Sesame plants with high oil content and/or high yield, and parts thereof are provided. Phenotypic and genotypic analysis of many sesame varieties were performed to derive markers for phenotypic traits that contribute to high oil content and/or high yield, and a breeding simulation was used to identify the most common and most stable markers. Examples for such phenotypic traits include the oil content as measured by near infrared spectroscopy, and yield traits related to plant morphology, number of capsules and the size of the seeds. Following verification of trait stability over several generations, markers and marker cassettes were defined as being uniquely present in the developed sesame lines. The resulting high oil content and/or high yield, shatter-resistant sesame lines can be used to increase sesame oil production for its various uses.

The present application relates to avocado plant cells and avocado plant varieties that have combinations of polyphenol (PPO) gene loss of function mutations resulting in avocado plant cells and avocado plants with desirable traits, such as reduced browning and longer shelf life as compared to unmodified varieties. The plants and plant cells containing PPO loss of function mutations do not have any exogenous sequences in the genome. The present application also provides methods for making such plants and plant cells.

Sesame plants with shattering-resistant capsules. and parts thereof are provided. Phenotypic and genotypic analysis of many sesame varieties was performed to derive markers for phenotypic traits that contribute to shattering-resistance, and a breeding simulation was used to identify the most common and most stable markers. Following verification of trait stability over several generations, markers and marker cassettes were defined as being uniquely present in the developed sesame lines. The resulting shatter-resistant sesame lines can be used to increase sesame productivity for its various uses.

This disclosure provides methods and compositions for identifying Brassica plants that have a native deletion of the INDEHISCENT gene (BnIND-A) located on chromosome A of B. napus. Also provided are methods of improving one or more agronomic characteristics such as pod shatter and breeding methods for introducing a pod shatter tolerant phenotype in Brassica plants and/or their progeny.

Genome edited plants, plant cells, seeds and plant parts of Brassica are provided where expression levels and/or activities of pod dehiscence genes are modulated to improve one or more agronomic characteristics such as pod shatter. Also provided are compositions comprising polynucleotides encoding polypeptides and guide RNAs targeted to endogenous Brassica proteins involved in pod dehiscence including for example, targeted site-directed mutagenesis using CRISPR-associated nucleases. Additionally, various methods of employing the polynucleotides and genetic modifications in plants, such as methods for modulating expression level in a Brassica plant and methods for increasing pod shatter tolerance of a Brassica plant are also provided herein.

A Brassica plant including a Raphanus genomic fragment within its genome, wherein the fragment confers pod shattering tolerance phenotype POSH+ and the fragment is characterized by the absence of at least one SNP within one or more of the following Raphanus markers: SEQ ID NOs: 4-18.

A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named HIFIR, characterized by its upright and broadly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; strong and sturdy stems; freely and continuous flowering habit; large and dense inflorescences with red to red purple-colored sterile flowers; and good post-production longevity.

A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named HIRIV, characterized by its upright and broadly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; strong and sturdy stems; freely and continuous flowering habit; large and dense inflorescences with light red purple-colored sterile flowers; and good post-production longevity.

A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named HIMOU, characterized by its upright and broadly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; strong and sturdy stems; freely and continuous flowering habit; large and dense inflorescences with pale red purple-colored sterile flowers; and good post-production longevity.

The present invention relates to a Cucurbitaceae plant which provides fruits having an improved shelf life. Further, the present invention relates to seeds, plant tissue, fruits or plants parts of a Cucurbitaceae plant. Further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for providing a Cucurbitaceae plant which provides fruits with an improved shelf life. According to yet another aspect the present invention relates to nucleic acids and amino acids related to the present improved shelf life trait.