This invention describes a new method of grain production in corn wherein a designated female corn plant is pollinated with designated male corn plant pollen from an unrelated genetic background. In the method, a designated female plant having both female and male components is grown. Intentional pollination may occur on one more days, is intentional, and occurs at a time when male components are not male sterile and are not shedding pollen. Accordingly, the process involves the intentional delivery of unrelated designated male plant pollen at will, as available either in a preserved pollen bank or real-time collection from male plants as they become available, in a growth chamber for example. The delivered designated male plant pollen is in such amounts and fortuitously timed that it preferentially cross-pollinates the designated female plant.

This invention describes a new method to increase grain yields in any crop plant by modifying pollination to effect an increase in grain yield, a change in grain content or characteristics, a decrease in contamination, or a combination of these attributes. The process involves the intentional delivery of pollen of the male plant at will via automatic or semi-automatic means, as available either in a preserved pollen bank, or real-time collection from male plants as they become available, in a growth chamber for example. Desired pollen is delivered to fertile females. The delivered pollen.sup.M is in such amounts and fortuitously timed that it preferentially pollinates the females and avoids self-pollination or pollination from neighboring plants. The intentional delivery of genetically different pollen will result in increased heterosis and accompanying grain yield increases resulting from increased grain size and the potential to influence grain content and constituents. The invention also permits real-time agronomic decision making in order to maximize grain yield by overcoming biotic and abiotic challenges in the growing season which may or may not have been anticipated.

Hybrid cereals are described which are obtained by restoring the pollen fertility for the Pampa cytoplasmic male sterility (P-CMS) and which are characterized by a reduced linkage drag. Plants are provided, in particular rye, which, as the male pollen parent, are capable of restoring the pollen fertility for the P-CMS. Furthermore, the nucleic acid molecule which carries the necessary information for restoring the P-CMS, DNA and vectors which contain such a nucleic acid molecule, corresponding host cells as well as a protein which can be encoded by the nucleic acid molecule and antibodies directed against it are also described. Furthermore, methods for the production of corresponding hybrid plants and transgenic plants are provided.

The invention provides barley grain comprising a reduced level or activity of starch synthase IIa protein and a starch content of at least 41% (w/w) and methods of producing, identifying and using same. The grain may comprise an amylase content of at least 50%, a β-glucan content of 5-9% (w/w) or greater than 9% (w/w), and/or a fructan content of 3-11% (w/w). The fructan may comprise a degree of polymerization from about 3 to about 12. For example, the plant and grain comprises a sex6-292 allele and/or an amo1 mutation. A food or beverage product, and methods of producing a food or beverage product, comprising obtaining or producing the subject grain and processing the grain to produce the product. Also contemplated are methods of improving one or more indicators of health in a mammal comprising administering a composition comprising the subject barley grain or a product comprising same.

The present invention relates to methods of producing a food or malt-based beverage suitable for consumption by a subject with Coeliac's disease. In particular, the present invention relates to methods of producing a food or malt-based beverage with very low levels of hordeins. Also provided are barley plants which produce grain that can be used in the methods of the invention.

This invention describes a new method to generate wheat seed. The process involves the delivery of pollen of the male parent at will, as available either in a preserved pollen bank, or using real-time collection from male plants as they become available. Desired pollen is delivered to fertile females during the period when viable pollen from the females and locally proximal unrelated plants is not being released. The delivered male pollen is in such amounts and fortuitously timed that it preferentially pollinates the females. Such fortuitous timing may involve the intentional application of pollen to females a day or two prior to female parent pollen becoming viable, and/or during several periods wherein female parent pollen and/or other proximal plant pollen is not being shed.

The present invention relates to barley plant or a part thereof, wherein the kernels of said barley plant have a reduced (1,3;1,4)--glucan content. The barley plant may carry a mutation in the CslF6 gene, wherein said mutated CslF6 gene encodes a mutant CslF6 polypeptide.

This invention describes a new method to generate hybrid seed in any crop plant while also reducing contamination from out-crossings and self-pollination. In contrast to conventional seed production methods, the method of the invention is not dependent on the use of any form of male sterility in the female parent plants, nor the use of isolation distances from unrelated and undesirable plants of the same species, nor the use of male parent plants in proximity to the targeted females. The process involves the delivery of pollen of the male parent at will, as available either in a preserved pollen bank, or using real-time collection from male plants as they become available. Desired pollen is delivered to fertile females during the period when viable pollen from the females and locally proximal unrelated plants is not being released. The delivered male pollen is in such amounts and fortuitously timed that it preferentially pollinates the females and produces relatively pure hybrid seed at levels much higher than if one used current hybrid production practices and did not utilize male sterility practices or prescribed isolation distances. Such fortuitous timing may involve the intentional application of pollen to females a day or two prior to female parent pollen becoming viable, and/or several consecutive mornings prior to female parent pollen or other proximal plant pollen beginning to shed each day.

A barley cultivar, designated BG Katana, is disclosed. The disclosure relates to seeds, plants, and derivatives of barley cultivar BG Katana, and methods for producing a barley plant by crossing BG Katana with itself or another barley variety. The disclosure also relates to barley varieties or breeding varieties and plant parts derived from barley BG Katana, to methods for producing other barley varieties, lines, or plant parts derived from barley BG Katana, and to the barley plants, varieties, and their parts derived from the use of those methods. The disclosure further relates to hybrid barley seeds and plants produced by crossing barley cultivar BG Katana with another barley cultivar. The disclosure relates to methods for developing other barley varieties or breeding lines derived from variety BG Katana, including cell and tissue cultures and haploid systems.

The present invention relates to methods of producing a food or malt-base beverage suitable for consumption by a subject with Coeliac's disease. In particular, the present invention relates to methods of producing a food or malt-based beverage with low levels of hordeins. Also provided are barley plants which produce grain that can be used in the methods of the invention.