Abstract: The present invention relates to non-transgenic and transgenic plants, preferably crop plants, having biological activity of a haploid inducer and comprising a polynucleotide which comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a centromer histone H3 (CENH3) protein, wherein the polynucleotide comprises at least one mutation causing an alteration of the amino acid sequence of the CENH3 protein, and to a part of the part. Further, the invention provides methods of generating the inducer plants, methods of generating haploid and double haploid plants using the inducer plants as well as methods of facilitating cytoplasm exchange.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing plants with increased fungal resistance, preferably seedling resistance against Northern Corn Leaf Blight. Further provided are methods for introducing, modifying, or modulating at least one wall-associated kinase (WAK) in(to) a plant cell, tissue, organ, or whole plant and thereby causing a reduced synthesis of benzoxazinoid and in turn increased fungal resistance. There are further provided methods to identify and/or modify downstream effector molecules in a WAK signalling cascade. Finally, plant cells, tissues, organs or whole plants having increased fungal resistance and methods using substances to activate signalling pathways in a targeted way are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the provision of technical means such as nucleic acids which, after transcription or after expression in a plant, are suitable for mediating the property of a haploid inductor or for increasing the induction capability of a haploid inductor, as well as methods and uses for the production and identification of non-transgenic and transgenic plant haploid inductors, as well as the improvement of existing plant haploid inductors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the provision of technical means such as nucleic acids which, after transcription or after expression in a plant, are suitable for mediating the property of a haploid inductor or for increasing the induction capability of a haploid inductor, as well as methods and uses for the production and identification of non-transgenic and transgenic plant haploid inductors, as well as the improvement of existing plant haploid inductors.

Abstract: Sorghum plants are provided which are capable of inducing haploidy by modifications in the genome related to a pollen-specific expressed patatin phospholipid producing haploid offspring and can be produced for hybrid breeding in short time by chromosome doubling inbred lines, that is, homozygous father and mother lines. In addition, methods are provided for producing transgenic and non-transgenic plant haploid inducers and improving the induction performance of plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification and molecular characterization as well as to the use of genes and markers from a chromosomal interval which has a locus for cold tolerance in maize. The invention further relates to the development of molecular markers for assisting in growth, in particular for preventing a fixing of a “selective sweep” in a region with a low recombination rate, and to the provision of transgenic and non-transgenic plants, in particular maize plants, which show a newly mediated or increased cold tolerance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to non-transgenic and transgenic plants, preferably crop plants, having biological activity of a haploid inducer and comprising a polynucleotide which comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a centromer histone H3 (CENH3) protein, wherein the polynucleotide comprises at least one mutation causing an alteration of the amino acid sequence of the CENH3 protein, and to a part of the part. Further, the invention provides methods of generating the inducer plants, methods of generating haploid and double haploid plants using the inducer plants as well as methods of facilitating cytoplasm exchange.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the provision of technical means such as nucleic acids which, after transcription or after expression in a plant, are suitable for mediating the property of a haploid inductor or for increasing the induction capability of a haploid inductor, as well as methods and uses for the production and identification of non-transgenic and transgenic plant haploid inductors, as well as the improvement of existing plant haploid inductors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to non-transgenic and transgenic plants, preferably crop plants, comprising a mutation causing an alteration of the amino acid sequence in the CATD domain of the centromere histone H3 (CENH3), preferably within the loop1 or the ?2-helix of the CATD domain, which have the biological activity of a haploid inducer. Further, the present invention provides methods of generating the plants of the present invention and haploid and double haploid plants obtainable by crossing the plants of the present invention with wildtype plants as well as methods of facilitating cytoplasm exchange.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved Helminthosporium turcicum-resistant plant, in particular a maize plant which comprises a polynucleotide with one or more resistance-conferring genes, for example on a truncated chromosome fragment from the accession Pepitilla, as well as a cell, a tissue, a part, grain and seeds thereof, an isolated polynucleotide which comprises one or more resistance-conferring genes against Helminthosporium turcicum, a vector, a transgenic plant cell and a transgenic plant containing this polynucleotide. Furthermore, the invention encompasses suitable markers and their use in introducing resistance or the transgene into a plant, as well as the identification of improved maize plants which comprise a truncated chromosome fragment.