Abstract: The present disclosure provides genetically modified plants, plant cells, or plant tissues wherein the plants, plant cells, or plant tissues comprise an exogenous nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a 30S ribosomal protein or a homolog thereof, wherein the 30S ribosomal protein or the homolog thereof is expressed in the plant, plant cell, or plant tissue. The current disclosure provides methods of improving drought tolerance and water loss in a plant, plant cell, or plant tissue, the methods comprising an exogenous nucleic acid sequence encoding a 30S ribosomal protein or a homolog thereof, wherein the 30S ribosomal protein or the homolog thereof is expressed in the plant, plant cell, or plant tissue.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods to genetically engineer plants by manipulating the expression of the Receptor-like Protein 33 (RLP33) to better suit and tolerate drought/water deficit environments. Also provided are genetically engineer plants that can be obtained by the methods according to the present disclosure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for increasing drought resistance, salt resistance, and biomass production of a plant. The methods encompass expression of DiGeorge-Syndrome Critical Region 14 (DGCR14) gene in the plant. In comparison to a plant not manipulated in this manner, the disclosed, genetically-modified, plants display improved drought resistance and salt resistance. Also provided are plants that can be obtained by the method according to the invention, and nucleic acid vectors to be used in the described methods.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to genetically modified plants, plant cells, or plant tissues wherein the genetic modification comprises expression of an exogenous nucleic acid comprising a ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit-related (PRL-1) gene or homolog thereof, in the plant, plant cell, or plant tissue; and wherein the expression of the exogenous nucleic acid comprising the PRL-1 gene or homolog thereof results in enhanced photosynthetic efficiency and/or plant biomass of the plant, plant cell, or plant tissue as compared to a wild-type plant, plant cell or plant tissue without the genetic modification. Another aspect of the current disclosure is directed to methods of enhancing photosynthetic efficiency and biomass yield in a plant, plant cell, or plant tissue, the methods comprising expressing an exogenous nucleic acid comprising a PRL-1 gene or homolog thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods to genetically engineer plants by manipulating the expression of the PtrXB38 polypeptide to increase root development. Also provided are genetically engineer plants that can be obtained by the methods according to the present disclosure.

Abstract: This disclosure provides genetically modified plants, plant cells and plant tissues that show modified lignin content and/or sugar release as compared to a wild type control plant which was not genetically modified. In addition, the disclosure provides methods of regulating lignin content and sugar release in a plant. The disclosure also provides methods of producing bioproducts using the genetically modified plants of the instant disclosure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides genetically modified plants, plant cells and plant tissues that show reduced lignin content as compared to a control plant which was not genetically modified. In addition, the disclosure provides methods of regulating lignin content in a plant. The disclosure also provides methods of producing bioproducts using the genetically modified plants of the instant disclosure.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods of improving callus formation in plants. This disclosure further provides genetically engineered plants with improved callus formation.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for increasing drought resistance and heat resistance of a plant. The methods encompass expression of at least one heat shock protein (HSP) from the group consisting of HSP40, HSP60 or HSP70 together with a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) comprising an aspartic acid (D) at a position that corresponds to the position 509 of SEQ ID NO: 4, in the plant. In comparison to a plant not manipulated in this manner, the disclosed, genetically-modified, plants display improved drought resistance and heat resistance. Also provided are plants that can be obtained by the method according to the invention, and nucleic acid vectors to be used in the described methods.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods of improving mycorrhization in a plant or plant cell. Another aspect of this disclosure is directed to a genetically modified plant or plant cell with improved mycorrhization.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for increasing drought resistance, salt resistance, and biomass production of a plant. The methods encompass expression of DiGeorge-Syndrome Critical Region 14 (DGCR14) gene in the plant. In comparison to a plant not manipulated in this manner, the disclosed, genetically-modified, plants display improved drought resistance and salt resistance. Also provided are plants that can be obtained by the method according to the invention, and nucleic acid vectors to be used in the described methods.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides genetically modified plants, plant cells and plant tissues that show reduced lignin content as compared to a control plant which was not genetically modified. In addition, the disclosure provides methods of regulating lignin content in a plant. The disclosure also provides methods of producing bioproducts using the genetically modified plants of the instant disclosure.

Abstract: This disclosure provides genetically modified plants, plant cells and plant tissues that show modified lignin content and/or sugar release as compared to a wild type control plant which was not genetically modified. In addition, the disclosure provides methods of regulating lignin content and sugar release in a plant. The disclosure also provides methods of producing bioproducts using the genetically modified plants of the instant disclosure.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods of improving callus formation in plants. This disclosure further provides genetically engineered plants with improved callus formation.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods of improving mycorrhization in a plant or plant cell. Another aspect of this disclosure is directed to a genetically modified plant or plant cell with improved mycorrhization.

Abstract: This disclosure provides genetically modified plants having desirable levels of sugar release and syringyl/guaiacyl (S/G) ratio; methods of genetically modifying plants to modulate sugar release and S/G ratio; and uses of such plants. The inventors have determined that genetic modification of a laccase gene (LAC2) from Populus, encoded by locus Potri.008G064000 resulted in transgenic Populus trees with changes in syringyl/guaiacyl ratios as well as altered sugar release phenotypes. Plants with altered sugar release, and S/G ratio, based on modulation of the expression or activity of the LAC2 gene, have divergent uses including pulp and paper production, and biofuel and bioproducts production.

Abstract: This disclosure provides genetically modified plants having desirable levels of sugar release, cellulose content and reduction of recalcitrance; methods of genetically modifying plants to modulate sugar release, cellulose and lignin contents; and uses of such plants. The inventors have determined that genetic modification of PdDUF266A from Populus, encoded by locus Potri.011G009500 resulted in transgenic Populus trees with changes in lignin and cellulose content as well as altered sugar release phenotypes. