The subject invention relates in part to a combination of a cadherin peptide derived from Alphitobius diaperinus and a Cry protein capable of inhibiting an insect. In certain embodiments, the combination is capable of overcoming Cry protein resistance in insects that are resistant to the Cry protein alone.

Compositions having pesticidal activity and methods for their use are provided. Compositions include isolated and recombinant polypeptides having pesticidal activity, recombinant and synthetic nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides, DNA constructs and vectors comprising the nucleic acid molecules, host cells comprising the vectors, and antibodies to the polypeptides. Nucleotide sequences encoding the polypeptides can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in organisms of interest. The compositions and methods provided are useful for producing 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. Such plants are resistant to insects and other pests. Methods are provided for producing the various polypeptides disclosed herein, and for using those polypeptides for controlling or killing a pest. Methods and kits for detecting polypeptides of the invention in a sample are also included.

Described are methods and materials for the genetic modification of plants by specific gene targeting and precise editing of nucleic acid sequences in a plant. The methods and materials provided herein enable one to edit the plant genome by design to control the expression of endogenous genes and/or control the transmission and expression of transgenic traits. Provided are also methods of producing plants having a desirable agronomic trait by crossing a transgenic plant expressing a gRNA with a plant expressing a Cas enzyme, and selecting a progeny plant having the desirable agronomic trait or a seed thereof.

This disclosure concerns nucleic acid molecules and methods of use thereof for control of coleopteran pests through RNA interference-mediated inhibition of target coding and transcribed non-coding sequences in coleopteran pests. The disclosure also concerns methods for making transgenic plants that express nucleic acid molecules useful for the control of coleopteran pests, and the plant cells and plants obtained thereby.

A method for producing a transgenic plant having increased content of 20-hydroxyecdysone according to an embodiment of the present invention may use insect-derived gene A method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes transforming a plant cell with a recombinant vector including at least one of a gene encoding short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) protein and a gene encoding C-14 hydroxylase protein, a gene encoding C-25 hydroxylase protein, a gene encoding C-22 hydroxylase protein, a gene encoding C-2 hydroxylase protein, and a gene encoding C-20 hydroxylase protein derived from insect, and regenerating a plant from the transformed plant cell.

The invention provides nucleic acids, polypeptides, transgenic plants, compositions and methods for conferring pesticidal activity (e.g., insecticidal activity) to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds. Nucleic acids encoding the insecticidal proteins can be used to transform prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, including plants, to express the insecticidal proteins. The recombinant organisms and compositions containing the recombinant organisms or insecticidal proteins can be used to control a pest (e.g., an insect).

Compositions and methods for controlling pests are provided. The methods involve transforming organisms with a nucleic acid sequence encoding an insecticidal protein. In particular, the nucleic acid sequences are useful for preparing plants and microorganisms that possess insecticidal activity. Thus, transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, plant tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions are insecticidal nucleic acids and proteins of bacterial species. The sequences find use in the construction of expression vectors for subsequent transformation into organisms of interest including plants, as probes for the isolation of other homologous (or partially homologous) genes. The pesticidal proteins find use in controlling, inhibiting growth or killing Lepidopteran, Coleopteran, Dipteran, fungal, Hemipteran and nematode pest populations and for producing compositions with insecticidal activity.

Provided are non-propagating transgenic microalgae expressing at least one heterologous RNAi molecule. The RNAi-expressing non-propagating transgenic microalgae are used for oral delivery of the RNAi molecule to a target organism in its intact and functional form. The heterologous RNAi molecule, present within the microalgae, is characterized by being biologically active, exerting at least one specific effect on the organism consuming the microalgae or on a pathogen of said organism. In particular, the non-propagating transgenic microalgae are used as agents for biological control of animal and plant pests.

Isolated polynucleotides are provided. Each of the isolated polynucleotides comprise a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 80% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 121, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 95 or 96, wherein the polypeptide is capable of regulating cotton fiber development. Also provided are methods of using such polynucleotides for improving fiber quality and/or yield of a fiber producing plant, as well as methods of using such polynucleotides for producing plants having increased biomass/vigor/yield.

This disclosure concerns synthetic polynucleotides encoding a polypeptide of interest that are particularly well-suited for expression in target plants.