In traditional plant breeding approaches, chemical mutagenesis may be utilized to introduce nucleotide substitutions at random in the genome of a plant, i.e. without possibilities to control the sites of nucleotide changes. Because of genome complexities, the statistical probability is extremely little when it comes to finding a predetermined nucleotide substitution. The present invention, however, demonstrates how a novel, alternative use of digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR), preferably droplet dPCR (ddPCR), is developed to exploit finding of specific nucleotide substitutions in mutated genes. The entire platform comprises a screening method with a library of mutagenized organisms, digital PCR-based systems and a set-up to propagate and analyze identified, mutated organisms.

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.

The present invention relates to hybrid barley seed production and marker assisted selection of barley plants in order to obtain barley plants or seeds comprising an Ant1 and/or Ant2 gene allowing color sorting of seeds.

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 oilseed 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.

This invention describes a new method to generate cereal crop 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.

This invention describes a new method of grain production wherein designated male plant pollen may be selected at anytime before pollination of a designated female plant. In the method, a designated female plant having both female and male components is grown. Furthermore, designated male pollen is selected for use in cross-pollinating the designated female plant. Cross-pollination may occur on one more days, is intentional, and occurs at a time when male components are not shedding pollen. The criteria used for selecting designated male pollen may include, but is not limited to, market information and commodity price information. Moreover, the designated male plant pollen may have a different maturity period compared to the designated female, selection may occur after the female has germinated, and/or result in a higher harvested crop value than other available pollen. Accordingly, the process involves the intentional delivery of 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. The invention also permits real-time agronomic decision making to influence grain content and constituents to maximize grain value.

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.

The present invention relates to bacteria conferring bioprotection and/or biofertilizer properties to plants into which they are inoculated. More particularly, the present invention relates to endophyte strains of Paenibacillus sp., plants infected with such strains and related methods.

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, 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 optionally, avoids or enhances 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. The intentional delivery of self- or sib-pollen results in a decrease in contamination from undesirable outcrossing.