Abstract: The invention provides a process for selecting banana clones that are characterized by increased bunch weight and by increased total fruit yield, which process is based on somaclonal variation and comprises the steps of initiating tissue cultures from apical meristem explants, and propagating and rooting the same; hardening, potting, and growing in vivo, plants propagated in the previous step; forming a mat from a cluster of plants grown in the previous step originating from the same clone; planting the mats from the previous step in a field, and growing them under conditions of abiotic stress, the conditions including the growth of the mats in an area wherein the average winter night temperature is below 10° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides transgenic plants transformed with exogenous nucleic acid encoding a Dunaliella salt-inducible or salt-responsive protein selected from the group consisting of eukaryotic initiation factor 3 (eIF3) subunit, NADPH dependent quinone reductase (QOR), aldo-keto reductase (AKR), bifunctional aspartate kinase-homoserine reductase (AK-HSD) and mitochondrial import membrane translocase subunit (TIM9), or a fragment, homolog or variant thereof. The transgenic plants have increased tolerance to salt as compared to corresponding non-transgenic plants.

Abstract: Adi is a selection of the ancestral banana line Zelig, which belongs to Musa acuminata cv. Cavendish. When compared to its ancestral line, ‘Adi’ shows the following characteristics: 1. Dwarf-like stature, 2. Wider girth size, 3. Higher fruit yield, 4. Longer fruit size (“fingers”), 5. Higher levels of sucrose and starch in the pulp, 6. Tolerance to windy conditions.

Abstract: A new variety of Gypsophila, ‘Fiorello’, is described and illustrated. The new variety exhibits a vigorous growth habit, small flowers, and condensed flowering characteristics combined with upright growth habit. The flowers contain a large number of petals arranged in compound cymes.