Abstract: The present invention relates to genetically modified plants of the species Papaver bracteatum wherein the type or amount of one or more alkaloids produced by the plants has been modified. Specifically, the genetically modified plants have an increased expression of one or more of thebaine 6-O-demethylase, codeine O-demethylase and/or codeinone reductase relative to wild type P. bracteatum such that the genetically modified poppy plants produce an increased quantity of an alkaloid selected from codeine, oripavine and/or morphine relative to a wild type P. bracteatum. Also provided are progeny plants having the genetically modified poppy plants described above as a parent; mutant or derivative plants of the aforementioned plants; reproductive material derived from, straw produced from, straw concentrate produced from, latex derived from, or one or more isolated cells derived from, the aforementioned plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of an N-demethyl morphinane or a protected form thereof. In one form the preparation of the N-demethyl morphinane or a protected form thereof involves the N-demethylation of an N-methyl morphinane or protected form thereof. In particular the present process is useful in the preparation N-demethyl morphinane or a protected form thereof by N-demethylation of N-methyl morphinanes or protected forms thereof extracted from plants of the genus Papaver of the family Papaveraceae. An example of a suitable N-methyl morphinane that may be usefully subjected to the process of the present invention is thebaine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to poppy cultivars and their use to produce thebaine. In specific forms, the present invention relates to cultivars of Papaver bracteatum that produce thebaine in the first growing season after germination.