An object of the present invention is to provide a method for efficiently producing polyploids in para rubber trees that are extremely useful for breeding new varieties. The method of the present invention is characterized by carrying out colchicine treatment on para rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) seeds after rooting. In the present invention, the seeds are preferably seeds that have rooted but have not yet germinated. In addition, colchicine treatment is preferably carried out by allowing the seeds to contact a colchicine solution having a colchicine concentration of 400 ppm to 800 ppm.

The present invention relates to a celery plant (Apium graveolens L. dulce) carrying a genetic trait that leads to a shorter petiole and a shorter total plant length at mature harvest stage as compared to a celery plant not carrying the said genetic trait, wherein said genetic trait is as present in the genome of plants grown from seed of which a representative sample was deposited with the NCIMB under accession number NCIMB 41902.

The present invention relates to diploid, fertile, self-compatible and essentially homozygous potato lines, wherein said lines comprise an agronomically desirable trait such as vigour. The invention further relates to methods for producing such plants and to hybrid seeds obtained by crossing such homozygous potato lines and to potato plants grown from said seed.

The present invention relates to plants of the genus Raphanus containing increased levels of anthocyanins. In particular the edible sprouts and turnips of the Raphanus plants contain high levels of anthocyanins and thereby provide health-promoting effects. The anthocyanins in the Raphanus plants are present at a level of at least 100 nmol per gram of fresh weight and have an absorbance maximum at a wavelength in the range of 515 to 550 nm. The invention also provides methods for growing the Raphanus plants as purple sprouts, both in the form of alfalfa-type sprouts as well as in the form of two-leafed plantlets, referred to as cress or micro-vegetables. The invention further provides methods for producing anthocyanins based on growing the Raphanus plants and isolating anthocyanins therefrom.

Improved rape plants, seeds capable of forming the same, and a novel improved vegetable oil derived from the rapeseeds are provided. Such plants have the ability to yield a vegetable oil of increased heat stability in combination with other desirable traits. The increased stability of the vegetable oil is attributable to the presence of an unusually high oleic acid content in the rapeseeds which has been lacking in the available rape plants of the prior art. It has been found that the novel rape plants of the present invention reliably can be formed by mutagenesis followed by selection as described. The vegetable oil produced by the improved rape plants of the present invention is particularly well suited for use as a frying oil wherein the increased stability at elevated temperatures is of prime importance. In a preferred embodiment wherein the vegetable oil is used as a frying oil, the alpha-linolenic acid content concomitantly is reduced which additionally imparts an increased oxidative stability.

A method of enhancing the resistance of a plant, especially potato, to bacterial infection, comprising the step of genetically transforming the plant by means of a expression vector containing DNA encoding a peptide comprising a protease recognition site linked directly to the N-terminus of a protein having anti-bacterial activity, such as a magainin. Cleavage of the expressed protein product by a protease releases the anti-bacterial protein with its correct N-terminal sequence.

A sequence from the gene encoding SPS is used, in sense or antisense orientation to transform potato such that less sugar is stored in the tubers of the transformed plant.