Abstract: Novel lines of Brassica juncea yield an edible oil that has properties similar to canola oil. More specifically, the oil has an oleic acid content of at least 55% by weight, a linoleic acid content of less than 25% by weight, a linolenic acid content of less than 14% by weight, a erucic acid content of less than 1% by weight, a palmitic acid content of less than 6% by weight, a stearic acid content of less than 2.5% by weight, and a total saturated acid content of less than 7.1% by weight. The novel lines of B. juncea plant have a lineage that includes both lines J90-3450 and J90-4316, these being known lines of B. juncea, and may be formed by conventional cross fertilization or other means. The novel lines can be grown in harsher environments than conventional canola species and are high-yielding and disease-resistant.

Abstract: T-DNA tagging with a promoterless &bgr;-glucuronidase (GUS) gene generated transgenic Nicotiana tabacum plants that expressed GUS activity either only in developing seed coats, or constitutively. Cloning and deletion analysis of the GUS fusion revealed that the promoter responsible for seed coat specificity was located in the plant DNA proximal to the GUS gene. Analysis of the region demonstrated that the seed coat-specificity of GUS expression in this transgenic plant resulted from T-DNA insertion next to a cryptic promoter. This promoter is useful in controlling the expression of genes to the developing seed coat in plant seeds. Similarly, cloning and characterization of the cryptic constitutive promoter revealed the occurrence of several cryptic regulatory regions. These regions include promoter, negative regulatory elements, transcriptional enhancers, core promoter regions, and translational enhancers and other regulatory elements.

Abstract: A process is described for the preparation f electrostatically-linked, aliphatic- or alicyclic-substituted anionic or cationic polysaccharide gels from readily available macroporous ionic polysaccharide chromatographic media, such as diethylaminoethyl (DEAE), quaternary aminoethyl (QAE) and sulfopropyl (SP) substituted polysaccharide gels. These novel gels are used for the isolation, recovery and purification of non-polar extractives using one or more extracting solvents from the group of lower alcohols, ketones, and water. The non-polar extractives may be alk(n)lyresorcinols, steroid, triterpenoid, cardiac glycosides and saponins, steryl ferulates and other phenolic acid conjugates, flavonoids, lipids, alcohol-soluble antimicrobials, prolamines or other alcohol-soluble proteolipid complexes.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides new variants of the Fad3 enzyme, including amino acid substitutions, as well as nucleic acid sequences encoding such peptides. Other aspects of the invention include transgenic plants and plant parts. Vectors capable of transforming plant cells are provided, including the nucleic acids of the invention, including Fad3 coding sequences. Corresponding methods are provided for obtaining the transgenic plants of the invention. Methods are provided for using the plants of the invention, including selected plants and transgenic plants, to obtain plant products. Amplification primers for identifying the Fad3 alleles of the invention are provided, together with methods of obtaining plants using the Fad3 alleles of the invention as markers.

Abstract: A plant expressing a cytokine and an autoantigen is disclosed. An example of a cytokine is a contra-inflammatory cytokine, for example IL-4 and IL-10, and an example of autoantigen is GAD. A novel method for the production of transgenic proteins of interest suitable for oral administration is also disclosed. Further, non-food crop plants expressing one or more proteins of interest are disclosed, as is a method involving the preparation of a protein of interest suitable for oral administration within a non-food crop plant comprising, transforming the non-food crop plant with a suitable vector containing a gene of interest and appropriate regulatory regions to ensure expression of the gene of interest within the non-food crop plant, such that the non-food crop plant is characterized as being non-toxic, non-addictive, palatable, and requiring minimal or no processing prior to oral administration. An example of a non-food crop plant is low alkaloid tobacco.

Abstract: A process is described for the preparation f electrostatically-linked, aliphatic- or alicyclic-substituted anionic or cationic polysaccharide gels from readily available macroporous ionic polysaccharide chromatographic media, such as diethylaminoethyl (DEAE), quaternary aminoethyl (QAE) and sulfopropyl (SP) substituted polysaccharide gels. These novel gels are used for the isolation, recovery and purification of non-polar extractives using one or more extracting solvents from the group of lower alcohols, ketones, and water. The non-polar extractives may be alk(n)lyresorcinols, steroid, triterpenoid, cardiac glycosides and saponins, steryl ferulates and other phenolic acid conjugates, flavonoids, lipids, alcohol-soluble antimicrobials, prolamines or other alcohol-soluble proteolipid complexes.

Abstract: A biocontrol agent and a method of use thereof for controlling diseases caused by fungal pathogens in plants. In one aspect of the invention, novel strains of Gliocladium roseum exhibiting antagonistic effects against plant pathogens are used as biocontrol agents. Most preferably, a novel strain Gliocladium roseum ACM941 (ATCC #74447) is used in a treatment effective against fungal pathogens of plants. The biocontrol agent of the present invention may be used in the treatment of seeds, soil or plants to effectively protect against plant diseases caused by fungal pathogens. The biocontrol agent is particularly effective against fungal infections of pea, bean, canola, wheat, barley, beet, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, canola, califlower, cucumber, egg plant, pepper, tomato, marigold and other horticultural and ornamental plants, caused by Alternaria alternata, Aphanomyces euteiches, Ascochyta spp., Bipolaris sorokiniana, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. pisi, Fusarium solani f.sp.

