United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture

Genvor Inc.

Jeffrey W Cary

Kanniah Rajasekaran

Rajtilak Majumdar

Jesse M Jaynes

Ronald J Sayler

Thomas E Cleveland

Thomas J Jacks

Karl-Heinz Van Pee

Ronald Sayler

is an opportunistic, saprophytic fungus that infects maize and other fatty acid-rich food and feed crops and produces toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites known as aflatoxins. In vitro studies showed a five-fold increase in antifungal activity of AGM182 (vs. tachyplesin1) against. Transgenic maize plants expressing AGM182 under maize Ubiquitin-1 promoter were produced through-mediated transformation. PCR products confirmed integration of the AGM182 gene, while RT-PCR of maize RNA confirmed the presence of AGM182 transcripts. Maize kernel screening assay using a highly aflatoxigenicstrain (AF70) showed up to 72% reduction in fungal growth in the transgenic AGM182 seeds compared to isogenic negative control seeds.

Transgenic corn with antifungal peptide AGM182 (DN:0113.18)

Transgenic corn with antifungal peptide AGM182 USDA (DN:0113.18)

The present invention provides a method of making plants resistant to plant pathogens by transformation of host cells with a nucleic acid encoding a nonheme haloperoxidase. Transgenic plants which express a nonheme chloroperoxidase thereby resulting in enhanced resistance to phytopathogens are provided.

Transformation of plants with a chloroperoxidase gene to enhance disease resistance

Growing community of inventors

Covington, LA, United States of America

Jeffrey W Cary