Abstract: There is provided an Agrobacterium transformation method for monocotyledons, comprising a step of infecting an intact seed.

Abstract: A method of producing a modified monocotyledonous plant having a desired character is provided. The method comprises isolating a gene containing a nucleic acid hybridizable to a nucleic acid indicated by SEQ ID NO. 1 under stringent conditions, and inhibiting expression of the isolated gene.

Abstract: DNA having promoter activity for strongly expressing an exogenous gene specifically in plant tissue (particularly, tissue having active cell prolifaration) is provided. The DNA is a rice OsEF1?1 gene promoter which has a sequence indicated by SEQ ID NO. 1, or a portion of said sequence whose promoter activity is equivalent to that of said sequence indicated by SEQ ID No. 1. An expression vector containing the promoter and an exogenous gene expressibly linked to the promoter is also provided. A plant cell transformed with the expression vector, a plant regenerated from the plant cell, a progeny of the plant, a propagator of the plant, and a seed obtained from the progeny are also provided. A method for introducing an exogenous gene into plants using an expression vector is also provided.

Abstract: The objective is to isolate and identify a gene relating to the regeneration ability of a plant, and to provide the gene and methods of use thereof. Isogenic lines to which culture characteristics of Konansou was introduced were produced by backcrossing. Culture cells were induced from this isogenic line and its parent variety. After confirming the regeneration ability of culture cells cultured for 3 to 6 months, isolation of a gene expressed in culture cells derived from Konansou and an isogenic line having a high regeneration ability, but not expressed in culture cells derived from Sasanishiki and Koshihikari was conducted using the differential display method. As a result, a regeneration-related gene was successfully cloned.

Abstract: DNA having promoter activity for expressing an exogenous gene specifically in vegetative growth tissue (particularly, stems and/or leaves) is provided. The DNA is a rice OsGA3ox2 gene promoter which has a sequence indicated by SEQ ID NO. 1, or a portion of said sequence whose promoter activity is equivalent to that of said sequence indicated by SEQ ID No. 1. An expression vector containing an exogenous gene expressibly linked to the promoter is also provided. A plant cell transformed with the expression vector, a plant regenerated from the plant cell, a progeny of the plant, a propagator of the plant, and a seed obtained from the progeny are also provided. A method for introducing an exogenous gene into plants using an expression vector is also provided.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide DNAs encoding novel plant proteins having a gibberellin (GA) 2-oxidation activity. Another objective is to modify plant height by utilizing these DNAs for regulating the gibberellin content. PCR was performed using degenerate primers, and novel OsGA2ox2 and OsGA2ox3 genes were obtained. The present inventors discovered that unlike products of other GA2-oxidases such as OsGA2ox1, the product of OsGA2ox3 catalyzes the two-step oxidation of GA20 to GA29 and then of GA29 to GA29-catabolite. In addition, the present inventors also found that the growth of the transgenic rice plants expressing OsGA2ox3 was suppressed as compared to control plants.

Abstract: The present inventors successfully produced rice dwarf mutant d61 and also isolated the OsBRI1 gene which corresponds to a region in the d61 locus. OsBRI1 is found to increase plant brassinosteroid sensitivity. Moreover, the present inventors showed that OsBRI1 functions in growth and development process of rice, such as, internode elongation by inducing internode cell elongation and the inclination of the lamina joint. By introducing antisense nucleotides or dominant negative of OsBRI1, the present inventors produced transgenic rice plants whose phenotype was modified.

Abstract: Novel GA2?-hydroxylase genes were successfully isolated from rice. In addition, plants whose plant type has been modified compared with their wild type counterparts, were successfully constructed via these genes.

Abstract: Genomic DNA and cDNA encoding GA 3?-hydroxylase were isolated from rice. When the expression of these genes was suppressed in rice plants, the plants became dwarfed compared with the wild type plants.

Abstract: There is provided an Agrobacterium transformation method for monocotyledons, comprising a step of infecting an intact seed.

Abstract: DNA having promoter activity for strongly expressing an exogenous gene specifically in plant tissue (particularly, tissue having active cell prolifaration) is provided. The DNA is a rice OsEF1&bgr;1 gene promoter which has a sequence indicated by SEQ ID NO. 1, or a portion of said sequence whose promoter activity is equivalent to that of said sequence indicated by SEQ ID No. 1. An expression vector containing the promoter and an exogenous gene expressibly linked to the promoter is also provided. A plant cell transformed with the expression vector, a plant regenerated from the plant cell, a progeny of the plant, a propagator of the plant, and a seed obtained from the progeny are also provided. A method for introducing an exogenous gene into plants using an expression vector is also provided.

Abstract: DNA having promoter activity for expressing an exogenous gene specifically in vegetative growth tissue (particularly, stems and/or leaves) is provided. The DNA is a rice OsGA3ox2 gene promoter which has a sequence indicated by SEQ ID NO. 1, or a portion of said sequence whose promoter activity is equivalent to that of said sequence indicated by SEQ ID No. 1. An expression vector containing an exogenous gene expressibly linked to the promoter is also provided. A plant cell transformed with the expression vector, a plant regenerated from the plant cell, a progeny of the plant, a propagator of the plant, and a seed obtained from the progeny are also provided. A method for introducing an exogenous gene into plants using an expression vector is also provided.

Abstract: The present inventors successfully produced rice dwarf mutant d61 and also isolated the OsBRI1 gene which corresponds to a region in the d61 locus. OsBRI1 is found to increase plant brassinosteroid sensitivity. Moreover, the present inventors showed that OsBRI1 functions in growth and development process of rice, such as, internode elongation by inducing internode cell elongation and the inclination of the lamina joint. By introducing antisense nucleotides or dominant negative of OsBRI1, the present inventors produced transgenic rice plants whose phenotype was modified.

Abstract: A method of producing a modified monocotyledonous plant having a desired character is provided. The method comprises isolating a gene containing a nucleic acid hybridizable to a nucleic acid indicated by SEQ ID NO. 1 under stringent conditions, and inhibiting expression of the isolated gene.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide DNAs encoding novel plant proteins having a gibberellin (GA) 2-oxidation activity. Another objective is to modify plant height by utilizing these DNAs for regulating the gibberellin content.

Abstract: The objective is to isolate and identify a gene relating to the regeneration ability of a plant, and to provide the gene and methods of use thereof. Isogenic lines to which culture characteristics of Konansou was introduced were produced by backcrossing. Culture cells were induced from this isogenic line and its parent variety. After confirming the regeneration ability of culture cells cultured for 3 to 6 months, isolation of a gene expressed in culture cells derived from Konansou and an isogenic line having a high regeneration ability, but not expressed in culture cells derived from Sasanishiki and Koshihikari was conducted using the differential display method. As a result, a regeneration-related gene was successfully cloned.

Abstract: Genomic DNA and cDNA encoding GA 3&bgr;-hydroxylase were isolated from rice. When the expression of these genes was suppressed in rice plants, the plants became dwarfed compared with the wild type plants.

Abstract: Novel GA2&bgr;-hydroxylase genes were successfully isolated from rice. In addition, plants whose plant type has been modified compared with their wild type counterparts, were successfully constructed via these genes.