Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for improving growth characteristics of plants by increasing expression and/or activity in a plant of an LRR receptor kinase or a homologue thereof. One such method comprises introducing into a plant an RLK827 nucleic acid molecule or functional variant thereof. The invention also relates to transgenic plants having improved growth characteristics, which plants have modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding an LRR receptor kinase. The present invention also concerns constructs useful in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for increasing plant yield by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having two WRKY domains or a homologue of such polypeptide. One such method comprises introducing into a plant a two-WRKY domain nucleic acid or variant thereof. The invention also relates to transgenic plants having introduced therein a two-WRKY domain nucleic acid or variant thereof, which plants have increased yield relative to control plants. The present invention also concerns constructs useful in the methods of the invention. The invention additionally relates to specific nucleic acid sequences encoding for the aforementioned proteins having the aforementioned plant growth improving activity, nucleic acid constructs, vectors and plants containing said nucleic acid sequences.

Abstract: Appartus suitable for use in conjunction with a container in which one or more plants is growing and associated with it a device for recieving an enquiry signal and automatically responding by transmitting an unique identifier signal the apparatus comprising (a) transporter means by which a container may be supported for moving the container, (b) means for transmitting the enquiry signal, (c) means for recording the identifier signal as a digital output and (d) computer means to which the digital output is supplied for storage of the data in prescribed format in a database for manipulation to afford comparsion of data related to the container.

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 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: A process for breeding plants which comprises growing plants of a species in an array of containers charged with growing medium of uniform characteristics in an environment of controlled climatic conditions with controlled supply of nutrients and feed water and changing the positions of the containers within the environment as required to ensure at least substantially uniform exposure of all plants in the containers to conditions in the environment. A process for the breeding of open pollinating plants in a greenhouse environment is also provided. A process for breeding plants which comprises identifying trait leads.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for increasing plant yield by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a Ste20-like polypeptide or a homologue thereof. One such method comprises introducing into a plant a Ste20-like nucleic acid or variant thereof. The invention also relates to transgenic plants having introduced therein a Ste20-like nucleic acid or variant thereof, which plants have increased yield relative to control plants. The present invention also concerns 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 increasing plant yield relative to control plants. More specifically, the present invention concerns a method for increasing plant yield comprising increasing expression in a plant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a MYB (DNA-binding) domain transcription factor (MYB-TF) polypeptide. In a particular embodiment, the present invention concerns a method for increasing plant yield comprising preferentially increasing expression of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a MYB-TF polypeptide, in the endosperm of a plant seed. The present invention also concerns plants having increased expression of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a MYB-TF polypeptide, as well as plants having preferentially increased expression of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a MYB-TF polypeptide in the endosperm of seeds, which plants have increased yield relative to control plants.

