Abstract: Provided herein are plants with increase stress tolerance and methods of making same.

Abstract: The present invention provides transgenic plant and methods of using them. In one embodiment, the methods include growing a transgenic plant under certain conditions, such as stress conditions, such as drought, heat, or salt, where the plant has decreased expression of a SUT polypeptide compared to a control plant. The transgenic plant may have a phenotype of increased growth, increased formation of woody tissue, increased drought tolerance, increased water use efficiency, increased nitrogen utilization efficiency, or a combination thereof, compared to the control plant. In another embodiment, the methods include using a transgenic plant to produce a pulp.

Abstract: Polynucleotide constructs contain fiber-specific elements which are used to target expression of polynucleotides and polypeptides to the vascular fibers of a plant. The constructs can be contained within a vector. Transgenic plants transformed with the fiber-specific elements can be made which have expression of a polynucleotide or polypeptide directed to the plant fibers.

Abstract: Polynucleotide constructs contain fiber-specific elements which are used to target expression of polynucleotides and polypeptides to the vascular fibers of a plant. The constructs can be contained within a vector. Transgenic plants transformed with the fiber-specific elements can be made which have expression of a polynucleotide or polypeptide directed to the plant fibers.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the genetically down regulating a lignin pathway p-coumarate Co-enzyme A ligase (CCL) in trees.

Abstract: The present invention provides a Populus 4-coumarate Co-enzyme A ligase gene promoter that directs expression in the xylem of plants. The promoter is used in methods designed to alter lignin content, lignin structure, cellulose content and combinations thereof. The methods comprise operably linking said promoter to heterologous nucleic acid molecules.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the genetically down regulating a lignin pathway p-coumarate Co-enzyme A ligase (CCL) in trees.

Abstract: The invention pertains to methods of altering growth, lignin content, coniferyl and sinapyl alcohol units in the lignin structure, disease resistance and cellulose content in plants by transformation with a lignin pathway p-coumarate Co-enzyme A ligase (4CL) nucleic acid.

Abstract: An Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and regeneration method for plants including a transformation method to produce transgenic plants with an altered lignin composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to genetically engineering the wood color of woody plants by incorporation of the lignin pathway gene O-methyltransferase into the genome of the plants.