Abstract: Provided are a tobacco plant in which a high solavetivone content can be achieved without inoculation with a virus, and a method for producing the tobacco plant. In a tobacco plant in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a function of an endogenous CA1 gene is suppressed.

Abstract: In order to provide tobacco resistant to a virus, tobacco in accordance with the present invention is arranged such that: (i) a translation initiation factor eIF(iso)4E protein which is non-functional with respect to a virus is produced or (ii) expression of a translation initiation factor eIF(iso)4E gene is suppressed; and (a) a translation initiation factor eIF4E2 protein, which is non-functional with respect to a virus, is produced or (b) expression of a translation initiation factor eIF4E2 gene is suppressed.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a tobacco plant having a low alkaloid content. In the tobacco plant, a function of a gene encoding aspartate oxidase AO2 is suppressed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe (1) sends out ultrasound waves to a steel sheet (100) obliquely at a plurality of angles, using transmission signals provided from a transmission signal processing unit (3a). In addition, the ultrasonic probe (1) receives echoes corresponding to the plurality of angles from the steel sheet (100). A reception signal processing unit (3b) determines amplitudes of the echoes received by the ultrasonic probe (1) and corresponding to the plurality of angles, and periods of time from when the ultrasound waves are sent out until the echoes are received, as reception times, and identifies a location of a flaw (101) in the steel sheet (100) from the reception times and a ratio between the amplitudes.

Abstract: Provided is a method of producing a cured tobacco material having an enhanced threonine content. The present invention provides a method of producing a cured tobacco material having an enhanced threonine content, wherein the cured tobacco material is produced from a modified tobacco plant which has been modified such that expression or activity of an endogenous threonine aldolase is reduced or from a part of the modified tobacco plant.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe (1) sends out ultrasound waves to a steel sheet (100) obliquely at a plurality of angles, using transmission signals provided from a transmission signal processing unit (3a). In addition, the ultrasonic probe (1) receives echoes corresponding to the plurality of angles from the steel sheet (100). A reception signal processing unit (3b) determines amplitudes of the echoes received by the ultrasonic probe (1) and corresponding to the plurality of angles, and periods of time from when the ultrasound waves are sent out until the echoes are received, as reception times, and identifies a location of a flaw (101) in the steel sheet (100) from the reception times and a ratio between the amplitudes.

Abstract: A virus-resistant tobacco in accordance with the present invention is such that it includes a mutation in a translation initiation factor eIF(iso)4E gene, the mutation causing production of an eIF(iso)4E protein which is non-functional with respect to a virus or suppressing expression of the eIF(iso)4E gene, or a virus-resistant tobacco in accordance with the present invention is such that an expression level of the eIF(iso)4E gene is 20% or lower as compared to a wild type.

Abstract: In order to provide tobacco resistant to a virus, tobacco in accordance with the present invention is arranged such that: (i) a translation initiation factor eIF(iso)4E protein which is non-functional with respect to a virus is produced or (ii) expression of a translation initiation factor eIF(iso)4E gene is suppressed; and (a) a translation initiation factor eIF4E2 protein, which is non-functional with respect to a virus, is produced or (b) expression of a translation initiation factor eIF4E2 gene is suppressed.

Abstract: A virus-resistant tobacco in accordance with the present invention is such that it includes a mutation in a translation initiation factor eIF(iso)4E gene, the mutation causing production of an eIF(iso)4E protein which is non-functional with respect to a virus or suppressing expression of the eIF(iso)4E gene, or a virus-resistant tobacco in accordance with the present invention is such that an expression level of the eIF(iso)4E gene is 20% or lower as compared to a wild type.