The subject invention provides compositions and methods of using the same for improving plants' defense by employing naturally-derived chemicals. In a specific embodiment, the composition is from Parthenium argentatum Gray, also known as the guayule plant. Preferred compositions can up-or downregulate growth genes responsible for the targeted plants' defense mechanisms in order to create physical and/or chemical barriers, and produce detouring exudates, antagonistic compounds, or fumigating compounds that prevent and treat damages from pests in agronomic or non-agronomic plants.

A method for producing herbicide-resistant sugar beet plant includes obtaining protoplasts from stomatal guard cells isolated from a sugar beet plant. A composition having an ALS herbicide is applied to the cells at a concentration which is lethal to the cells. Sugar beet plants are regenerated from the surviving cells.

A method for producing herbicide-resistant sugar beet plant includes obtaining protoplasts from stomatal guard cells isolated from a sugar beet plant. A composition having an ALS herbicide is applied to the cells at a concentration which is lethal to the cells. Sugar beet plants are regenerated from the surviving cells.

The present invention relates to a method for introducing a substance into a plant. The method of the present invention comprises introducing a substance into a plant germ cell with incomplete cell wall formation.

Disclosed herein are methods of producing substantially pathogen-free plants of the genus Cannabis and pathogen-free plants and clones produced therefrom. One embodiment of the method comprises heating a progenitor plant of the genus Cannabis within a heating chamber resulting in a heat-treated plant, surface sterilizing a shoot segment of the heat-treated plant with a bleach solution, excising a meristematic tip of the shoot segment, and transferring the meristematic tip into a culturing plate comprising a supplemented Murashige and Skoog culture medium for further culturing. The supplemented Murashige and Skoog culture medium can comprise benzyladenine, naphthaleneacetic acid, gibberellic acid, or a combination thereof.

Disclosed herein are methods of producing substantially pathogen-free plants of the genus Cannabis and pathogen-free plants and clones produced therefrom. One embodiment of the method comprises heating a progenitor plant of the genus Cannabis within a heating chamber resulting in a heat-treated plant, surface sterilizing a shoot segment of the heat-treated plant with a bleach solution, excising a meristematic tip of the shoot segment, and transferring the meristematic tip into a culturing plate comprising a supplemented Murashige and Skoog culture medium for further culturing. The supplemented Murashige and Skoog culture medium can comprise benzyladenine, naphthaleneacetic acid, gibberellic acid, or a combination thereof.

Provided are methods for increasing the yield of a monocot plant through treatment of the plant with a plant growth regulator. In certain embodiments, maize plants produce multiple ears and an increased number of kernels. In certain embodiments, reduced height of the plant allows for more efficient self-pollination.

Provided are methods for increasing the yield of a monocot plant through treatment of the plant with a plant growth regulator. In certain embodiments, maize plants produce multiple ears and an increased number of kernels. In certain embodiments, reduced height of the plant allows for more efficient self-pollination.

An electrical energy processing unit of an apparatus to kill a plant or at least attenuate plant growth is disclosed. The electrical energy processing unit includes a converter and a control circuit. Also disclosed are an apparatus that includes the electrical energy processing unit and a method of utilizing the apparatus. Further disclosed are a computer program for a processor of the control circuit of the electrical energy processing unit and a non-transitory computer readable medium that includes the computer program.

An electrical energy processing unit of an apparatus to kill a plant or at least attenuate plant growth is disclosed. The electrical energy processing unit includes a converter and a control circuit. Also disclosed are an apparatus that includes the electrical energy processing unit and a method of utilizing the apparatus. Further disclosed are a computer program for a processor of the control circuit of the electrical energy processing unit and a non-transitory computer readable medium that includes the computer program.