Abstract: 4-Haloalkylnicotinonitriles having the formula (I) which are suitable as intermediates in the preparation of pesticides, are obtained by: (a) reacting a 3-amino-1-haloalkyl-2-propen-1-one RF—C(O)—CH?CH—NH2??(II) in a condensation reaction with a compound of the formula (III) to (VII), (R1Z)CH?CH—CN??(III) (R1Z)2CH—CH2—CN??(IV) Hal-CH?CH—CN??(V) Hal2CH—CH2CN??(VI) HC?C—CN??(VII), to give a compound of the formula (VIII), (IX) and/or (X), RF—C(O)—CH?CH—NH—CH?CH—CN??(VIII) RF—C(O)—CH?CH—NH—CH(ZR1)—CH2—CN??(IX) RF—C(O)—CH?CH—NH—CH(Hal)—CH2—CN??(X), wherein RF is (C1-C4)-haloalkyl, R1 is alkyl, Hal is Cl or Br and each Z, independently, is O, S, NR1 or OCO; and (b) subjecting the reaction product to a ring closure reaction.

Abstract: The compounds of the formula (I) and their salts where the radicals R1 to R4, A1, A2, L0, X and n are as defined in claim 1 are suitable as herbicides and plant growth regulators and can be prepared by processes as claimed in claim 6.

Abstract: A method of controlling the growth of weeds at a locus which comprises applying to said locus a herbicidally effective amount of: (a) a benzoyl derivative of formula (I): ?wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and w are as defined in the description; (b) a fertilizer containing nitrogen; and (c) one or more adjuvants; and to their compositions thereof.

Abstract: Described are herbicidal compositions comprising A) at least one compound from the benzoylcyclohexanedione group and B) at least one compound from the group of the herbicides which act selectively against monocotyledonous and/or dicotyledonous harmful plants in rice. These compositions have a superior action compared with the herbicides employed individually.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a herbicidal composition comprising A) one or more compounds of the formula (I) where V is an unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclyl radical or a radical —CR&agr;═CR&bgr;R&bgr;1, where R&agr; and R&bgr; are identical or different carbon-containing C1-C40 radicals which together can form an unsubstituted or substituted ring, and R&bgr;1 is OH or a carbon-containing C1-C40 radical, and Z is an unsubstituted or substituted aryl radical, and B) one or more surfactants comprising, as structural element, at least 10, alkylene oxide units.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) and salts thereof as phytopathogenic fungicides wherein A1 is substituted 2-pyridyl; A2 is optionally substituted phenyl; L is —(C═O)—, —SO2— or —(C═S)—; R1 is hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl or acyl; and R2 is hydrogen or optionally substituted alkyl are useful phytopathogenic fungicides.

Abstract: There are described benzoylcyclohexanediones of the formula I, their preparation, and their use as herbicides and plant growth regulators. In this formula (I), C1, C2, C3 are cyclic radicals, X1 is a hetero atom, X2 is a chain of carbon atoms, L is a chain-like element, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 are various radicals, and Y and Z are monoatomic bridge elements.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing damage to wood from wood damaging fungi comprising applying to said wood a fungicidal composition comprising a fungus-controlling amount of at least one compound of the formula: wherein: R is a member selected from the group consisting of moieties of the structures: and wherein: each R1 is independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, and halogen; and n is 0 to 3.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds of general formula I, where A1, R1, R2 and Y are as defined in the description; and to their use as phytopathogenic fungicides.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for enzymatic preparation of homogentisate (HMO) from 4-hydroxypyruvate (HPP), characterized in that it consists in carrying out in a suitable reaction medium the following enzymatic reactions: enzymatic conversion of HPP into 4-hydroxyphenylacetate (HPA) with a first appropriate enzyme; then an enzymatic conversion of HPA into HMO with a second appropriate enzyme.

Abstract: Described are herbicidal compositions comprising A) at least one compound from the benzoylcyclohexanedione group and B) at least one compound from the group of the herbicides which act selectively against monocotyledonous and/or dicotyledonous harmful plants in rice. These compositions have a superior action compared with the herbicides employed individually.

Abstract: A fungicide composition useful for fighting against phytopathogenic fungi infesting or cable of infesting fruits contains a) at least a fungicide compound inhibiting mitochondrail respiration and b) at least a fungicide compound inhibiting sterol biosynthesis. A method of using the phytopathogenic fungicide for treating fruits against fungal disease is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules which encode a protein with the activity of a potato &agr;-glucosidase and to processes for the generation of transgenic plant cells and plants which synthesize a modified starch. Moreover, the present invention relates to vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid molecules according to the invention, to the plant cells and plants originating from the processes according to the invention, to the starch synthesized by the plant cells and plants according to the invention, and to processes for the production of this starch.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for transforming plants cells by introducing a heterologous gene into competent plant cells with a gene for tolerance to HPPD inhibitors as a selection marker wherein a step for bleaching the competent plant cells is carried out prior to transforming the cells by introducing a suitable amount of HPPD inhibitor into the cell culture medium. The invention also provides methods for preparing transgenic plants comprising a heterologous gene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant non-yeast DNA, which encodes a protein of interest, wherein an unmodified DNA corresponding to the recombinant non-yeast DNA contains a region having a high content of codons that are poorly suited to yeasts, wherein a number of the codons that are poorly suited to yeasts are replaced in said region of the recombinant non-yeast DNA with synonymous codons coding for the same amino acid that are well-suited to yeasts, and wherein the number of replaced codons is sufficient to permit expression in yeasts. The present invention also relates to DNA sequences which originate from dicotyledonous or monocotyledonous plants, and in particular plants of the graminae family which are selected from among wheat, barley, oats, rice, maize, sorghum and cane sugar, as well as to vectors and transformed yeasts which contain the DNA sequences of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a nucleic acid encoding a lepidopteran glutamate-gated chloride channel. Vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid are also provided. A method of identifying agents that modulate the activity of a lepidopteran glutamate-gated chloride channel is also provided. Such agents are useful as insecticides.

Abstract: Suitable for controlling harmful plants in sugar beet crops composed of tolerant or resistant mutants or transgenic sugar beet plants are herbicide combinations (A)+(B), if appropriate in the presence of safeners, with an effective content of (A) broad-spectrum herbicides from the group (A1) glufosinate (salts) and related compounds, (A2) glyphosate (salts) and related compounds such as sulfosate and (A3) imidazolinones or their salts and (B) herbicides from the group consisting of (B0) one or more structurally different herbicides from the abovementioned group (A) or (B1) foliar- and predominantly soil-acting herbicides which are active against monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous harmful plants, or (B2) herbicides which are active predominantly against dicotyledonous harmful plants, and (B3) herbicides which are predominantly foliar-acting and which can be employed against monocotyledonous harmful plants, or (B4) herbicides which are both foliar- and soil-acting and which can be employed agai

Abstract: The invention concerns a nucleic acid sequence coding for thanatin, a vector containing it for transforming a host, and plants and plant cells transformed by the nucleic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a herbicidal composition comprising a) one or more herbicidal active substances, b) one or more surfactants other than silicone surfactants, and c) one or more humectants. The composition according to the invention is outstandingly suitable for controlling a variety of harmful plants.

Abstract: Benzoylcyclohexanedione derivatives of the formula (I) and their use as herbicides are described. In this formula (I), R1, R3, and R4 are various radicals, L—(R2)n is haloalkyl, and n is 0 to 2.