Abstract: The invention relates to a regulatory sequence which mediates expression of an operably-linked protein encoding a polynucleotide of interest, wherein the protein encoding polynucleotide is transcribed in leaf tissue and not in pollen. The invention also relates to an expression cassette, vector, and transgenic plant comprising the regulatory sequence.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for controlling plant pests are disclosed. In particular, novel engineered hybrid insecticidal proteins (eHIPs) having toxicity to at least corn rootworm are provided. By fusing unique combinations of complete or partial variable regions and conserved blocks of at least two different Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry proteins or a modified Cry proteins an eHIP having activity against corn rootworm is designed. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the novel eHIPs are also provided. Methods of making the eHIPs and methods of using the eHIPs and nucleic acids encoding the eHIPs of the invention, for example in transgenic plants to confer protection from insect damage are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to transgenic plants comprising nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences that encode RAR1 proteins involved in disease resistance, and the RAR1 polypeptides. The invention particularly relates to methods of altering the expressing nucleic acid molecules encoding RAR1 proteins in transgenic plants to alter the level disease resistance, and to transgenic plants, progeny and seed therefrom, having altered enhanced disease resistance. The invention further relates to methods of enhancing expression of R resistance genes, disease resistance signal transduction genes, genes involved in mediating disease resistance or involved in the synthesis of molecules mediating disease resistance. The invention also relates to methods of regulating the expression of other coding sequences of interest by increasing the expression of the nucleic acid molecules of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention discloses isolated polynucleotides encoding polypeptides having trichothecene 3-O-acetyltransferase activity, recombinant vectors and host cell comprising said polynucleotides.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for controlling plant pests are disclosed. In particular, novel nucleic acid sequences encoding modified Cry3A toxins having increased toxicity to corn rootworm are provided. By inserting a protease recognition site, such as cathepsin G, that is recognized by a gut protease of a target insect in at least one position of a Cry3A toxin a modified Cry3A toxin having significantly greater toxicity, particularly to western and northern corn rootworm is designed.

Abstract: The Arabidopsis NI16 gene was isolated in a yeast 2-hybrid screen via its interaction with the NIM1 protein and encodes a protein involved in the regulation of SAR gene expression in plants. NI16 is strongly induced in NIM1-overexpressing plants treated with benzo(1,2,3)thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester (BTH). The nucleic acid sequence of the Arabidopsis NI16 promoter is disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences isolated from Oryza sativa that encode RARI proteins involved in disease resistance, and recombinant vectors comprising said nucleotide sequences.

Abstract: Multiple shoot structures are induced from plant tissues (e.g., shoot apices or axillary buds on an artificial medium) to produce multiple shoot cultures. These multi-shoot cultures are then transformed by known transformation methods. Plants are subsequently regenerated from the transformed cells. Crops that may be efficiently transformed by this method include plants normally recalcitrant to transformation such as sugar beet, sunflower, soybean, cotton, tobacco, tomato, peanuts, melons, watermelon, squash, Brassica, and pepper.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for hybrid seed production comprising producing a conditional female sterile plant comprising a female-preferential promoter operably linked to a coding sequence which encodes an enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of a protoxin to a toxin, interplanting the conditional female sterile plant with a male sterile plant, applying the protoxin to the conditional female sterile plant, and producing hybrid seed. Viable seed formation is prevented on the conditional female sterile plant as a result of the conversion of the protoxin to the toxin in the female reproductive structures, and pollen production is prevented on the male sterile plant, thus allowing interplanting of the two parents of the hybrid cross in order to provide more efficient pollen transfer. Also provided are expression cassettes useful in the invention, plants transformed with the expression cassette, and novel female-preferential promoters.