Abstract: Crossing a winter B. napus line with a rapid-cycle B. rapa line has been discovered to provide an unexpectedly simple and efficient way to create a modified B. napus with a spring flowering habit. In one implementation, such a modified B. napus or its progeny is crossed with a second winter B. napus line to produce a plant having a winter flowering habit. This allows one to significantly shorten the development cycle for winter-flowering B. napus lines by conducting part of the breeding program with spring-flowering time cycles, then migrating the resultant germplasm back into a winter-flowering line.

Abstract: A novel maize variety designated PHPPE and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHPPE with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHPPE through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHPPE or a locus conversion of PHPPE with another maize variety.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of producing male sterile monocotyledonous plants by introducing into said plants fragments of a nucleotide sequence coding for a protein which provides for male sterility and reconstituting the complete protein which provides for male sterility by intein-mediated trans-splicing.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for improved bacterial-mediated plant transformation are provided. The methods generally allow plant transformation with reduced vector backbone integration and a high frequency of low-copy transformation events. Vectors for achieving these results are described, as are methods for their use.

Abstract: The invention relates to the genetic manipulation of plants, particularly plants of the genus Brassica. Methods are provided for producing transgenic Brassica plants involving the introduction of a DNA construct by microprojectile bombardment into pre-incubated microspores, microspore-derived embryos and microspore-derived hypocotyls. The methods find use in the development of improved agricultural varieties of Brassica plants through the incorporation of desirable agronomic traits.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cytoplasmic male sterile leek (Allium ampeloprasum) plants comprising cytoplasmic encoded male sterility originating from garlic plant (Allium sativum L.) with deposit number NCIMB 41563. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for providing hereof. And the invention relates to use of the provided plant and of garlic for providing cytoplasmic encoded male sterility.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tomato fruit with significantly increased firmness due to the presence of at least one genetic element (or quantitative trait loci; QTLs) in the cultivated plant producing said tomato fruit, compared to fruit from a control tomato plant which does not have said genetic element(s). A cultivated tomato plant producing tomato fruit with significantly increased fruit firmness and a method for detecting QTLs linked to significantly increased fruit firmness are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides means and methods for simple and efficient introduction of foreign genetic material into the plant cell. Particularly, the present invention combines seed priming and virus-based DNA constructs for efficient introduction of heterologous DNA into plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to screening methods for rust resistance or tolerance, in particular, Asian soybean rust (ASR—Phakopsora pachyrhizi). In addition, the present invention relates to the use of molecular markers for the Glycine genus, in particular, for the Glycine max species. The present invention further relates to a method for identifying loci with quantitative and/or qualitative traits associated with rust resistance or tolerance in plants by means of molecular markers. Said markers can be used for assisted screening in improvement programs directed to selecting disease-resistant or -tolerant plants. The present invention also relates to gene pyramiding related to rust resistance. The markers of the present invention are also useful for the positional cloning of rust-resistant or -tolerant genes. Also disclosed are a method for obtaining disease-resistant or -tolerant cultivars, a process for obtaining a plant population and a method for controlling diseases in a plant population.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Cucumis melo plants that are resistant against Cucumber Vein Yellowing Virus (CVYV), and to plant parts derived thereof without the occurrence of necrotic symptoms. The invention further relates to methods of producing said plants, to CVYV-resistant plants obtainable by said methods, as well as to plant parts derived from said CVYV-resistant plants. Specifically, the present invention relates to a plant of the species Cucumis melo, comprising in its genome a genetic element, said genetic element comprising a Cucumber Vein Yellowing Virus (CVYV)-resistance conferring Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL), or a CVYV-resistance conferring part thereof, genetically linked to at least one molecular marker, wherein said marker is selected from a group consisting of E13/M48-259.69-P2, E16/M48-377.36-P2, E13/M48-261.30-P2 and E26/M62-076.8-P2.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for producing a transformed sugar cane tissue or cell thereof, said methods comprising: a) inoculating a sugar cane tissue or a cell thereof with an Agrobacterium inoculation suspension, said Agrobacterium comprising a nucleic acid of interest, to obtain an Agrobacterium-inoculated sugar cane tissue or cell thereof; b) co-cultivating said Agrobacterium-inoculated sugar cane tissue or cell thereof on a surface in the absence of co-culture media for a time period sufficient to reduce original weight of said Agrobacterium-inoculated sugar cane tissue or cell thereof; and c) selecting a transformed sugar cane tissue or a cell thereof comprising said nucleic acid of interest. The transformation methods of the invention provide for increased transformation frequency and recovery of transgenic sugar cane plants.

