Ball Horticultural Company

Sanford Scientific, Inc.

Ball Horticultural, Inc.

Robert B Eisenreich

Jianping Ren

Christa Kievit

John C Sanford

Alan D Blowers

Tau-San Chou

William H Eschenfeldt

Randal Hauptmann

Joyce Van Eck

Franzine Smith

Robert A H Legro

Zubin Khambatta

The invention provides plants of thecultivar designated 'Balsompocel'. The invention thus relates to the plants, cells, plant parts, and tissue cultures of the cultivar 'Balsompocel', and to methods for producing anplant produced by crossing anplant of cultivar &#x2018;Balsompocel&#x2019; with anotherplant, such as a plant of another cultivar. The invention further relates toseeds and plants produced by crossing plants of cultivar &#x2018;Balsompocel&#x2019; with plants of another cultivar. The invention further relates to the genetic complements and hybrid genetic complements of plants of cultivar &#x2018;Balsompocel&#x2019;.

Echinacea cultivar 'Balsompocel'

A new and distinct cultivar ofplant named 'Balcobees', characterized by its dark yellow and cream-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit, is disclosed.

plant named 'Balcobees'

A new and distinct cultivar ofplant named 'Red Lark', characterized by its semi-double, light red-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit, is disclosed.

plant named 'Red Lark'

The formation of a carotenoid compound containing a 4-keto-&#x3b2;-ionene ring such as astaxanthin or canthaxanthin in flowers, and particularly in the corolla and reproductive parts of a flower of a higher plant whose flowers produce a carotenoid compound containing a &#x3b2;-ionene ring such as &#x3b2;-carotene or zeaxanthin, but otherwise do not produce astaxanthin or canthaxanthin is disclosed. One or more genes controlled by a promoter are inserted (transformed) into a higher plant. The inserted gene encodes a chimeric enzyme including (a) a carotenoid-forming enzyme that is at least a ketolase. That gene is operatively linked to (b) a plastid-directed transit peptide. Some higher plants to be transformed produce at least zeaxanthin or &#x3b2;-carotene in their flowers prior to transformation, whereas other plants produce little if any colored carotenoid pigments prior to transformation and are transformed with a cassette of carotenoids-forming genes. Methods of transformation and use of the transformed plants are described.

4-ketocarotenoids in flower petals

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

Growing community of inventors

North Aurora, IL, United States of America

Robert B Eisenreich