The present invention relates to methods of breeding with spotted watermelon, Citrullus lanatus, lines and varieties. More specifically, methods of making homozygous-spotted diploid watermelon lines (HSDL) for use in breeding and methods of making homozygous-spotted tetraploid watermelon lines (HSDL) for use in breeding are described. Further, methods of producing 33%, 66%, or 100% spotted triploid hybrid watermelon plants, as well as methods of producing 50% or 100% spotted diploid hybrid watermelon plants, are described. This invention further relates to markers able to determine the percentage of spotted allele present in spotted watermelon lines and varieties. In addition, this invention relates to new and distinctive lines and varieties of watermelon with a spotted phenotype.

The present invention relates to Solanum lycopersicum (S. lycopersicum) plants with resistance to Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV), powdery mildew (PM) and nematodes. According to the invention, the resistances are provided by coupling in cis on the same chromosome the OL4 gene conferring resistance to PM and nematodes and TY1 gene conferring resistance to TYLCV, without coupling the Mi-1 gene conferring resistance to nematodes in cis with said OL4 gene conferring resistance to PM and nematodes and TY1 gene conferring resistance to TYLCV. The genes can be present homozygously or heterozygously in the genome of the S. lycopersicum plants, and they confer resistance to TYLCV, PM and nematodes. The present invention also provides methods for making such plants, and to methods of detecting and/or selecting such plants.

A method of selecting a plant variety for cultivation in a target area includes selecting a selection score function; estimating values of a first set of environmental parameters for a predefined future period of time for the target area and receiving a set of phenotype information including phenotypic trait measurements for a first sub-set of a plurality of plant varieties and a set o environmental parameters for said first sub-set. Furthermore, the method includes determining a prediction model for the phenotypic traits; using the prediction model to output predictions for phenotypic traits for the plurality of chosen plant varieties; using the selection score function to compute selection score values; and selecting at least one plant variety to be cultivated in the target area from the plurality of chosen plant varieties, based the computed selection score values of the plurality of chosen plant varieties.

A method of selecting a plant variety for cultivation in a target area includes selecting a selection score function; estimating values of a first set of environmental parameters for a predefined future period of time for the target area and receiving a set of phenotype information including phenotypic trait measurements for a first sub-set of a plurality of plant varieties and a set o environmental parameters for said first sub-set. Furthermore, the method includes determining a prediction model for the phenotypic traits; using the prediction model to output predictions for phenotypic traits for the plurality of chosen plant varieties; using the selection score function to compute selection score values; and selecting at least one plant variety to be cultivated in the target area from the plurality of chosen plant varieties, based the computed selection score values of the plurality of chosen plant varieties.

The present invention relates to a plant which has integrated into its genome an exogenous polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide which confers resistance to at least one strain of Puccinia graminis.

An automated method for sampling seeds generally includes removing material from a seed at an automated sampling station and then, after removing the material from the seed, detecting, by at least one sensor, movement of the seed out of the automated sampling station. The automated method may also include, after removing the material from the seed, transferring the seed from the automated sampling station to a seed container and transferring the material removed from the seed from the automated sampling station to a sample container.

The invention provides compositions and methods for the breeding, production, processing and use of specialty Cannabis.

The invention provides compositions and methods for the breeding, production, processing and use of specialty Cannabis.

A method for identifying converters from tobacco seedling population. The method includes: 1) sowing and cultivating tobacco seeds to be identified for 45-55 days; sampling a plurality of leaf disks from each of 45-55 days old seedlings; 2) incubating the plurality of leaf disks of each seedling in a sealed container at 37° C. for 10-12 hours, thereby obtaining a plurality of incubated tobacco leaves of each seedling; 3) immersing the plurality of incubated tobacco leaves of each seedling in an extractant, extracting alkaloids and obtaining an extract of each seedling; 4) analyzing the amounts of nicotine and nornicotine in the alkaloids extract of each seedling; and 5) automatically recognizing peaks of the alkaloids extract of each seedling, and calculating the percent nicotine conversion (PNC) and the pseudo percent nicotine conversion (PPNC).

The present invention provides high-throughput methods capable of screening compounds for herbicidal activity or plant growth regulating activity and further allows for the prediction of the mode of action of herbicidal compounds or plant growth regulators. The methods provided herein also facilitate the identification of mutation/s responsible for resistance to herbicides in plants and the identification of the herbicide target. The methods further provide for the identification of mutation/s responsible for plant growth regulation and the identification of the plant growth regulator target.