Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for enhancing various economically important yield-related traits in plants. More specifically, the present invention concerns a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a Harpin-associated Factor G polypeptide (hereinafter termed HpaG?). The present invention also concerns plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding an HpaG polypeptide, which plants have enhanced yield-related traits relative to control plants. The invention also provides constructs comprising HpaG-encoding nucleic acids, useful in performing the methods of the invention. The present invention also provides a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants relative to control plants, by modulating (preferably increasing) expression in a plant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a SWITCH 2/SUCROSE NON-FERMENTING 2 (SWI2/SNF2) polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for increasing plant yield by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a synovial sarcoma translocation (SYT) polypeptide or a homologue thereof. One such method comprises introducing into a plant a SYT nucleic acid or variant thereof. The invention also relates to transgenic plants having introduced therein a SYT nucleic acid or variant thereof, which plants have increased yield relative to corresponding wild type plants. The present invention also concerns constructs useful in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for obtaining polynucleic acids comprising coding sequences and/or genes involved in environmental stress resistance in plants, comprising the preparation of a cDNA library comprising coding sequences from siliques, introducing said coding sequences in yeast cells in a functional format and screening for polynucleic acids leading to an enhanced tolerance or resistance to environmental stress conditions in said transformed yeast cells. The present invention further relates to an isolated polynucleic acid obtainable by such a method as listed in Table 1 as well as recombinant polynucleic acid comprising the same. The present invention further relates to an isolated polypeptide encoded by a polynucleic acid of the invention.

Abstract: A method is presented for selecting and isolating nucleic acids capable of conferring tolerance or resistance to environmental stress conditions in plants or yeast. Furthermore, nucleic acids, the proteins they encode and their use for the production of plants or yeast with enhanced environmental stress resistance is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for improving growth characteristics of plants by increasing expression and/or activity in a plant of an LRR receptor kinase or a homologue thereof. One such method comprises introducing into a plant an RLK827 nucleic acid molecule or functional variant thereof. The invention also relates to transgenic plants having improved growth characteristics, which plants have modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding an LRR receptor kinase. The present invention also concerns constructs useful in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for enhancing various economically important yield-related traits in plants. More specifically, the present invention concerns a method for enhancing various economically important yield-related traits in plants relative to control plants, by increasing expression in a plant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a Yield-Enhancing Polypeptide (YEP). The YEP may be a Class I TCP or a CAH3 or a Clayata 1 (CLV1) polypeptide with a non-functional C-terminal domain. The present invention also concerns plants having increased expression of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a YEP, which plants have enhanced yield-related traits in plants relative to control plants. The invention also provides constructs useful in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: A method is provided comprising (i) growing a plant in a substantially transparent container charged with a particulate, non-transparent growing medium; and (ii) evaluating plant roots through said transparent container by digital imaging. An apparatus for evaluating plant roots in a high throughput manner is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for improving plant growth characteristics by increasing expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a CCS52 protein and/or by increasing level and/or activity in a plant of a CCS52 protein. The invention also relates to transgenic plants having improved growth characteristics, such as increased plant size, increased organ size or increased number of organs, which plants have increased expression of a nucleic acid encoding a CCS52 protein.

