Abstract: An antibacterial agent is provided, which has an action for inhibiting growth of Helicobacter pylori participating to occurrence of chronic gastritis and gastric ulcer, and a highly safe substance is used as an effective component therein. An antibacterial agent for Helicobacter pylori is characterized in that at least one substance selected from the group consisting of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and its metal salts is contained as an effective component.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid markers for rice blast resistance genes Pi-ta and Pi-ta2, which hybridize with any RFLP probes isolated from rice genomic DNA and are located within a distance of 2.0 cM from rice blast resistance genes Pi-ta or Pi-ta2. According to the present invention, it becomes possible to easily identify rice blast resistance genes and related genes from rice cultivars containing Pi-ta or Pi-ta2, thus promoting development and breeding of superior cultivars. It becomes also possible to easily carry out a resistance test of rice. This will open up way to create new resistance genes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stress resistant plant in which a cell death suppressing gene is introduced.

Abstract: A gene encoding DNA which is selected from a) or b): a) DNA having a nucleotide sequence from the 190th position to the 807th position of a nucleotide sequence represented in SEQ ID NO: 1 of the Sequence Listing; or b) DNA which hybridizes to DNA of a) under stringent conditions, and encodes a transcription factor capable of altering characters of a plant.

Abstract: A plant exhibiting resistance to at least one disease is provided. The plant includes an expression cassette including a thionin gene from Avena sativa, which is capable of expressing the thionin protein. A method for producing the plant is also provided. The method includes the steps of constructing an expression vector containing an expression cassette including a thionin from Avena sativa gene, which is capable of expressing the thionin protein, transforming a plant cell with the expression vector, and regenerating a plant from the transformed plant cell. The plant exhibits resistance to at least one disease such as a disease caused by a plant pathogenic bacterium (e.g., a bacterium causing bacterial leaf blight of rice or a bacterium causing bacterial seedling blight of rice) or a plant pathogenic filamentous fungus (e.g., a fungus causing late blight of potato). A seed obtained from the above disease resistant plant is also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a high capacity binary shuttle vector having T-DNA region and Ri ori and capable to integrate a large genome fragment in it; a genomic library having the ability to transform a plant, especially monocotyledonous ones; a plant transformed with the high capacity binary shuttle vector; and a method of searching for a useful gene by use of the above vector. The present high capacity binary shuttle vector can introduce a large genome fragment of 10 kb or more, easily, efficiently and stably into a plant, especially monocotyledonous ones under those conditions in which the rearrangement or deletion of these genome fragments does not occur. The invention also provides some other vectors derived from the above Ri ori driven vectors, which can integrate circular genome library plasmids with a lox site, or which can efficiently transform plants with genes of arbitrary expression properties.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid markers for rice blast resistance genes, which are isolated from the rice genomic DNA, are DNA sequences having a total length of up to 2 kb, with two identical sequences of at least ten bases at the both ends thereof and are located within a distance of 2.0 cM from rice blast resistance genes Pi-b, Pi-ta or Pi-ta.sup.2 . According to the present invention, it becomes possible to easily isolate rice blast resistance genes and related genes from rice cultivars containing Pi-b, Pi-ta.sup.2 or Pi-ta, thus promoting development and breeding of superior cultivars. It becomes also possible to easily carry out a resistance test of rice. This will open up the way to create new resistance genes.

Abstract: A new variety of C. scoparius L. named ‘MEI ROAD’ is a dwarf shrub suitable for use a potted plant, garden shrub or ground cover.

Abstract: A new variety of C. scoparius L. named ‘MEI KING’ is a dwarf shrub suitable for use a potted plant, garden shrub or ground cover.

Abstract: A gene encoding DNA which is selected from a) or b): a) DNA having a nucleotide sequence from the 90th position to the 728th position of a nucleotide sequence represented in SEQ ID NO: 1 of Sequence Listing; or b) DNA which hybridizes to DNA of a) under stringent conditions, and encodes a transcription factor capable of altering characters of a plant.

Abstract: A gene encoding DNA which is selected from a) or b): a) DNA having a nucleotide sequence from the 190th position to the 807th position of a nucleotide sequence represented in SEQ ID NO: 1 of the Sequence Listing; or b) DNA which hybridizes to DNA of a) under stringent conditions, and encodes a transcription factor capable of altering characters of a plant.

Abstract: The new and distinct cultivar relates to a Japanese pear tree that has a strong resistance to black spot disease and substantially has the same excellent qualities of "Nijisseiki" as a Japanese pear cultivar. This pear tree bears a yellowish green fruit, is moderately sweet and acidic, and has a good taste that is suitable for desserts.

Abstract: The new and distinct cultivar relates to a russet type Japanese pear tree that has a strong resistance to black spot disease and has substantially the same excellent qualities as the Japanese pear cultivar `Shinsui`. The new pear tree bears a yellowish brown fruit, is highly sweet, medium in acidity, and has a rich taste that is suitable for dessert use.

Abstract: The new and distinct cultivar relates to a Japanese pear tree that has a strong resistance to black spot disease and has substantially the same excellent qualities of `Osanijisseki` as a Japanese pear cultivar. This pear tree is self-compatible and bears a yellowish green fruit, is moderately sweet and acidic, and has a good taste that is suitable for a dessert pear.