Abstract: The present invention relates to an antifungal protein, AlfAFP1, which is a modified form of an antifungal protein isolated from Medicago plants, the modified form exhibiting enhanced anti-fungal activity for controlling fungal pathogenesis in plants. A method for inhibiting fungal colonization of plants is described which includes preparation of nucleotide sequences encoding the modified antifungal protein, preparation of vectors containing the nucleotide coding sequence, and methods for transforming plants with the nucleotide sequences. The polypeptide can be formulated into compositions useful in controlling plant pathogenic fungi.

Abstract: The invention describes new acquired resistance genes in plants. A method of using the genes to make transgenic plants that are resistant to disease is also provided.

Abstract: The invention describes new acquired resistance genes in plants. A method of using the genes to make transgenic plants that are resistant to disease is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cotton event PV-GHBK04 (757), a cotton plant that contains PV-GHBK04 (757) DNA molecules and its progeny thereof, and methods for producing cotton event PV-GHBK04 (757). The present invention also provides assays for detecting the presence of the 757 cotton event DNA sequences in a sample based on the DNA sequence of the recombinant construct inserted into the cotton genome and of genomic sequences flanking the insertion site, and provides amplicons and sequences which are diagnostic for the presence of event 757 nucleic acids in a sample.

Abstract: A novel protein was isolated from Fusarium culmorum and characterized. The protein, termed FCWP1, demonstrated significant antifungal activity against several fungal species. Mutations in proteolytic consensus sequences contained within FCWP1 improved the stability of its antifungal activity. In addition, a class of proteins related to FCWP1 was identified and characterized. This class is made up of ribosomal proteins and displayed similar values for pI and molecular weight. A representative number of proteins from this class were tested and found to have significant antifungal activities. The antifungal proteins disclosed herein are useful in controlling fungal infections in plants. Transgenic plants may be produced that are more resistant to fungal infections relative to non-transgenic plants of the same species. Alternatively, the proteins may be applied to plants exogenously.

Abstract: The invention describes new acquired resistance genes in plants. A method of using the genes to make transgenic plants that are resistant to disease is also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides acquired resistance genes isolated from plants, and methods of using the genes to produce disease resistant transgenic plants.

Abstract: Disclosed is a means of controlling plant pests by a novel method of expressing Cry2A B. thuringiensis ?-endotoxins in plants. The invention comprises novel nucleic acid segments encoding proteins comprising Cry2A B. thuringiensis ?-endotoxins. The nucleic acid segments are disclosed, as are transformation vectors containing the nucleic acid segments, plants transformed with the claimed segments, methods for transforming plants, and methods of controlling plant infestation by pests.

Abstract: The present invention discloses DNA sequences encoding plant and novel lipid acyl hydrolase proteins having coleopteran specific insect inhibitory activity, as well as variants and permuteins having enhanced levels of activity directed to controlling coleotperan insect infestation and enhanced levels of expression in planta. Additionally, catalytic dyad active site conformation is disclosed for both dicot and monocot plant derived non-specific lipid acyl hydrolases having coleopteran insect inhibitory properties.

