Senesco Technologies, Inc. announced today that it has further demonstrated the efficacy of
its gene technology by growing plants that exhibit increased seed production (yield) and are considerably larger (biomass) when compared to untreated control plants. 

Increased seed production has been achieved in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants by reducing the expression of senescence-induced lipase or deoxyhypusine synthase (DHS). The seed yield of treated plants is enhanced by 100% in comparison to plants without altered gene expression. Equally important are results demonstrating an increase of up to 100% in the size of the leaves as well as in the size of the entire plant. 

"Seeds are the harvestable parts of large scale agronomic crops, such as corn and rice, making this development commercially valuable,'' says Ruedi Stalder, Senesco's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "This development, together with the results described in our recent tomato spoilage press release, indicates that our technology is moving toward significant commercial validation.'' 

John E. Thompson, Ph.D., Executive Vice-President of Research and Development, commented, "These results are of particular importance in terms of demonstrating the commercial significance of our technology because the Arabidopsis plant is so closely related to canola. Enhancement of canola seed yield by such an amount is of obvious importance. Also, Arabidopsis leaves, which were much larger due to altered gene expression, are analogous to lettuce and enhanced biomass in leafy crops like lettuce is highly desirable.'' 

Consistent with the Company's commercialization strategy, Senesco is engaged in discussions with several companies interested in entering into licensing agreements and strategic relationships for the use of the Company's technology in fruits, flowers, vegetables and agronomic crops. 

Senesco is an agrobiotechnology company whose mission is to enhance crop quality and productivity through the control of senescence (aging) which will result in longer shelf life, increased crop yield and increased biomass. The Company is based in Princeton, New Jersey. 

Company news release
N2854