Abstract: Described are recombinant DNA molecules comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having serine acetyltransferase (SAT) activity and optionally a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having cysteine-&ggr;-synthase (C&ggr;S) activity; wherein said nucleic acid molecule(s) are operably linked to regulatory elements allowing the expression of the nucleic acid molecule(s) in plant cells. Also provided are vectors comprising said recombinant DNA molecules as well as plant cells, plant tissues and plants transformed therewith. In addition, the use of the aforementioned recombinant DNA molecules and vectors in plant cell and tissue culture, plant breeding and/or agriculture is described as well as the use of the aforementioned plants, plant tissue and plant cells for the production of food, feed and additives therefor.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for the generation of male sterility in plants comprising the steps of (a) transforming a plant cell with DNA sequences that selectively inhibit the expression of essential metabolic compounds and (b) regenerating plants from said plant cells. Cells impaired in the biosynthesis of basic metabolic compounds undergo starvation and eventually die. Such pathways include amino acid biosynthesis, nucleic acid biosynthesis and other biosynthetic pathways such as citric acid cycle, pentose phosphate pathway, fatty acid metabolism, vitamin biosynthesis that will render the cell inactive due to nutrient depletion, if one or more enzymes or proteins involved in this pathway would become inactive by using inhibitory DNA constructs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new regulon which in storage roots of the sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) constitutively expresses the gene which is under its control, such that a transition from anaerobic to aerobic conditions, a transition from normal temperature (appr. 22° C.) to cold temperature (appr. 4° C.) and changing sugar concentrations do not alter the transcription activity of the regulon in the storage root tissue.

Abstract: Plasmids containing DNA sequences which when inserted into the genome of a plant modify the carbohydrate or protein concentration and the carbohydrate or protein composition, and plant cells and plants that contain these plasmids.DNA sequences located in plasmids reduce ADP-glucose-pyrophosphorylase activity in the plant and thereby the starch concentration, while at the same time increase the mono- and oligosaccharide concentration. Other DNA sequences in plasmids reduce or increase the protein concentration. Plants that contain these plasmids are suitable inter alia for the extraction of sugar or as protein-enriched food or fodder.