Abstract: The present invention relates to plants that have been transformed so as to have both disease resistance and acceptable agronomic traits. More specifically, the present invention relates to transgenic plants that have acquired disease resistance through expression in the plants of a polynucleotide encoding the transcription factor WRKY45 in an infection-responsive manner, and methods for generating the transgenic plants.

Abstract: The present inventors isolated many promoters having various expression characteristics from monocots, connected the OsWRKY45 gene downstream of these promoters, and then re-introduced them into a monocot (rice plant), and thereby strived to produce a rice line having both complex disease resistance and excellent agronomic traits. As a result, the present inventors succeeded in producing transgenic plants having both disease resistance and good agronomic traits by expressing OsWRKY45 using upstream sequences of the EF1? or OsUbi7 gene as promoters.

Abstract: A three-step screening of selection for resistance against pathogenic bacteria infection, selection for resistance against pathogenic fungi infection, and selection for sensitivity to salicylic acid was carried out on Arabidopsis thaliana lines highly expressing rice full-length cDNA (rice-FOX Arabidopsis lines) which were prepared by using a FOX hunting system. As a result, one Arabidopsis thaliana line (line K15424) selected in all of the three types of screening was successfully selected. Line K15424 carries a rice full-length cDNA. Rice overexpressing AK070024 was produced, and resistance against rice bacterial leaf blight was assayed using the T1 generation. As a result, it was confirmed that AK070024-overexpressing rice is resistant against bacterial leaf blight and blast.

Abstract: The present inventors isolated many promoters having various expression characteristics from monocots, connected the OsWRKY45 gene downstream of these promoters, and then re-introduced them into a monocot (rice plant), and thereby strived to produce a rice line having both complex disease resistance and excellent agronomic traits. As a result, the present inventors succeeded in producing transgenic plants having both disease resistance and good agronomic traits by expressing OsWRKY45 using upstream sequences of the EF1? or OsUbi7 gene as promoters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to plants that have been transformed so as to have both disease resistance and acceptable agronomic traits. More specifically, the present invention relates to transgenic plants that have acquired disease resistance through expression in the plants of a polynucleotide encoding the transcription factor WRKY45 in an infection-responsive manner, and methods for generating the transgenic plants.

Abstract: The present inventors analyzed genes involved in plant disease resistance. As a result, they discovered the transcription factor gene OsWRKY45, which is induced in leaf blades of rice plants by activating the systemic acquired resistance (SAR) that plants inherently have, i.e., by treating rice plants with benzothiadiazole (hereafter may be abbreviated as BTH), which is an agent thought to induce disease resistance in plants. It was further discovered that rice blast disease resistance and rice bacterial leaf blight resistance were markedly improved by reintroducing the gene into rice plants and constitutively expressing it.

Abstract: A three-step screening of selection for resistance against pathogenic bacteria infection, selection for resistance against pathogenic fungi infection, and selection for sensitivity to salicylic acid was carried out on Arabidopsis thaliana lines highly expressing rice full-length cDNA (rice-FOX Arabidopsis lines) which were prepared by using a FOX hunting system. As a result, one Arabidopsis thaliana line (line K15424) selected in all of the three types of screening was successfully selected. Line K15424 carries a rice full-length cDNA. Rice overexpressing AK070024 was produced, and resistance against rice bacterial leaf blight was assayed using the T1 generation. As a result, it was confirmed that AK070024-overexpressing rice is resistant against bacterial leaf blight and blast.

Abstract: To investigate the function of ZPT2-3, petunia transformants overexpressing the ZPT2-3 gene under the control of the CamV 35S promoter were generated to investigate the presence or absence of tolerance against desiccation stress treatment. Surprisingly, petunia plant transformants showed significant tolerance against desiccation as compared to the wild type plants. In addition, neither growth abnormality nor morphological abnormality was observed in petunia plants, and thus overexpression of the ZPT2-3 gene was revealed to have no adverse effects on plant growth.

Abstract: The present inventors analyzed genes involved in plant disease resistance. As a result, they discovered the transcription factor gene OsWRKY45, which is induced in leaf blades of rice plants by activating the systemic acquired resistance (SAR) that plants inherently have, i.e., by treating rice plants with benzothiadiazole (hereafter may be abbreviated as BTH), which is an agent thought to induce disease resistance in plants. It was further discovered that rice blast disease resistance and rice bacterial leaf blight resistance were markedly improved by reintroducing the gene into rice plants and constitutively expressing it.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to genetically improve plant crossing properties as to effectively prevent recombinant genes in transgenic plants from spreading into the environment. A TFIIIA-type zinc-finger transcription factor gene ZPT2-10 was introduced into petunia. As a result, some of the transformants (i.e., transgene-dependent incompatibility (TDI) strain plants) were found to have a useful crossing property. Specifically, the plants were fertile and produced normal seeds when self propagated or mated with another specified transformant comprising the same recombinant gene, but were infertile (transgene dependent incompatibility) when mated with another transformant strain that does not have the TDI property or with a wild-type plant. It may be possible to utilize plants having such a crossing property to prevent transgenic plants from spreading into the environment.

