The present disclosure provides bacterial strains modified for secretion of a plant defense elicitor peptide. More particularly, the bacterial strain comprises an exogenous sequence encoding the plant defense elicitor peptide. Vectors and methods utilizing the described bacterial strains are also provided.

Provided herein are methods for using RNAi molecules targeting an Inhibitor of Apoptosis (IAP) gene for controlling Coleopteran insects, methods for producing RNAi molecules targeting IAP, and compositions comprising RNAi molecules targeting IAP.

This disclosure concerns methods and compositions for identifying cotton plants that have a reniform nematode resistance trait. Some embodiments concern molecular markers to identify, select, and/or construct reniform nematode resistant plants and germplasm, or to identify and counter-select relatively susceptible plants. This disclosure also concerns cotton plants comprising a reniform nematode resistance trait that are generated by methods utilizing at least one marker described herein.

The present invention relates to novel plants displaying an improved resistance to nematodes. The present invention also relates to seeds and parts of said plants. The present invention further relates to methods of making and using such seeds and plants. The present invention also relates to a novel SmD1 allele, which results in a modified SmD1 protein associated with such improved resistance to nematodes.

Compositions having pesticidal activity and methods for their use are provided. Compositions include isolated and recombinant polypeptide sequences having pesticidal activity, recombinant and synthetic nucleic acid molecules encoding the pesticidal polypeptides, DNA constructs comprising the nucleic acid molecules, vectors comprising the nucleic acid molecules, host cells comprising the vectors, and antibodies to the pesticidal polypeptides. Nucleotide sequences encoding the polypeptides provided herein can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in organisms of interest. The compositions and methods provided herein are useful for the production of organisms with enhanced pest resistance or tolerance. Transgenic plants and seeds comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes a pesticidal protein of the invention are also provided. Methods are provided for producing the polypeptides disclosed herein, and for using those polypeptides for controlling a pest. Methods and kits for detecting polypeptides of the invention in a sample are also included.

Compositions having pesticidal activity and methods for their use are provided. Compositions include isolated and recombinant polypeptide sequences having pesticidal activity, recombinant and synthetic nucleic acid molecules encoding the pesticidal polypeptides, DNA constructs comprising the nucleic acid molecules, vectors comprising the nucleic acid molecules, host cells comprising the vectors, and antibodies to the pesticidal polypeptides. Nucleotide sequences encoding the polypeptides provided herein can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in organisms of interest. The compositions and methods provided herein are useful for the production of organisms with enhanced pest resistance or tolerance. Transgenic plants and seeds comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes a pesticidal protein of the invention are also provided. Methods are provided for producing the polypeptides disclosed herein, and for using those polypeptides for controlling a pest. Methods and kits for detecting polypeptides of the invention in a sample are also included.

Pepper plants exhibiting resistance to root knot nematode species are provided, together with methods of producing, identifying, or selecting plants or germplasm with a root knot nematode resistance phenotype. Such plants include pepper plants comprising introgressed genomic regions conferring pest resistance. Compositions, including novel polymorphic markers for detecting plants comprising introgressed pest resistance alleles, are further provided.

The invention provides specific transgenic soybean plants, plant material and seeds, characterized in that these products harbor a specific nematode resistance and herbicide tolerance transformation event at a specific location in the soybean genome. Tools are also provided which allow rapid and unequivocal identification of the event in biological samples.

A peptide comprised of either a binary or a tertiary peptide, the peptide contains at least 4 amino acids and up to a maximum of 16 amino acids, comprised of 2 or 3 different regions, wherein the binary peptides have 2 different regions and the tertiary peptides have 3 different regions; wherein, the peptide can be cleaved by both an animal gut protease and an insect or nematode gut protease.

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.