The present invention relates to excision of explant material comprising meristematic tissue from seeds, and storage of such material prior to subsequent use in plant tissue culture and genetic transformation. Methods for tissue preparation, storage, and transformation are disclosed, as is transformable meristem tissue produced by such methods, and apparati for tissue preparation.

A compound and method for conferring systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in plants are provided. The compound includes a nucleotide sequence derived from trans-acting small interfering RNA3a (TAS3a). The method includes exogenously applying a compound having a nucleotide sequence derived from trans-acting small interfering RNA3a (TAS3a).

The present disclosure relates to a single stranded RNA vector suitable for introducing a therapeutic agent, such as a peptide, a protein or a small RNA, into a host plant. The vector does not encode for any movement protein or coat protein, but is capable of capable of systemic and phloem-limited movement and replication within the host plant.

The present disclosure relates to a single stranded RNA vector suitable for introducing a therapeutic agent, such as a peptide, a protein or a small RNA, into a host plant. The vector does not encode for any movement protein or coat protein, but is capable of capable of systemic and phloem-limited movement and replication within the host plant.

Methods and compositions are provided for preventing or reducing symptoms or disease associated with Xylella fastidiosa or Xanthomonas axonopodis in a plant. The invention provides novel bacteriophages virulent to Xylella fastidiosa or Xanthomonas axonopodis, including XfaMija and XfaMijo, and further provides methods for treating or preventing Pierce's Disease or Citrus Canker in plants.

Methods and compositions are provided for preventing or reducing symptoms or disease associated with Xylella fastidiosa or Xanthomonas axonopodis in a plant. The invention provides novel bacteriophages virulent to Xylella fastidiosa or Xanthomonas axonopodis, including XfaMija and XfaMijo, and further provides methods for treating or preventing Pierce's Disease or Citrus Canker in plants.

The present invention relates to excision of explant material comprising meristematic tissue from seeds, and storage of such material prior to subsequent use in plant tissue culture and genetic transformation. Methods for tissue preparation, storage, and transformation are disclosed, as is transformable meristem tissue produced by such methods, and apparati for tissue preparation.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for transforming soybean, corn, cotton, or canola explants using spectinomycin as a selective agent for transformation of the explants. The method may further comprise treatment of the explants with cytokinin during the transformation and regeneration process.

Transfection of plant cells with dsRNA through foliar application encounters cuticle, cell wall and plasmalemma three major barriers. We developed cationic polymer and sugar based formulations and protocols that can effectively deliver dsRNA into plant cells resulted in gene silencing. This disclosure covers the novel methods to deliver dsRNA into plant suspension cells with ‘one step’ treatment and plant foliar cells with ‘one step’ topical application.

The present disclosure relates to compositions comprising nitroreductase enzymes; plants, plant calluses, plant seeds, and vegetables incorporating genes expressing nitroreductase enzymes; methods for stably and operably incorporating genes expressing nitroreductase enzymes into plants and plant tissues; wherein the nitroreductase enzymes are capable of reducing nitro groups on phytotoxic and/or otherwise harmful compounds such as, for example, thaxtomins, wherein the thaxtomins are secreted by plant pathogenic bacteria and/or exogenously applied as an agricultural composition such as an herbicide, and wherein reducing the nitro groups renders the thaxtomins non-damaging or reduces the level of damage from the thaxtomins to the plants expressing the nitroreductase enzymes.