Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of 2-methyl-6-solanylbenzoquinone methyltransferase which, when absent, brings about retarded growth and chlorotic leaves, as target for herbicides. In this context, there are provided novel nucleic acid sequences comprising SEQ ID NO:5 and SEQ ID NO:7 and corresponding functional equivalents. Moreover, the present invention relates to the use of 2-methyl-6-solanylbenzoquinone methyltransferase and its functional equivalents in a method for identifying herbicidal or growth-regulatory compounds, and to the use of the compounds identifed via the method as herbicides or growth regulators.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for the transgenic expression of nucleic acid sequences predominantly in starch-comprising tissues of plants, preferably in fruits, roots, seeds or tubers, wherein the nucleic acid sequence is expressed under the control of a promoter of a starch synthase 3. Furthermore in accordance with the invention are transgenic expression cassettes and vectors comprising a promoter of a starch synthase 3, and the use thereof for the production of foodstuffs, feedstuffs, seed, pharmaceuticals or fine chemicals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to malate dehydrogenase, which, when absent, brings about reduced growth and chlorotic leaves and is encoded by the nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2 or by a functional equivalent of this nucleic acid sequence, as target for herbicides. For this purpose, novel nucleic acid sequences encompassing SEQ ID NO:2 and functional equivalents of SEQ ID NO:2 are provided. Moreover, the present invention relates to the use of the abovementioned malate dehydrogenase and its functional equivalents in a method for identifying compounds with herbicidal or growth-regulatory activity, and to the use of the compounds identified by this method as herbicides or growth regulators.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a polypeptide with the biological activity of a sucrose-6-phosphate phosphatase which, if not present, brings about growth retardation symptoms and chlorotic leaves and which is encoded by the nucleic acid sequences SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:5 or by a functional equivalent of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:5 as target for herbicides. Moreover, the present invention relates to the use of the abovementioned polypeptides in a method for identifying herbicidal or growth-regulatory compounds which inhibit sucrose-6-phosphate phosphatase. Moreover, the invention relates to the use of these compounds which have been identified via the method as herbicides or growth regulators.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for the directed, transgenic expression of nucleic acid sequences in the carbohydrate-storing sink tissues of plants using transgenic expression cassettes which comprise the Vicia faba plastidic 1,4-?-D-glucan:phosphate ?-D-glucosyltransferase promoter. Furthermore, the invention relates to said transgenic expression cassettes and to transgenic expression vectors and transgenic organisms comprising them, and to the use of the same for the production of foodstuffs, feedstuffs, seed, pharmaceuticals or fine chemicals.

Abstract: The invention relates to plants and plant cells which have a transient or permanent virus resistance as a result of modulation of the gene expression and/or binding behavior of vegetable DnaJ-like proteins. The invention also relates to methods for the production of transgenic plants with increased virus resistance, wherein the expression of vegetable DnaJ-like proteins which interact with viral components is substantially prevented by silencing the DnaJ-like proteins. The invention further relates to methods for the production of transgenic plants with increased virus resistance, wherein the interaction of viral components with vegetable DnaJ-like proteins is substantially prevented by expression of dominant-negative mutants of the DnaJ-like proteins, by antibodies against DnaJ-like proteins or by specific inhibitors.

Abstract: The invention relates to expression cassettes and vectors which contain constitutive promoters of plants and to the use of said expression cassettes or vectors for transgenic expression of nucleic acid sequences, preferably selection markers, in organisms, preferably in plants. The invention further relates to transgenic plants which have been transformed with said expression cassettes or vectors, to cultures, parts or propagation material derived therefrom and also to the use of same for the production of food- and feedstuffs, seed, pharmaceuticals or fine chemicals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to serine hydroxymethyltransferase (E.C. 2.1.2.1) as novel target for herbicides, and to nucleic acid sequences encoding a polypeptide with the biological activity of a serine hydroxymethyltransferase, which, when not present, bring about growth retardation symptoms and chlorotic leaves, comprising the nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID No:3, and functional equivalents of the abovementioned nucleic acid sequence or the nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO:7 and functional equivalents of the abovementioned nucleic acid sequence. Moreover, the present invention relates to the use of the abovementioned nucleic acid sequences, of functional analogs of the SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:7 or of polypeptides encoded by one of the abovementioned nucleic acid sequences in a method for identifying herbicidally active compounds which inhibit serine hydroxymethyltransferases, and to the use of these compounds which have been identified by the method as herbicides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of DNA sequences of plant origin encoding a polypeptide with phosphoribosyl-pyrophosphate synthetase 1 (E.C. 2.7.6.1) activity for the preparation of a test system for identifying phosphoribosyl-pyrophosphate synthetase 1 inhibitors. It was shown for the first time, using antisense technology, that phosphoribosyl-pyrophosphate synthetase 1 is a herbicidal [sic] target.

Abstract: Recombinant DNA molecules are described which contain a DNA sequence encoding a protein with the biological activity of a 2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate (2-DOG-6-P) phosphatase and being under the control of regulatory sequences of a promoter active in plants and transcription-termination and/or poyladenylation signals. Also, vectors and hosts are described which contain the recombinant DNA molecules according to the invention. Furthermore, processes for producing transformed plant cells and plants using the described recombinant DNA molecules and vectors are provided. The invention also describes transgenic plants, their harvest products and propagation material as well as plant cells and tissues containing the recombinant DNA molecules or vectors according to the invention or having been produced by the process according to the invention.

Abstract: This invention relates to DNA sequences encoding sucrose phosphate synthase which can be integrated into a plant genome and which modify the activity of the sucrose-phosphate-synthase (sps) of the plant. Methods for transforming plant cells and regenerating plants from the cells which exhibit modified sucrose-phosphate-synthase activity are also described.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of controlling sprout formation in plants and parts thereof including vegetative storage organs. The method involves the use of target and organ specific promoters to control expression of DNA sequences to inhibit sprouting. Sprouting is restored by switching on expression of DNA sequences using inducible promoter regions where sprouting may be controlled by, for example, application of an external chemical stimulus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of isolating a promoter, which causes, in plants, permanent Mesophyll-specific expression of an operably linked encoding nucleotide sequence, for example a sequence which imparts resistance or an increase in the photosynthetic performance.

Abstract: Methods for influencing pollen development by modifying the sucrose metabolism in transgenic plant cells and plants and generating male sterile plants by sucrose depletion in pollen. An expression of a protein has enzymatic activity of a sucrose isomerase in transgenic plant cells. Nucleic acid molecules contain a DNA sequence encoding a protein having the enzymatic activity of a sucrose isomerase, wherein the DNA sequence is functionally linked with the regulatory sequences of a promoter active in plants so that the DNA sequence is expressed in anthers or pollen. The invention further relates to transgenic plants and plant cells that contain the inventive nucleic acid molecule and whose male plant and plant cells are sterile due to the expression of the DNA sequence that encodes a protein having the enzymatic activity of a sucrose isomerase. The invention also relates to harvest products and the propagation material of said transgenic plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of nucleic acid sequences encoding a polypeptide with dehydroquinate dehydratase/shikimate dehydrogenase activity for generating an assay system for finding dehydroquinate dehydratase/shikimate dehydrogenase inhibitors. Using antisense techniques, it was shown for the first time that dehydroquinate dehydratase/shikimate dehydrogenase constitutes a target for herbicides. Moreover, the application relates to the generation of transgenic plants comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide with dehydroquinate dehydratase/shikimate dehydrogenase (E.C. 4.2.1.10/E.C. 1.1.1.25) activity which comprises an increased biomass production and/or an increased content in aromatic amino acids in comparison with a nontransgenic plant.

Abstract: There is described an expression cassette and plasmids containing an expression cassette, which contains the transcriptional regulatory starter region for a guard cell specific gene expression. In the expression cassette is contained the guard cell promoter having the sequence Seq. ID No: 1. The starter region in the expression cassette ensures a guard cell specific gene expression and causes no expression in mesophyllic cells or epidermal cells of the leaves of plants. There is also described the preparation of the expression cassette and plasmids containing this expression cassette. Also described is the use of the expression cassette and plasmids containing this expression cassette for preparing transgenic plant cells and plants.

Abstract: Leaf-specific expression of genes in transgenic plants The present invention relates to promoters which cause, in plants, permanent leaf-specific expression of an encoding nucleotide sequence under the control of said promoters, for example a sequence which imparts resistance or an increase in the photosynthetic performance.

Abstract: A method of and plasmids for producing specific gene expression in the guard cells of plants. In particular, 5′ transcriptional regulatory promoter regions are provided for guard cell specific expression. In addition, methods for preparing an expression cassette, plasmids, and the use of the cassettes and plasmids to produce transgenic plant cells and plants are described.

Abstract: This invention elated to DNA sequences and plasmids containing these sequences which can be integrated into a plant genome and which modify the activity of the sucrose-phosphate-synthase (sps) of the plant. The invention relates further to derivatives of the DNA sequences of the invention that are obtained by exchange of single bases or by deletion or insertion of base sequences and which code for proteins with comparable activity to sucrose-phosphate-synthase. Methods for transforming plant cells and regenerating plants from the cell which exhibit modified sucrose-phosphate activity are also described.

Abstract: The invention describes recombinant DNA molecules that allow expression of a deregulated or unregulated fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) in plant cells. Such expression leads to an increase in the photosynthesis rate and biomass production in photosynthetically active cells. Furthermore, the invention describes transgenic plants that show an increased photosynthesis rate due to the expression of a deregulated or unregulated FBPase.