Abstract: The present invention provides a polypeptide which binds to a cis-element in the vicinity of a gene related to an iron-acquisition mechanism. The polypeptide can increase expression of the gene related to the iron-acquiring mechanism. This makes it possible to obtain a plant improved in tolerance to iron deficiency.

Abstract: The invention relates to plants, especially transgenic plants, plant parts and plant cells overproducing a secretory phospholipase A2 protein (e.g. sPLA2-a or sPLA2-b) and having an enhanced resistance against a wide range of abiotic (e.g., against osmotic stress) and biotic stress (e.g., bacterial, or fungal infections) conditions as well as inducing early flowering. The invention also comprises nucleic acid sequences encoding a secretory phospholipase A2 or functional isoforms thereof and the use of such sequences for rendering plants resistant against abiotic and biotic stress conditions. The invention is useful for mitigating crop damages by a wide variety of pathogen infections and stress conditions and for accelerating flowering time.

Abstract: Methods of increasing tolerance of a plant to stress are provided. According to an exemplary aspect a method of increasing tolerance of a plant to a biotic stress is provided. The method comprising expressing within the plant an exogenous fibrillin/CDSP34 thereby increasing the tolerance of the plant to the biotic stress. Also provided are nucleic acid constructs and transgenic plants comprising same.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods and compositions for genetically altering cellulose biosynthesis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to environmental stress responsive protein ferritin (CaFer1) of chickpea. The invention discloses identification, isolation and cloning of ECM-localized ferritin (CaFer1) of chickpea and its multifunctional role in nutrient uptake, storage and stress tolerance. Comparative proteomic analysis of the chickpea extra-cellular (ECM) was performed to identify novel components of dehydration stress signaling. In addition, the present invention relates a method for producing environmental stress tolerant transgenic plants over-expressing the said CaFer1 gene. The present invention further provides dehydration stress tolerant transgenic plants overexpressing dehydration-responsive extra cellular matrix (ECM) protein ferritin (CaFer1).

Abstract: Stress tolerance in plants and plant cells is achieved by using nucleotide sequences encoding enzymes involved in the NAD salvage synthesis pathway and/or the NAD de novo synthesis pathway from fungal or yeast like organisms other than Saccharomyces cereviseae, e.g., for overexpression in plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cytochrome P450 protein originating from Arabidopsis thaliana which can be used for increasing seed size or storage protein content in seed or for increasing water stress resistance of plant, a gene encoding said protein, a recombinant plant expression vector comprising said gene, a method of increasing seed size or storage protein content in seed and a method of increasing water stress resistance of plant by using said vector, plants produced by said method and transgenic seed of said plants. According to the present invention, by using cytochrome P450 gene of the present invention, seed size or storage protein content in seed can be increased or water stress resistance of plant can be increased.

Abstract: A gene comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 and another gene comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, the latter being artificially synthesized according to plant preferred codons. Both genes encode a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3. Also provided are recombinant vectors containing each of the genes and host cells transformed with the recombinant vectors. The host cells can be prokaryotic cells [[and]] or eukaryotic cells. The transgenic plants comprising the gene having the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 show improved salt and drought tolerance after the [[said]] gene is expressed in the transgenic plants.

Abstract: The invention relates to genes for promoting rapid growth of plant, characterized in genes that are Banana ABC transporter MhPDR1 or MhPDR2 genes, wherein the transporters have amino acid sequences depicted in SEQ ID No: 1 and SEQ ID No: 3, respectively, and the genes have nucleotide sequences depicted in SEQ ID No: 2 and SEQ ID No: 4, respectively. The invention provides further applications of the banana transporter MhPDR1 or MhPDR2 genes, characterized in that the over-expression of the genes in a plant can promote rapid growth of the plant. In addition, the present invention provides a transgenic plant or partial organ, tissue or cells thereof containing the genes or derivatives thereof; as well as provides further a method for promoting rapid growth of a plant.

Abstract: The present invention describes an alternative approach to increase GABA production in prokaryotes or eukaryotes, namely by the insertion of the putrescine catabolic pathway in organisms where the pathway does not exist or has not clearly been identified. The invention describes methods for the use of polynucleotides that encode functional putrescine aminotransferase (PAT) and gamma-aminobutyricaldehyde dehydrogenase (GABAlde DeHase) polypeptides in plants to increase GABA production. The preferred embodiment of the invention is in plants but other organisms may be used. Changes in GABA availability will improve growth and increase tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress.