Abstract: A method of controlling Take-all disease of plants by applying, preferably to the seed prior to planting, a fungicide of the formula wherein Z1 and Z2 are C or N and are part of an aromatic ring selected from benzene, pyridine, thiophene, furan, pyrrole, pyrazole, thiazole, and isothiazole; A is selected from —C(X)-amine, —C(O)—SR3, —NH—C(X)R4, and —C(═NR3)—XR7; B is —Wm—Q(R2)3 or selected from o-tolyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, and 9-phenanthryl, each optionally substituted with halogen or R4; Q is C, Si, Ge, or Sn; W is —C(R3)pH(2−p)—; or when Q is C, W is selected from —C(R3)pH(2−p)—, —N(R3)mH(1−m)—, —S(O)p—, and —O—; X is O or S; n is 0, 1, 2, or 3; m is 0 or 1; p is 0, 1, or 2; each R is independently selected from a) halo, formyl, cyano, amino, nitro, thiocyanato, isothiocyanato, trimethylsilyl, and hydroxy; b) C1-C4 alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,

Abstract: Genes encoding Class II EPSPS enzymes are disclosed. The genes are useful in producing transformed bacteria and plants which are tolerant to glyphosate herbicide. Class II EPSPS genes share little homology with known, Class I EPSPS genes, and do not hybridize to probes from Class I EPSPS's. The Class II EPSPS enzymes are characterized by being more kinetically efficient than Class I EPSPS's in the presence of glyphosate. Plants transformed with Class II EPSPS genes are also disclosed as well as a method for selectively controlling weeds in a planted transgenic crop field.

Abstract: Animal feed premix particles containing a carrier and a food additive is disclosed. The carrier is plant seed product having an ash content of less than about 10 percent by weight. The food additive 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, is soluble in organic solvents and is water-insoluble. An additive-effective amount of the food additive is homogeneously admixed with the carrier to prepare the premix particles.

Abstract: Disclosed are Bacillus thuringiensis strains comprising novel crystal proteins which exhibit insecticidal activity against coleopteran insects including red flour beetle larvae (Tribolium castaneum) and Japanese beetle larvae (Popillia japonica). Also disclosed are novel B. thuringiensis crystal toxin genes, designated cryET33 and cryET34, which encode the colepteran-toxic crystal proteins, CryET33 (29-kDa) crystal protein, and the cryET34 gene encodes the 14-kDa CryET34 crystal protein. The CryET33 and CryET34 crystal proteins are toxic to red flour beetle larvae and Japanese beetle larvae. Also disclosed are methods of making and using transgenic cells comprising the novel nucleic acid sequences of the invention.

Abstract: Hydroxyterminated PHA is produced by cultivating a PHA-producing microorganism in the presence of an aliphatic diol or an aliphatic polyol. High molecular weight hydroxy-terminated PHA is obtainable by the disclosed process, and is useful in the production of graft, block and random polymers and copolymers with other monomers, oligomers and polymers containing appropriate functionality and end group compatibility. The hydroxyterminated PHAs of the invention display improved thermal stability compared with PHAs not modified to contain increased end-group hydroxyl content. In addition, a branched PHA structure is provided by melt processing polyol terminated PHA.

Abstract: A method of controlling Take-all disease of plants by applying, preferably to the seed prior to planting, a fungicide of the formula

Abstract: A composition for application to foliage of a plant to elicit a biological effect is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel synthetically-modified B. thuringiensis chimeric crystal proteins having improved insecticidal activity against coleopteran, dipteran and lepidopteran insects. Also disclosed are the nucleic acid segments encoding these novel peptides. Methods of making and using these genes and proteins are disclosed as well as methods for the recombinant expression, and transformation of suitable host cells. Transformed host cells and transgenic plants expressing the modified endotoxin are also aspects of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to tank mixtures and premixtures of a glyphosate herbicide and a second herbicide to which a first species is susceptible and a second species is resistant. Such tank mixtures and premixtures allow control of glyphosate-susceptible weeds and glyphosate-tolerant volunteer individuals of the first species in a crop of glyphosate-tolerant second species with a single application of herbicide.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an oxyacid of phosphorus comprising contacting elemental phosphorus with water in the presence of a catalyst effective to promote oxidation of phosphorus by reaction with water. The use of a noble metal catalyst such as Pd under moderate agitation and low severity conditions is effective for the preparation of P(III) oxyacid in high selectivity. Other suitable catalysts may comprise, for example, other Group VIII metals (particularly other platinum metals); oxides, salts, phosphides, and/or coordination compounds of Group VIII metals; Group IB metals; and/or oxides, salts, phosphides, and/or coordination compounds of Group IB metals. Various apparatus and process as schemes for the preparation of phosphoric and phosphorous acid are also disclosed.

