Agritope, Inc. today announced that it has been awarded a Phase I grant from the US Department of Agriculture under its Small Business Innovation Research Program. 

The grant will provide $70,000 over a six-month period to fund research involving the use of novel
synthetic compounds, called brassinolides, to improve plant production. In a related, but separate
event, a patent has been awarded to Agritope on a new class of synthetic brassinolide compounds, referred to as superbrassinolides, developed at the University of Calgary. Agritope will use these compounds in the research project and it has an option to obtain an exclusive license to commercialize them. 

The research project funded under the SBIR grant is aimed at developing technology to enhance
plant growth, using a combination of externally applied compounds and natural compounds
produced by plants containing a plant gene that enhances the effectiveness of the compounds. 

"The use of a combination of gene technology and these novel compounds represents a powerful
synergy. It creates a robust platform in the area of plant growth and development that may be
applied across a wide variety of crop species,'' said Adolph J. Ferro, president and chief executive
officer of Agritope. "In this project, we will use the newly patented compounds from University of
Calgary in conjunction with a gene discovered by researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological
Studies, La Jolla California, with which we have been working for several years under a research
agreement with an option to license.'' 

"Brassinolides are plant hormones that are essential for plant growth and response to environmental stress,'' Ferro continued. "When applied to plants, the superbrassinolides may increase leaf and seed size, and may increase the vigor of seedlings. These compounds are important new derivatives of well-characterized plant growth regulators, and have the potential for increasing plant yield and seedling vigor, even under difficult growing conditions. The market for these compounds can extend across a broad spectrum of plant species, from fruits and vegetables to cereal crops.'' 

Agritope is an Oregon-based agricultural functional genomics and biotechnology company that
develops improved plant products and provides technology to the agricultural industry. Its fruit and
vegetable division specializes in the development of improved fruit, vegetable and flower varieties.
Agrinomics LLC, its 50%-owned joint venture with Aventis CropScience, conducts a research, development and commercialization program in the field of plant functional genomics. Vinifera, Inc., its majority-owned subsidiary, offers superior grapevine plants to the premium wine industry together with disease testing and elimination services. 

Company news release
N2699