Abstract: Provided and described are mechanosensory polypeptides and encoding polynucleotide products and compositions thereof, methods of expressing such polypeptides and polynucleotides in a cell type of interest, and methods of inducing and/or modifying the activity and/or function of various types of cells that express the exogenous mechanosensory polypeptides using ultrasound.

Abstract: The disclosure provides nucleic acid constructs that include a TPR-domain suppressor of STIMPY (TSS) promoter operably linked to an isopentenyl-transferase 7 (IPT7) coding sequence. The introduction of such a construct into a plant or plant cell generates transgenic plants having increased root mass and greater carbon sequestration capacity. Plants generated using the methods are provided. Such plants can include other desirable traits.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mutants of the plant aminotransferase VAS1 and to transgenic plants expressing said mutant protein that exhibit a modulated response to shade. In certain embodiments, the mutations of VAS1 uncouple VAS1 metabolic coordination of auxin and ethylene homeostasis, so that reduction of auxin is no longer linked (via VAS1) to reduction of ethylene. Such uncoupling allows for the generation of plants carrying a VAS1 mutant transgene that demonstrate a modulated response to shade, for example, less hypocotyl growth.

Abstract: Provided herein are seven high resolution crystal structures showing the cytokinin receptor AHK4 complexed with various naturally occurring and synthetic ligands. Further provided are strategies for modulating cytokinin receptor activity.

Abstract: Provided herein is the crystal structure for the brassinosteroid receptor BRI1, as well as strategies for modulating its activity.

Abstract: TZP proteins and method of their use for improving plant characteristics are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides recombinant cells and transgenic plants that display selectively increased or decreased response to brassinosteroids, resulting in increased yield. Methods of modulating brassinosteroid responses, and of modulating plant phenotypes, are provided.

Abstract: The PFT1 (Phytochrome and Flowering Time 1) locus is described and identified. PFT1 acts in a light-quality pathway downstream of phyB that acts through modulation of FT transcription. Plants containing a truncated pft1 gene display an altered shade avoidance syndrome including an increase in time to flowering. The corresponding PFT1 gene has been isolated and characterized. Recombinant vectors, recombinant plants containing the PFT1 gene and methods of using the PFT1 gene to modulate a photosensitive trait, especially time to flowering, are described.

Abstract: This invention provides recombinant cells and transgenic plants that display selectively increased or decreased response to brassinosteroids, resulting in increased yield. Methods of modulating brassinosteroid responses, and of modulating plant phenotypes, are provided.

Abstract: The PFT1 (Phytochrome and Flowering Time 1) locus is described and identified. PFT1 acts in a light-quality pathway downstream of phyB that acts through modulation of FT transcription. Plants containing a truncated pft1 gene display an altered shade avoidance syndrome including an increase in time to flowering. The corresponding PFT1 gene has been isolated and characterized. Recombinant vectors, recombinant plants containing the PFT1 gene and methods of using the PFT1 gene to modulate a photosensitive trait, especially time to flowering, are described.

Abstract: Disclosed are plants and methods of making plants that have a dwarf stature in comparison to wildtype plants. By transforming a wildtype plant with a “bas1” gene, or functional homolog thereof, the plant grows to have a dwarf stature.

Abstract: The present invention provides a BZR1 gene and an altered gene, bzr1-D, involved in the brassinosteroid response pathway. The expression of BZR1 genes in transgenic plants causes such plants to become significantly larger and more robust than their wild-type counterparts, thus increasing plant yields.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cytochrome P450-encoding gene, DAS5, as well as an altered gene, das5-D, which are involved in the synthesis of the plant steroid hormone brassinolide. The das5-D mutant has an insertion of a T-DNA containing transcriptional enhancers into its promoter region. Overexpression of the mutant thus produces large amounts of DAS5 transcript. The expression of this das5-D mutation or overexpression of the DAS5 gene in transgenic plants causes such plants to become significantly larger and more robust than their wild-type counterparts, thus increasing plant yields.

Abstract: A novel plant steroid receptor, BIN1, is provided, as well as polynucleotides encoding BIN1. The function of BIN1, an extracellular steroid-binding receptor, is provided as well as its primary binding affinity with brassinolide. BIN1 polypeptide is useful in promoting increased plant yield and/or increased plant biomass.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides a purified polynucleotide, wherein the polynucleotide comprises a nucleic acid encoding a plant DFD kinase polypeptide, methods for using same, and transgenic plants containing the polynucleotide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cytochrome P450-encoding gene, DAS5, as well as an altered gene, das5-D, which are involved in the synthesis of the plant steroid hormone brassinolide. The das5-D mutant has an insertion of a T-DNA containing transcriptional enhancers into its promoter region. Overexpression of the mutant thus produces large amounts of DAS5 transcript. The expression of this das5-D mutation or overexpression of the DAS5 gene in transgenic plants causes such plants to become significantly larger and more robust than their wild-type counterparts, thus increasing plant yields.

Abstract: The present invention provides a BZR1 gene and an altered gene, bzr1-D, involved in the brassinosteroid response pathway. The expression of BZR1 genes in transgenic plants causes such plants to become significantly larger and more robust than their wild-type counterparts, thus increasing plant yields.

Abstract: The present invention provides cytochrome P450s useful in for producing genetically modified plants characterized as having the phenotypic trait of modulated brassinolide synthesis or signaling, for example, resulting in insect resistance, dwarfism and darker-green foliage compared with wild type plants. Such plants can be modified, for example, using “bas1”, or functional homologues thereof, a polypeptide encoded by bas1 that modulates brassinolide synthesis and/or signaling in plants. The invention also provides methods for modulating ecdysteroid activity in a plant and for assaying brassinosteroid function in a plant. The latter method can be used to create a gain-of-function allelic series of plants characterized by increasing levels of overexpression of a cytochrome P450 to screen for brassinolide activity in a plant species.

Abstract: A novel plant steroid receptor, BIN1, is provided, as well as polynucleotides encoding BIN1. The function of BIN1, an extracellular steroid-binding receptor, is provided as well as its primary binding affinity with brassinolide. BIN1 polypeptide is useful in promoting increased plant yield and/or increased plant biomass.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for using enhanced expression of nucleotide sequences encoding a flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) and suitable homologs thereof, to elicit desired traits, study biochemical pathways, and oxidize xenobiotics in plants.