Sanford Scientific, Inc.

Franzine Smith

John C Sanford

Alan D Blowers

Joyce Van Eck

Tau-San Chou

Robert B Eisenreich

Since its introduction into North America over 170 years ago, the poinsettia has become a major ornamental potted plant, and is an important component of the U.S. floral industry. Susceptibility to insect pests and diseases caused by pathogens remains a problem for poinsettia production, even under greenhouse conditions. While chemical treatment can control certain insect pests and disease pathogens, such treatment can also have an adverse effect upon poinsettias. The methods described herein provide a means to genetically engineer transgenic poinsettia that express macromolecules capable of protecting the plant against the insects and pathogens. The production of transgenic plants can also be used to enhance the commercial value of poinsettia by controlling characteristics such as flower color.

Production of transgenic poinsettia

The invention provides antimicrobial peptides, nucleic acid constructs encoding them, methods for transforming plant cells, and transgenic plant tissue that expresses the antimicrobial peptide genes and thereby exhibit improved resistance to plant pathogens.

Growing community of inventors

Geneva, NY, United States of America

Franzine Smith