Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for producing somatic embryos on plant tissue. Furthermore, somatic embryos may be produced using explants obtained from a broad range of plant species, and using either juvenile or mature tissues. The method involves obtaining a stock tissue culture plantlet by exposing the plant tissue to a medium comprising salts, vitamins and an energy source; preparing an explant from the stock tissue culture plantlet; transferring the explant to a proliferation medium comprising salts, vitamins, an energy source and at least one growth regulator for a period of time sufficient to produce a callused explant; and transferring the callused explant to a medium comprising salts, vitamins, an energy source and at least two growth regulators for a period of time sufficient to produce somatic embryos. Following this method somatic embryos are produce in significantly less time that observed using other somatic embryogenesis protocols.

Abstract: Novel phytases derived from ruminal microorganisms are provided. The phytases are capable of catalyzing the release of inorganic phosphorus from phytic acid. Preferred sources of phytases include Selenomonas, Prevotella, Treponema and Megasphaera. A purified and isolated DNA encoding a phytase of Selenomonas ruminantium JY35 (ATCC 55785) is provided. Recombinant expression vectors containing DNA's encoding the novel phytases and host cells transformed with DNA's encoding the novel phytases are also provided. The novel phytases are useful in a wide range of applications involving the dephosphorylation of phytate, including, among other things, use in animal feed supplements.

Abstract: A method and composition is provided to control insect pests using pea extracts. Pea extracts, protein-rich, fibre-rich and starch-rich fractions were tested for toxicity against various grain storage pests. The pea protein-rich extract was found to be toxic against the lesser grain borer, red flour beetle, rice weevil, maize weevil, granary weevil and the rusty grain beetle. The pea protein-rich extract also reduced the number of offspring of all insects tested. The protein-rich fraction was also found to be effective against the bertha army worm, diamondback, grasshopper, Indian meal moth and flea beetle. A partially purified active extract from the protein-rich fraction has been identified, using ion-exchange chromatography, reversed-phase chromatography, adsorption chromatography and gel filtration. However, the active ingredient within this fraction is not a protein with a molecular weight>above 4,000 daltons, nor is it a protease inhibitor, lectin or soyasaponin I.

Abstract: Novel phytases derived from ruminal microorganisms are provided. The phytases are capable of catalyzing the release of inorganic phosphorus from phytic acid. Preferred sources of phytases include Selenomonas, Prevotella, Treponema and Megasphaera. A purified and isolated DNA encoding a phytase of Selenomonas ruminantium JY35 (ATCC 55785) is provided. Recombinant expression vectors containing DNA's encoding the novel phytases and host cells transformed with DNA's encoding the novel phytases are also provided. The novel phytases are useful in a wide range of applications involving the dephosphorylation of phytate, including, among other things, use in animal feed supplements.

Abstract: A portable trench barrier is capable of greatly reducing the number of beetles migrating into a cultivated area, such as a field of potato plants. The device comprises a series of linear barrier sections and connector pieces joined together to enclose and protect a cultivated area. Each linear barrier section comprises an extruded plastic section having (a) an elongated floor section, (b) a pair of continuous leg portions extending downwardly from the side edges of the floor portion. The leg portions are adapted to penetrate the soil and form a continuous sub-surface barrier. A pair of opposed upwardly inclined elongated ramp portions extending upwardly and inwardly from the side edges of the floor portion, these ramp portions terminating in downwardly curved free edge portions having smooth outer surfaces with the curved free edge portions of the opposed ramp portions forming therebetween a gap having a width of up to about 20 mm.

Abstract: A Brassica sp. genomic clone containing a gene promoter, which directs expression in the tapetum, was isolated. When the promoter was fused with the GUS gene and introduced into B. napus by Agrobacterium mediated transformation, this promoter controlled GUS expression in the tapetum in transgenic B. napus plants. Expression was observed from bud length 2-3 mm, which corresponds to the uninucleate microspore stage, peaked at 4-5 mm which corresponds to the binucleate microspore stage and declined to no detectable level at the open flower stage. There was no GUS expression in other tissues such as root, stem, leaf, sepal, petal or pistil. This promoter will be useful for the temporal and spatial control of gene expression in plants.

Abstract: A Brassica sp. genomic clone G 363 containing a gene promoter, which directs expression in the stigma, was isolated. Based on microbombardment studies of Brassica napus flowers with the gene Pis 63/Gus fusion, the Pis 63 promoter was shown to direct GUS expression to the stigma. This promoter will be useful for the temporal and spatial control of gene expression in plants.

Abstract: Apple scab, caused by the fungal pathogen Venturia inaequalis, is considered to be the most important single disease of apple worldwide and one of the most costly to control. Currently, the strategy for apple scab control relies on multiple applications of fungicides, often 8 to 12 fungicide sprays each growing season. These sprays represent an appreciable input of costs to growers and additionally, they can have a substantial impact on the environment. A new microbial pest control agent belonging to the genus Microsphaeropsis has been isolated. The application of this agent after harvest inhibits the formation of pseudothecia of V. inaequalis and consequently reduces the amount of primary inoculum the following spring which will result in a reduced spraying schedule.

