1.   Scientists in Japan have also successfully bred rice plants resistant to the red stripe virus.

2.   The same technique that renders seeds sterile by turning certain genetic traits on and off also could be used to make plants resistant to drought or pests.

3.   Virtually all the fir seedlings die within four to six weeks, but researchers hope the few that survive might hold clues to producing resistant plants.

4.   These are the plants resistant to pests and natural disasters that frequent these countries, including floods, droughts and typhoons.