(19)

(11)

EP 0 873 413 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 28.10.1998 Bulletin 1998/44 (21) Application number: 96910639.0 (22) Date of filing: 29.03.1996

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  C12N 9/ 00( . ) C12N 15/ 82( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/US1996/004313 (87) International publication number: WO 1997/014807 (24.04.1997 Gazette 1997/18)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 16.10.1995 US 19950543608 (71) Applicant: Seminis Vegetables Seeds, Inc. Saticoy, CA 93007-4206 (US)	(72) Inventors: TRULSON, Anna, Julia Davis, CA 95616 (US) BRAUN, Carl, Joseph, III Woodland, CA 95695 (US) (74) Representative: Groening, Hans Wilhelm, Dipl.-Ing., et al  BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT Franz-Joseph-Strasse 38 80801 München 80801 München (DE)