Abstract: A process for breeding plants which comprises growing plants of a species in an array of containers charged with growing medium of uniform characteristics in an environment of controlled climatic conditions with controlled supply of nutrients and feed water and changing the positions of the containers within the environment as required to ensure at least substantially uniform exposure of all plants in the containers to conditions in the environment. A process for the breeding of open pollinating plants in a greenhouse environment is also provided. A process for breeding plants which comprises identifying trait leads.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acids molecules, designated CCP nucleic acid molecules, which encode novel cell cycle associated polypeptides. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing CCP nucleic acid molecules, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and transgenic plants in which a CCP gene has been introduced or disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated CCP proteins, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and anti-CCP antibodies. Agricultural, diagnostic, screening, and therapeutic methods utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for increasing plant yield by introducing into a plant a cyclin A nucleic acid, preferably encoding a cyclin A protein, which cyclin A nucleic acid is operably linked to a seed-preferred promoter. By using this method, plant yield may be increased in optimal and sub-optimal growing conditions. The method results in plants having increased yield relative to corresponding wild type plants and relative to transgenic plants constitutively expressing cyclin A.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for determining and recording characteristics of particulate material in a batch of such material comprising a separator chamber having an inlet, means for reading an identifier on a batch of particulate material supplied to the inlet and providing the identifier as a digital output, means for causing a flow of gas in the separator chamber to separate the particulate material into a first fraction and a second fraction, first counting means, second counting means, means for weighing the first fraction and providing the result as a digital output, and means for integrating the digital outputs and for transferring them to a computer programmed to store data in prescribed format in a database, from which it may be manipulated to afford comparison of characteristics of batches of particulate material.

Abstract: A process for breeding plants which comprises growing plants of a species in an array of containers charged with growing medium of uniform characteristics in an environment of controlled climatic conditions with controlled supply of nutrients and feed water and changing the positions of the containers within the environment as required to ensure at least substantially uniform exposure of all plants in the containers to conditions in the environment. A process for the breeding of open pollinating plants in a greenhouse environment is also provided. A process for breeding plants which comprises identifying trait leads.

Abstract: Apparatus suitable for use in conjunction with a container in which one or more plants is growing and having associated with it a device for receiving an enquiry signal and automatically responding by transmitting an unique identifier signal the apparatus comprising (a) transporter means by which a container may be supported for moving the container, (b) means for transmitting the enquiry signal, (c) means for recording the identifier signal as a digital output, and (d) computer means to which the digital output is supplied for storage of the data in prescribed format in a database for manipulation to afford comparison of data related to the container.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of molecular biology. The invention provides a method for modulating growth of a plant comprising introducing into a plant a CCP (cell cycle protein) modulator. Further provided are nucleic acid molecules and the polypeptides encoded thereof useful as modulating agents for performing such methods.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for increasing plant yield by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a Ste20-like polypeptide or a homologue thereof. One such method comprises introducing into a plant a Ste20-like nucleic acid or variant thereof. The invention also relates to transgenic plants having introduced therein a Ste20-like nucleic acid or variant thereof, which plants have increased yield relative to control plants. The present invention also concerns constructs useful in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for increasing plant yield by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a Ste20-like polypeptide or a homologue thereof. One such method comprises introducing into a plant a Ste20-like nucleic acid or variant thereof. The invention also relates to transgenic plants having introduced therein a Ste20-like nucleic acid or variant thereof, which plants have increased yield relative to control plants. The present invention also concerns constructs useful in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for improving growth characteristics of plants by increasing expression and/or activity in a plant of an LRR receptor kinase or a homologue thereof. One such method comprises introducing into a plant an RLK827 nucleic acid molecule or functional variant thereof. The invention also relates to transgenic plants having improved growth characteristics, which plants have modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding an LRR receptor kinase. The present invention also concerns constructs useful in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for increasing plant yield by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding an OsLEA3a polypeptide or a homologue thereof. One such method comprises introducing into a plant an OsLEA3a nucleic acid or variant thereof. The invention also relates to transgenic plants having introduced therein an OsLEA3a nucleic acid or variant thereof, which plants have increased yield and altered metabolic profile, relative to control plants. The present invention also concerns constructs useful in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for modifying the growth characteristics of plants by modifying expression in a plant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a 2×C2H2 zinc finger protein and/or modifying level and/or activity in a plant of a 2×C2H2 zinc finger protein. The invention also relates to transgenic plants having modified growth characteristics, which plants have modified expression of a nucleic acid encoding a 2×C2H2 zinc finger protein. For example yield of crop plants are improved by the methods of the present invention.