The invention provides a new and distinct hybrid variety of Spinach, NUN 06258 SPS as well as seeds and plants and leaves thereof.

The present invention relates to a method for modifying the resistance profile of a spinach plant to Peronospora farinosa f sp. spinaciae, comprising introducing a WOLF allele or a resistance-conferring part thereof into the genome of said spinach plant, or modifying an endogenous WOLF allele in the genome of said spinach plant. A WOLF allele encodes a CC-NBS-LRR protein that comprises in its amino acid sequence: the motif MAEIGYSVC at its N-terminus, and the motif KWMCLR for alpha-type WOLF proteins or HVGCVVDR for beta-type WOLF proteins. The invention relates to the WOLF alleles referred to in Table 3. The invention further provides a method for selecting a spinach plant comprising a novel WOLF gene that confers resistance to Peronospora farinosa f sp. spinaciae in a spinach plant and a method for identifying a WOLF allele that confers resistance to one or more pathogenic races of Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae in a spinach plant and to primers for use in these methods.

The invention provides a new and distinct hybrid variety of Spinach, NUN 06303 SPS as well as seeds and plants and leaves thereof.

A method of weed control is provided. The method comprises artificially pollinating at least one weed species of interest with pollen that reduces fitness of said at least one weed species of interest, the pollen being in a formulation comprising an effective amount of a carbohydrate. Also provided are compositions and kits that can be used for performing the methods described herein.

Provided herein are substantially pericarp free Spinacia oleracea, or spinach, seeds. Also provided herein are methods for producing substantially pericarp free Spinacia oleracea, or spinach, seeds and Spinacia oleracea, or spinach plant capable of producing substantially pericarp free seeds. Also provided herein are Spinacia oleracea seeds wherein the seeds are substantially free of pericarp and the seeds are obtainable by crossing a female Spinacia oleracea parent plant with a male Spinacia oleracea parent plant resulting in seed production by the female Spinacia oleracea parent plant, the female Spinacia oleracea parent homozygously comprises in its genome a recessive trait substantially preventing pericarp formation on seeds produced and harvesting Spinacia oleracea seeds substantially free of pericarp.

The present invention relates to an allele designated alpha-WOLF 15 which confers resistance to at least one Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae race, wherein the protein encoded by said allele is a CC-NBS-LRR protein that comprises in its amino acid sequence: a) the motif MAEIGYSVC (SEQ ID NO:13) at its N-terminus; and b) the motif KWMCLR (SEQ ID NO:14; and wherein the LRR domain of the protein has in order of increased preference at least 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 100% sequence similarity to SEQ ID NO:10. The allele when homozygously present in a spinach plant confers complete resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae races Pfs:1, Pfs:2, Pfs:3, Pfs:4 and Pfs:5, Pfs:6, Pfs:8, Pfs:9, Pfs:11, Pfs:12, Pfs:13, Pfs:14, Pfs:15 and isolates UA1014, and confers intermediate resistance to pfs:10, and does not confer resistance to Pfs:7 and Pfs:16.

The present disclosure provides for unique spinach plants with broad-spectrum resistance to downy mildew and their progeny. Such plants may comprise an introgressed QTL associated with the broad-spectrum resistance to downy mildew. In certain aspects, compositions, including distinct polymorphic molecular markers, and methods for producing, using, identifying, selecting, and the like of plants or germplasm with resistance to downy mildew are provided.

A new and distinct cultivar of Gomphrena plant named PAST0517E, characterized by its red-purple colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

A new and distinct cultivar of Gomphrena plant named PAST0517E, characterized by its red-purple colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

The present disclosure provides for unique spinach plants with broad-spectrum resistance to downy mildew and their progeny. Such plants may comprise an introgressed QTL associated with the broad-spectrum resistance to downy mildew. In certain aspects, compositions, including distinct polymorphic molecular markers, and methods for producing, using, identifying, selecting, and the like of plants or germplasm with resistance to downy mildew are provided.