Abstract: A process is described for the isolation, recovery and purification of non-polar extractives using one or more extracting solvents from the group of lower alcohols, ketones, and water. The non-polar extractives may include one or more of the classes alk(en)lyresorcinols, steroid, triterpenoid and cardiac glycosides and saponins, steryl ferulates and other phenolic acid conjugates, flavoroids, polar lipids, alcohol-soluble antimicrobials, prolamines and other alcohol-soluble proteolipids complexes. The process uses an aliphatic-substituted polysaccharide gel matrix in a process of hydrophobic interaction chromatography, and involves the steps of absorption, washing and recovery, wherein the extractives are absorbed and desorbed in the presence of and as a result of the concentration and selection of the organic ste of regenerating the gel matrix for further use.

Abstract: The present biotechnological approach for the production of polyhydroxyalkanotes (PHAs) uses microbial systems. The high production costs makes them substantially more expensive than synthetic plastics. Engineering a novel pathway in eucaryotic cell systems is a beneficial alternative to the production of PHAs in bacteria. This pathway will initially produce free (C8) fatty acids from the fatty acid synthetic pathway through the action of thioesterase, that will then add a CoA moiety to the free fatty acid through the action of an acyl-CoA synthetase, that will produce 3-ketoacyl-CoAs from the acyl-CoA through the action of a thiolase, that will produce R-(−)-OH-acyl-CoAs from the 3-keto acid CoAs through the action of a dehydrogenase isoform from yeasts. These R-(−)-3-OH-acyl-CoAs will finally be used as substrate for the PHA synthase reaction.

Abstract: A process for de-watering foodstuffs, such as leafy vegetables, includes moving the foodstuffs along a path, creating an upwardly moving air vortex which intersects the path, thereby raising the foodstuffs upwardly from the path while swirling them in a vortical manner. The foodstuffs raised above the path are received in one end of a duct, the other end of which deposits them on a conveying means. Preferably, the foodstuffs are moved by an air-permeable transport means such as an endless belt. The upwardly moving vortex is created by an air blower which forces air through a tubular portion that contains helically oriented vanes having a tighter and tighter helix in the downstream direction.

Abstract: Methods for quantitative conversion of soapstock, lecithin gums, deodorizer distillate and other by-products of vegetable oil refining containing interrupted double bond systems, to products with conjugated double bonds, using a reduced amount of alkali. Less than one mole of alkali per mole of acyl group present is required, thereby greatly reducing the need for added caustic compared with methods using oils, fatty acids and esters as starting materials. The preferred starting materials are soapstocks derived from vegetable oils rich in linoleic acid.

Abstract: Conjugated linoleic acid is readily prepared by mixing crude alkaline glycerol solution derived as a byproduct of triglyceride transesterification and a linoleate rich triglyceride, ester, soap, phospholipid, fatty acid, or wax and heating the mixture sufficiently to conjugate the linoleate double bonds. The reaction produces a favorable isomer mixture enriched in 10,12-trans,cis octadecadienoic and 9,11-cis,trans-octadecadienoic acids.

Abstract: A method for controlling Tylenchid plant-parasitic nematodes through application of an effective amount of an alkaline-stabilized sludge is described. In accordance with particular embodiments, the alkaline-stabilized sludge may be applied to the plant, seed or locus thereof.

Abstract: A mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase gene, tMEK2, was isolated from tomato cv. Bonny Best. By mutagenesis, a permanently-active variant, tMEK2MUT, was created. Both wild type tMEK2 and mutant tMEK2MUT were driven by a strong constitutive promoter, tCUP&Dgr;, in a tomato protoplast transient expression system. Pathogenesis-related genes, PR1b1 and PR3, and a wound-inducible gene, ER5, were activated by tMEK2MUT expression revealing the convergence of the signal transduction pathways for pathogen attack and mechanical stress at the level of MAPKK. Activation of biotic and abiotic stress response genes downstream of tMEK2 occurred through divergent pathways involving at least two classes of mitogen-activated protein kinase. This study shows that tMEK2 may play an important role in the interaction of signal transduction pathways that mediate responses to both biotic (eg disease) and abiotic (wound responsiveness) stresses.

Abstract: A process for commercial extraction of saponins from quinoa, and optionally for the formation of corresponding sapogenins. The saponin extraction process comprises contacting a saponin-containing part of a quinoa plant with an aqueous alcohol solution containing an alcohol selected from the group consisting of methanol and ethanol to form a saponin-containing solution and an extracted solid residue, removing the alcohol from the saponin-containing solution to leave a saponin-containing aqueous solution, and evaporating water from the saponin-containing aqueous solution to produce a saponin-containing product.

Abstract: Novel lines of Brassica juncea yield an edible oil that has properties similar to canola oil. More specifically, the oil has an oleic acid content of at least 55% by weight, a linoleic acid content of less than 25% by weight, a linolenic acid content of less than 14% by weight, a erucic acid content of less than 1% by weight, a palmitic acid content of less than 6% by weight, a stearic acid content of less than 2.5% by weight, and a total saturated acid content of less than 7.1% by weight. The novel lines of B. juncea plant have a lineage that includes both lines J90-3450 and J90-4316, these being known lines of B. juncea, and may be formed by conventional cross fertilization or other means. The novel lines can be grown in harsher environments than conventional canola species and are high-yielding and disease-resistant.

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.