Abstract: The subject invention pertains to methods and materials for enhancing microbial resistance in plants. Specifically exemplified herein are grapevines transformed with polynucleotides that express a peptide which confers antimicrobial activity.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to methods and materials for enhancing microbial resistance in plants. Specifically exemplified herein are grapevines transformed with polynucleotides that express a peptide which confers antimicrobial activity.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to methods and materials for enhancing microbial resistance in plants. Specifically exemplified herein are grapevines transformed with polynucleotides that express a peptide which confers antimicrobial activity.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the development and utilization of hybrid lytic peptides derived from non-venomous molecular sources to confer a high level of sustainable resistance to phytopathogens in transgenic plants. In an exemplified embodiment, a composition of the invention comprises a cecropin-pleurocidin hybrid peptide of 27 amino acids. The peptide was designed based on optimization of critical molecular and physiochemical parameters. Peptides of the invention offer significantly enhanced antimicrobial activity and molecular properties associated with low cytotoxicity. Transgenic plants of grapevine (Vitis vinifera) that express a peptide of the invention show antimicrobial activity against xylem-limited phytopathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiasa at a level significantly higher than that from other existing lytic peptides. Thus, the hybrid peptides of the invention can be utilized as an antimicrobial agent for agricultural use.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to methods and materials for enhancing microbial resistance in plants. Specifically exemplified herein are grapevines transformed with polynucleotides that express a peptide which confers antimicrobial resistance.

Abstract: The invention features a method of selecting for a grape somatic embryo or grape plant having resistance to a plant pathogen using a liquid culture medium. The method including the steps of (a) culturing a grape embryonic culture in a first liquid culture medium to grow a cellular suspension culture, the first liquid culture medium including a plant growth regulator and a filtrate from a plant pathogen culture; (b) recovering an embryogenic cell or embryogenic cell mass from the cellular suspension culture; and (c) culturing the embryogenic cell or embryogenic cell mass in a second liquid culture and in a third culture media to select a grape somatic embryo or a grape plant having resistance to a plant pathogen.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to the isolation of nucleotide sequences of the 2S albumin gene and its promoter from grape. Promoter sequences of the invention provide for seed-specific transcription of operably linked polynucleotide sequences. Seed-specific expression activity of the subject promoter was also characterized by using transient green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression analysis in transformed somatic embryos (SE) of grape (cv. Thompson Seedless). The subject invention also concerns expression constructs comprising a promoter of the present invention. Plants, plant tissues, and plant cells bred to contain or transformed with a polynucleotide of the invention are also contemplated by the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for producing grape plants having resistance to bunch rot disease or Botrytis or both. Also disclosed are grape plants having resistance to bunch rot disease or Botrytis or both, wherein the plants express a cecropin B peptide Shiva-1.

Abstract: The invention features a method of producing a grape somatic embryo having resistance to a plant pathogen, the method including the steps of (a) culturing a grape somatic embryo in a first liquid culture medium that includes a plant growth regulator and a phytotoxin from a plant pathogen; (b) exchanging the first liquid culture medium for a second liquid culture medium not including the phytotoxin; (c) recovering a living grape cell or grape cell cluster from the second liquid culture, the living cell or cell cluster being resistant to the pathogen; and (d) culturing the grape cell or grape cell cluster in a third culture medium to produce a grape somatic embryo.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to the isolation of nucleotide sequences of the 2S albumin gene and its promoter from grape. Promoter sequences of the invention provide for seed-specific transcription of operably linked polynucleotide sequences. Seed-specific expression activity of the subject promoter was also characterized by using transient green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression analysis in transformed somatic embryos (SE) of grape (cv. Thompson Seedless). The subject invention also concerns expression constructs comprising a promoter of the present invention. Plants, plant tissues, and plant cells bred to contain or transformed with a polynucleotide of the invention are also contemplated by the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for producing grape plants having resistance to bunch rot disease or Botrytis or both. Also disclosed are grape plants having resistance to bunch rot disease or Botrytis or both, wherein the plants express a cecropin B peptide such as Shiva-1.

Abstract: The invention features methods of producing a plant or a mature somatic embryo from an embryogenic cell or embryogenic culture. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a liquid culture that includes an embryogenic cell; (b) recovering embryogenic cell from the culture; (c) transferring the embryogenic cell to a second culture; and (d) growing a mature somatic grape embryo from the embryogenic cell.

Abstract: The invention features methods of producing a plant or a mature somatic embryo from an embryogenic cell or embryogenic culture. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a liquid culture that includes an embryogenic cell; (b) recovering embryogenic cell from the culture; (c) transferring the embryogenic cell to a second culture; and (d) growing a mature somatic grape embryo from the embryogenic cell.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for producing transgenic grape plants having resistance to bunch rot, powdery mildew, and downy mildew. Also disclosed are grape plants having resistance to bunch rot, powdery mildew, and downy mildew, wherein the plants express a Shiva lytic peptide.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for producing transgenic grapevines with resistance to a plant pathogen, the method includes: transforming a plant cell of the genus Vitis with a nucleic acid which expresses a lytic peptide, where the expression of the lytic peptide provides resistance to a plant pathogen.

Abstract: Disclosed here is a novel process which facilitates the rapid and economical production of seedless watermelon seed. The novel process involves cloning desirable tetraploid watermelon parental lines. These parental lines are essential in the production of triploid seed for the seedless watermelon. The subject invention makes possible the use of self-sterile tetraploid parental lines in the production of triploid seed.