Abstract: Apparatus suitable for use in conjunction with a container in which one or more plants is growing and having associated with it a device for receiving an enquiry signal and automatically responding by transmitting an unique identifier signal the apparatus comprising (a) transporter means by which a container may be supported for moving the container, (b) means for transmitting the enquiry signal, (c) means for recording the identifier signal as a digital output and (d) computer means to which the digital output is supplied for storage of the data in prescribed format in a database for manipulation to afford comparison of data related to the container.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of plant molecular biology. In particular, it describes the use of a regulatory nucleic acid sequence of the rice gene GOS2 for the regulation of gene expression in plant cells derived from plants other than monocotyledonous plants. The use of the regulatory sequence of the present invention results in constitutive expression with expression levels similar to that of CaMV 35S. The present invention also relates to vectors and host cells comprising these nucleic acid sequences. The invention further relates to transgenic cells and plants comprising these sequences and to methods for obtaining such cells and plants.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for modifying the growth characteristics of plants by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a TAD protein and/or modulating activity in a plant of a TAD protein. The invention also relates to transgenic plants having modified growth characteristics, which plants have modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding a TAD protein fragment.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for improving growth characteristics of plants by modulating expression of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a NAP1-like protein. The invention also relates to transgenic plants having improved growth characteristics, which plants have modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding a NAP1-like protein.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for improving the growth characteristics of plants by increasing activity in a plant of an RNA-binding protein or a homologue thereof, wherein said RNA-binding protein or homologue thereof is either: (i) a polypeptide having RNA-binding activity and comprising either 2 or 3 RNA 10 recognition motifs (RRMs) and a motif having at least 75% sequence identity to motif I: PIYEAAVVALPVVVKERLVRILRLGIATRYD and/or a motif having at least 50% sequence identity to motif II: RFDPFTGEPYKFDP; or (ii) an RBP1 polypeptide or homologue thereof having (a) RNA-binding activity; (b) two RRM domains, (c) the following two motifs: (i) KIFVGGL; and (ii) 15 RPRGFGF, allowing for up to three amino acid substitutions and any conservative change in the motifs; and (d) having at least 20% sequence identity to the amino acid represented by SEQ ID NO: 15.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acids molecules, designated CCP nucleic acid molecules, which encode novel cell cycle associated polypeptides. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing CCP, nucleic acid molecules, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and transgenic plants in which a CCP gene has been introduced or disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated CCP proteins, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and anti-CCP antibodies. Agricultural, diagnostic, screening, and therapeutic methods utilizing compositions or the invention are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a plant having a modified epidermal outgrowth structure such as a trichome or root hair. The method comprises transforming a plant or plant cell with a D-type cyclin gene operably linked to an epidermis-preferred promoter and regenerating a plant from the transformed plant or plant cell. Examples of epidermis-preferred promoters useful for practicing the present invention include for example, a. lipid transfer protein 3 gene promoter such as an LTP3 promoter, a GLABRA2 gene promoter such as a GL2 promoter, a GORK gene promoter, a MIP-MOD gene promoter, a BLEC4 gene promoter, a WAXD9 gene promoter, and a MtENOD12 gene promoter. Resultant plants having modified epidermal outgrowth structures are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for determining and recording characteristics of particulate material in a batch of such material comprising a separator chamber having an inlet, means for reading an identifier on a batch of particulate material supplied to the inlet and providing the identifier as a digital output, means for causing a flow of gas in the separator chamber to separate the particulate material into a first fraction and a second fraction, first counting means, second counting means, means for weighing the first fraction and providing the result as a digital output, and means for integrating the digital outputs and for transferring them to a computer programmed to store data in prescribed format in a database, from which it may be manipulated to afford comparison of characteristics of batches of particulate material.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for increasing plant yield relative to corresponding wild type plants. More specifically, the present invention concerns a method for increasing plant yield comprising introducing into a plant a nucleic acid encoding a cyclin D3 (CYCD3) polypeptide under the control of a promoter capable of preferentially expressing the nucleic acid in the endosperm of seeds. The present invention also concerns plants comprising an isolated nucleic acid encoding a CYCD3 polypeptide under the control of a promoter capable of preferentially expressing the nucleic acid in the endosperm of seeds, which plants have increased yield relative to corresponding wild type plants. The invention also provides constructs useful in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for improving growth characteristics of plants by modulating activity of a mutant CDKA kinase or a homologue thereof in a plant and/or modulating expression of a nucleic acid encoding such mutant CDKA. One such method comprises introducing into a plant a mutant CDKA nucleic acid molecule or mutant functional variant thereof. The invention also provides an isolated CKA mutant protein and nucleic acids encoding such protein. The invention furthermore relates to transgenic plants having improved growth characteristics, which plants have modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding a mutant CDKA kinase. The present invention also concerns 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 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 present invention concerns a method for improving growth characteristics of plants by increasing activity in a plant of an HKT protein or a homologue thereof. One such method comprises introducing into a plant an HKT nucleic acid molecule or functional variant thereof. The invention also relates to transgenic plants having improved growth characteristics, which plants have increased expression of a nucleic acid encoding an HKT protein. The present invention also concerns constructs useful in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for determining and recording characteristics of particulate material in a batch of such material comprising a separator chamber having an inlet, means for reading an identifier on a batch of particulate material supplied to the inlet and providing the identifier as a digital output, means for causing a flow of gas in the separator chamber to separate the particulate material into a first fraction and a second fraction, first counting means, second counting means, means for weighing the first fraction and providing the result as a digital output, and means for integrating the digital outputs and for transferring them to a computer programmed to store data in prescribed format in a database, from which it may be manipulated to afford comparison of characteristics of batches of particulate material.