Abstract: The present disclosure provides a list of genes, and the proteins encoded by these genes, that modulate and/or participate in the synthesis of the biopolymer suberin. The genes described here are useful in methods for producing genetically modified plants or breeding plants with altered production (enhanced or disrupted) of suberin. Such plants can contain modified or mutated candidate peptides; or have disrupted expression of using methods such as clustered regularly-interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated (Cas) nuclease, an antisense nucleic acid, a zinc finger nuclease (ZFN), or a transcription activator-like effector (TALE) nuclease. Suberin has a positive influence on response to plant water stress, a long-lasting role as a carbon sink in soil; and the lack of suberin encourages symbioses for nutrient uptake as well as for prevention of pathogenicity.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for genetic transformation of Lemnaceae species.