Abstract: An isolated or recombinant MYB polypeptide having activity as a transcription factor in the synthesis of proanthocyanidins in plants, and nucleic acid molecule encoding same, wherein the polypeptide activates in the plants (a) promoters of the leucoanthocyanidin (LAR) and anthocyanidid reductase (ANR) genes, and (b) promoters of at least two of the genes of the general flavonoid pathway. Use of the polypeptide and nucleic acid molecule in regulating the biosynthesis and accumulation of proanthocyanidins in plants, such as in modifying pasture quality of legumes, is also disclosed.

Abstract: An isolated or recombinant MYB polypeptide having activity as a transcription factor in the synthesis of proanthocyanidins in plants, and nucleic acid molecule encoding same, wherein the polypeptide activates in the plants (a) promoters of the leucoanthocyanidin (LAR) and anthocyanidid reductase (ANR) genes, and (b) promoters of at least two of the genes of the general flavonoid pathway. Use of the polypeptide and nucleic acid molecule in regulating the biosynthesis and accumulation of proanthocyanidins in plants, such as in modifying pasture quality of legumes, is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides genetic sequences encoding polyphenol oxidase enzymes of lettuce, banana, tobacco and pineapple plants, and recombinant vectors comprising same, and methods of identifying related sequences using the nucleic acid molecules. The invention further provides methods of modifying PPO expression in plants using the inventive nucleic acid molecules.

Abstract: A DNA sequence including a gene coding polypeptide having polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, or a fragment thereof.

Abstract: A DNA sequence including a gene coding polypeptide having polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, or a fragment thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides genetic sequences encoding polyphenol oxidase enzymes of lettuce, banana, tobacco and pineapple plants, and recombinant vectors comprising same, and methods of identifying related sequences using said nucleic acid molecules. The invention further provides methods of modifying PPO expression in plants using the inventive nucleic acid molecules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the isolation of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) gene fragments from plants. In a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for preparing PPO gene fragments, which method includes providing a sample of plant tissue, a first primer in sense orientation having a sequence corresponding to a conserved region of a PPO gene, a second primer in antisense orientation having a sequence corresponding to a conserved region of a PPO gene; isolating genomic DNA from the plant tissue; and amplifying the genomic DNA using the first and second primers. Surprisingly, the applicant has found that PPO genes in plants lack introns and, therefore, fragments of PPO genes may be amplified directly from genomic DNA of a range of plants. The lack of introns means that the size of the fragments can be predicted and bands of the appropriate size can be selected for cloning.