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 yield increasing polypeptide. The present invention also concerns plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding a yield increasing polypeptide, which plants have enhanced yield-related traits relative to control plants.

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 Yield Enhancing Protein (YEP). The YEP is selected from a Nucleosome Assembly Protein 1-like polypeptide (NAP1-like), a Like Sm polypeptide (Lsm protein), a truncated Cyclin H (CycHTr) polypeptide, a Remorin polypeptide, and a DREB protein. The present invention also concerns plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding such a YEP, which plants have enhanced yield-related traits relative to control plants. The invention also provides hitherto unknown YEP-encoding nucleic acids, and constructs comprising the same, useful in performing the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for increasing various plant yield-related traits by increasing expression in a plant of: (i) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a Growth-RegulatingFactor (GRF) polypeptide; and of (ii) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a synovial sarcoma translocation (SYT) polypeptide, wherein said yield-related traits are increased relative to plants having increased expression of one of: (i) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a GRF polypeptide, or (ii) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a SYT polypeptide. The present invention also concerns plants having increased expression of (i) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a GRF polypeptide; and of (ii) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a SYT polypeptide, wherein said plants have increased yield-related traits relative to plants having increased expression of one of: (i) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a GRF polypeptide; or (ii) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a SYT polypeptide.

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 Yield Enhancing Protein (YEP). The YEP is selected from a Vacuolar Processing Enzyme (VPE) or a CCA1-like polypeptide or a SAP-like polypeptide or a Seed Yield Promoting Factor 1 (SYPF1) polypeptide or a Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) activase (RCA) polypeptide. The present invention also concerns plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding such a YEP, which plants have enhanced yield-related traits relative to control plants. The invention also provides hitherto unknown YEP-encoding nucleic acids, and constructs comprising the same, useful in performing 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 yield-related traits in plants by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding an CRC-related (Crabs Claw) polypeptide. The present invention also concerns plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding such a CRC-related protein, which plants have enhanced yield-related relative to control plants. The invention also provides 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 improving various plant growth characteristics by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a GRP (Growth-Related Protein). The present invention also concerns plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding a GRP, which plants have improved growth characteristics relative to corresponding wild type plants or other control plants. The invention also provides constructs useful in the methods of the invention. The GRP may be one of the following: Extensin Receptor-Like Kinase (ERLK), F-Box WD40 (FBXW) polypeptide, RAN-Binding Protein (RANBP), Golden2-like Transcription Factor (GLK), REV delta homeodomain leucine zipper domain polypeptide, CLE protein, and Seed Yield Regulator (SYR) protein.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for increasing plant yield and/or increased stress resistance by decreasing the level of activity of a DEL1 polypeptide. One such method comprises introducing into a plant a nucleic acid comprising a variant DEL1 nucleic acid. Another method comprises downregulating expression of a DEL1 gene. The invention also relates to transgenic plants having introduced therein a variant DEL1 nucleic acid thereof, which plants have increased yield and/or increased stress resistance relative to control plants. The present invention also concerns a novel DEL1 protein and its encoding sequence, and constructs useful in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for improving the growth characteristics of plants by increasing expression of at least part of a Leucine Rich Repeat Receptor-Like Kinase (RKS11, RKS4 or an orthologue of these). One such method comprises introducing into a plant a nucleic acid encoding at least part of a Leucine Rich Repeat Receptor-Like Kinase (RKS11 or RKS4 or an orthologue thereof). The invention also relates to transgenic plants having introduced therein a nucleic acid or variant thereof encoding at least part of a Leucine Rich Repeat Receptor-Like Kinase (RKS11 or RKS4 or an orthologue thereof), which plants have improved growth characteristics relative to corresponding wild type plants. 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 increasing plant yield relative to suitable control plants plants. More specifically, the present invention concerns a method for increasing plant yield comprising increasing expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a Dof (DNA-binding with one finger) domain transcription factor polypeptide. The present invention also concerns plants having increased expression of a nucleic acid encoding a Dof domain transcription factor polypeptide, which plants have increased yield relative to suitable control plants. The invention also provides 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 the growth characteristics of plants by increasing activity in a plant of an RNA-binding protein or a homologue thereof, wherein said RNA-binding protein or homologue thereof is either: (i) a polypeptide having RNA-binding activity and comprising either 2 or 3 RNA 10 recognition motifs (RRMs) and a motif having at least 75% sequence identity to motif I: PIYEAAVVALPVVVKERLVRILRLGIATRYD and/or a motif having at least 50% sequence identity to motif II: RFDPFTGEPYKFDP; or (ii) an RBP1 polypeptide or homologue thereof having (a) RNA-binding activity; (b) two RRM domains, (c) the following two motifs: (i) KIFVGGL; and (ii) 15 RPRGFGF, allowing for up to three amino acid substitutions and any conservative change in the motifs; and (d) having at least 20% sequence identity to the amino acid represented by SEQ ID NO: 15.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for improving plant growth characteristics relative to corresponding wild type plants. More specifically, the present invention concerns a method for improving plant growth characteristics comprising modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a class I homeodomain leucine zipper (HDZip) hox5 polypeptide or a homologue thereof; or comprising modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a nitrate transporter protein (NRT) or a homologue thereof; or comprising modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide denoted Yield Enhancing Protein 16 (YEP16); or comprising modulating expression in a plant of a Group I glycogen synthase kinase (Group I shaggy-like kinase) or a homologue thereof.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for increasing plant yield in plants grown under non-stress conditions, by preferentially increasing activity in a plastid of an EFTu polypeptide or a homologue thereof. One such method comprises introducing into a plant an EFTu nucleic acid or variant thereof. The invention also relates to transgenic plants having introduced therein an EFTu nucleic acid or variant thereof, which plants have increased yield, particularly increased seed yield, relative to corresponding wild type plants. The present invention also concerns constructs useful in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for improving the growth characteristics of plants by increasing activity in a plant of a YIPPEE-like polypeptide or a homologue thereof. One such method comprises introducing into a plant a YIPPEE-like nucleic acid or variant thereof. The invention also relates to transgenic plants having introduced therein a YIPPEE-like nucleic acid or variant thereof, which plants have improved growth characteristics relative to corresponding wild type plants. The present invention also concerns constructs useful in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for improving plant growth by increasing activity of DP protein in shoot tissue. The invention also relates to transgenic plants having improved growth characteristics, which plants have increased expression of a DP nucleic acid specifically in shoot-tissue. The increased expression of the nucleic acid encoding a DP protein, according to the methods of the present invention, may be mediated by a shoot-tissue-specific promoter.