Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing trehalose in plant cells capable of producing trehalase by growing plant cells having the genetic information required for the production of trehalose and trehalase, or cultivating a plant or a part thereof comprising such plant cells, characterized in that said plant cells are grown, or said plant or a part thereof, is cultivated in the presence of a trehalase inhibitor.

Abstract: The invention involves decreasing the intracellular availability of trehalose-6-phosphate by plant cell transformation with a gene encoding trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase from E. coli. Phenotypic effects of plant transformation with this gene include stimulation of glycolysis, cell or tissue growth, and metabolism; and inhibition of photosynthesis and bolting.

Abstract: Method for the inhibition of carbon flow in the glycolytic direction in a cell by increasing the intracellular availability of trehalose-6-phosphate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of alcoholic beverages such as beer or whiskey with a mixture of enzymes comprising an endo-&bgr;(1,4)-xylanase, an arabinofuranosidase, an alpha-amylase, an endo-protease and a &bgr;-(1,3; 1,4)-glucanase, and optionally, a saccharifying amylase and/or an exopeptidase. Preferable are mixtures in which the enzymes which are necessary in the brewing process are provided by transgenic seeds. Only a minor amount of malt may be necessary for flavor and color.

Abstract: This invention describes a method to prevent sprouting in vegetatively propagated plants such as potato, strawberry, banana and bulbous plants such as onion and bulbous flowers, by transforming a plant or a plant from one of its parental lines with a gene coding for trehalose phosphate synthase. Restoration of sprouting is also provided for.

Abstract: A method of modification of the development and/or composition of cells, tissues, or organs in vivo in plants by inhibiting the level of an endogenous trehalase is provided. The cells, tissues, or organs have been genetically altered to comprise a DNA sequence encoding a trehalase inhibitor. The DNA sequence is capable of expressing an RNA that is at least partially complementary to an RNA produced by a DNA sequence encoding the endogenous trehalase. Alternatively, the DNA sequence comprises a DNA sequence which is identical to a DNA sequence encoding the endogenous trehalase. The modification is other than to increase production or accumulation of trehalose.

Abstract: This invention describes a method to prevent post-harvest sprouting in potato by transforming the potato plant with a gene coding for trehalose phosphate synthase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of alcoholic beverages such as beer or whiskey with a mixture of enzymes comprising an endo-&bgr;(1,4)-xylanase, an arabinofuranosidase, an alpha-amylase, an endo-protease and a &bgr;-(1,3; 1,4)-glucanase, and optionally, a saccharifying amylase and/or an exopeptidase. Preferable are mixtures in which the enzymes which are necessary in the brewing process are provided by transgenic seeds. Only a minor amount of malt may be necessary for flavour and color.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of alcoholic beverages such as beer or whiskey with a mixture of enzymes comprising an endo-&bgr;(1,4)-xylanase, an arabinofuranosidase, an alpha-amylase, an endo-protease and a &bgr;-(1,3, 1,4)-glucanase, and optionally, a saccharifying amylase and/or an exopeptidase. Preferable are mixtures in which the enzymes which are necessary in the brewing process are provided by transgenic seeds. Only a minor amount of malt may be necessary for flavor and color.

Abstract: Plants are provided with improved resistance against pathogenic fungi. They are genetically transformed with one or more polynucleotides which essentially comprise one or more genes encoding plant chitinases and .beta.-1,3-glucanases. Preferred are the intracellular forms of the said hydrolytic enzymes, especially preferred are those forms which are targeted to the apoplastic space of the plant by virtue of the modification of the genes encoding the said enzymes. Particularly preferred are plants exhibiting a relative overexpression of at least one gene encoding a chitinase and one gene encoding a .beta.-1,3-glucanase.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the expression of phytase in transgenic plants or plant organs and methods for the production of such plants. DNA expression constructs are provided for the transformation of plants with a gene encoding phytase under the control of regulatory sequences which are capable of directing the expression of phytase. These regulatory sequences include sequences capable of directing transcription in plants, either constitutively, or stage and/or tissue specific, depending on the use of the plant or parts thereof. The transgenic plants and plant organs provided by the present invention may be applied to a variety of industrial processes either directly, e.g. in animal feeds or alternatively, the expressed phytase may be extracted and if desired, purified before application.

Abstract: The present invention provides male-sterile plants. The plants have a recombinant polynucleotide integrated into their genome, essentially comprising an inhibitory gene, which, upon proper expression in the anthers of the plant, is capable of inhibiting expression of one or more genes encoding an enzyme involved in the synthesis of chalcone, or one of its precursors.

