Abstract: The present invention relates to a plant of a cucumber breeding line comprising an introgression from cucumber inbred line URS 189, a representative sample of seed of which has been deposited with the NCIMB, Aberdeen, Scotland under accession number NCIMB 41612 and depositors reference URS 189, or a Fusarium-resistant offspring plant of line URS 189, wherein said introgression confers to said plant of said cucumber breeding line resistance to the causal agent of Fusarium stem and root rot Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis cucumerinum (Forc).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plant of a cucumber breeding line comprising an introgression from cucumber inbred line URS 189, a representative sample of seed of which has been deposited with the NCIMB, Aberdeen, Scotland under accession number NCIMB 41612 and depositors reference URS 189, or a Fusarium-resistant offspring plant of line URS 189, wherein said introgression confers to said plant of said cucumber breeding line resistance to the causal agent of Fusarium stem and root rot Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis cucumerinum (Forc).

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated protein obtainable from a plant source which has antifungal activity, specifically anti-Phytophthora activity and/or anti-Pythium activity and a molecular weight of about 55-65 kDa as judged by SDS PAGE-electrophoresis, an isolated DNA sequence comprising an open reading frame capable of encoding a protein according to the invention, preferably characterized in that it comprises an open reading frame which is capable of encoding a protein depicted in SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO. 57, SEQ ID NO. 70, SEQ ID NO. 72 or SEQ ID NO. 74 or muteins thereof, and DNA capable of hybridizing therewith under stringent conditions. The invention further comprises plants incorporating chimeric DNA capable of encoding a protein according to the invention, and wherein the protein is expressed. Also shown is the carbohydrate and preferably hexose oxidating activity of said protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated protein obtainable from a plant source which has antifungal activity, specifically anti-Phytophthora activity and/or anti-Pythium activity and a molecular weight of about 55-65 kDa as judged by SDS PAGE-electrophoresis, an isolated DNA sequence comprising an open reading frame capable of encoding a protein according to the invention, preferably characterized in that it comprises an open reading frame which is capable of encoding a protein depicted in SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO. 57, SEQ ID NO. 70, SEQ ID NO. 72 or SEQ ID NO. 74 or muteins thereof, and DNA capable of hybridizing therewith under stringent conditions The invention further comprises plants incorporating chimeric DNA capable of encoding a protein according to the invention and wherein the protein is expressed. Also shown is the carbohydrate and preferably hexose oxidating activity of said protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated protein obtainable from a plant source which has anti-Phytophthora activity and a molecular weight of about 60±5 kDa as judged by SDS PAGE-electrophoresis, an isolated DNA sequence comprising an open reading frame capable of encoding a protein according to the invention, preferably characterized in that it comprises an open reading frame which is capable of encoding a protein as represented by amino acids 1 to 540 of SEQ ID NO: 6, or the precursor of said protein, and DNA capable of hybridising therewith under stringent conditions. The invention further comprises plants incorporating chimeric DNA capable of encoding a protein according to the invention, and wherein the protein is expressed. Also methods are provided for combatting fungi, especially Phytophthora infestans, using a protein or a host cell capable of producing the protein.

Abstract: Plants are provided with improved resistance against pathogenic fungi. They are genetically transformed with one or more polynucleotides which essentially comprise one or more genes encoding plant chitinases and .beta.-1,3-glucanases. Preferred are the intracellular forms of the said hydrolytic enzymes, especially preferred are those forms which are targeted to the apoplastic space of the plant by virtue of the modification of the genes encoding the said enzymes. Particularly preferred are plants exhibiting a relative overexpression of at least one gene encoding a chitinase and one gene encoding a .beta.-1,3-glucanase.

Abstract: There is provided a method for inhibiting growth and/or germination of a fungus, by contacting the fungus, or causing the fungus to be contacted with a composition including an effective amount of a pathogenesis-related protein occurring naturally in a plant. The protein has endochitinase activity, antifungal activity and a molecular weight of about 40 to 43 kDa as judged by Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide electrophoresis. There is also provided a composition for inhibiting growth and/or germination of a fungus. The composition includes a pathogenesis-related protein occurring naturally in a plant. The protein has endochitinase activity, antifungal activity and a molecular weight of about 40 to 43 kDa as judged by Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide electrophoresis. The composition also includes .beta.-1,3-glucanase in an amount sufficient to enhance the effectiveness of the composition in inhibiting the growth or germination of the fungus.

Abstract: Chimeric genes encoding antifungal chitin binding proteins (antifungal CBPs) with very low chitinase activity (10% or less than that of the class-I chitinases from tobacco). Also substantially pure DNA sequences encoding antifungal CBP are provided for the obtention of transgenic plants producing antifungal CBP. Plants expressing an antifungal CBP gene, optionally in combination with a plant expressible glucanase gene, show reduced susceptibility to fungi.

Abstract: Plants are provided with improved resistance against pathogenic fungi. They are genetically transformed with one or more polynucleotides which essentially comprise one or more genes encoding plant chitinases and .beta.-1,3-glucanases. Preferred are the intracellular forms of the said hydrolytic enzymes, especially preferred are those forms which are targeted to the apoplastic space of the plant by virtue of the modification of the genes encoding the said enzymes. Particularly preferred are plants exhibiting a relative overexpression of at least one gene encoding a chitinase and one gene encoding a .beta.-1,3-glucanase.