Abstract: Provided herein are plants having altered expression of an IRX10 or an IRX10-L protein. Such plants have phenotypes that may include decreased recalcitrance, increased growth, decreased lignin content, or a combination thereof. Also provided herein are methods of making and using such plants.

Abstract: Provided herein are plants having altered expression of a coding region encoding a hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein. In some embodiments the expression is decreased, and the resulting plant has decreased recalcitrance, increased growth, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments the expression is increased, and the resulting plant has decreased growth, biomass that is more cross-linked, biomass that is more dense, or a combination thereof. Also provided are methods for making and using such plants.

Abstract: The invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide GALAT1 having galacturonosyltransferase (GalAT) activity. The Arabidopsis GALAT1 sequence disclosed represents the first pectin biosynthetic glycosyltransferase gene isolated from plants. The invention further provides 14 GALAT and 10 GALAT-like gene superfamily members. The identification of the GALAT gene superfamily offers new opportunities to modulate pectin synthesis in vivo and in vitro by modulating the GALAT gene, for example, transgenic plants that produce modified pectins can be generated by altering the GALAT gene. Since modified pectins are predicted to affect plant growth, development, and plant defense responses, the transgenic plants are expected to have improved agricultural value. The modified pectins isolated from such transgenic plants are useful as gelling and stabilizing agents in the food, neutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries.

Abstract: The invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide having galacturonosyltransferase (GaIAT) activity. The GALA T 1 disclosed represents the first pectin biosynthetic glycosyltransferase gene isolated from plants. The invention further provides 14 GALAT and 10 GALAT-like gene superfamily members. The identification of the GALAT gene superfamily offers new opportunities to modulate pectin synthesisin vivo and in vitro by modulating the GALATgene, for example, transgenic plants that produce modified pectins can be generated by altering the GALAT gene. Since modified pectins are predicted to affect plant growth, development, and plant defense responses, the transgenic plants are expected to have improved agricultural value. The modified pectins isolated from such transgenic plants are useful as gelling and stabilizing agents in the food, neutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries.