Abstract: Naturally-occurring and modified recombinant nucleic acid molecules have been isolated that encode linear pre-cursors of cyclopeptides of the Caryophyllaceae (Ccps) and Caryophyllaceae-like (Clcps) type V1 class of cyclopeptides. Such nucleic acid molecules are useful for producing cyclopeptides and their linear precursors by recombinant methods.

Abstract: A saponin extract from Saponaria vaccaria and its use for stimulating apoptosis in cancer cells and treating cancer is described. The saponin extract may be isolated from Saponaria vaccaria seed. The saponin extract may comprise one or more than one triterpene saponin. The triterpene saponin may comprise a bisdesmosidic saponin having a molecular weight selected from the group consisting of molecular weight 1448, 1464, 1422, 1526, 1596 and 1688. Bisdesmosidic saponin of molecular weight 1448, 1464, 1422, 1526, 1596 and 1688 isolated from Saponaria vaccaria seed may be used to treat human cancer including prostate cancer, human breast cancer and colon cancer. Also disclosed is a method of isolating the saponin extract.

Abstract: Saponaria vaccaria, related Saponaria species and species in other genera of the Caryophyllaceae family are well known for the production of saponins which have many established commercial uses including: detergents, foaming agents, emulsifiers and recently as adjuvants for vaccine development. Additionally, seed of Saponaria species comprises a novel starch with uniform small size grains suitable for numerous novel applications, and various cyclopeptides, proteins and secondary metabolites that have potential drug, nutraceutical or health care properties. The present invention discloses a method of culturing isolated microspores and generation of doubled haploid plant lines that are suitable for the rapid selection of Saponaria species with altered and improved seed composition and agronomic performance.

Abstract: Seeds of Brassica's and related species (Crucifers), having increased dormancy coupled with greater tolerance to stresses associated with fall seeding in long winter climates, are produced by treatment with solutions of sugars and/or polyols, for a specified period, typically 10 to 70 h at room termperature, followed by air drying to ambient moisture content. Dormancy is generally released on overwintering, moist chilling or hydration-dehydration-dehydration or as a function of increasing temperature or time or a combination of the preceding. Treated seeds afford better emergence over a larger seeding window for fall sown seeds of Brassicas and related species thus increasing the attractiveness of this practice for these crops.