Abstract: Methods and means are provided to increase the tolerance of plants to abiotic stress or adverse growing conditions, including drought, high light intensities, high temperatures, nutrient limitations and the like by reducing the activity of endogenous PARG proteins in plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and means for determining parent inbred plant lines with good combining ability, for determining good combinations of parent inbred plant lines capable of yielding hybrid lines with high heterosis, and further for determining the agronomical performance of different plant lines, which can be performed in vitro by determining the electron flow in the mitochondria under control and stress conditions.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for producing transgenic plant cells, which comprises: contacting a culture of plant cells with an inhibitor of poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase, prior to transformation, for a period of time sufficient to reduce the response of the cultured cells to stress and to reduce their metabolism. The untransformed cells are then contacted with foreign DNA comprising at least one gene of interest under conditions in which the foreign DNA is taken up by the untransformed cells and the gene of interest is stably integrated in the nuclear genome of the untransformed cells to produce the transgenic cells. The transgenic plant cells are recovered from the culture.

Abstract: The invention provides for the use of isolated polynucleotides encoding maize poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) proteins to produce eukaryotic cells and organisms, particularly plant cells and plants, with modified programmed cell death. Eukaryotic cells and organisms particularly plant cells and plants, are provided wherein either in at least part of the cells, preferably selected cells, the programmed cell death (PCD) is provoked, or wherein, on the contrary, PCD of the cells or of at least part of the cells in an organism is inhibited, by modulation of the level or activity or PARP proteins in those cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and means for determining parent inbred plant lines with good combining ability, for determining good combinations of parent inbred plant lines capable of yielding hybrid lines with high heterosis, and further for determining the agronomical performance of different plant lines, which can be performed in vitro by determining the electron flow in the mitochondria under control and stress conditions.

Abstract: The invention provides for the use of isolated polynucleotides encoding maize poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) proteins to produce eukaryotic cells and organisms, particularly plant cells and plants, with modified programmed cell death. Eukaryotic cells and organisms particularly plant cells and plants, are provided wherein either in at least part of the cells, preferably selected cells, the programmed cell death (PCD) is provoked, or wherein, on the contrary, PCD of the cells or of at least part of the cells in an organism is inhibited, by modulation of the level or activity or PARP proteins in those cells.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for producing transgenic eucaryotic cells, particularly plants, which comprises: contacting a culture of untransformed cells with an inhibitor of poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase for a period of time sufficient to reduce the response of the cultured cells to stress and to reduce their metabolism. The untransformed cells are then contacted with foreign DNA comprising at least one gene of interest under conditions in which the foreign DNA is taken up by the untransformed cells and the gene of interest is stably integrated in the nuclear genome of the untransformed cells to produce the transgenic cells. Optionally, the transgenic cells are recovered from the culture. Preferably, the inhibitor is niacinamide, preferably at a concentration of about 200 mg/l to 500 mg/l and the untransformed cells are cultured in a medium containing the inhibitor for a period of time of approximately 3 to 14 days prior to the contacting with the foreign DNA.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for producing transgenic plant cells, which comprises: contacting a culture of plant cells with an inhibitor of poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase, prior to transformation, for a period of time sufficient to reduce the response of the cultured cells to stress and to reduce their metabolism. The untransformed cells are then contacted with foreign DNA comprising at least one gene of interest under conditions in which the foreign DNA is taken up by the untransformed cells and the gene of interest is stably integrated in the nuclear genome of the untransformed cells to produce the transgenic cells. The transgenic plant cells are recovered from the culture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a DNA fragment containing a determined gene, the expression of which inhibits the antibiotic and herbicidal effects of Bialaphos and related products.It also relates to recombinant vectors, containing such DNA fragment, which enable this protective gene to be introduced and expressed into cells and plant cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a DNA fragment containing a determined gene, the expression of which inhibits the antibiotic and herbicidal effects of Bialaphos and related products.It also relates to recombinant vectors, containing such DNA fragment, which enable this protective gene to be introduced and expressed into cells and plant cells.