Abstract: By this invention, a partially purified fatty acyl-CoA: fatty alcohol acyltransferase (wax synthase) is provided, wherein said protein is active in the formation of a wax ester from fatty alcohol and fatty acyl substrates. Of special interest is a jojoba embryo wax synthase having an apparent molecular mass of approximately 57 kD. Also considered are amino acid and nucleic acid sequences obtainable from wax synthase proteins and the use of such sequences to provide transgenic host cells capable of producing wax esters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an infra short-day strawberry type and methods for selection as well as induction of flowering of the infra short-day type by subjecting the plant to a relatively long light regime under short-day conditions accompanied by night temperatures from about 10.degree. C. to about 26.degree. C.

Abstract: A microbial pesticide containing a living Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora, particularly, the Erwinia cartovora subsp. carotovora CGE234M403 strain, from which the pathogenicity of soft rot is deleted by mutagenesis and which is immobilized by mixing with a saccharide such as saccharose, glucose, fructose or sorbitol or beef extract and drying or freeze-drying the mixture under reduced pressure, as an active ingredient is applied to soil or plants, which are liable to suffer from soft rot, bacterial seedling blight of rice and black rot, in the form of a suspension, granules or powder to control the diseases.

Abstract: A novel dominant allele which imparts orange colored fruit in bell peppers has been identified. This allele can be used as part of a breeding program as an efficient way of controlling orange coloration. Line 434 and Hybrids NVH 3074 and 0366, are also described.

Abstract: A novel method of identifying genetic markers linked to allels conferring yield potential of a crop species has been developed. By conducting genetic marker analysis of a set of current elite lines and the ancestral population from which they were derived by decades of plant breeding, one can determine and compare the expected and observed allele frequencies within elite populations at numerous polymorphic loci. Since the traditional plant breeding effort has consistently utilized yield as a selection criteria, deviations from expected allele frequency at certain loci have been used to identify alleles that confer yield potential. Agronomically superior progeny can, therefore, be selected utilizing genetic markers.

Abstract: The invention is directed to the identification of a safflower gene that exhibits male sterility in combination with a morphologically identifiable dwarfism in the male sterile plant and to the production of hybrid safflower that uses this safflower gene.

Abstract: This invention relates to a protease inhibitor of the insect Manduca sexta, its purification, cloning of a DNA sequence encoding the inhibitor, modifications to change inhibitor specificity, transgenic plants carrying and expressing said DNA sequence and insect resistance conferred thereby on said transgenic plants.

Abstract: A novel inbred corn line, designated LH169, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line LH169, to the plants of inbred corn line LH169 and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line LH169 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line LH169 with another corn line.

Abstract: An inbred corn line, designated LH218, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line LH218, to the plants of inbred corn line LH218 and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line LH218 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line LH218 with another corn line.

Abstract: A method for killing the parasite plant mistletoe and other photobiotic plants is disclosed. Opaque, heat-absorbing material is provided. The opaque, heat absorbing material is located about a parasitic plant and secured thereabout. The material is left about the plant until the plant dies from lack of light and from elevated temperatures. The material and the dead parasitic plant are then removed from the host plant.

Abstract: Method for extending bloom life of a cut flower by bathing the flower in a solution which contains isoniazid. Also disclosed are compositions for use in the method.

Abstract: Antifungal polypeptide and process for its productionThe polypeptide with the sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1)Ala-Thr-Tyr-Asn-Gly-Lys-Cys-Tyr-Lys-Lys-Asp-Asn-Ile-Cys-Lys-Tyr-Lys-Ala-Gln -Ser-Gly-Lys-Thr-Ala-Ile-Cys- Lys-Cys-Tyr-Val-Lys-Lys-Cys-Pro-Arg-Asp-Gly-Ala-Lys-Cys-Glu-Phe-Asp-Ser-Ty r-Lys-Gly-Lys-Cys-Tyr-Cyscan be produced by the fermentation of Aspergillus giganteus and used as an antifungal agent.Expression of this polypeptide gene in plants strongly inhibits the growth of phytopathogenic fungi on the plant.

Abstract: The fungus Trichoderma harzianum SK-55 provides broad antagonistic interaction against plant pathogenic diseases, and may be used to control fungal diseases in plants. A fungicidal composition contains Trichoderma harzianum SK-55 isolated from the soil. A method of manufacturing a fungicidal composition comprises introducing a large quantity of Trichoderma harzianum SK-55 into a culture medium, incubating it on the culture medium at a specific temperature range and at a specific humidity for a specific period of time, drying it at a specific low temperature range, and, if necessary, milling it into specific grain sizes. The fungicidal composition containing the incubated fungus may be distributed at the rate of 0.5 g to 5 g/m.sup.2.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method of producing virus-free potato minitubers, which includes the steps of selecting virus-free test-tube plantlets and stem sections cut from seedlings grown 30 days after cuttage of such virus-free test-tube plantlets as cuttaging seedlings, choosing vermiculite as cuttage medium, treating the cuttaging seedlings with plant growth regulators, keeping the growth conditions of the cuttaging seedlings at 25.degree. C. during the daytime and 12.degree.-17.degree. C. at night, relative humidity 95-100% during the early stage and 60-70% at the later stage, and a light duration of ten hours a day with illuminance of 400-600 lux, along with suitable field management of water and fertilizer. The virus-free potato minitubers can be harvested in 30 to 60 days.

Abstract: A method for cleaning sod being transported on a perforate conveyor belt which includes at least one vibratory position and a powered brush position for removing the earth from the sod. This method and apparatus may be attached to a farm vehicle at the sod harvesting site or free-standing at a remote location. This present invention removes the earth in a substantially dry condition so that the earth may be returned directly to the harvest site or conveyed to another location, A subsequent water bath stage is disclosed for the removal of unwanted dust on the sod.

Abstract: An inbred corn line, designated LH185, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line LH185, to the plants of inbred corn line LH185 and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line LH185 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line LH185 with another corn line.

Abstract: A method is provided for introducing a foreign gene into a plant cell by means of an Olpidium zoospore vector having associated with it a reassembled nucleoprotein complex comprising the foreign gene and reassociated coat protein of a zoospore-transmissable virus. The plant cell is contacted with the zoospore under conditions suitable for transmission of the nucleoprotein complex into the cell. The method can be conducted under nonsterile conditions, is applicable to all nucleic acids regardless of size, and is useful for introducing foreign genes into cells of both monocots and dicots.

Abstract: An inbred corn line, designated LH225, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line LH225, to the plants of inbred corn line LH225 and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line LH225 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line LH225 with another corn line.

Abstract: An inbred corn line, designated LH186, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line LH186, to the plants of inbred corn line LH186 and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line LH186 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line LH186 with another corn line.

Abstract: A method for producing natural, sun-dried raisins from the Thompson seedless grape variety in vineyards located in the Central Valley of California, or similarly situated vineyards, having about 4000 to 5100 degree days during the growing and drying season and an annual yearly rainfall of between about 10 to 12 inches. Rows (2) of grape vines (4) are grown at the vineyard site. The canes are trained so to create divided canopies along the rows of grape vines. The divided canopy has fruiting canes (26) primarily on one side of the row and replacement canes (28) separated from the fruiting canes, typically on the other side of the row. Once the grapes are sufficiently mature, the fruiting canes are cut (34) adjacent the crowns (32) of the grape vines. The grapes (30), still hanging from the cut fruiting canes, are left to dry naturally in the sun to create natural raisins. When sufficiently dry, the raisins are harvested directly from the cut canes.