Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of introducing a florigen into a cell of a shoot apical tissue of a plant using a cell-penetrating peptide. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of introducing a florigen into a cell of a shoot apical tissue of a plant, the method including the step of bringing a solution for florigen introduction containing a florigen and a cell-penetrating peptide in one solvent into contact with a shoot apical tissue of a plant. The present invention also relates to an agent for introducing a florigen into a cell of a shoot apical tissue of a plant, including a florigen and a cell-penetrating peptide, and to a kit for introducing a florigen into a cell of a shoot apical tissue of a plant.

Abstract: Provided is a crystal of a florigen activation complex, including a florigen, a 14-3-3 protein, and a bZIP transcription factor bound to each other. In addition, flowering of a plant is regulated by controlling mechanisms of interactions among those proteins utilizing the crystal. These are achieved as follows. With attention focused on the fact that Hd3a is bound to FD1 via GF14c to form a florigen activation complex, a crystal of the florigen activation complex is produced, conformational information is obtained through the use of the crystal of the florigen activation complex, and the flowering of a plant is regulated by controlling mechanisms of interactions among the florigen and the like utilizing such conformational information.

Abstract: A synthetic gene encoding an insecticidal protein, the gene is provided having a base sequence which has been modified to bring the codon usage in conformity with the genes of gramineous plants particularly rice plants. A preferred gene sequence is shown in SEQ ID NO: 1. An expression vector containing said structural gene is provided. A method for producing recombinant gramineous plants is provided, which comprises transforming protoplasts derived from gramineous plants with the vector, incubating the protoplasts in a liquid medium in the presence of cultured cells of the plants to form colonies and regenerating plants from said colonies. Recombinant gramineous plants having resistance against insects are also provided.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a gramineous hybrid plant produced from a rice-derived protoplast and another gramineous plant-derived protoplast. Also provided by the invention is an efficient process for preparing such a gramineous hybrid plant wherein a protoplast is prepared from a callus or suspension cell of a rice plant (Oryza sativa), another protoplast is separately prepared from a callus or suspension cell of another gramineous plant, these protoplasts are subjected to cell fusion by electric treatment, the thus fused cells are cultivated in a culture medium containing cultured rice cells as nurse cells, and the thus formed colonies are then cultivated in a culture medium containing a plant hormone such as 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid.