Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating plant development are provided. Polynucleotide sequences and amino acid sequences encoding cytokinin oxidase polypeptides are provided. The sequences can be used in a variety of methods including modulating root development, modulating floral development, modulating leaf and/or shoot development, modulating seed size and/or weight, modulating tolerance under abiotic stress, and modulating resistance to pathogens. Polynucleotides comprising CKX promoters are also provided. The promoters can be used to regulate expression of a sequence of interest. Transformed plants, plant cells, tissues, and seed are also provided.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to the field of plant molecular biology. More specifically, this invention relates to methods and reagents for the temporally- and/or spatially-regulated expression of genes that affect metabolically effective levels of cytokinins in plants, particularly in plant seeds and related female reproductive tissue. This invention further relates to transgenic plants having enhanced levels of cytokinin expression wherein the transgenic plant exhibits useful characteristics, such as improved seed size, decreased tip kernel abortion, increased seed set during unfavorable environmental conditions, or stability of yield. The present invention also provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions comprise novel nucleotide sequences for seed-preferred promoters known as eep1 and eep2. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions comprise a novel nucleic acid sequence for a promoter which is induced by abiotic stress and the coding sequence natively associated with said promoter sequence. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using said promoter sequence is also provided. The methods comprise transforming a plant cell to contain a heterologous nucleotide sequence operably linked to the promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant from said transformed plant cell.

Abstract: The invention discloses a novel heat shock protein with high homology to chloroplast elongation factor EF-Tu. Also disclosed is a transgenic method for enhancing tolerance to heat and drought in female reproductive organs. It involves the temporal and spatial expression of novel heat shock EF-Tu in a plant organ or plant tissue. The invention also includes expression constructs, and methods for the production of crop plants with heritable phenotypes which are useful in breeding programs designed to increase heat and drought tolerance.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions comprise a novel nucleic acid sequence for a promoter which is induced by abiotic stress and the coding sequence natively associated with said promoter sequence. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using said promoter sequence is also provided. The methods comprise transforming a plant cell to contain a heterologous nucleotide sequence operably linked to the promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant from said transformed plant cell.

Abstract: The invention discloses a transgenic method for enhancing sink strength in female reproductive organs. It involves the expression of nucleic acids encoding acid invertase or ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase floral tissue. The invention also includes expression constructs used in the method.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acids encoding cis-zeatin O-glucosyltransferase are disclosed. These nucleic acid molecules are useful, among other things, to produce transgenic plants having modified cis-zeatin O-glucosyltransferase activity and/or modified growth and developmental patterns.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to the field of plant molecular biology. More specifically, this invention relates to methods and reagents for the temporal and/or spatial expression of genes that affect metabolically effective levels of cytokinins in plant seeds and related maternal tissue. This invention further relates to transgenic plants having enhanced levels of cytokinin expression wherein the transgenic plant exhibits useful characteristics, including: improved seed size, decreased tip kernel abortion, increased seed set during unfavorable environmental conditions, and stability of yield.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to the field of plant molecular biology. More specifically, this invention relates to methods and reagents for the temporally- and/or spatially-regulated expression of genes that affect metabolically effective levels of cytokinins in plants, particularly in plant seeds and related female reproductive tissue. This invention further relates to transgenic plants having enhanced levels of cytokinin expression wherein the transgenic plant exhibits useful characteristics, such as improved seed size, decreased tip kernel abortion, increased seed set during unfavorable environmental conditions, or stability of yield. The present invention also provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions comprise novel nucleotide sequences for seed-preferred promoters known as eep1 and eep2. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions comprise a novel nucleic acid sequence for a promoter which is induced by abiotic stress and the coding sequence natively associated with said promoter sequence. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using said promoter sequence is also provided. The methods comprise transforming a plant cell to contain a heterologous nucleotide sequence operably linked to the promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant from said transformed plant cell.

Abstract: The invention discloses a transgenic method for enhancing sink strength in female reproductive organs. It involves the temporal and spatial expression of genes affecting the starch and sucrose metabolic pathways in a plant organ or plant tissue. The invention also includes expression constructs, and methods for the production of crop plants with heritable phenotypes which are useful in breeding programs designed to increase yield potential over a range of environmental conditions.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acids encoding cis-zeatin O-glucosyltransferase are disclosed. These nucleic acid molecules are useful, among other things, to produce transgenic plants having modifiedcis-zeatin O-glucosyltransferase activity and/or modified growth and developmental patterns.

Abstract: The invention discloses a novel heat shock protein with high homology to chloroplast elongation factor EF-Tu. Also disclosed is a transgenic method for enhancing tolerance to heat and drought in female reproductive organs. It involves the temporal and spatial expression of novel heat shock EF-Tu in a plant organ or plant tissue. The invention also includes expression constructs, and methods for the production of crop plants with heritable phenotypes which are useful in breeding programs designed to increase heat and drought tolerance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and method for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. The composition is a novel nucleic acid sequence for a seed-preferred promoter. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequence is also provided. The method comprises transforming a plant cell to contain a heterologous nucleotide sequence operably linked to the seed-preferred promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant from the transformed plant cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and method for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. The composition is a novel nucleic acid sequence for a seed-preferred promoter. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequence is also provided. The method comprises transforming a plant cell to contain a heterologous nucleotide sequence operably linked to the seed-preferred promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant from the transformed plant cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and method for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. The composition is a novel nucleic acid sequence for a seed-preferred promoter. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequence is also provided. The method comprises transforming a plant cell to contain a heterologous nucleotide sequence operably linked to the seed-preferred promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant from the transformed plant cell.

Abstract: Seed lysine is detected by an immunoassay in which anti-EF antibody binds seed protein. Seed EF concentration is highly correlated with seed lysine content.