Abstract: The present invention provides methods of increasing tolerance to high temperature or heat stress in a plant, plant part, or plant cell, the method comprising introducing one or more nucleic acids encoding (i) a glutamine synthetase 1;2 (GS 1;2), (ii) a glutamate decarboxylase 3 (GAD3), (iii) a class I glutamine amidotransferase (GAT1), (iv) a MYB55 polypeptide or any combination thereof into a plant, plant part or plant cell. Also provided are methods of increasing amino acid content in a plant, plant part, or plant cell, the method comprising introducing one or more nucleic acids encoding (i) a GS1;2, (ii) a GAD3, (iii) a GAT1, (iv) a MYB55 polypeptide or any combination thereof into a plant, plant part or plant cell.

Abstract: The invention provides MYB55 promoter sequences that can advantageously be used to express a nucleotide sequence of interest in a plant, plant part or plant cell. Also provided are methods of increasing the expression of a nucleotide sequence of interest in a plant, plant part or plant cell in response to high temperature, abscisic acid, salicylic acid and/or methyl jasmonate. Further provided are methods of increasing the tolerance of a plant, plant part or plant cell to heat stress using the promoter sequences as described herein.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for modifying the sensitivity to abscisic acid, of seeds and vegetative tissues of plants. The compositions comprise novel nucleotide molecules configured for expressing an abscisic acid-binding protein, i.e., ABAP1, comprising an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 10. The methods comprise the steps of constructing a nucleotide molecule by fusing a nucleotide coding sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 9 with a regulatory nucleotide sequence selected for over-expression or for under-expression of the coding sequence, stably introducing the nucleotide molecule into the genome of a recipient cell from a seed-producing plant, culturing the recipient cell into a whole recipient plant and then further culturing the recipient plant to produce mature recipient seeds, and harvesting the recipient seeds. The recipient seeds and whole plants produced therefrom have modified sensitivities to ABA thereby enabling regulation of germination, physiological function and plant productivity.

Abstract: Proteins having binding sites for abscisic acid (ABA) and methods of use are disclosed. The physiological functions of ABA, plant life cycles, seed dormancy and ripening can be altered by manipulating the binding of ABA to its receptors.