Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a Raman spectral signature of nitrate, as a biomarker for an early, real-time diagnosis of nitrogen status in growing plants in a non-invasive or non-destructive way in order to detect nitrogen deficiency before the onset of any visible symptoms. The early, real-time diagnosis of nitrogen deficiency in plants makes it possible to correct nitrogen deficiency for the avoidance of negative effects on the yield and biomass of growing plants or leafy vegetables.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of plant molecular biology, more particularly cotton WRINKLED 1-like (WREL) genes. More specifically, the present invention relates to cotton WRIL genes whose products act as transcription factors of genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis. The present invention also relates to methods of increasing cotton fiber length in cotton. In one embodiment, the methods involve modulating the level of activity of an enzyme involved in a fatty acid biosynthesis in the host cotton cell and/or culturing the host cotton cell. In another embodiment, the methods involve the manipulation of transcription factors which can regulate an enzyme involved in fatty acid biosynthesis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of controlling pests, such as insects, using a virus to express pest genes in hosts. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for rapidly screening for pest genes which can lead to mortality of the pest when the pest has ingested host tissues expressing virus-linked pest gene sequences. The present invention also relates to a method for controlling pests by viral expression of target pest sequences to modify endogenous expression of pest genes in cells or tissues of the pest.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for modulating drought tolerance and/or other agronomic traits in plants. This invention relates to compositions and methods for down-regulating the level and/or activity of PUB10 in plants for creation of plants with improved abiotic stress tolerance, preferably improved drought tolerance. Thus, in one aspect, the present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid comprising a polynucleotide sequence for use in a recombinant DNA construct or a suppression DNA construct for modulating PUB10 expression.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for the transformation of plant tissues with a genetic construct which comprises a transgene and a selection gene. The selection gene preferably encodes an auxin biosynthetic polypeptide, thus allowing for selection of transformed plants on media lacking plant auxins. The invention particularly relates to processes wherein the selection step is carried out under a light/dark cycle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of plant molecular biology and gene silencing. More particularly, the present invention relates to gene silencing of Sugar-dependent 1 (JcSDP1) in Jatropha curcas. JcSDP1 encodes a patatin-domain triacylglyerol lipase. Silencing of JcSDP1 enhances seed oil accumulation in J. curcas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transcriptional gene activation. More specifically, the present invention relates to the methylation of the gene body using inverted repeat RNAs which results in the activation of gene expression without changing the tempo-spatial regulatory patterns of the gene expression.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of plant molecular biology and gene silencing. More particularly, the present invention relates to gene silencing of Sugar-dependent 1 (JcSDP1) in Jatropha curcas. JcSDP1 encodes a patatin-domain triacylglyerol lipase. Silencing of JcSDP1 enhances seed oil accumulation in J. curcas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) of endogenes in plants, plant tissue and plant cells. More specifically, the present invention relates to nucleic acid constructs that are capable of more effectively silencing genes of interest, such as endogenes, in plants, plant tissue and plant cells by TGS. The present invention further relates to methods of more effectively reducing endogenous gene expression in plants, plant tissues or plant cells by TGS using the nucleic acid constructs of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) of endogenes in plants, plant tissue and plant cells. More specifically, the present invention relates to nucleic acid constructs that are capable of TGS of endogenes in plants, plant tissue and plant cells. The present invention further relates to methods of reducing endogenous gene expression in plants, plant tissues or plant cells by TGS using the nucleic acid constructs of the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions useful in target sequence suppression, target sequence validation and target sequence down regulation. The invention provides polynucleotide constructs useful for gene silencing or RNA down regulation, as well as cells, plants and seeds comprising the polynucleotides. The invention also provides a method for using microRNA to silence a target sequence or to down regulate RNA.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for enhancing protein stability in transgenic plants. The compositions are nucleic acid constructs which encode fusion proteins, fusion proteins, transgenic plant cells and transgenic plants. A fusion protein in accordance with the present invention comprises a protein of interest and a UBA1 or UBA2 domain of an Arabidopsis RAD23 protein. The methods use the nucleic acid constructs to produce fusion proteins in transgenic plant cells or transgenic plants. The fusion proteins have greater stability than the protein of interest and have the same function as the proteins of interest.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of plant molecular biology, more particularly cotton WRINKLED 1-like (WREL) genes. More specifically, the present invention relates to cotton WRIL genes whose products act as transcription factors of genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis. The present invention also relates to methods of increasing cotton fiber length in cotton. In one embodiment, the methods involve modulating the level of activity of an enzyme involved in a fatty acid biosynthesis in the host cotton cell and/or culturing the host cotton cell. In another embodiment, the methods involve the manipulation of transcription factors which can regulate an enzyme involved in fatty acid biosynthesis.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions useful in target sequence suppression, target sequence validation and target sequence down regulation. The invention provides polynucleotide constructs useful for gene silencing or RNA down regulation, as well as cells, plants and seeds comprising the polynucleotides. The invention also provides a method for using microRNA to silence a target sequence or to down regulate RNA.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of modifying Jatropha branching, flowering time, fruiting and seed setting. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for control and optimization of Jatropha curcas flowering time, fruiting and seed production by manipulating one gene from Jatropha. The present invention can be used in various Jatropha breeding efforts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of functional analysis of Jatropha genes on a genomic scale. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for high-throughtput functional analysis of Jatropha curcas genes on a genomic scale using virus-induced gene silencing. The method involves use of the tobacco rattle virus (TRV).

Abstract: The invention relates to the functional analysis of genes in cotton by employing the Virus Induced Gene Silencing (VIGS) method. More specifically this method induces gene silencing in cotton with the help of the Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV) vectors RNA1 and RNA2 and phenotypic effects on the cotton plant can be analysed Moreover this invention also provides transient expression vector TRV RNA2 in order to transiently express genes in cotton plants and plant tissue under the influence of a strong subgenomic promoter.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to chemical-inducible system and to methods of use in transgenic animals. More specifically, the present invention relates to a chimeric transcription factor that binds to a ligand and functions in ligand-dependent manner to induce expression of genes of interest under the control of a synthetic operator-promoter sequence. The expression of genes of interest can be tightly controlled by adding or removing the ligand.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the regeneration and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of plants in the genera of Jatropha, more specifically, in Jatropha curcas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the regeneration and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of plants in the genera of Jatropha, more specifically, in Jatropha curcas.