Abstract: Compositions and methods for increasing the level of one or more selected free ? and/or ?-N-acetylated amino acids in a selected tissue or organ of a plant are provided. In specific embodiments, the plant, plant part, seed or grain comprises a free ?-N-acetylated amino acid content of at least 200 ppm or a ratio of free ?-N-acetylated amino acid content to free non-?-N-acetylated amino acid content of about 3 to about 1000. Compositions comprising plants, plant parts, seed and grain having stably incorporated into their genome a heterologous polynucleotide encoding an amino acid-N-acetyltransferase polypeptide operably linked to a promoter active in the seed are provided.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for altering a nucleotide sequence of interest in a plant is provided. The method involves introducing a chimeric oligonucleotide into a plant cell, wherein the oligonucleotide comprises at least two intervening blocks of RNA residues with intervening DNA residues. The RNA blocks are homologous to a plant nucleotide sequence. The chimeric oligonucleotide is capable of folding to form a duplex oligonucleotide. The chimeric oligonucleotide is maintained within the nucleus of the plant whereby the alteration is introduced into the target sequences of the plant genome.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for altering a nucleotide sequence of interest in a plant is provided. The method involves introducing a chimeric oligonucleotide into a RNA residues with intervening DNA residues. The RNA blocks are homologous to a plant nucleotide sequence. The chimeric oligonucleotide is capable of folding to form a duplex oligonucleotide. The chimeric oligonucleotide is maintained within the nucleus of the plant whereby the alteration is introduced into the target sequences of the plant genome.

Abstract: The present invention provides chemically regulatable DNA sequences capable of regulating transcription of an associated DNA sequence in plants or plant tissues, chimeric constructions containing such sequences, vectors containing such sequences and chimeric constructions, and transgenic plants and plant tissues containing these chimeric constructions. In one aspect, the chemically regulatable DNA sequences of the invention are derived from the 5' region of genes encoding pathogenisis-related (PR) proteins. The present invention also provides anti-pathogenic sequences derived from novel cDNAs coding for PR proteins which can be genetically engineered and transformed into plants to confer enhanced resistance to disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides chemically regulatable DNA sequences capable of regulating transcription of an associated DNA sequence in plants or plant tissues, chimeric constructions containing such sequences, vectors containing such sequences and chimeric constructions, and transgenic plants and plant tissues containing these chimeric constructions. In one aspect, the chemically regulatable DNA sequences of the invention are derived from the 5' region of genes encoding pathogenisis-related (PR) proteins. The present invention also provides anti-pathogenic sequences derived from novel cDNAs coding for PR proteins which can be genetically engineered and transformed into plants to confer enhanced resistance to disease.