(19)

(11)

EP 1 131 454 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 12.10.2000 (43) Date of publication: 12.09.2001 Bulletin 2001/37 (21) Application number: 99971859.6 (22) Date of filing: 09.11.1999

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: C12N 15/82, C07K 14/415, C12N 15/11, A01H 5/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US9926/514 (87) International publication number: WO 0028/058 (18.05.2000 Gazette 2000/20)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 09.11.1998 US 107643 P 10.11.1998 US 107810 P (71) Applicants: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC. Des Moines, Iowa 50309 (US) E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURSAND CO. Wilmington DE 19898 (US)

(72) Inventors: LOWE, Keith, S. Johnston, IA 50131 (US) GORDON-KAMM, William, J. Urbandale, IA 50322 (US) KLEIN, Theodore, M. Wilmington, DE 19810 (US) RASCO-GAUNT, Sonriza Hertfordshire AL6 0PY (GB) CAHOON, Rebecca, E. Wilmington, DE 19806 (US) SUN, Xifan Urbandale, IA 50322 (US) HOERSTER, George, J. Des Moines, IA 50310 (US) GREGORY, Carolyn, Ann Clive, IA 50325 (US) NADIMPALLI, Ramgopal Bloomfield, NJ 07003 (US) (74) Representative: Goldin, Douglas Michael  J.A. KEMP & CO.14 South SquareGray's Inn London WC1R 5JJ London WC1R 5JJ (GB)