The present invention relates to peptides for inhibiting the production of mycotoxins by fungi of the genus Fusarium and also to compositions comprising them and methods implementing them.

The present invention relates to peptides for inhibiting the production of mycotoxins by fungi of the genus Fusarium and also to compositions comprising them and methods implementing them.

A smoking article case with a hand care function may be provided. The smoking article case according to some embodiments of the present disclosure includes a body portion in which an inner space for storing a smoking article is formed and a cover which is connected to the body portion, wherein a functional care zone may be formed on at least a portion of an outer surface of the body portion and an outer surface of the cover. Microcapsules containing a functional material are applied on the functional care zone, and as the microcapsules are crushed by a smoker's rubbing motion and the functional material is discharged from the crushed microcapsules, the hand care function may be provided to the smoker.

One variation of a method for interpreting pressures in plants includes: accessing a first image of a first set of sentinel plants in a field; accessing a second image of a second set of sentinel plants in the field, recorded during a first period; interpreting a first pressure of a stressor in the first set based on features extracted from the first image, captured during the first period; interpreting a second pressure in the second set based on features extracted from the second image; deriving a model associating pressure at the first set and pressure at the second set based on the first pressure and the second pressure; interpreting a third pressure in the first set based on features extracted from a third image captured during a second period; and predicting a fourth pressure in the second set during the second period based on the third pressure and the model.

One variation of a method for interpreting pressures in plants includes: accessing a first image of a first set of sentinel plants in a field; accessing a second image of a second set of sentinel plants in the field, recorded during a first period; interpreting a first pressure of a stressor in the first set based on features extracted from the first image, captured during the first period; interpreting a second pressure in the second set based on features extracted from the second image; deriving a model associating pressure at the first set and pressure at the second set based on the first pressure and the second pressure; interpreting a third pressure in the first set based on features extracted from a third image captured during a second period; and predicting a fourth pressure in the second set during the second period based on the third pressure and the model.

Compositions and methods for efficiently producing and delivering double stranded RNA (dsRNA) are provided. Vector constructs useful for in vitro and in vivo expression of dsRNA are described. Also described are cell expression systems for efficient and cost-effective production of dsRNA in living cells and methods and compositions for providing the expressed dsRNA to target organisms. The described compositions and methods can be used to produce RNA molecules for screening or other uses, and to amplify RNA sequences for analysis.

Compositions and methods for efficiently producing and delivering double stranded RNA (dsRNA) are provided. Vector constructs useful for in vitro and in vivo expression of dsRNA are described. Also described are cell expression systems for efficient and cost-effective production of dsRNA in living cells and methods and compositions for providing the expressed dsRNA to target organisms. The described compositions and methods can be used to produce RNA molecules for screening or other uses, and to amplify RNA sequences for analysis.

Disclosed herein are methods of controlling insect pests, in particular Leptinotarsa spp. which infest crop plants, and methods of providing plants resistant to such pests. Also disclosed are polynucleotides and recombinant DNA molecules and constructs useful in such methods, insecticidal compositions such as topical sprays containing insecticidal double-stranded RNAs, and solanaceous plants with improved resistance to infestation by Leptinotarsa spp. Further disclosed are methods of selecting target genes for RNAi-mediated silencing and control of Leptinotarsa spp.

Disclosed herein are methods of controlling insect pests, in particular Leptinotarsa spp. which infest crop plants, and methods of providing plants resistant to such pests. Also disclosed are polynucleotides and recombinant DNA molecules and constructs useful in such methods, insecticidal compositions such as topical sprays containing insecticidal double-stranded RNAs, and solanaceous plants with improved resistance to infestation by Leptinotarsa spp. Further disclosed are methods of selecting target genes for RNAi-mediated silencing and control of Leptinotarsa spp.

Apparatus and methods are provided for producing insecticidal black soldier fly (BSF; Hermetia illucens) frass, and using the frass for nutritional and insect pest control activity in soils and/or on foliage. The methods include processes for using BSF frass to reduce damage to crops caused by wireworms (i.e., click beetle larvae, in the Elateridae family) and/or other Coleopteran (i.e., beetle) insect pests. Also provided is an insect trap comprising BSF frass.