Abstract: A method is provided for evaluating plant roots, comprising (i) growing a plant in a substantially transparent container charged with a particulate, non-transparent growing medium; and (ii) evaluating plant roots through the transparent container by digital imaging. An apparatus for evaluating plant roots in a high throughput manner is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for improving plant growth characteristics relative to corresponding wild type plants. More specifically, the present invention concerns a method for improving plant growth characteristics comprising modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a class I homeodomain leucine zipper (HDZip) hox5 polypeptide or a homologue thereof; or comprising modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a nitrate transporter protein (NRT) or a homologue thereof; or comprising modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide denoted Yield Enhancing Protein 16 (YEP16); or comprising modulating expression in a plant of a Group I glycogen synthase kinase (Group I shaggy-like kinase) or a homologue thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides several promoters isolated from Oryza sativa, which promoters are capable of driving and/or regulating the expression of an operably linked nucleic acid in a plant. The expression patterns of the promoters according to the invention have been studied in Oryza sativa and some of the promoters displayed specific activity in particular cells, tissues or organs of the plant, while others displayed constitutive expression throughout substantially the whole plant. Some promoters showed weak expression, while others were strongly active.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for increasing various plant yield-related traits by increasing expression in a plant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding an ammonium transporter (AMT) polypeptide. The present invention also concerns plants having increased expression of a nucleic acid sequence encoding an AMT polypeptide, which plants have increased yield-related traits relative to control plants. The invention also provides constructs useful in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for improving plant growth characteristics relative to wild type plants. More specifically, the present invention concerns a method for increasing yield in plants grown under reduced nutrient availability, relative to corresponding wild type plants, comprising modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a class I homeodomain leucine zipper (HDZip) hox5 polypeptide or a homologue thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of plant breeding and concerns a method for determining the point at which a plant starts to flower. More specifically, the invention concerns a method for determining the start of flowering on an individual plant basis by measuring the reproductive structures of plants from digital images of these structures and deducing the start of flowering from the measurements and average growth rates. The invention also concerns apparatus for determining the start of flowering in plants, particularly in a high-throughput manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for improving various plant growth characteristics by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a GRP (Growth-Related Protein). The present invention also concerns plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding a GRP, which plants have improved growth characteristics relative to corresponding wild type plants or other control plants. The invention also provides constructs useful in the methods of the invention. The GRP may be one of the following: Seed Yield Regulator (SYR), FG-GAP, CYP90B, CDC27, AT-hook transcription factors, DOF transcription factors and Cyclin Dependent Kinase Inhibitors (CKIs).

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of plant breeding and concerns a method for determining the point at which a plant starts to flower. More specifically, the invention concerns a method for determining the start of flowering on an individual plant basis by measuring the reproductive structures of plants from digital images of these structures and deducing the start of flowering from the measurements and average growth rates. The invention also concerns apparatus for determining the start of flowering in plants, particularly in a high-throughput manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for enhancing various economically important yield-related traits in plants. More specifically, the present invention concerns a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a GSBP-like polypeptide (GSBP: GT-Pase activating protein SH3 domain binding Protein). The present invention also concerns plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding a GSBP-like polypeptide, which plants have enhanced yield-related traits relative to control plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for enhancing various economically important yield-related traits in plants. More specifically, the present invention concerns a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a Harpin-associated Factor G polypeptide (hereinafter termed HpaG”). The present invention also concerns plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding an HpaG polypeptide, which plants have enhanced yield-related traits relative to control plants. The invention also provides constructs comprising HpaG-encoding nucleic acids, useful in performing the methods of the invention. The present invention also provides a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants relative to control plants, by modulating (preferably increasing) expression in a plant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a SWITCH 2/SUCROSE NON-FERMENTING 2 (SWI2/SNF2) polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for enhancing various economically important yield-related traits in plants. More specifically, the present invention concerns a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants grown under nutrient deficient conditions, comprising modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a GGAT polypeptide. The present invention also concerns plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding a GGAT, which plants have enhanced yield-related traits relative to control plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of plant breeding and concerns a method for determining the point at which a plant starts to flower. More specifically, the invention concerns a method for determining the start of flowering on an individual plant basis by measuring the reproductive structures of plants from digital images of these structures and deducing the start of flowering from the measurements and average growth rates. The invention also concerns apparatus for determining the start of flowering in plants, particularly in a high-throughput manner.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for improving growth characteristics of plants by increasing activity in a plant of an RNA-binding protein which is: (i) a polypeptide having RNA-binding activity and comprising 2 or 3 RNA recognition motifs (RRMs) and a motif having at least 75% identity to motif I: PYEAAVVALPVVVKERLVRILRLGIATRYD (SEQ ID NO: 12) and/or a motif having at least 50% identity to motif II: RFDPFTGEPYKFDP (SEQ ID NO: 13); or (ii) an RBP1 polypeptide having (a) RNA-binding activity; (b) two RRM domains, (c) the following two motifs: (i) KIFVGGL (SEQ ID NO: 41); and (ii) RPRGFGF (SEQ ID NO: 42), allowing for up to three amino acid substitutions and any conservative change in the motifs; and (d) having at least 20% identity to SEQ ID NO: 15. Also provided is transgenic plants introduced with an RNA-binding protein-encoding nucleic acid having improved growth characteristics and constructs useful in the methods.

