chitinase.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for regeneration of somatic embryos from non-zygotic or zygotic tissue. The invention also provides a means for regeneration of cacao plantlets and plants from somatic embryos.

Abstract: Novel bacteria strains and plants are described which produce and secrete chitinase and other proteins as the result of the introduction of foreign DNA linked to a sequence encoding chitinase, an enzyme capable of degrading chitin present in fungi and nematodes. The bacterial strains have utThis invention was made with Government support under Grant No. 1S1-8560311 awarded by the National Science Foundation. The Government has certain rights in this invention.

Abstract: Methods are provided for producing plants exhibiting one or more desired phenotypic traits. In particular, transgenotes are selected that comprise a DNA segment operably linked to a promoter, wherein transcription products of the segment are substantially homologous to corresponding transcripts of endogenous flavonoid biosynthetic pathway genes.

Abstract: A novel method of producing a plant with a marker closely linked to a target locus, in particular a nuclear male sterile target locus, is described. The method involves transformation of a group of plants in order to introduce a marker into each plant, and isolation of a plant with the marker closely linked to a target locus. The markers include visible markers and dominant conditional lethal markers. The method is of particular use for hybrid seed production where the target locus is a nuclear male sterile locus.

Abstract: Soluble metabolic products, such as ethanol, are produced by growing modified algal cells in a growth medium and recovering the products from the growth medium. The algal cells are modified to overproduce the metabolic product by providing for overexpression of at least one enzyme in the metabolic pathway for the product. For the production of ethanol, the alcohol dehydrogenase gene, the pyruvate decarboxylase gene, or both, are overexpressed, typically under the control of a heterologous promoter. The algal cells may be modified by transformation with a DNA construct including coding sequence(s) of the enzyme(s) under the control of a heterologous promoter.

Abstract: Pepper explant material is transformed by incubation with Agrobacterium cells carrying an exogenous DNA sequence. The pepper explant is preferably obtained from either the young embryonic cotyledon or the young expanded cotyledon, and transformed shoots are preferably induced directly in the explant material without passage through a callus phase. Whole transformed pepper plants may be regenerated from the transformed shoots by rooting and subsequent planting in the soil. The exogenous DNA will be stably incorporated into the chromosomes of the regenerated pepper plant which will be able to express gene(s) encoded by the DNA sequence. An improved method for regenerating pepper plants, without transformation, is also described. Regeneration to produce tetraploids is a further embodiment of this invention.

Abstract: Methods are provided for producing plants exhibiting one or more desired phenotypic traits.

Abstract: This invention relates to the discovery that the prokaryotic enzyme, aminoglycoside 3"-adenyltransferase (AGAT), in particular as encoded by a bacterial aadA gene, is useful as a selectable marker for transformed plants. The enzyme conveys resistance to spectinomycin and streptomycin. Such markers are particularly advantageous because they are non-lethal, provide rapid visual identification of transformed cells and permit selection in media containing either spectinomycin or streptomycin. In addition, AGAT may be used as a selectable marker which differentiates by enabling survival on selective media.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel sweet or supersweet corn hybrids with improved yield and germination characteristics. The hybrids of the present invention are produced by crossing flint and dent field corn parents.

Abstract: Viable bacteria may be detected in biological samples by exposing bacterial cultures obtained from the samples to transducing particles having a known host range. Such transducing particles carry a heterologous gene capable of altering the phenotype of the bacteria in a readily detectable manner. For example, the transducing particles may carry an ice nucleation gene and the alteration of phenotype may be detected using an ice nucleation assay. By employing a panel of phage, unknown bacteria nmay be typed based on the pattern of reactivity observed. The transducing particles may be prepared by introducing a synthetic transposable element carrying the heterologous gene to a host carrying a prophage having the desired host range. After transposition, the host may be induced to a lytic cycle to release the transducing particles carrying the heterologous gene.