Abstract: Methods of producing fragrant plants with improved crop performance wherein the fragrant plant has or retains at least some fragrance are provided. Typically, the methods include selecting for or conferring at least partial tolerance to one or more abiotic stress factors. The methods of the invention may be useful to confer at least partial tolerance to salt. The methods of the invention produce fragrant plants that exhibit an improvement in the ability to perform as a crop.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to plants and the starch produced by plants. In particular, the invention relates to processes for the modification of a plant so that the starch produced by the plant comprises amylopectin of an altered structure and/or the starch has an altered gelatinization temperature. The processes principally comprise engineering gene involved in amylopectin synthesis. In a preferred embodiment the starch synthase IIa gene is modified. Also disclosed are processes for altering genes to provide plant which produce starch having a desired gelatinization temperature, and methods of identifying the changes that can be made in genes to achieve a desired gelatinization temperature in the starch produced by a plant comprising such genes. Further disclosed are modified plants and the starch products of the plants.