Abstract: Rice plants are disclosed with two separate, but synergistic mechanisms for resistance to herbicides that normally inhibit a plant's acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) enzyme. The herbicide resistance of plants with both resistance mechanisms is substantially greater that one would expect from a simple combination of the two types of resistance. The first of the two resistance mechanisms is a metabolic pathway that is not fully understood, but that does not itself involve a mutant AHAS enzyme. The second resistance mechanism is a mutant AHAS enzyme, an enzyme that shows direct resistance to levels of herbicide that normally inhibit the enzyme, in both in vivo and in vitro assays. Besides controlling red rice, many AHAS-inhibiting herbicides also effectively control other weeds that are common in rice fields. Several of these herbicides have residual activity, so that a treatment controls both existing weeds as well as weeds that sprout later.

Abstract: The invention describes nucleic acid molecules encoding cytochrome P450-t proteins involved in the brassionosteroid synthesis in plants, transgenic plant cells and plants containing such nucleic acid molecules as well as processes for the identification of other proteins involved in brassinosteroid synthesis and processes for the identification of substances acting as brassinosteroids or as brassinosteroid inhibitors in plants.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting the production of mycotoxins of fungus, such as aflatoxin-producing and sterigmatocystin-producing fungi, in plants susceptible to contamination by such mycotoxins consists of introducing into the susceptible plant a gene encoding for lipoxygenase pathway enzyme of the mycotoxin. Exemplary of the lipoxygenase pathway enzymes are soybean lipoxygenase, allene oxidase, hydroperoxide lyase and hydroperoxide dehydratase. The resulting transgenic plant demonstrates substantial resistance to mycotoxin contamination of such fungus. Plants which are substantially resistant to mycotoxin contamination of Aspergillus spp. are further obtained by incorporating into mycotoxin susceptible plant antisense genes for the 9-hydroperoxide fatty acid producing lipoxygenases.

Abstract: The nucleotide sequence of a DNA coding for ectoine synthase has been determined by isolating a gene coding for an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of ectoine in the form of a DNA comprising about 4.2 kilobase pairs which is obtained from Halomonas sp. KS-3 by cleaving with restriction endonucleases EcoRI and SalI. By introducing the obtained gene DNA into E. coli, it is possible to provide the capability of biosynthetizing ectoine and the characteristic of high osmotic tolerance, thus permitting the development of an efficient fermentation technique utilizing the resultant transformant and the creation of plants having high resistance to drought.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are structure-based modelling methods for the preparation of acetohydroxy acid synthase (AHAS) variants, including those that exhibit selectively increased resistance to herbicides such as imidazoline herbicides and AHAS inhibiting herbicides. The invention encompasses isolated DNAs encoding such variants, vectors that include the DNAs, and methods for producing the variant polypeptides and herbicide resistant plants containing specific AHAS gene mutations. Methods for weed control in crops are also provided.

Abstract: A method for making a genetically modified plant comprising regenerating a whole plant from a plant cell that has been transfected with DNA sequences comprising a first gene whose expression results in an altered plant phenotype linked to a transiently active promoter, the gene and promoter being separated by a blocking sequence flanked on either side by specific excision sequences, a second gene that encodes a recombinase specific for the specific excision sequences linked to a repressible promoter, and a third gene that encodes the repressor specific for the repressible promoter.

Abstract: An Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and regeneration method for plants including a transformation method to produce transgenic plants with an altered lignin composition.

Abstract: There is disclosed plasmids for the preparation of transgenic plants which are modified through the transfer and the expression of genes localized on the plasmids, that influence the sugar metabolism or the sugar partitioning within a plant. In addition, transgenic plants with modified sugar metabolism or sugar partitioning are described. The genes cause a modified distribution of assimilates in the transgenic plant which result in significant changes in plant habit, such as size, leaf shape, internode separation and root formation, as well as improvements in plant yield. Plasmids and methods are also described which enable foreign proteins to be directed into specific tissues or portions of transgenic plants, including vacuoles, leaves and sink organs.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of improving flour by altering glutenin content in seeds of wheat and non-wheat plants. The invention relates to methods of introducing a recombinant construct comprising a glutenin gene into a parental plant.

