Abstract: This disclosure pertains to a novel platform for genetic engineering of chloroplasts. The disclosure provides episomal DNA vectors containing a chloroplast origin of replication. These vectors remain extra-plastomic and sustainably and autonomously replicate in chloroplasts of the plant cells transformed with the vectors and in the plants regenerated from the transformed plant cells. The episomal DNA vectors do not contain any sequence that shares sequence homology with the plastome DNA and, thus, do not get integrated into the plastome DNA. The vectors can also comprise one or more genes of interest that confer desirable characteristics to the transformed plant cells. The disclosure also provides methods of transforming plant cells with the episomal DNA vectors and regenerating from the transformed plant cells plants having desirable characteristics.

Abstract: This disclosure pertains to a novel platform for genetic engineering of chloroplasts. The disclosure provides episomal DNA vectors containing a chloroplast origin of replication. These vectors remain extra-plastomic and sustainably and autonomously replicate in chloroplasts of the plant cells transformed with the vectors and in the plants regenerated from the transformed plant cells. The episomal DNA vectors do not contain any sequence that shares sequence homology with the plastome DNA and, thus, do not get integrated into the plastome DNA. The vectors can also comprise one or more genes of interest that confer desirable characteristics to the transformed plant cells. The disclosure also provides methods of transforming plant cells with the episomal DNA vectors and regenerating from the transformed plant cells plants having desirable characteristics.

Abstract: The invention relates to genes which may be utilized for resistance to soybean cyst nematode. More specifically the present disclosure relates to identification of gene(s) that can confer upon a soybean plant resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN) and methods to use these loci and genes to obtain soybean strains that are resistant to SCN.

Abstract: The invention relates to genes which may be utilized for resistance to soybean cyst nematode. More specifically the present disclosure relates to identification of gene(s) that can confer upon a soybean plant resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN) and methods to use these loci and genes to obtain soybean strains that are resistant to SCN.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a method of rapidly transforming a plant with a gene of interest. The method of the current invention comprises the steps of a) preparing a bacterial culture, wherein the bacterial culture comprises a vector containing the gene of interest, b) producing a plant cell suspension culture from the plant, c) contacting the plant cell suspension culture with the bacterial culture to produce a plant cell transformed with the gene of interest from the plant cell suspension culture, and e) producing a plant from the plant cell transformed with the gene of interest. The method of the current invention can be designed for a high throughput transformation and screening of a plant with a plurality of genes of interest and screening the plants to identify and obtain plants having desirable characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of blocking or reducing genetically modified plant (GMO) pollen flow using a “non-lethal” approach. In this aspect, at least one transgenic polynucleotide of interest is linked to a pollen-ablation construct as described herein. The pollen-ablation construct contains a polynucleotide encoding a restriction enzyme that renders the transgenic pollen unable to fertilize a sexually compatible ovule.

Abstract: The use of selectable marker genes, such as the kanamycin resistance encoding neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII), has been invaluable in transgenic plant production. The subject invention provides a new selectable marker gene, an Arabidopsis thaliana ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter, Atwbc19 and methods of using the gene for the identification of transgenic plants. Since ABC transporters are endogenous to plants, there should be less controversy using Atwbc19, as a selectable marker in transgenic plants with regards to concerns of horizontal gene transfer.

Abstract: This invention satisfies needs in the art by providing intimin, the Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) adherence protein, alone or as a fusion protein with one or more other antigens, expressed by transgenic plants and the use of those plants as vehicles for stimulating a protective immune response against EHEC and the one or more other antigens. Various plant species are transformed to protect various animal species and also humans against EHEC, against pathogens expressing intimin-like proteins, and against pathogens expressing any of the one or more other antigens to which intimin may be fused. The eae gene encoding intimin, a functional portion thereof, or a recombination that encodes a fusion protein is put under the control of a constitutive plant promoter in a plasmid and the plasmid is introduced into plants by the type of transformation appropriate for the particular plant species.

Abstract: This invention satisfies needs in the art by providing intimin, the Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) adherence protein, alone or as a fusion protein with one or more other antigens, expressed by transgenic plants and the use of those plants as vehicles for stimulating a protective immune response against EHEC and the one or more other antigens. Various plant species are transformed to protect various animal species and also humans against EHEC, against pathogens expressing intimin-like proteins, and against pathogens expressing any of the one or more other antigens to which intimin may be fused. The eae gene encoding intimin, a functional portion thereof, or a recombination that encodes a fusion protein is put under the control of a constitutive plant promoter in a plasmid and the plasmid is introduced into plants by the type of transformation appropriate for the particular plant species.

Abstract: This invention satisfies needs in the art by providing intimin, the Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) adherence protein, alone or as a fusion protein with one or more other antigens, expressed by transgenic plants and the use of those plants as vehicles for stimulating a protective immune response against EHEC and the one or more other antigens. Various plant species are transformed to protect various animal species and also humans against EHEC, against pathogens expressing intimin-like proteins, and against pathogens expressing any of the one or more other antigens to which intimin may be fused. The eae gene encoding intimin, a functional portion thereof, or a recombination that encodes a fusion protein is put under the control of a constitutive plant promoter in a plasmid and the plasmid is introduced into plants by the type of transformation appropriate for the particular plant species.