Senesco Technologies, Inc. announced today that it has identified and characterized a new gene, deoxyhypusine synthase (DHS), which the Company believes regulates the commencement of plant senescence (aging). Senesco expects that it will be able to exert further control on plant tissue senescence by silencing the DHS gene in concert with the Company's lipase gene which significantly delays plant aging as previously announced on October 4, 1999.

Senesco believes that the new gene and lipase function in tandem. The DHS regulates the timeframe within which plant tissue ages or spoils, while the lipase executes the physical changes involved in senescence. The Company believes that silencing the expression of this new gene in concert with the lipase gene has the potential to provide an even greater increase in the shelf life of fruits, flowers and vegetables.

"The discovery of the deoxyhypusine synthase gene is an important step in defining how plant
senescence is regulated. It also provides an additional point for genetic intervention in the
senescence process to enhance the quality and shelf-life of harvested crops,'' said Dr. John E.
Thompson, the Company's Executive Vice-President of Research and Development.

Senesco is proceeding, as it is with the lipase gene, to silence the expression of DHS to quantify
its effect on senescence and shelf life. Senesco is exploring approaches to silence the expression of the lipase and DHS genes using conventional breeding in addition to gene silencing by molecular genetic modification. The ability to silence genes using conventional genetics avoids
consumer concerns about genetically modified crops.

Senesco is an agrobiotechnology company developing gene technology to prolong shelf life in
produce. The Company is based in Princeton, New Jersey.

Company news release
N2261