Abstract: Methods are provided for selecting parental plants exhibiting disease resistance and for using these plants in breeding programs. In one method of the invention, constitutive immunity (cim) mutants are screened for either resistance to a pathogen of interest or for the expression of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) genes. Such mutants having the desired traits or expressing the desired genes are then used in breeding programs. Parent plants can also be selected based on the constitutive expression of SAR genes. These mutants are phenotypically normal yet exhibit a significant level of disease resistance. Also disclosed are lesion-simulating-disease (lsd) mutants having a lesion mimic phenotype that also express SAR genes and exhibit disease resistance. Further disclosed are non-inducible immunity (nim) mutants that do not express SAR genes, even when induced by a pathogen. Methods of use for these mutants are also disclosed.

Abstract: The genes encoding a novel class of insecticidal proteins have been isolated and characterized from a strain of Bacillus thuringiensis. Both the nucleic and amino acid sequences for the proteins are disclosed. The nucleic acid molecules are utilized in the transformation of host microorganisms and production of transgenic plants which are resistant to insects. Also, the gene encoding for the insect's receptor of the insecticidal protein has been isolated and characterized. Novel processes and methods for controlling plants pests are provided.

Abstract: The invention concerns the location and characterization of a gene (designated NIM1) that is a key component of the SAR pathway and that in connection with chemical and biological inducers enables induction of SAR gene expression and broad spectrum disease resistance in plants. The invention further concerns transformation vectors and processes for overexpressing the NIM1 gene in plants. The transgenic plants thus created have broad spectrum disease resistance.

Abstract: DNA sequences optimized for expression in plants are disclosed. The DNA sequences preferably encode for an insecticidal polypeptides, particularly insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis. Plant promoters, particular tissue-specific and tissue-preferred promoters are also provided. Additionally disclosed are transformation vectors comprising said DNA sequences. The transformation vectors demonstrate high levels of insecticidal activity when transformed into maize.

Abstract: Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) DNA sequences from the ribosomal RNA gene region are described for different species and strains of Helminthosporium carbonum, Helminthosporium turcicum, Helminthosporium maydis, Cercospora zeae-maydis, Kabatiella zeae and Puccinia sorghi. Specific primers from within these sequences are identified as being useful for the identification of the fungal isolates using PCR-based techniques. Also described is a novel extraction buffer solution for use in isolating DNA from an organism.

Abstract: Antibodies, monoclonal antibodies or fragments thereof which bind to brush border membrane vesicles of insect gut and the gene or genes which encode these proteins are provided. The monoclonal antibodies bind the gut of a target insect but do not bind to mammalian brush border membranes or to plant microsomes. The antibodies and the genes encoding them find use in constructing hybrid toxins for control of insect pests.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to pesticidal strains and proteins. Bacillus strains which are capable of producing pesticidal proteins and auxiliary proteins during vegetative growth are provided. Also provided are the purified proteins, nucleotide sequences encoding the proteins and methods for using the strains, proteins and genes for controlling pests.

Abstract: Methods are provided for selecting parental plants exhibiting disease resistance and for using these plants in breeding programs. In one method of the invention, constitutive immunity (cim) mutants are screened for either resistance to a pathogen of interest or for the expression of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) genes. Such mutants having the desired traits or expressing the desired genes are then used in breeding programs. Parent plants can also be selected based on the constitutive expression of SAR genes. These mutants are phenotypically normal yet exhibit a significant level of disease resistance. Also disclosed are lesion-simulating-disease (lsd) mutants having a lesion mimic phenotype that also express SAR genes and exhibit disease resistance. Further disclosed are non-inducible immunity (nim) mutants that do not express SAR genes, even when induced by a pathogen. Methods of use for these mutants are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel peptide fragments [targeting signal] that are obtainable from the C-terminal region [C-terminal extension] of plant vacuole proteins and that, in operable linkage with any desired protein molecule, ensure that the proteins associated with those peptide fragments are directed specifically into the plant vacuole, and to DNA molecules coding for the said peptide fragments.The present invention relates also to recombinant DNA molecules that comprise the DNA sequence according to the invention in operable linkage with an expressible DNA, and to the vectors derived therefrom. Also included are host cells and/or host organisms, including transgenic plants, that comprise the said recombinant DNA or the vectors derived therefrom. The present invention also relates to recombinant DNA molecules and vectors derived therefrom that comprise DNA sequences naturally coding for vacuolar proteins, but which are devoid of vacuole signal sequences and targeted for extracellular secretion.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method for achieving stable integration of an exogenous DNA fragment in intact form into the genome of a eukaryotic cell, particularly a plant cell. The method comprises providing the exogenous DNA together with one or more proteins which promote integration of the exogenous DNA to the eukaryotic cell targeted for transformation, wherein the proteins are provided in the form of a chimeric gene or translatable RNA capable of expression in the eukaryotic cell. The method is particularly applied to plant cells to achieve stable integration of an exogenous DNA fragment bounded by T-DNA borders in intact form using integration-promoting proteins derived from Agrobacterium. Transgenic cultures, tissues and whole organisms, particularly transgenic plants, can be generated from cells transformed according to the method of the invention.

