Provided herein are plants that reduce growth of a fungal pathogen, increase resistance of the plant to a fungal pathogen, or a combination thereof. The plant includes a polynucleotide that reduces expression of a coding region present in a fungal pathogen, such as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum or Botrytis cinerea. The polynucleotide can be present on the surface of the plant, expressed by a plant, or a combination thereof. Also provided are methods of making and methods of using the plants.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to solvents for pesticides and pesticide formulations. In one aspect, a solvent for pesticides comprises (a) an ether ester of Formula 1:

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently one of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an aryl group, wherein R.sup.3 is hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl, and wherein n is 1 to 6; and (b) a polar amide of Formula 2:

R.sup.4—C(O)—NR.sup.5R.sup.6  (Formula 2)

wherein R.sup.4 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and wherein R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are each independently an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to solvents for pesticides and pesticide formulations. In one aspect, a solvent for pesticides comprises (a) an ether ester of Formula 1:

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently one of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an aryl group, wherein R.sup.3 is hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl, and wherein n is 1 to 6; and (b) a polar amide of Formula 2:

R.sup.4—C(O)—NR.sup.5R.sup.6  (Formula 2)

wherein R.sup.4 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and wherein R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are each independently an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms.

Methods and compositions for controlling termite populations by leveraging newly discovered mechanisms for symbiont- and host mediated anti-fungal defenses in the termite hind-gut. Such methods may include administering a composition to a termite, the composition formulated to promote protist dysbiosis in the gut of the termite, or silencing specific host or symbiont genes by RNA interference, and exposing the termite to a pathogen, where the composition increases the susceptibility of the termite to the pathogen. Compositions are also provided for the treatment of fungal infections, the composition comprising a medically effective amount of recombinant glycosyl hydrolase family 7 cellulase, as well as methods for utilizing the same.

Systems and methods of preventing or reducing crop damage from pests are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises: a) applying a mating disruption tactic to a field plot; and b) disrupting expression of one or more target genes in one or more pests, wherein crop damage is reduced in the field plot. In another embodiment, the method comprises applying an attract-and-kill tactic to a field plot, wherein said attract-and-kill tactic comprises: a) applying one or more semiochemicals or factors; and b) disrupting expression of one or more target genes in one or more pests, wherein said disruption is capable of killing the one or more pests, wherein crop damage is reduced in the field plot.

Systems and methods of preventing or reducing crop damage from pests are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises: a) applying a mating disruption tactic to a field plot; and b) disrupting expression of one or more target genes in one or more pests, wherein crop damage is reduced in the field plot. In another embodiment, the method comprises applying an attract-and-kill tactic to a field plot, wherein said attract-and-kill tactic comprises: a) applying one or more semiochemicals or factors; and b) disrupting expression of one or more target genes in one or more pests, wherein said disruption is capable of killing the one or more pests, wherein crop damage is reduced in the field plot.

The invention provides a compound of formula (I): wherein X, Y Z, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and X.sup.+ have any of the values described in the specification. The compounds are useful to increase plant growth and/or to increase harvest yield.

##STR00001##

The invention provides a compound of formula (I): wherein X, Y Z, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and X.sup.+ have any of the values described in the specification. The compounds are useful to increase plant growth and/or to increase harvest yield.

##STR00001##

The present invention concerns compositions comprising a mixture of DNA molecules suitable for inhibiting a target species, methods and uses employing said compositions and methods for producing the compositions. Said compositions may find utility in amongst others the fields of human and/or veterinary medicine, pest and/or disease control in agriculture or in other fields where inhibition of one or more target species is beneficial.

The present invention concerns compositions comprising a mixture of DNA molecules suitable for inhibiting a target species, methods and uses employing said compositions and methods for producing the compositions. Said compositions may find utility in amongst others the fields of human and/or veterinary medicine, pest and/or disease control in agriculture or in other fields where inhibition of one or more target species is beneficial.