Agritope, Inc. today announced that it has been awarded another research grant from the US Department of Agriculture under its Small Business Innovation Research Program. The six -month $70,000 grant will be used to fund research to develop plants that are resistant to a broad range of
whitefly-transmitted viruses.

The SBIR award was based on results from an ongoing collaboration with researchers at The Ohio State University. Agritope has an option to obtain from OSU an exclusive license to commercialize the virus-resistance technology that will be used in the project. According to the USDA Whitefly Knowledgebase, estimated annual crop losses in the United States from these pests approach $1 billion.

"This technology has the potential for developing broad-based resistance to whitefly-transmitted virus infection and associated plant damage. The availability of a virus resistant plant may substantially reduce the use of pesticides, which are currently used to attempt to control the insects that spread the viruses," said Adolph J. Ferro, president and chief executive officer of Agritope. "Our research to date has led to novel and exciting directions for the current program, and should establish a technology platform that will provide genetic resistance for a wide spectrum of crop species against a number of devastating plant viruses."

This award is the second SBIR grant awarded to Agritope this year. Last week, Agritope announced receipt of a grant to conduct research aimed at improving plant growth using a novel system of plant growth regulators.

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
N2738