Abstract: DNA sequences optimized for expression in plants are disclosed. The DNA sequences preferably encode for an insecticidal polypeptides, particularly insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis. Plant promoters, particular tissue-specific and tissue-preferred promoters are also provided. Additionally disclosed are transformation vectors comprising said DNA sequences. The transformation vectors demonstrate high levels of insecticidal activity when transformed into maize.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for inhibiting virus infection in susceptible monocotyledonous plants. The methods and compositions involve the production of translationally altered forms of messenger RNA sequence derived from the inhibited virus. The invention further provides structural and organizational information for the genome of strain B of maize dwarf mosaic virus. Methods for inhibiting MDMV-B infection are taught. These methods include the generation of transformed plants containing chimeric genes capable of expressing either MDMV-B proteins or translationally altered forms of messenger RNA sequences produced by MDMV-B.

Abstract: A promoter isolated from a cotton gene encoding the small subunit of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase is described. The isolated promoter is operably linked to a coding sequence of interest to make a chimeric gene.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel DNA sequences isolated from soybean, wheat, cotton, sugar beet, rape, rice, sorghum, and sugar cane that coding for enzymes having protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox) activity. In addition, the present invention teaches modified forms of protox enzymes that are herbicide tolerant. Plants expressing herbicide tolerant protox enzymes taught herein are also provided. These plants may be engineered for resistance to protox inhibitors via mutation of the native protox gene to a resistant form or they may be transformed with a gene encoding an inhibitor-resistant from of a plant protox enzyme.

Abstract: DNA sequences optimized for expression in plants are disclosed. The DNA sequences preferably encode for an insecticidal polypeptides, particularly insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis. Plant promoters, particular tissue-specific and tissue-preferred promoters are also provided. Additionally disclosed are transformation vectors comprising said DNA sequences. The transformation vectors demonstrate high levels of insecticidal activity when transformed into maize.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chimeric gene construction comprising one promoter element and a 3' termination signal in functional combination with a gene, wherein a) the promoter is an snRNA promoter element from plants specific for RNA polymerase II b) promoter element, of signalling the formation of RNA 3' ends, c)the gene codes for a polypeptide for sense RNA, for anti-sense RNA or for snRNA, with the proviso that, in the case of the snRNA, the 3' termination signal used in b) represents a eukaryotic poly(A) signal.

Abstract: A herbicidal composition comprising, in addition to customary inert formulation adjuvants, as active ingredienta) an antagonistically active amount of at least one compound A selected from the group of compounds of formula A.sub.1 ##STR1## and compounds of formula A.sub.2 ##STR2## compounds of formula A.sub.3 ##STR3## b) a herbicidally effective amount of at least one compound G selected from the group of compounds, preferably having the 2R-configuration, of formula G.sub.1 ##STR4## compounds of formula G.sub.2 ##STR5## c) an acid the pK value of which is smaller than the pK values of compounds G and A.

Abstract: DNA sequences are able to function as promoters of tissue-preferential transcription of associated DNA sequences in plants, particularly in the roots. These DNA sequences can be used in transformation vectors to produce transgenic plants which will express the heterologous genes preferentially in tissue, particularly in the roots of maize plants.

Abstract: Promoters naturally associated with plant protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox) coding sequences, and derivatives thereof, are provided. These promoters can be used to control the expression of an operably linked heterologous coding sequence in a plant cell. These promoters are particularly useful for expressing modified forms of herbicide target enzymes, particularly modified forms of protox, to achieve tolerance to herbicides that inhibit the corresponding unmodified enzymes. Recombinant DNA molecules and chimeric genes comprising these promoters are provided, as well as plant tissue and plants containing such chimeric genes.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to methods and compositions for controlling insects in monocotyledonous plants (monocots), particularly maize. More precisely, the present invention relates to (1) a method for controlling insects comprising feeding or contacting an insect with an insecticidal amount of transgenic monocotyledonous plant cells comprising a recombinant DNA sequence comprising a coding sequence encoding peroxidase and (2) a fertile transgenic monocot plant comprising a recombinant DNA sequence comprising a coding sequence encoding peroxidase.