Abstract: Provided herein are methods for improving various traits in plants, such as in Vanilla sp. plants, by genetically-modifying the genome of plants, introducing heterologous sequences into the plants, or breeding plants with selected alleles. Such traits that can be improved by the methods and compositions of the present invention include an increase in levels of vanillin or one or more precursors thereof, reducing dehiscence, reducing the size of a rostellum or eliminating its presence, and increasing fungal resistance. Also disclosed herein are genetically-modified plants, extract from such plants or plant parts thereof, and methods of producing such plants or progeny thereof.

Abstract: A device lot terminating a roof surface at a vertical edge In a waterproof and airtight manner may serve as a flashing strip at a parapet wall, a wall cap, a roof edge, an expansion joint or in other roofing applications. The device comprises a relatively rigid member, typically of sheet metal or the like, and a flexible member, typically of modified coal tar bitumen, EPDM, or other suitable roofing material. The device has a channel formed in the rigid member along a longitudinal edge that receives the flexible member in an airtight and watertight manner. In this configuration, the flexible member provides a covering for the fastening surface on the rigid member, which is fastened by conventional means to the roofing surface and the underlying support structure. The preferred channel is formed from a pair of longitudinal bends made in opposite directions such that a "Z" shape cross section is formed.