The present invention relates to isolated
DNA molecules that
encode proteins or polypeptides which elicit a
hypersensitive response in plants. One aspect of the present invention involves an isolated
DNA molecule that encodes the HopPtoP
protein of
Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000. The isolated
DNA molecules can be used to impart
disease resistance,
stress resistance, and
enhanced growth to plants or plants grown from treated seeds, to control insects on plants or plants grown from treated
plant seeds, to impart post-harvest
disease or
desiccation resistance in fruits or vegetables, to impart enhanced
longevity of fruit or vegetable
ripeness, to impart
desiccation resistance to cuttings of ornamental plants, and / or promote early flowering of ornamental plants, either by topical application of the proteins or polypeptides or transgenic expression in recombinant plants or
plant seeds. Expression vectors, host cells, and transgenic plants which include the DNA molecules of the present invention are disclosed.