Abstract: Markers tightly associated with a sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) cms fertility restorer gene are identified, as well as genes containing the pentatrico peptide repeat (PPR) motif. Methods for marker assisted selection of restorer and non-restorer sorghum lines are provided. The markers can be used to facilitate development of the maintainer, restorer and cms sorghum lines used to make hybrids.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and compositions for identifying and selecting maize plants with enhanced resistance to Exserohilum and/or northern leaf blight. Maize plants generated by the methods of the invention are also a feature of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention is in the field of plant breeding and disease resistance. More specifically, the invention includes a method for breeding soybean plants containing quantitative trait loci that are associated with resistance to Asian Soybean Rust (ASR), a fungal disease associated with Phakopsora spp. The invention further includes germplasm and the use of germplasm containing quantitative trait loci (QTL) conferring disease resistance for introgression into elite germplasm in a breeding program for resistance to ASR.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for efficient regeneration and transformation of sunflower plants. The invention discloses an efficient method for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and regeneration of mature, fertile sunflower plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plant that is resistant to cucumber closterovirus and resistant to cucumber powdery mildew, wherein said plant is a plant of the species Cucumis sativus, said plant comprising, on a single chromosome, at least one chromosomal region that confers closterovirus resistance and at least one chromosomal region that confers powdery mildew resistance, wherein said at least one region that confers closterovirus resistance is linked to at least one marker selected from the group consisting of markers E16/M50-244, E16/M50-188, and E11/M48-251, and wherein said at least one region that confers powdery mildew resistance is linked to at least one marker selected from the group consisting of: the single nucleotide polymorphism marker 39T?G in SEQ ID NO:1, the single nucleotide polymorphism marker 29G?A in SEQ ID NO:2, the single nucleotide polymorphism marker 193C?T in SEQ ID NO:3, the insertion mutation 5?-AATTT-3? at position 221 in SEQ ID NO:4, and markers E16/M50-F-194, E11/M48-F-

Abstract: The method of the present invention includes the step of excising one or more portions selected from a radicle, a germ, and an embryonic axis of a plant tissue inoculated with Agrobacterium after cultivation in a coculture medium. The present invention provides a method of gene introduction that can transform a Triticum plant at high efficiency compared to conventionally known Agrobacterium methods, and provides a method of producing a transformed plant.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing infertility-induced, genetically modified grass. It comprises a) exposing a flower of genetically modified grass to a physical mutagen; (b) culturing the genetically modified grass exposed to the physical mutagen to produce seeds thereof; and (c) culturing the seeds to select an infertility-induced species.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and compositions for identifying maize plants that have newly conferred resistance or enhanced resistance to, or are susceptible to, a Fijivirus, particularly Mal de Río Cuarto Virus (MRCV) and/or Maize Rough Dwarf Virus (MRDV). The methods use molecular genetic markers to identify, select and/or construct resistant plants or identify and counter-select susceptible plants. Maize plants that display newly conferred resistance or enhanced resistance to a Fijivirus that are generated by the methods of the invention are also a feature of the invention.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter relates to methods and compositions for identifying, selecting, and/or producing drought tolerant maize plants or germplasm. Maize plants or germplasm that have been identified, selected, and/or produced by any of the methods of the presently disclosed subject matter are also provided.