Abstract: Genomic DNA containing the promoter region of the pMADS3 gene was isolated, ligated to a reporter gene, and then introduced into petunia plants via an Agrobacterium-mediated method. Surprisingly, the resultant plants became double-flowered by conversion of stamens into petaloid structures.

Abstract: To investigate the function of ZPT2-3, petunia transformants overexpressing the ZPT2-3 gene under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter were generated to investigate the presence or absence of tolerance against desiccation stress treatment. Surprisingly, petunia plants transformants showed significant tolerance against desiccation as compared to the wild type plants. In addition, neither growth abnormality nor morphological abnormality was observed in petunia transformants, and thus overexpression of the ZPT2-3 gene was revealed to have no adverse effects on plant growth or such.

Abstract: A novel promoter is provided which has an expression activity specific to any pistil tissue. The promoter has any one of the DNA sequence from position 1 to 2595 of SEQ ID NO. 1, the DNA sequence from position 1 to 2322 of SEQ ID NO. 2, and the DNA sequence from position 1 to 2012 of SEQ ID NO. 3, and a part thereof. A method for producing a plant having a modified trait by introducing a heterogenous gene operatively linked to the promoter into a plant, and a plant having a modified trait produced by the method are further provided.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to genetically improve plant crossing properties as to effectively prevent recombinant genes in transgenic plants from spreading into the environment. A TFIIIA-type zinc-finger transcription factor gene ZPT2-10 was introduced into petunia. As a result, some of the transformants (i.e., transgene-dependent incompatibility (TDI) strain plants) were found to have a useful crossing property. Specifically, the plants were fertile and produced normal seeds when self propagated or mated with another specified transformant comprising the same recombinant gene, but were infertile (transgene dependent incompatibility) when mated with another transformant strain that does not have the TDI property or with a wild-type plant. It may be possible to utilize plants having such a crossing property to prevent transgenic plants from spreading into the environment.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a male sterile plant of the family Solanaceae by utilizing a plant expression cassette including a nucleic acid which is DNA encoding zinc finger transcription factors (ZPT2-5) derived from Petunia and a promoter operatively linked to the nucleic acid.

Abstract: Genomic DNA containing the promoter region of the pMADS3 gene was isolated, ligated to a reporter gene, and then introduced into petunia plants via an Agrobacterium-mediated method. Surprisingly, the resultant plants became double-flowered by conversion of stamens into petaloid structures.

Abstract: An input pen for a touch panel excellent in a using feeling without causing any flaw in a display, and an input pen. A touch ball made of, for example, an acetal resin is provided at a pen tip of an input pen. The touch ball is held via a first spring and a second spring. Furthermore, respective spring constants of the first spring and the second spring are set in such a manner as to establish the relationship of (a displacement of the first spring)>(a displacement of the second spring)>(a deformation of the touch ball) when pressing force for pressing the touch ball toward a main body shaft acts. Thus, it is possible to suppress any deformation of the soft touch ball even if the input pen is strongly pressed against a screen of a touch panel or the like.

Abstract: A thread has a thread body formed of a continuous and monolithic synthetic resin material. The thread body defines chambers serially disposed along a length of the thread body and separated from one another by partitions. A gas, which may be lighter than air, fills the chambers. An embodiment has the chambers as radially adjacent chambers dispose along two to four radially adjacent longitudinal sectors of the thread body. The partitions of the two to four sectors are disposed either at common longitudinal locations or offset locations. The thread may be used as a fishing line that floats or in survival equipment wherein buoyancy is enhance. Still further, the thread provides for enhanced thermal insulation when used to weave a cloth.

Abstract: A gene encoding DNA which is selected from a) or b): a) DNA having a nucleotide sequence from the 90th position to the 728th position of a nucleotide sequence represented in SEQ ID NO: 1 of Sequence Listing; or b) DNA which hybridizes to DNA of a) under stringent conditions, and encodes a transcription factor capable of altering characters of a plant.

Abstract: A gene encoding DNA which is selected from a) or b): a) DNA having a nucleotide sequence from the 190th position to the 807th position of a nucleotide sequence represented in SEQ ID NO: 1 of the Sequence Listing; or b) DNA which hybridizes to DNA of a) under stringent conditions, and encodes a transcription factor capable of altering characters of a plant.