Abstract: The present invention relates to polynucleotides and polypeptides associated with increased resistance of plants towards pathogenic fungi of the genus Mycosphaerella, and fungi related thereto, particularly towards fungi inducing Sigatoka disease complex and fungi inducing other diseases in banana and additional Musa plant spices; to use thereof for controlling plant disease associated with the fungal pathogens; and to the production of genetically engineered plants having increased resistance to the pathogenic fungi.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polynucleotides and polypeptides associated with increased resistance of plants towards pathogenic fungi of the genus Mycosphaerella, and fungi related thereto, particularly towards fungi inducing Sigatoka disease complex and fungi inducing other diseases in banana and additional Musa plant spices; to use thereof for controlling plant disease associated with the fungal pathogens; and to the production of genetically engineered plants having increased resistance to the pathogenic fungi.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a banana plant with tolerance or resistance to Fusarium oxysporum Cubensis TR4 and such plants. The method includes (a) exposing one or more banana meristems, in one or more propagating cycles, to a medium including a demethylating agent (in vitro mutagenesis) to thereby provide one or more banana meristems exhibiting expression and thereby amplification of retrotransposable elements in their plant genome as determined by Southern blot hybridization analysis, and (b) rooting the meristems that exhibited the amplification and regenerating therefrom one or more regenerated banana plants, at least one of the regenerated banana plants having tolerance or resistance to Fusarium oxysporum Cubensis TR4.

Abstract: The present invention provides transgenic plants transformed with exogenous nucleic acid encoding a Dunaliella plasma membrane (PM)-ATPase. The transgenic plant has increased tolerance to salt as compared to a corresponding non-transgenic plant. The present invention also provides nucleic acids encoding a chimeric PM-ATPase, which comprise a first portion encoding a plant PM-ATPase or a fragment thereof, and a second portion encoding a Dunaliella PM-ATPase or a fragment thereof. The present invention also discloses a method of producing a transgenic plant having an increased tolerance to salt as compared to a corresponding non-transgenic plant, a method of modifying a plant capacity to survive salt shock, and a method of modifying plant recovery after exposure to salt stress, by introducing into one or more cells of a plant an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a Dunaliella PM-ATPase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transgenic plants resistant to parasites that their normal life cycle includes feeding on the plant cytoplasm, including insects, nematodes and fungi, wherein the plants are engineered to produce small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) capable of silencing a parasite specific gene. Particularly the parasite gene is a stage-specific gene, more particularly a gene involved in essential, early developmental stages of the parasite in or on the plant.

Abstract: The present invention provides transgenic plants transformed with exogenous nucleic acid encoding a Dunaliella salt-inducible or salt-responsive protein selected from the group consisting of eukaryotic initiation factor 3 (eIF3) subunit, NADPH dependent quinone reductase (QOR), aldo-keto reductase (AKR), bifunctional aspartate kinase-homoserine reductase (AK-HSD) and mitochondrial import membrane translocase subunit (TIM9), or a fragment, homolog or variant thereof. The transgenic plants have increased tolerance to salt as compared to corresponding non-transgenic plants.

Abstract: Adi is a selection of the ancestral banana line Zelig, which belongs to Musa acuminata cv. Cavendish. When compared to its ancestral line, ‘Adi’ shows the following characteristics: 1. Dwarf-like stature, 2. Wider girth size, 3. Higher fruit yield, 4. Longer fruit size (“fingers”), 5. Higher levels of sucrose and starch in the pulp, 6. Tolerance to windy conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transgenic plant comprising one or more plant cells transformed with exogenous nucleic acid encoding a Dunaliella salt-inducible or salt-responsive protein selected from the group consisting of elongation initiation factor 3 (eIF3), NADPH dependent quinone reductase (QOR), aldo-keto reductase (AKR), bifunctional aspartate kinase-homoserine reductase (AK-HSD) and mitochondrial import membrane translocase subunit (TIM9), or a fragment, homolog or variant thereof. The transgenic plant has increased tolerance to salt as compared to a corresponding non-transgenic plant.

Abstract: The present invention provides transgenic plants transformed with exogenous nucleic acid encoding a Dunaliella plasma membrane (PM)-ATPase. The transgenic plant has increased tolerance to salt as compared to a corresponding non-transgenic plant. The present invention also provides nucleic acids encoding a chimeric PM-ATPase, which comprise a first portion encoding a plant PM-ATPase or a fragment thereof, and a second portion encoding a Dunaliella PM-ATPase or a fragment thereof. The present invention also discloses a method of producing a transgenic plant having an increased tolerance to salt as compared to a corresponding non-transgenic plant, a method of modifying a plant capacity to survive salt shock, and a method of modifying plant recovery after exposure to salt stress, by introducing into one or more cells of a plant an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a Dunaliella PM-ATPase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transgenic plants resistant to parasites that their normal life cycle includes feeding on the plant cytoplasm, including insects, nematodes and fungi, wherein the plants are engineered to produce small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) capable of silencing a parasite specific gene. Particularly the parasite gene is a stage-specific gene, more particularly a gene involved in essential, early developmental stages of the parasite in or on the plant.

Abstract: There is provided a stable vaccine for providing protection against disease having viral proteins transgenically expressed in plant cells. Also provided is a stable vaccine which provides protection against disease containing viral protein and coding sequences cloned into an E. coli expression system. A method of vaccination by transgenically expressing viral proteins capable of providing protection against disease into plant cells and administering the plant cells to an animal in need of vaccination is also provided. Also provided is a method of vaccination by cloning viral protein and coding sequences capable of providing protection against disease into an E. coli expression system and administering the E. coli into the animal in need of vaccination.

Abstract: There is provided a stable vaccine for providing protection against disease having viral proteins transgenically expressed in plant cells. Also provided is a stable vaccine which provides protection against disease containing viral protein and coding sequences cloned into an E. coli expression system. A method of vaccination by transgenically expressing viral proteins capable of providing protection against disease into plant cells and administering the plant cells to an animal in need of vaccination is also provided. Also provided is a method of vaccination by cloning viral protein and coding sequences capable of providing protection against disease into an E. coli expression system and administering the E. coli into the animal in need of vaccination.

Abstract: Adi is a selection of the ancestral banana line Zelig, which belongs to Musa acuminata cv. Cavendish. When compared to its ancestral line, ‘Adi’ shows the following characteristics: 1. Dwarf-like stature, 2. Wider girth size, 3. Higher fruit yield, 4. Longer fruit size (“fingers”), 5. Higher levels of sucrose and starch in the pulp, 6. Tolerance to windy conditions.

Abstract: ‘ADI 9107’ is a selection of the ancestral banana line ‘ADI’, which belongs to Musa acuminata cv. Cavendish. When compared to its ancestral line, ‘ADI 9107’ shows the following characteristics: No deformation of the upper hands of the fruit bunch, Dwarf-like stature, Wider girth size, Higher fruit yield, Longer fruit size (“fingers”).