E.i. Dupont De Nemours and Company

Pioneer Hi-bred International, Inc.

David L Hallahan

Hong Peng Wang

Dennis Flint

Christopher Coldren

Leo Ernest Manzer

Natalie M Keiper-Hrynko

Mark Andrew Scialdone

A high yielding method is described for recovery of catmint oil from catmint plants of the genusby improved separation of a catmint oil containing phase from the condensed steam distillate of catmint plants. Catmint oil may be obtained in quantitative yields for use in insect repellent compositions.

Method for the enhanced recovery of catmint oil

Dihydronepetalactone, a minor natural constituent of the essential oil of catmints (spp.) such as, has been identified as an effective insect repellent compound. Synthesis of dihydronepetalactone may be achieved by hydrogenation of nepetalactone, the major constituent of catmint essential oils. This compound, which also has fragrance properties, may be used commercially for its insect repellent properties, and methods for making an composition thereof are disclosed.

Method for making insect repellent composition

This invention pertains to nucleic acid fragments encoding plant proteins that are homologs to the cis-prenyltransferases UPP synthase from the bacteriumor Dedol-PP synthase from yeast. More specifically, this invention pertains to cis-prenyltransferase homologs from wheat, grape, soybean, rice, African daisy, rubber tree latex and pot marigold.

Cis-prenyltransferases from plants

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Dihydronepetalactone, a minor natural constituent of the essential oil of catmints (spp.) such as, has been identified as an effective insect repellent compound. Synthesis of dihydronepetalactone may be achieved by hydrogenation of nepetalactone, the major constituent of catmint essential oils. This compound, which also has fragrance properties, may be used commercially for its insect repellent properties.

Insect repellent compounds

This invention pertains to nucleic acid fragments encoding plant cis-prenyltransferases. More specifically, this invention pertains to a cis-prenyltransferase homolog from latex of the rubber-producing plant species-(russian dandelion) and a cis-prenyltransferase homolog from the rubber-producing plant species(sunflower).

The instant invention relates to bioproduction of isopentenyl diphosphate within the latex of the rubber tree,. Isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) synthesis from acetate is mediated by a set of enzymes, acetyl-coA acetyltransferase, HMG-coA synthase, HMG-coA reductase, mevalonate kinase, phosphomevalonate kinase and mevalonate diphosphate decarboxylase, encoded by six genes isolated as expressed sequence tag (EST) cDNAs fromlatex. In addition, a variant sequence of one of these enzymes, acetyl-coA acetyltransferase, has been found.

This invention pertains to nucleic acid fragments encoding plant proteins that are homologs to the cis-prenyltransferases UPP synthase from the bacterium or Dedol-PP synthase from yeast . More specifically, this invention pertains to cis-prenyltransferase homologs from wheat, grape, soybean, rice, African daisy, rubber tree latex and pot marigold.

Growing community of inventors

Wilmington, DE, United States of America

David L Hallahan