Abstract: Optimising water use in a way that avoids over watering or at least avoids or minimises water mobilisation may be useful. An irrigation control system is described, the system including a sound emitter arranged to emit sound towards a ground surface; a sound receiver arranged to receive sound emitted by the sound emitter and reflected or scattered from the ground surface. A controller then controls one or more irrigation parameters of an irrigator based at least in part on sound received by the sound receiver. In a further aspect, the irrigation control system senses the onset of surface water pooling or free water flow on the ground surface and the controller then controls irrigation parameters to reduce application of water in response to the sensed features. Related methods of controlling irrigation systems are also described.

Abstract: The invention provides modified DGAT1 proteins that are modified in the N-terminal region upstream of the acyl-Co A binding site. The modified DGAT proteins show enhanced activity, without reduced protein accumulation when expressed in cells. The modified DGAT1 proteins of the invention can be expressed in cells to increase cellular lipid accumulation and/or modify the cellular lipid profile. The invention also provides polynucleotides encoding the modified DGAT1 proteins, cells and compositions comprising the polynucleotides or modified DGAT proteins, and methods using the modified DGAT1 proteins to produce oil.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel bacterium Yersinia entomophaga MH96 as deposited at DSMZ on 4 May 2006 and designated accession no. DSM 18238. The present invention also relates to substances obtained or derived from Yersinia entomophaga MH96, which retain biopesticide activity. Methods for protecting a plant from pest infestation which include applying to the plant or its environment an effective amount of Yersinia entomophaga MH96 or a product delivered from the bacterium are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to combinations comprising an alkaline compound and an ammonium compound that are useful for reducing the number of free living parasitic helminths on various surfaces, to methods of using such combinations, and to the use of such combinations for killing helminths, particularly nematodes.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for encapsulating a protein of interest, the method comprising the step of expressing a fusion protein comprising an N-terminal region of a rearrangement hot spot (RHS)-repeat-containing protein fused to the protein of interest. The invention further provides applications for the encapsulation, release and delivery of the protein of interest. The invention also encompasses the encapsulated protein of interest and compositions comprising the encapsulated protein of interest. The invention also provides uses of the encapsulated protein of interest, optionally after release from encapsulation, to control pests. The encapsulated protein of interest may for example be produced via expression in a plant to control a pest of the plant, such as an insect pest.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and materials for increasing at least one of root biomass and above-ground biomass and in a Poaceae plant by expressing a PEAPOD protein, or fragment thereof, in the Poaceae plant. The invention also provides methods and materials producing a Poaceae plant with at least one of increased root biomass and increased above-ground biomass, by expressing a PEAPOD protein, or fragment thereof, in the Poaceae plant.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to combinations comprising an alkaline compound and an ammonium compound that are useful for reducing the number of free living parasitic helminths on various surfaces, to methods of using such combinations, and to the use of such combinations for killing helminths, particularly nematodes.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and materials for increasing root biomass in a plant, by increasing the expression of at least one PEAPOD protein, or fragment thereof, in the plant. The invention also provides methods and materials for producing a plant increased root biomass, the method comprising the step of increasing the expression of at least one PEAPOD protein, or fragment thereof, in the plant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel bacterium Yersinia entomophaga MH96 as deposited at DSMZ on 4 May 2006 and designated accession no. DSM 18238. The present invention also relates to substances obtained or derived from Yersinia entomophaga MH96, which retain biopesticide activity. Methods for protecting a plant from pest infestation which include applying to the plant or its environment an effective amount of Yersinia entomophaga MH96 or a product delivered from the bacterium are also described.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel DGAT1 protein with improved properties over known DGAT proteins, particularly known DGAT1 proteins from plants. The novel DGAT1 protein of the invention can be expressed in cells to increase cellular lipid accumulation. Expression of the DGAT1 protein of the invention in cells results in a higher level of lipid than any of several other plant DGAT1 proteins tested by the applicants. The invention provides polynucleotides encoding the novel DGAT1 protein of SEQ ID NO:39, constructs, cells, plant, plant parts and progeny comprising the polynucleotides, and methods of use of the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and materials for increasing root biomass in a plant, by increasing the expression of at least one PEAPOD protein, or fragment thereof, in the plant. The invention also provides methods and materials for producing a plant increased root biomass, the method comprising the step of increasing the expression of at least one PEAPOD protein, or fragment thereof, in the plant.

