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.

The present invention relates to agricultural methods and the use of an insecticidal active carboxamide derivative in seed treatment and soil application methods. The insecticidal carboxamide derivative is highly suitable alone or in combination with other active agricultural ingredients for controlling animal pests such as insects and/or spider mites and/or nematodes by treating the soil/growth substrate by drenching or drip application or dipping or soil injection.

The present invention relates to agricultural methods and the use of an insecticidal active carboxamide derivative in seed treatment and soil application methods. The insecticidal carboxamide derivative is highly suitable alone or in combination with other active agricultural ingredients for controlling animal pests such as insects and/or spider mites and/or nematodes by treating the soil/growth substrate by drenching or drip application or dipping or soil injection.

Pesticidal protein exhibiting toxic activity against Lepidopteran and Hemipteran pest species are disclosed, and include, but are not limited to, TIC2199. DNA constructs are provided which contain a recombinant nucleic acid sequence encoding the disclosed pesticidal protein. Transgenic plants, plant cells, seed, and plant parts resistant to Lepidopteran and Hemipteran infestation are provided which contain recombinant nucleic acid sequences encoding the pesticidal proteins of the present invention. Methods for detecting the presence of the recombinant nucleic acid sequences or the protein of the present invention in a biological sample, and methods of controlling Lepidopteran and Hemipteran species pests using TIC2199 pesticidal protein are also provided.

A method involving administering to a phloem sap-feeding insect one or more dsRNAs capable of suppressing activity of one or more RNAi-suppressing nuclease genes expressed in the gut of the insect and one or more dsRNAs capable of suppressing one or more osmoregulatory genes expressed by the insect.

A method involving administering to a phloem sap-feeding insect one or more dsRNAs capable of suppressing activity of one or more RNAi-suppressing nuclease genes expressed in the gut of the insect and one or more dsRNAs capable of suppressing one or more osmoregulatory genes expressed by the insect.

The present invention relates to methods and uses of photo-labile compounds which are trehalose-6-phosphate or trehalose-6-phosphonate or agriculturally acceptable salts thereof in the treatment of water stress in plants. The invention also concerns methods and the use of the compounds for resurrection of water stressed plants, and for improvement of yield of crop plants under water stressed conditions compared with untreated plants.

The present invention relates to methods and uses of photo-labile compounds which are trehalose-6-phosphate or trehalose-6-phosphonate or agriculturally acceptable salts thereof in the treatment of water stress in plants. The invention also concerns methods and the use of the compounds for resurrection of water stressed plants, and for improvement of yield of crop plants under water stressed conditions compared with untreated plants.

Articles having functional surfaces, for example antimicrobial functional surfaces, are prepared by methods comprising anodization. Organophosphorous compounds are deposited on a surface by methods comprising anodization, followed by attaching functional compounds, functional oligomers or functional polymers. Alternatively, functional organophosphorous compounds, functional oligomers or functional polymers are deposited on a surface by methods comprising anodization.