Abstract: A method is presented for selecting and isolating nucleic acids capable of conferring tolerance or resistance to environmental stress conditions in plants or yeast. Furthermore, nucleic acids, the proteins they encode and their use for the production of plants or yeast with enhanced environmental stress resistance is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for increasing plant yield relative to suitable control plants. More specifically, the present invention concerns a method for increasing plant yield comprising increasing expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a Dof (DNA-binding with one finger) domain transcription factor polypeptide. The present invention also concerns plants having increased expression of a nucleic acid encoding a Dof domain transcription factor polypeptide, which plants have increased yield relative to suitable control plants. The invention also provides constructs useful in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for enhancing various economically important yield-related traits in plants. More specifically, the present invention concerns a method for enhancing various economically important yield-related traits in plants relative to control plants, by increasing expression in a plant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a Yield-Enhancing Polypeptide (YEP). The YEP may be a Class I TCP or a CAH3 or a Clavata1 (CLV1) polypeptide with a non-functional C-terminal domain. The present invention also concerns plants having increased expression of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a YEP, which plants have enhanced yield-related traits in plants relative to control plants. The invention also provides constructs useful in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for enhancing various economically important yield-related traits in plants. More specifically, the present invention concerns a method for increasing seed yield in plants by increasing expression in a plant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a Dwarf1 (DWF1) polypeptide. The present invention also concerns plants having increased expression of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a DWF1 polypeptide, which plants have increased seed yield relative to control plants. The invention also provides constructs useful in performing the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for improving growth characteristics of plants by increasing activity in a plant of an RNA-binding protein, which is: (i) a polypeptide having RNA-binding activity and comprising 2 or 3 RNA recognition motifs (RRMs) and a motif having at least 75% identity to motif I: PYEAAVVALPVVVKERLVRILRLGIATRYD (SEQ ID NO: 12) and/or a motif having at least 50% identity to motif II: RFDPFTGEPYKFDP (SEQ ID NO: 13); or (ii) an RBP1 polypeptide having (a) RNA-binding activity; (b) two RRM domains, (c) the following two motifs: (i) KIFVGGL (SEQ ID NO: 41); and (ii) RPRGFGF (SEQ ID NO: 42), allowing for up to three amino acid substitutions and any conservative change in the motifs; and (d) having at least 20% identity to SEQ ID NO: 15. Also provided is transgenic plants introduced with an RNA-binding protein-encoding nucleic acid having improved growth characteristics and constructs useful in the methods.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to a method for improving growth of plants, under normal and under stress conditions, more particularly under osmotic stress and/or temperature extremes, comprising modifying plant haemoglobin gene expression and/or by modifying plant haemoglobin protein levels in a plant. The invention furthermore relates to a method for increasing yield of a plant, comprising modifying plant gene expression and/or by modifying plant haemoglobin levels in a plant. The invention also relates to a nucleic acid encoding a haemoglobin conferring this altered growth and stress tolerance.