A METHOD FOR OBTAINING A PLANT HAVING ALTERED FLORAL MORPHOLOGY AND A METHOD FOR PROTECTING PLANTS AGAINST PEST INSECTS

摘要

The present invention provides plants with altered flower morphology, characterized in that said plants have a recombinant polynucleotide integrated into their genome, essentially comprising of an inhibitory gene, which upon proper expression in the floral meristem cells is capable of inhibiting the development and determination of floral primordia into petal and/or stamen primordia. Said plants have a disturbed relation with pest insects which are attracted by the flowers. As a result of that said plants have an increased resistance against those pest insects and the primary but also the secondary damage caused by these insects is significantly reduced.