Abstract: Identification of a gene from monocotyledonous plants such as rice, which codes for a transcription factor specific to a stress tolerant gene and provision of a novel environmental stress tolerant plant using the gene. From the rice genome, a gene, which binds to a cis element existing upstream of the gene encoding a stress responsive protein and for a transcription factor to activate the transcription of the gene, is identified. Further, the gene of the transcription factor is used to transform a plant, thereby improving tolerance against environmental stresses such as low temperature, dehydration, and salt stresses.

Abstract: The present inventors successfully isolated a photoperiod sensitivity gene Hd6 from rice by a linkage analysis. It was revealed that the photoperiod sensitivity of plants can be modified by introducing the gene or controlling the expression of the gene. Further, it was demonstrated that the photoperiod sensitivity of plants can be assessed by detecting the presence or absence of the functional gene.

Abstract: A gene encoding a protein capable of controlling salt stress tolerance is provided. A polynucleotide encoding a plant gene capable of controlling salt stress tolerance is provided. The polynucleotide includes a polynucleotide which has a nucleotide sequence encoding an amino acid sequence from methionine at position 1 to asparagine at position 243 of SEQ ID NO: 2 in the sequence listing, or which has a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence having one or several amino acid deletions, substitutions and/or additions and is capable of controlling salt stress tolerance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a system for searching for relationships between base sequences in order to efficiently analyze the relationship between a sample base sequence and known base sequences. In the system, a theoretical value calculating portion calculates theoretical restriction fragment length values based on restriction enzyme data. The comparing portion produces analysis result data by comparing theoretical restriction fragment patterns with measured restriction fragment patterns, calculating the degree of similarity of the sample base sequence to known base sequences.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a male sterile plant of the family Solanaceae by utilizing a plant expression cassette including a nucleic acid which is DNA encoding zinc finger transcription factors (ZPT2-5) derived from Petunia and a promoter operatively linked to the nucleic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an environmental stress-tolerant plant. The invention discloses a transgenic plant containing a gene in which a DNA encoding a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4, operably linked downstream of a stress responsive promoter.

Abstract: The coat protein of Mirafiori lettuce virus was purified from highly purified Mirafiori lettuce virus, and its partial amino acid sequences were determined. DNA encoding the coat protein of Mirafiori lettuce virus was cloned by the polymerase chain reaction using primers designed based on the determined amino acid sequence information, and its primary structure was elucidated. Moreover, the present inventors succeeded in isolating a number of DNA molecules encoding coat protein of Mirafiori lettuce virus by carrying out 5? RACE using primers designed based on the obtained sequence information, and in determining the primary structure. The use of these DNA molecules and their primary structures enables the production of plants resistant to Mirafiori lettuce virus, and the diagnosis of Mirafiori lettuce virus infections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing cellulose comprising the steps of: (i) culturing filamentous fungus having the ability to produce cellulose; and (ii) recovering cellulose from a culture obtained by the step (i) and cellulose produced by filamentous fungi. The present invention provides technology to produce cellulose from filamentous fungi. Further, the present invention provides novel cellulose, which is produced by filamentous fungi and can be utilized as various industrial materials, additives, and the like.

Abstract: A picture mapping system comprises a vehicle adapted to travel on an agricultural field; a camera mounted on the vehicle for continuously taking pictures of various portions of the agriculture field; a computer mounted on the vehicle for receiving and processing pictures taken by the camera; and GPS receiver means for receiving information signals transmitted from GPS satellites and/or GPS base stations. In particular, the camera is moved continuously by the vehicle travelling on the field, the pictures taken by the camera are continuously fed into the computer, positional information signals transmitted from GPS satellites and/or GPS base stations are also fed to the computer to determine the positions and the orientations of various pictures taken by the camera device, thereby synthesizing together the pictures on the display of the computer to obtain an overall picture representing the entire field.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus including an optical system of refracting an illumination light illuminated from a light source device by a scanning lens into parallel optical beams and condensing the light by a condensing lens located at a focal position of the scanning lens on an observed surface, in which the light source device has a light emission portion attached to a stage which is adjustable for the position along an XY plane in perpendicular to the optical axis of the scanning lens, with an optical axis of irradiation light being in parallel with the optical axis of the scanning lens. The apparatus being small in the size and simple in the structure, capable of easily controlling the spot position, not requiring accurate optical axis alignment and manufactured at a reduced cost.

Abstract: An arbitrary function generating circuit incorporating an analog multiplier, amplifier, and frequency multiplier to construct a nonlinear analog circuit equivalent to a generalized Lotka-Volterra equation for performing high-speed calculations.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to clone a gene which is involved in synthesis of fatty acid having trans-11-, cis-13-conjugated double bonds from fatty acid having a double bone at position ?12.

Abstract: A delicious, multifunctional soybean food, which has no unpleasant odor specific for a soybean and a less astringent taste. A soybean which completely lacks lipoxygenase and lacks group A acetyl saponin or soyasapogenol A, is used.