Abstract: SU1, a starch debranching enzyme active in maize endosperm (Zea mays), and the cDNA and gene sequences encoding SU1 are disclosed. The amino acid sequence is significantly similar to that of bacterial isoamylases, enzymes that hydrolyze .alpha.-(1.fwdarw.6) glycosidic bonds. Amino acid sequence similarity establishes SU1 as a member of the .alpha.-amylase superfamily of starch hydrolytic enzymes. Also disclosed are antibodies reactive with the SU1 protein, methods of producing antibodies to the SU1 protein, methods of producing fusion proteins including SU1 and methods of producing transgenic plants with a modified su1 gene. The expressed SU1 protein can serve as a replacement for the bacterial and fungal enzymes currently used in the starch processing industry.

Abstract: A Brassica sp. genomic clone G 363 containing a gene promoter, which directs expression in the stigma, was isolated. Based on microbombardment studies of Brassica napus flowers with the gene Pis 63/Gus fusion, the Pis 63 promoter was shown to direct GUS expression to the stigma. This promoter will be useful for the temporal and spatial control of gene expression in plants.

Abstract: A plant promoter that is a nucleic acid region located upstream of the 5' end of a plant DNA structural coding sequence that is transcribed at high levels in meristematic tissue and/or rapidly dividing cells. This promoter region is capable of conferring high levels of transcription in meristematic tissue and/or rapidly dividing cells when used as a promoter for a heterologous coding sequence in a chimeric gene. The promoter and any chimeric gene in which it may be used can be used to obtain transformed plants or plant cells. A DNA coding sequence that codes for a gene that is highly transcribed in meristematic tissue of Arabidopsis thaliana is also disclosed. This coding sequence can be used to obtain a cDNA probe useful in obtaining analogous promoters from a homologous coding sequence in other plant species. Chimeric genes including the isolated promoter region, transformed plants containing the isolated promoter region, transformed plant cells and seeds are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides for the secretion of heterologous protein in plant systems. In particular, this invention provides for the production of heterologous proteins by malting of monocot plant seeds. The heterologous genes are expressed during germination of the seeds and isolated from a malt. Also disclosed are chimeric genes, vectors and methods relating to the present invention. Protein production by cell culture techniques is also described.

Abstract: This invention provides for the secretion of heterologous protein in plant systems. In particular, this invention provides for the production of heterologous proteins by malting of monocot plant seeds. The heterologous genes are expressed during germination of the seeds and isolated from a malt. Also disclosed are chimeric genes, vectors and methods relating to the present invention. Protein production by cell culture techniques is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to genetically engineering the wood color of woody plants by incorporation of the lignin pathway gene O-methyltransferase into the genome of the plants.

Abstract: An inbred corn line, designated LH264, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line LH264, to the plants of inbred corn line LH264 and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line LH264 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line LH264 with another corn line.

Abstract: An inbred corn line, designated LH237, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line LH237, to the plants of inbred corn line LH237 and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line LH237 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line LH237 with another corn line.

Abstract: An inbred corn line, designated LH273, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line LH273, to the plants of inbred corn line LH273 and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line LH273 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line LH273 with another corn line.

Abstract: The invention discloses a transgenic method for producing parthenocarpic fruits or fruits with reduced seed number. It involves the temporal expression of a plant hormone or precursor or other such gene so that gibberellin or other similar hormonal activity involved in initiating fruit set activity is potentiated. The gene is operably linked to a regulatory promoter so that expression is timed prior to pollen development or fertilization. Expression of the hormone causes fruit development in the absence of fertilization. The method also results in a fruit that has diminished or very little seed. The invention also includes transgenic constructs, vectors, and methods for production of the parthenocarpic plants.

Abstract: In a tubular pressure chamber a drop of a DNA solution with gold particles suspended therein is atomized at the opening of a cannula by a pressure impact. The fog droplets containing the gold particles and the DNA entrained by them, are pressured by the pressure impact through a restriction at the end of the pressure chamber and thereby accelerated and focused. They subsequently traverse in free flight an evacuated specimen chamber and impact in a narrowly limited target area with a predetermined pulse, cells fixed on a holder, thereby penetrating them.