The present invention relates to a method of increasing resistance against fungal pathogens of the order Pucciniales, preferably the family Phacopsoraceae, in plants and/or plant cells. This is achieved by increasing the expression of a CASAR protein or fragment thereof in a plant, plant part and/or plant cell in comparison to wild type plants, wild type plant parts and/or wild type plant cells. Furthermore, the invention relates to transgenic plants, plant parts, and/or plant cells having an increased resistance against fungal pathogens, in particular, pathogens of the order Pucciniales, preferably the family Phacopsoraceae, and to recombinant expression vectors comprising a sequence that is identical or homologous to a sequence encoding a CASAR protein.

The present invention refers to the use of AT(n) insertions in promoter elements for controlling the expression levels of coding sequences in plants. The expression levels of the heat shock protein (Gmhsp17.6-L), when compared in resistant and susceptible individuals in the population, demonstrated that the largest expression levels per quantitative PCR were present in the individuals that contained the largest AT insertions in the promoter region. The invention also refers to gene expression cassettes containing promoter regions of the gene with different numbers of AT insertions fused to the GUS protein, for transforming soybean embryos.

Genetically modified plants and methods of detecting diseases by a relevant color change in the genetically modified plant compared to a non-genetically modified plant are provided. Also disclosed is a system for remote detection of pathogens on crops and a methods for treating crops under a pathogenic attack.

The present invention relates to a mutant Brassica plant, which is resistant to a pathogen of viral, bacterial, fungal or oomycete origin. The mutant Brassica plant has a reduced level, reduced activity or complete absence of DMR6-1 protein and DMR6-2 protein as compared to a wild type Brassica plant.

This disclosure concerns compositions and methods for promoting transcription of a nucleotide sequence in a plant or plant cell, employing a promoter from a Zea mays PR1 gene. Some embodiments relate to a promoter or a 5 UTR from a Zea mays PR1 gene that functions in plants to promote transcription of operably linked nucleotide sequences. Other embodiments relate to a 3 UTR or a terminator from a Zea mays PR1 gene that functions in plants to promote transcription of operably linked nucleotide sequences.

The present invention refers to methods for selectively recognizing a base pair in a DNA sequence by a polypeptide, to modified polypeptides which specifically recognize one or more base pairs in a DNA sequence and, to DNA which is modified so that it can be specifically recognized by a polypeptide and to uses of the polypeptide and DNA in specific DNA targeting as well as to methods of modulating expression of target genes in a cell.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for regulatory elements from Eupatorium Vein Clearing Virus. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the regulatory element sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises transforming a plant or plant cell with a nucleotide sequence operably linked to one of the regulatory elements of the present disclosure.

Compositions and methods for genetically modifying the production levels of nicotine and other alkaloids in plants are provided.

The present invention relates to a promoter that is induced by fungal rust. More specifically, the promoter of the invention is induced by the pathogen Phakopsora pachyrhizi, i.e. the Asian Soybean Rust.

The invention may include engineered antimicrobial peptides to treat HLB disease, preferably in citrus plants. Specifically, the invention may include novel antimicrobial peptide derived from amphipathic helical peptides that may further be used to treat HLB disease in citrus plants. In one embodiment, the invention may include an engineered antimicrobial peptide formed by coupling two amphipathic helical peptides. Specifically, a generalized antimicrobial peptide of the invitation may include a first amphipathic helical peptide coupled with a second amphipathic helical peptide by a linker domain forming a helix-turn-helix scaffold formation. Such amphipathic helical peptides may be endogenous to a target host, preferably a citrus plant.