Abstract: Chimeric genes encoding antifungal chitin binding proteins (antifungal CBPs) with very low chitinase activity (10% or less than that of the class-I chitinases from tobacco). Also substantially pure DNA sequences encoding antifungal CBP are provided for the obtention of transgenic plants producing antifungal CBP. Plants expressing an antifungal CBP gene, optionally in combination with a plant expressible glucanase gene, show reduced susceptibility to fungi.

Abstract: There is provided a method for inhibiting growth and/or germination of a fungus, by contacting the fungus, or causing the fungus to be contacted with a composition including an effective amount of a pathogenesis-related protein occurring naturally in a plant. The protein has endochitinase activity, antifungal activity and a molecular weight of about 40 to 43 kDa as judged by Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide electrophoresis. There is also provided a composition for inhibiting growth and/or germination of a fungus. The composition includes a pathogenesis-related protein occurring naturally in a plant. The protein has endochitinase activity, antifungal activity and a molecular weight of about 40 to 43 kDa as judged by Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide electrophoresis. The composition also includes .beta.-1,3-glucanase in an amount sufficient to enhance the effectiveness of the composition in inhibiting the growth or germination of the fungus.

Abstract: A nucleic acid having (i) a DNA molecule which, when expressed in a plant or plant cell, increases the trehalose content of the plant or plant cell, the DNA molecule encoding an E. coli trehalose phosphate synthase, and (ii) a plant expressible promoter operatively coupled to the DNA molecule. Also, a method for obtaining a plant with increased trehalose production by introducing into a recipient cell of a plant, a plant expressible gene which, when expressed in a plant or plant cell increases the trehalose content of the plant or plant cell. The plant expressible gene is an E. coli trehalose phosphate synthase gene which is operably linked to: a) a transcriptional initiation region that is functional in the plant, and b) a DNA molecule encoding a selectable marker gene that is functional in the plant. The method includes a step of regenerating a plant from the recipient cell under conditions that allow for selection for the presence of the selectable marker gene.

Abstract: A method for obtaining plants with reduced susceptibility to invasion by a plant parasitic nematode, and plants having reduced susceptibility to invasion by a plant parasitic nematode obtained, for example, with such method.

Abstract: A method for the protection of plants against pathogens, wherein a polynucleotide sequence comprising at least a sequence of a pathogenic avirulence gene (E) encoding a specific elicitor protein molecule (e) or a portion thereof is introduced into the genome of a plant containing a corresponding resistance gene (R), in which genes (E) and (R) are regulated in such a manner that simultaneous expression of said genes only occurs at the site of infection and said simultaneous expression can be induced by a broad range of pathogens. A polynucleotide sequence comprising at least a sequence of an avirulence gene (E) from a plant pathogen encoding a specific elicitor protein molecule (e) or a portion thereof, and a plant promoter (P) that can be induced by a broad range of pathogens and which permits expression at the site of infection only. Plant obtainable by use of said method and plant comprising said polynucleotide sequence.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting the growth and/or germination of a fungus that is susceptible to an osmotin protein by contacting the fungus, or causing the fungus to be contacted with, an effective amount of an osmotin protein. The fungus can be, for example, a plant pathogenic fungus, such as an Oomycete. In one embodiment of the invention, the effective amount of the osmotin protein is produced by a plant having incorporated into its genome a chimeric gene having a) an open reading frame encoding the osmotin protein, or a precursor of the osmotin protein, and having operably linked thereto b) a regulatory region which causes the chimeric gene to be expressed in the plant.

Abstract: A method for producing transgenic seeds and plants, which comprises isolating, from anthers, microspores in their uninucleate stage and removing tissue in which they are embedded, culturing the isolated microspores in a nutrient solution, transferring foreign genetic material into the isolated microspores to obtain transformed microspores, bringing about complete maturation of the transformed microspores to obtain transformed pollen grains in vitro, pollinating receiver plants with the transformed pollen grains and obtaining seeds from the pollinated receiver plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the expression of phytase in transgenic plants or plant organs and methods for the production of such plants. DNA expression constructs are provided for the transformation of plants with a gene encoding phytase under the control of regulatory sequences which are capable of directing the expression of phytase. These regulatory sequences include sequences capable of directing transcription in plants, either constitutively, or stage and/or tissue specific, depending on the use of the plant or parts thereof. The transgenic plants and plant organs provided by the present invention may be applied to a variety of industrial processes either directly, e.g. in animal feeds or alternatively, the expressed phytase may be extracted and if desired, purified before application.