Abstract: The present invention provides oil seeds obtained from Sinapis alba that have a high level of oleic acid (from about 72 to about 84% by weight), a low level of erucic acid (from 0.0 to about 0.2% by weight), low levels of p-hydroxybenzyl glucosinolate and benzyl glucosinolate (each less than or equal to about 0.1 mole per g seed), or a combination thereof. Also provided are plants that produce such oil seeds. Also disclosed are oil seeds having high levels of erucic acid (greater than about 55% by weight) and low levels of p-hydroxybenzyl glucosinolate and benzyl glucosinolate (each less than about 0.1 mole per g seed), and plants that produce such oil seed.

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: 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: A Brassica sp. genomic clone containing a polygalacturonase gene promoter was isolated. This promoter directs high levels of transcription in the pollen. When the promoter was fused with the GUS gene and introduced into B. napus by Agrobacterium mediated transformation, this promoter controlled GUS expression in microspores and pollen in transgenic B. napus plants. Expression occurred between the late uninucleate microspore stage and the mature pollen grain stage. GUS activity was also identified in tapetal tissue at the binucleate microspore 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 endogenous gene expression in plants.

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.