Patents Assigned to Sanford Scientific, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7119262
    Abstract: Since its introduction into North America over 170 years ago, the poinsettia has become a major ornamental potted plant, and is an important component of the U.S. floral industry. Susceptibility to insect pests and diseases caused by pathogens remains a problem for poinsettia production, even under greenhouse conditions. While chemical treatment can control certain insect pests and disease pathogens, such treatment can also have an adverse effect upon poinsettias. The methods described herein provide a means to genetically engineer transgenic poinsettia that express macromolecules capable of protecting the plant against the insects and pathogens. The production of transgenic plants can also be used to enhance the commercial value of poinsettia by controlling characteristics such as flower color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Sanford Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Franzine Smith, Tau-San Chou, Robert Eisenreich, John Sanford, Alan Blowers, Joyce Van Eck
  • Patent number: 6235973
    Abstract: The invention provides antimicrobial peptides, nucleic acid constructs encoding them, methods for transforming plant cells, and transgenic plant tissue that expresses the antimicrobial peptide genes and thereby exhibit improved resistance to plant pathogens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Sanford Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Franzine Smith, Alan D. Blowers, Joyce Van Eck, John Sanford