Abstract: Methods and agricultural formulations for the cultivation of plants such as broad acre crops, fruits and vegetables, perennial tree crops, and ornamentals are described. The methods include contacting the plant with a furanone compound according to Formula I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, or XIV as described herein, or a salt or solvate thereof. The methods can provide cultivated plants exhibiting reduced levels of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), higher levels of carbon fixation, higher levels of carbon storage, increased quantum efficiency, and/or increased stomatal conductance, leading to increased biomass and/or increased crop yields. Furanone compounds and agricultural formulations containing the compounds are also described.

Abstract: A plunger including a single piece plunger body having a radially directed flow hole disposed therein and a pin that shifts back and forth in the plunger body to block the flow hole in a first position and allow fluid to flow through the flow hole in a second position. A method of lifting oil and gas fluids by inserting the plunger into a well, the plunger including a single piece plunger body having a pin disposed at least partially therein, the pin shiftable back and forth in the plunger body to block the flow hole in a first position and allow fluid to flow through the flow hole in a second position. The method also including assembling the pin in the plunger body.

Abstract: A plunger including a plunger body having a radially directed flow hole disposed therein; a pin that is removable without destroying the pin or the plunger body; a clutch mechanism supported by the pin to control the force necessary to shift the pin in the plunger body; and a bumper portion supported by a body of the pin to limit the travel of the pin in the plunger body during operational use of the plunger. A method of lifting oil and gas fluids by inserting the plunger in a well wherein the pin is removable from the plunger body without destroying the pin or the plunger body; removing a pin from a plunger body without destroying the pin or the plunger body; and/or repairing or adjusting a part of the pin and reinstalling the repaired or adjusted pin in the plunger body.

Abstract: A plunger for use in an oil or gas well that includes a mandrel and a hollow body with radial directed ports disposed therein. The plunger also includes a variable flow mechanism that can be adjusted to achieve a desired fall rate for the plunger for a particular oil and gas operation. A method of lifting fluids from an oil and gas well using the plunger includes the step of employing an adjustable plunger to lift fluids from the oil and gas well wherein the adjustable plunger has a desired fall rate in the well.

Abstract: A plunger for use in an oil or gas well that includes a mandrel and a hollow body with radial directed ports disposed therein. The plunger also includes a variable flow mechanism that can be adjusted to achieve a desired fall rate for the plunger for a particular oil and gas operation. A method of lifting fluids from an oil and gas well using the plunger includes the step of employing an adjustable plunger to lift fluids from the oil and gas well wherein the adjustable plunger has a desired fall rate in the well.

Abstract: A plunger including a plunger body having a radially directed flow hole disposed therein and a pin that is removable from the plunger body without destroying the pin or the plunger body, the pin shifts back and forth in the plunger body to block the flow hole in a first position and allow fluid to flow through the flow hole in a second position. The plunger also includes a clutch mechanism supported by the pin to control the force necessary to shift the pin in the plunger body and a bumper portion supported by a body of the pin to limit the travel of the pin in the plunger body during operational use of the plunger. A method of lifting oil and gas fluids from a well using the plunger. The method includes the step of inserting the plunger into a well, the plunger including a plunger body having a pin disposed at least partially therein that is removable from the plunger body without destroying the pin or the plunger body.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are artificially synthesized nucleic acid constructs to guide an epigenetic modification for at least partially silencing or activating a target gene in an organism such as a plant or seed, and formulations thereof. Also disclosed are methods of applying such nucleic acid constructs to the plant or to the seed. Also disclosed are engineered seeds and plants obtained by the epigenetic modification.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compounds, salts, solvates of Formula (1), and any formulation thereof. Also disclosed are methods of increasing soil nutrient availability to a plant by contacting a plant or soil with compounds, salts, solvates of Formula (1), or any formulation thereof. The compounds and methods disclosed herein may increase an amount of nitrogen or soluble phosphate in a soil.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are artificially synthesized nucleic acid constructs to guide an epigenetic modification for at least partially silencing or activating a target gene in an organism such as a plant or seed, and formulations thereof. Also disclosed are methods of applying such nucleic acid constructs to the plant or to the seed. Also disclosed are engineered seeds and plants obtained by the epigenetic modification.

Abstract: A plunger for use in an oil or gas well that includes a mandrel and a hollow body with radial directed ports disposed therein. The plunger also includes a variable flow mechanism that can be adjusted to achieve a desired fall rate for the plunger for a particular oil and gas operation. A method of lifting fluids from an oil and gas well using the plunger includes the step of employing an adjustable plunger to lift fluids from the oil and gas well wherein the adjustable plunger has a desired fall rate in the well.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are artificially synthesized nucleic acid constructs to guide an epigenetic modification for at least partially silencing or activating a target gene in an organism such as a plant or seed, and formulations thereof. Also disclosed are methods of applying such nucleic acid constructs to the plant or to the seed. Also disclosed are engineered seeds and plants obtained by the epigenetic modification.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are artificially synthesized nucleic acid constructs to guide an epigenetic modification for at least partially silencing or activating a target gene in an organism such as a plant or seed, and formulations thereof. Also disclosed are methods of applying such nucleic acid constructs to the plant or to the seed. Also disclosed are engineered seeds and plants obtained by the epigenetic modification.

Abstract: Provided herein are modified tomato plants comprising an introduced modification of genomic DNA at the SlFSR gene or a transcription regulatory region thereof. In some instances, the introduced modification is heritable. In some instances, the introduced modification is an epigenetic such as hypermethylation. Also provided are progeny plants produced from the modified tomato plants, tomato seeds and tomato fruit produced by the modified tomato plants or progeny plants. Also provided are methods of making and growing the modified tomato plant and obtaining modified tomato fruit as well as nucleic acid reagents useful in the methods.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are artificially synthesized nucleic acid constructs to guide an epigenetic modification for at least partially silencing or activating a target gene in an organism such as a plant or seed, and formulations thereof. Also disclosed are methods of applying such nucleic acid constructs to the plant or to the seed. Also disclosed are engineered seeds and plants obtained by the epigenetic modification.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compounds, salts, solvates of Formula (1), and any formulation thereof. Also disclosed are methods of increasing soil nutrient availability to a plant by contacting a plant or soil with compounds, salts, solvates of Formula (1), or any formulation thereof. The compounds and methods disclosed herein may increase an amount of nitrogen or soluble phosphate in a soil.

Abstract: The invention relates to trans-acting ligand-responsive nucleic acids and uses thereof. In particular, a ligand responsive nucleic acid comprises an effector domain and an aptamer domain that is responsive to a ligand.