(19)

(11)

EP 1 216 415 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 26.06.2002 Bulletin 2002/26 (21) Application number: 00966876.5 (22) Date of filing: 26.09.2000

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G01N 33/02 (86) International application number: PCT/US0026/374 (87) International publication number: WO 0123/884 (05.04.2001 Gazette 2001/14)

(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: 27.09.1999 US 156287 P (71) Applicant: Monsanto Technology LLC St. Louis, Missouri 63167 (US)	(72) Inventors: VINJAMOORI, Dutt, V. St. Louis, MO (US) LONG, John, A. St. Louis, MO (US) DAS, Radip, K. St. Louis, MO (US) (74) Representative: Bosch, Henry  Monsanto Services International SAAvenue de Tervuren 270-272 1150 Bruxelles 1150 Bruxelles (BE)