Abstract: The invention describes a method of inducing fungal resistance to plants by transformation with acquired resistance genes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cotton event PV-GHBK04 (757), a cotton plant that contains PV-GHBK04 (757) DNA molecules and its progeny thereof, and methods for producing cotton event PV-GHBK04 (757). The present invention also provides assays for detecting the presence of the 757 cotton event DNA sequences in a sample based on the DNA sequence of the recombinant construct inserted into the cotton genome and of genomic sequences flanking the insertion site, and provides amplicons and sequences which are diagnostic for the presence of event 757 nucleic acids in a sample.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel synthetically-modified B. thuringiensis nucleic acid segments encoding &dgr;-endotoxins having insecticidal activity against lepidopteran insects. Also disclosed are synthetic crystal proteins encoded by these novel nucleic acid sequences. Methods of making and using these genes and proteins are disclosed as well as methods for the recombinant expression, and transformation of suitable host cells. Transformed host cells and transgenic plants expressing the modified endotoxin are also aspects of the invention. Also disclosed are methods for modifying, altering, and mutagenizing specific loop regions between the &agr; helices in domain 1 of these crystal proteins, including Cry1C, to produce genetically-engineered recombinant cry* genes, and the proteins they encode which have improved insecticidal activity. In preferred embodiments, novel Cry1C* amino acid segments and the modified cry1C* nucleic acid sequences which encode them are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel synthetically-modified B. thuringiensis chimeric crystal proteins having improved insecticidal activity against coleopteran, dipteran and lepidopteran insects. Also disclosed are the nucleic acid segments encoding these novel peptides. Methods of making and using these genes and proteins are disclosed as well as methods for the recombinant expression, and transformation of suitable host cells. Transformed host cells and transgenic plants expressing the modified endotoxin are also aspects of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel synthetically-modified B. thuringiensis chimeric crystal proteins having improved insecticidal activity and broader insect host range against coleopteran, dipteran and lepidopteran insects. Also disclosed are the nucleic acid segments encoding these novel peptides. Methods of making and using these genes and proteins are disclosed as well as methods for the recombinant expression, and transformation of suitable host cells. Transformed host cells and transgenic plants expressing the modified endotoxin are also aspects of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel &dgr;-endotoxin, designated CryET29, that exhibits insecticidal activity against siphonapteran insects, including larvae of the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis), as well as against coleopteran insects, including the southern corn rootworm (Diabrotica undecimpunctata), western corn rootworm (D. virgifera), Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica), and red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum). Also disclosed are nucleic acid segments encoding CryET29, recombinant vectors, host cells, and transgenic plants comprising a cryET29 DNA segment. Methods for making and using the disclosed protein and nucleic acid segments are disclosed as well as assays and diagnostic kits for detecting cryET29 and CryET29 sequences in vivo and in vitro.

Abstract: Disclosed, are novel synthetically-modified B. thuringiensis chimeric crystal proteins having improved insecticidal activity against coleopteran, dipteran and lepidopteran insects. Also disclosed are the nucleic acid segments encoding these novel peptides. Methods of making and using these genes and proteins are disclosed as well as methods for the recombinant expression, and transformation of suitable host cells. Transformed host cells and transgenic plants expressing the modified endotoxin are also aspects of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed are nucleic acid segments comprising synthetically-modified genes encoding Coleopteran-toxic B. thuringiensis &dgr;-endotoxins. Also disclosed are methods of using these genes for the recombinant expression of polypeptides, the preparation of vectors containing the genes, and methods for transforming suitable host cells.

Abstract: Disclosed are nucleic acid segments comprising synthetically-modified genes encoding modified Coleopteran-toxic B. thuringiensis Cry 3Bb* &dgr;-endotoxins. Also disclosed are methods of using these genes for preparing a Coleopteran-resistant transgenic plant and reducing insect in restations, and plants thereby produced.

Abstract: Disclosed are Bacillus thuringiensis strains comprising novel crystal proteins which exhibit insecticidal activity against lepidopteran insects. Also disclosed are novel B. thuringiensis genes and their encoded crystal proteins, as well as methods of making and using transgenic cells comprising the novel nucleic acid sequences of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel insecticidal polypeptides, and compositions comprising these polypeptides, peptide fragments thereof, and antibodies specific therefor. Also disclosed are vectors, transformed host cells, and transgenic plants that contain nucleic acid segments that encode the disclosed &dgr;-endotoxin polypeptides. Also disclosed are methods of identifying related polypeptides and polynucleotides, methods of making and using transgenic cells comprising these polynucleotide sequences, as well as methods for controlling an insect population, such as Colorado potato beetle, southern corn rootworm and western corn rootworm, and for conferring to a plant resistance to a target insect species.