Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of identifying substances that modulate GA action through targeting its receptor or acting as a GA functional analog, sensor peptides especially designed for that methods as well as a strain of the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing such a sensor peptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to plants and the fields of agriculture and horticulture, with particular relevance to the area of plant improvement and plant breeding. More particularly, the invention concerns epigenetic variation in plants, and methods of capturing and stabilizing such variation in plants to be able to provide ranges of novel plant varieties and lines useful in plant improvement or in breeding programmes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of identifying substances that modulate GA action through targeting its receptor or acting as a GA functional analog, sensor peptides especially designed for that methods as well as a strain of the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing such a sensor peptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for genotyping DNA molecules contained in at least one DNA sample. The method includes: (a) digesting the DNA molecules contained in at least one DNA sample with a class IIB restriction endonuclease to generate DNA fragments; (b) optionally separating DNA fragments comprising the recognition site for the class IIB restriction endonuclease from the remaining DNA fragments; (c) attaching at least one adaptor DNA to the 5? and/or 3? end of one or both strands of the DNA fragments comprising the recognition site for the class IIB restriction endonuclease obtained in a) or separated in b) to form adaptor-fragment constructs; (d) determining the sequence of at least a fraction of the DNA fragments obtained in c); and (e) assigning genotypes to the at least one DNA sample analyzed based on the sequence data obtained in d).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for genotyping DNA molecules contained in at least one DNA sample comprising: (a) digesting the DNA molecules contained in at least one DNA sample with a class IIB restriction endonuclease to generate DNA fragments; (b) optionally separating DNA fragments comprising the recognition site for said class IIB restriction endonuclease from the remaining DNA fragments; (c) attaching at least one adaptor DNA to the 5? and/or 3? end of one or both strands of the DNA fragments comprising the recognition site for said class IIB restriction endonuclease obtained in a) or separated in b) to form adaptor-fragment constructs; (d) determining the sequence of at least a fraction of the DNA fragments obtained in c); and (e) assigning genotypes to said at least one DNA sample analysed based on the sequence data obtained in d).

Abstract: TZP proteins and method of their use for improving plant characteristics are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to means and methods for modifying biomass yield and/or plant growth and/or plant architecture of plants. In particular, it concerns transgenic plants exhibiting an increased biomass yield and plant growth rate compared to the corresponding wild-type plants. The plants according to the present invention are characterized by containing altered levels of a microRNA, in particular microRNA that targets members of the SPL family of genes encoding SPL transcription factors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gene, termed “FT” for flowering locus T, and a polypeptide encoded by FT that modulates flower development in plants. FT is useful in methods of the invention for producing genetically modified plants characterized as having the phenotypic trait of modulated flower development, for example early or delayed flowering. Such plants can be genetically modified by nucleic acids encoding functional FT peptides; at least one antisense nucleic acid for FT; a structural gene that encodes wild-type FT polypeptide; or a structural gene that encodes dominant negative polypeptides, for example, in order to modulate flowering in the plant.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides a purified polynucleotide, wherein the polynucleotide comprises a nucleic acid encoding a plant DFD kinase polypeptide, methods for using same, and transgenic plants containing the polynucleotide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a genetically modified plant and a method for producing such a plant characterized as having modulated flower meristem development. As an illustrative example, the invention provides genetically modified tobacco and aspen plants characterized as having early floral meristem development and comprising a structural gene encoding the LEAFY protein in its genome.

Abstract: The regulation of flowering time in plants is dependent upon the presence or absence of protein products of several flowering genes. Phosphatidylethanolamine-binding proteins are one such group of proteins involved in determining flowering time. Ectopic expression of members of this family may either confer early flowering or late flowering to the plant. A chimeric protein containing regions of a late-flowering member of the PEBP family combined with regions of an early flowering member of the PEBP family is disclosed here. A variety of gene segments from the PEBP-encoding genes may be swapped based on the degree of modulation of flowering time that is desired. Plants transformed with the genes encoding these chimeric proteins have a more carefully modulated flowering time.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for using enhanced expression of nucleotide sequences encoding a flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) and suitable homologs thereof, to elicit desired traits, study biochemical pathways, and oxidize xenobiotics in plants.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides a purified polynucleotide, wherein the polynucleotide comprises a nucleic acid encoding a plant DFD kinase polypeptide, methods for using same, and transgenic plants containing the polynucleotide.

Abstract: A novel, epidermal-specific regulatory sequence is provided which has been isolated from the 5′ end of a plant ML1 gene. This tissue-specific regulatory sequence, operably associated with a nucleic acid sequence expressing a product of interest, initiates and regulates the transcription of the nucleic acid sequence in the L1 layer of a plant epidermis in meristems and young primordia.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gene, termed “FT” for flowering locus T, and a polypeptide encoded by FT that modulates flower development in plants. FT is useful in methods of the invention for producing genetically modified plants characterized as having the phenotypic trait of modulated flower development, for example early or delayed flowering. Such plants can be genetically modified by nucleic acids encoding functional FT peptides; at least one antisense nucleic acid for FT; a structural gene that encodes wild-type FT polypeptide; or a structural gene that encodes dominant negative polypeptides, for example, in order to modulate flowering in the plant.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gene, termed “FT” for flowering locus T, and a polypeptide encoded by FT that modulates flower development in plants. FT is useful in methods of the invention for producing genetically modified plants characterized as having the phenotypic trait of modulated flower development, for example early or delayed flowering. Such plants can be genetically modified by nucleic acids encoding functional FT peptides; at least one antisense nucleic acid for FT; a structural gene that encodes wild-type FT polypeptide; or a structural gene that encodes dominant negative polypeptides, for example, in order to modulate flowering in the plant.

Abstract: A novel tissue-specific promoter is provided which has been isolated from the upstream non-coding region of a plant UFO gene. This promoter, operably associated with a nucleic acid sequence expressing a product of interest, initiates and regulates the transcription of such sequences in a shoot meristem-specific tissue.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gene, termed “FT” for flowering locus T, and a polypeptide encoded by FT that modulates flower development in plants. FT is useful in methods of the invention for producing genetically modified plants characterized as having the phenotypic trait of modulated flower development, for example early or delayed flowering. Such plants can be genetically modified by nucleic acids encoding functional FT peptides; at least one antisense nucleic acid for FT; a structural gene that encodes wild-type FT polypeptide; or a structural gene that encodes dominant negative polypeptides, for example, in order to modulate flowering in the plant.

Abstract: A novel tissue-specific promoter is provided which has been isolated from the upstream non-coding region of a plant UFO gene. This promoter, operably associated with a nucleic acid sequence expressing a product of interest, initiates and regulates the transcription of such sequences in a shoot meristem-specific tissue.

Abstract: The present invention provides a genetically modified plant and a method for producing such a plant characterized as having modulated flower meristem development. As an illustrative example, the invention provides genetically modified tobacco and aspen plants characterized as having early floral meristem development and comprising a structural gene encoding the LEAFY protein in its genome.