Epitope Inc. of Beaverton, Ore., said its wholly ownedsubsidiary, Agritope Inc., signed an agreement with Rogers NKSeed Co., an affiliate of Sandoz Seeds Ltd. of Basel, Switzerland,to develop tomatoes with improved qualities.

Agritope is developing fruits, flowers and vegetables thatcontrol the production of ethylene and plant hormonesinvolved in the ripening process. The objective is to prolongpost-harvest shelf life.

Rogers NK breeds tomatoes with improved flavor and texture."Our goal is to develop better-tasting tomatoes that last longer,"said Adolph J. Ferro, Epitope's president and chief operatingofficer. .

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