Abstract: A granular composition that comprises one or more microorganisms, two or more plant powders and a biodegradable water-absorbent agent. Also provided is a method of producing a granular composition by admixing a composition comprising two or more plant powders and a biodegradable water-absorbent agent, and (i) one or more lubricants to form a dough, and processing the dough to form granules, or (ii) coating a substrate with the dough to form the granular composition. The microorganism can be located in the admixture, the dough or both the admixture and the dough. The granular composition is applied to soil to, for example, kill or control pests, maintain or increase plant or crop growth, maintain or increase pasture production, maintain or increase plant, crop or pasture yield, deliver probiotics to grazing animals or livestock, and/or bioremediate the soil.

Abstract: The invention provides chimeric DGAT1 proteins comprising: a) at their N-terminal ends, an N-terminal portion of a first DGAT1 protein, and b) at their C-terminal ends, a C-terminal portion of a second DGAT1 protein. The chimeric DGAT proteins show enhanced activity relative to at least one of the first DGAT1 protein and the second DGAT1 protein. The chimeric DGAT proteins of the invention can be expressed in cells to increase cellular lipid accumulation and/or modify the cellular lipid profile. The invention also provides polynucleotides encoding the chimeric DGAT1 proteins, cells and compositions comprising the polynucleotides or chimeric DGAT1 proteins, and methods using the chimeric DGAT1 proteins to produce oil.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and materials for increasing at least one of root biomass and above-ground biomass and in a Poaceae plant by expressing a PEAPOD protein, or fragment thereof, in the Poaceae plant. The invention also provides methods and materials producing a Poaceae plant with at least one of increased root biomass and increased above-ground biomass, by expressing a PEAPOD protein, or fragment thereof, in the Poaceae plant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid fragments encoding amino acid sequences for flavonoid biosynthetic enzymes in plants, and the use thereof for the modification of, for example, flavonoid biosynthesis in plants, and more specifically the modification of the content of condensed tannins. In particularly preferred embodiments, the invention relates to the combinatorial expression of chalcone synthase (CHS) and/or dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (BAN) and/or leucoanthocyanidine reductase (LAR) in plants to modify, for example, flavonoid biosynthesis or more specifically the content of condensed tannins.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for processing of fibres and particulates such as wool, wherein material is placed within a receptacle configured to allow the ingress and egress of treatment fluid, conveyed to a treatment fluid application area, treated with a treatment fluid, and conveyed from the treatment fluid application area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acids and nucleic acid fragments encoding amino acid sequences for flavonoid biosynthetic enzymes in plants, and the use thereof for the modification of flavonoid biosynthesis in plants. More particularly, the flavonoid biosynthetic enzyme is selected from the group consisting of chalcone isomerase (CHI), chalcone synthase (CHS), chalcone reductase (CHR), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR), leucoanthocyanidin reductase (LCR), flavonoid 3?,5? hydrolase (F3?5?H), flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H), flavonoid 3?-hydroxylase (F3?H), phenylalanine ammonia-olyase (PAL) and vestitone reductase (VR), and functionally active fragments and variants thereof.

Abstract: Provided are methods of reducing milk somatic cell count using L-arginine supplementation of lactating ruminant animals during gestation, and/or during the lactation phase post parturition to decrease somatic cell count in milk produced by the animals.

Abstract: The invention provides chimeric DGAT1 proteins comprising: a) at their N-terminal ends, an N-terminal portion of a first DGAT1 protein, and b) at their C-terminal ends, a C-terminal portion of a second DGAT1 protein. The chimeric DGAT proteins show enhanced activity relative to at least one of the first DGAT1 protein and the second DGAT1 protein. The chimeric DGAT proteins of the invention can be expressed in cells to increase cellular lipid accumulation and/or modify the cellular lipid profile. The invention also provides polynucleotides encoding the chimeric DGAT1 proteins, cells and compositions comprising the polynucleotides or chimeric DGAT1 proteins, and methods using the chimeric DGAT1 proteins to produce oil.

Abstract: The invention provides modified DGAT1 proteins that are modified in the N-terminal region upstream of the acyl-Co A binding site. The modified DGAT proteins show enhanced activity, without reduced protein accumulation when expressed in cells. The modified DGAT1 proteins of the invention can be expressed in cells to increase cellular lipid accumulation and/or modify the cellular lipid profile. The invention also provides polynucleotides encoding the modified DGAT1 proteins, cells and compositions comprising the polynucleotides or modified DGAT proteins, and methods using the modified DGAT1 proteins to produce oil.