| abstract |
The present invention relates to a method for screening and identification of compounds or compositions useful as herbicides, growth regulators or fungicides involving at least the following steps of addition of the compound or composition to be screened or identified to a culture or culture area of a yeast strain transformed with and expressing one or more plant cell cycle control genes or mutants thereof (phytoyeast) as well as to a control yeast strain; and, determining the effect on the phenotype (growth and/or cell division and/or cell size/shape) of said phytoyeast compared to said control yeast. The invention further relates to a bilogical screening assay (high throughput system) comprising the use of said phytoyeast expressing plant cell cycle control proteins to identify novel compounds or compositions that affect control yeast or phytoyeast phenotype. The present invention also relates to methods for producing a pesticide, herbicide, plant growth regulator or fungicide, comprising the steps of (a) identifying a compound or composition as defined above or a derivative or homologue thereof, and, (b) mixing said compound, composition, derivative or homologue thereof with an acceptable carrier. The invention also relates to the use of said compounds or compositions for inhibiting or stimulating plant growth and/or for increasing crop yield and/or for preventive or curative protection of the plant against fungal infection. |