Abstract: Introducing sucrose phosphorylase activity into plants by transformation with a gene for the enzyme increases the rate of sucrose hydrolysis, leading to increased starch, oil, and/protein levels. Sucrose phosphorylase genes from Streptococcus mutans and Leuconostoc mesenteroides have been found particularly advantageous for use in the present invention. Surprisingly, in potatoes transformed to express these genes in tubers, reduced bruise discoloration susceptibility and increased uniformity of starch deposition throughout the tuber are achieved.

Abstract: Promoters and genes isolated from genomic DNA of strawberry plants are disclosed. Both the promoters and genes are capable of tissue-specific expression in transgenic plants. A plant promoter that is a nucleic acid region located upstream of the 5′ end of a plant DNA structural coding sequence that is transcribed at high levels in ripening fruit tissue. This promoter region is capable of conferring high levels of transcription in ripening fruit tissue and in developing seed tissues when used as a promoter for a heterologous coding sequence in a chimeric gene. The promoter and any chimeric gene in which it may be used can be used to obtain transformed plants or plant cells. A DNA coding sequence that codes for a gene that is highly transcribed in ripening fruit tissue of Fragaria X ananassa. This coding sequence can be used to obtain a cDNA probe useful in obtaining analogous promoters from a homologous coding sequence in other plant species.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an improved process for the preparation of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (i.e., “glyphosate”), a salt of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine, or an ester of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine. The process comprises combining an N-substituted N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine reactant with oxygen in the presence of a noble metal catalyst. The N-substituted N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine reactant has formula (V): wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, —PO3R12R131, —SO3R14, —NO2, hydrocarbyl, and substituted hydrocarbyl other than —CO2R15; and R7, R8, R9, R12, R13, R14, and R15 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, and an agronomically acceptable cation.

Abstract: Methods for the biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoate homopolymers and copolymers are described. In a preferred embodiment, the polymers have a single mode molecular weight distribution, and more preferably have a distribution of between about 2 and about 4, and most preferably about 2.1 or 2.5.

Abstract: This invention relates to dry, water soluble, agriculturally acceptable herbicidal compositions, to a herbicidal method of use thereof and and to a process for preparing such compositions. This invention also relates to dry, water soluble and/or water dispersible, agriculturally acceptable herbicidal compositions containing two or more herbicides, a herbicidal method of use thereof and to a process for preparing such compositions.

Abstract: DNA encoding glyphosate-tolerant 5-enolpyruvyl-3-phosphoshikimate (EPSP) synthases, plant genes encoding the glyphosate-tolerant enzymes, and plant transformation vectors containing the genes are disclosed. The DNA encodes glyphosate-tolerant EPSP synthases modified by substitution of an alanine residue for a glycine residue in a first conserved sequence found between positions 80 and 120, and a threonine residue for an alanine residue in a second conserved sequence found between positions 170 and 210 in the mature wild type EPSP synthase.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel synthetically-modified B. thuringiensis chimeric crystal proteins having improved insecticidal activity against coleopteran, dipteran and lepidopteran insects. Also disclosed are the nucleic acid segments encoding these novel peptides. Methods of making and using these genes and proteins are disclosed as well as methods for the recombinant expression, and transformation of suitable host cells. Transformed host cells and transgenic plants expressing the modified endotoxin are also aspects of the invention.

Abstract: Introducing sucrose phosphorylase activity into plants by transformation with a gene for the enzyme increases the rate of sucrose hydrolysis, leading to increased starch, oil, and protein levels. The preferred gene is from Streptococcus mutans. Surprisingly, in potatoes transformed to express this gene in tubers, reduced bruise discoloration susceptibility and increased uniformity of starch deposition throughout the tuber are achieved.

Abstract: A composition for expression of a protein-encoding gene in a host cell is described, making use of an heterologous regulon. This composition provides a protein-encoding gene under control of a promoter heterologous to the host cell, and a gene for an RNA polymerase, preferably a single-subunit RNA polymerase that recognizes the promoter heterologous to the host cell. The gene for the RNA polymerase is under control of an inducible promoter recognized by the host cell. Also disclosed is a method for expressing the protein-encoding gene using the composition described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing a cyanophosphonamide comprising contacting phosphoric anhydride and a cyanide, preferably in the presence of a Lewis base, to produce a cyanophosphonate intermediate, and subsequently contacting the cyanophosphonate intermediate with an amino compound.