Abstract: The initial steps in photosynthesis are the conversion of light energy into chemical energy. This conversion is performed by the multisubunit protein-pigment complexes of the thylakoid membranes. Oxygen-evolving photosystems contain photosystem I (PSI) and photosystem II (PSII), which act in tandem. In PSII, the majority of light-adsorbing chlorophylls are attached to LHCII, the light harvesting complex associated with this photosystem. LHCII is the most abundant member of the family of chlorophyll a/b binding (CAB) proteins. A gene encoding a type I chlorophyll a/b binding protein of LHCII (ICABPSII) has been cloned from Brassica napus L. An anti-sense RNA of this gene has been used to reduce the amount of chlorophyll a/b binding protein and thus reduce the amount of chlorophyll in the resulting transgenic plants. By using "site" specific promoters the reduction of chlorophyll can be targeted to specific organelles in the transgenic plant and thus can be used to reduce the green color at these sites.

Abstract: The invention relates to an antemortem stress supplement for livestock containing one or more sources of electrolytes including sodium, potassium and magnesium, one or more sources of amino acids including alanine, lysine, phenylalanine, methionine, threonine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, and glutamate, all in a bypass form; and a source of tryptophan.

Abstract: A durable container for storing and transferring crops, such as fruits and vegetables, from the field to market is described. The container is adapted to provide efficient air or water circulation for the preservation of crops. Particularly, the container contains openings in the floor and the sides of the container, which are of a defined size and proportion of the total area, to allow for effective air or water circulation.

Abstract: Fibrolytic enzyme supplements for increasing the digestibility of legume forages and grain feeds for ruminants, a method of treating legume forages and grain feeds with fibrolytic enzymes, and feed compositions consisting of feed materials treated with a mixture of fibrolytic enzymes are provided. The enzyme supplements do not pre-digest the feed material but assist in the colonization of feed particles in the rumen by ruminal microbes. The fibrolytic enzyme supplements consist of mixtures of cellulase and xylanase in certain preferred ratios and levels which are dependent on the feed material to be treated. The cellulase and xylanase are dissolved in a buffer solution and sprayed onto dry legume forages or grain feeds. The feed material is then incubated for at least three hours to allow the enzymes to be absorbed into and adhere to the feed material. The resulting feed compositions remain stable for at least one year against predigestion.

Abstract: A process is described for extracting lignans from flaxseed which comprises contacting a substantially oil-free flaxseed meal with an aliphatic alcohol solvent, e.g. a mixture of methanol or ethanol with water, to extract lignans into the alcohol solvent and separating residual solids from the lignan-rich alcohol solvent. The lignan-rich alcohol solvent is concentrated by removing solvent therefrom and the lignan concentrate obtained is subjected to a base-catalyzed hydrolysis to liberate lignans therefrom in a non-complexed form. Thereafter, the hydrolyzed concentrate is subjected to either a liquid/liquid partition, e.g. by an ethyl acetate/water system, or anion exchange to further enrich the lignans and the lignan-enriched solution thus obtained is subjected to chromatographic separation to isolate lignans at a purity of greater than 90 percent. The lignan, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, was found in amounts of up to 20 mg per gram of defatted flaxseed.

Abstract: A soil penetrometer and method of using this apparatus are disclosed. The method relates to the application of a constant force to a soil penetrometer, the penetrometer capable of detecting soil moisture content by time domain reflectrometry. The use of the constant force eliminates the variable nature of this parameter conventionally encountered in the art, and therefore reduces the complexity of soil parameter calculation.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of detecting poor meat quality in live animals using infrared thermography. Animals from a group of live domestic animals such as cattle or swine are scanned to produce thermographic images. The images are then statistically analyzed to determine a measure of central tendency such as the mean temperature for each animal's image and for all of the images in the group. A measure of dispersion from the measure of central tendency, such as standard deviation is determined. Then, animals are rejected as having a high probability of producing poor meat quality if the measure of central tendency for that animal's temperature differs from the measure of central tendency for the group by more than 0.9 standard deviations. Alternatively a set percent of animals are rejected, preferably up to 20%, these being animals whose measures of central tendency differ the most from the measure of central tendency for the group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the hydrolysis of sweetpotato starch which comprises the steps of: a) separating outer and starchy inner tissues of sweetpotato roots; b) heating the separated starchy inner tissues of step a) for a time sufficient for obtaining a suitable slurry; c) preparing an amylase crude extract from sweetpotato roots outer tissues of step a); and d) incubating the slurry of step b) with the extract of step c) for a time sufficient for the complete hydrolysis of starch.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of pear, which has been given the designation Harrow Sweet, bears a high quality late-season pear for the fresh market.

Abstract: An ananassa type strawberry plant characterized by its high productivity and high disease resistance. The cultivar is suited for propagation in the field and produces slightly tart fruit which is acceptable for the fresh market.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of peach tree, which has been given the designation `AC Harrow Fair`, that is cold hardy, disease resistant, productive and bears an attractively colored fruit of good size and quality that is suitable for long distance shipping.