Abstract: An isolated protein having at least 90% homology with the dimeric protein having the following amino acid sequence (I) with the proviso that at the C-terminal end of the monomeric forms, 2 to 10 amino acid distance from Z2, a Cys is present for forming the dimeric or multimeric protein, Z1 is a signal peptide for protein transport to the ER and/or through the plasma membrane or NH2 or a derivative of an NH2 group such as an alkylated, or acylated derivative, or polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety, Z2 is an amino acid residue with up to 20, in particular 10 or 8 amino acids which are selected of substantially non-hydrophobic naturally occurring amino acids or COOZ3 wherein Z3 is hydrogen, a metal ion, a hydrocarbon moiety substituted or non-substituted with heteroatoms.

Abstract: The present invention includes novel methods for increasing the seed productivity or accelerating the growth rate of a plant and plants produced by such methods. Such plants have at least one cell transformed with an expression complex comprising a promoter operably linked to a gene encoding a pyruvate phosphate dikinase which is capable of converting pyruvate into phosphoenolpyruvate. The plants are made by transforming at least one plant cell with an appropriate expression construct, regenerating plants from one or more transformed plant cells and selecting at least one plant having the desired phenotype.