Abstract: Introducing sucrose phosphorylase activity into plants by transformation with a gene for the enzyme increases the rate of sucrose hydrolysis, leading to increased starch, oil, and protein levels. The preferred gene is from Streptococcus mutans. Surprisingly, in potatoes transformed to express this gene in tubers, reduced bruise discoloration susceptibility and increased uniformity of starch deposition throughout the tuber are achieved.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for the efficient production of transformants with low transgene copy numbers. In the method, the average transgene copy number of transformants is decreased through methods which are believed to limit the interaction between segments of transforming DNA prior to transformation. The methods comprise means for end-modification of transforming DNA and use of limited quantities of DNA for transforrnation. Production of single or low copy transformation events is desirable in that it avoids many of the problems associated with high transgene copy number including co-suppression, unpredictable gene expression and non-Mendelian inheritance.

Abstract: The procedure is based on the use, as vegetable starting material for the transformation, of the first shoots from the graft of buds of adult trees onto stock, the genetic transformation of explants from the adult shoots by mean of co cultivation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens in mother plaques, and the obtaining of complete adult woody plants by means of in vitro micrografting of the transgenic buds, apices or shoots, regenerated by means of the explants, by means of in vitro micrograft onto stock cultivated in vitro.This procedure makes it possible to avoid the juvenile period and the high heterozygosis which affects most woody species, blossoming and fruiting of the transgenic plants are brought forward, and it permits the direct genetic transformation of commercially interesting varieties.It has argicultural applications.

Abstract: Plants are provided with improved resistance against pathogenic fungi. They are genetically transformed with one or more polynucleotides which essentially comprise one or more genes encoding plant chitinases and .beta.-1,3-glucanases. Preferred are the intracellular forms of the said hydrolytic enzymes, especially preferred are those forms which are targeted to the apoplastic space of the plant by virtue of the modification of the genes encoding the said enzymes. Particularly preferred are plants exhibiting a relative overexpression of at least one gene encoding a chitinase and one gene encoding a .beta.-1,3-glucanase.

Abstract: A plant, the nuclear genome of which is transformed with a foreign DNA sequence encoding a product which neutralizes the activity of another product which disrupts the metabolism, functioning and/or development selectively of the plant's flower cells, particularly reproductive organ cells, or seed cells or embryo cells. The foreign DNA sequence also optionally encodes a marker.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-naturally occurring seed plant such as a transgenic angiosperm or gymnosperm that contains an ectopically expressible nucleic acid molecule encoding a floral meristem identity gene product. The invention further provides a method of converting shoot meristem to floral meristem in an angiosperm by ectopically expressing a floral meristem identity gene product in the angiosperm. In addition, the invention provides a method of promoting early reproductive development in a seed plant by ectopically expressing a floral meristem identity gene product in the seed plant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rice NADH-dependent reductase gene or variant thereof, to a rice NADH-dependent reductase or analog thereof, to DNA or expression vector comprising the gene or variant thereof and capable of expressing it in microorganism or plant cells, and to a plant or seeds thereof transformed with said expression vector.According to the present invention, plants can be protected from damages caused by plant pathogenic microorganisms by applying the transformed plant to its cultivation.

Abstract: Provided are trnasgenic plants comprising cells transformed or transfected with a recombinant DNA construct containing a coding sequence which encodes phytochrome A, which when expressed, causes the stimulation of phytochrome A and confers upon said plant the ability to undergo proximity-conctitional dwarfing Also provided are a recombinant DNA construct containing a coding sequence encoding phytochrome A, which when expressed, is effective in conferring the trait of proximity-conditional dwarfing on plants comprising cells transformed ar tansfected with this construct, a method for conferring proximity-conditional dwarfing upon plants, transgenic plants produced by this method, and seeds obtained by growing such plants.