Saticoy, California
February 2, 2000
Seminis, Inc. announced
today the issuance of ten (10) patents received during the three months ended December 31,
1999. Seminis was issued five (5) new US patents and five (5) new Australian patents for
herbicide and insect-resistant fruits and vegetables, marking one of the largest numbers of patents
Seminis has received in one quarter.
"Issuance of patent protection for our technology significantly strengthens our patent portfolio.
Seminis has a strong intellectual property position in the agriculture research field, with patents
awarded from around the world. These patents cover a wide variety of inventions including, among
others, inventions directed to positive selection methods, disease resistance, virus resistance and
plant varieties. These valuable patents establish Seminis as the holder of significant proprietary
rights,'' said Dr. Ed Green, Vice President of Research and Development.
| Patent |
US Patent
number |
Invention relates to |
| Potyvirus Coat Protein Genes and Plants Transformed
Therewith |
5,998,699 |
Disease resistance |
Lactuca Sativa Cultivar
Exhibiting Resistance to Downy Mildew and Corky Root Rot |
5,973,232 |
A lettuce cultivar sold as "Sharpshooter" |
| Brassica oleracea ACC Synthase Gene |
5,998,702 |
Controls maturing and aging |
Papaya Ringspot Virus Coat
Protein Gene |
6,002,072 |
Disease resistance |
| Papaya Ringspot Virus
Replicase Gene |
6,005,166 |
Disease resistance |
| . |
|
|
| Patent |
Australian Patent
number |
Invention relates to |
Brassica oleracea ACC
Synthase Gene |
709862 |
Controls maturing and aging |
| Transgenic Plants Expressing DNA Construct Containing a Plurality of Genes to Impart Virus Resistance |
708035 |
Disease resistance |
| Papaya Ringspot Virus
Protease Gene |
707753 |
Disease resistance |
| Plants Resistant to C Strains of Cucumber Mosaic Virus |
706875 |
Disease resistance |
Transgenic Plants Exhibiting
Heterologous Virus Resistance |
707935 |
Disease resistance |
These ten (10) new patents bring the total number of patents issued to the company to 75. Seminis
has also received notices of allowance on four (4) additional US patent applications during this first
quarter. This brings the total number of issued and allowed patent applications to 79. Seminis is
currently seeking protection in the following categories of fruits and vegetables: beans, bean
sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, corn, cucumber, dew, eggplant, endive, leek, lettuce, melon,
muskmelon, onion, peas, pumpkin, radish, red cabbage, spinach, squash, sweet pepper, tomato,
watermelon, and white cabbage.
Seminis is the largest developer, producer and marketer of vegetable seeds in the world. Seminis produces more than 60 species and 8,000 distinct varieties of
vegetable and fruit seeds. The company uses seeds as the delivery vehicle for innovative
agricultural technology. Its products are designed to reduce the need for agricultural chemicals,
increase crop yield, reduce spoilage, offer longer shelf life, create better tasting foods and foods
with better nutritional content. Seminis has established a worldwide presence and global
distribution network that spans 120 countries with 70 research stations in 19 countries and
production sites in 32 countries. Seminis is a majority owned subsidiary of Savia, a Mexico-based conglomerate with leadership positions in financial services, packaging and
fresh foods.
Company news release
N2448 |
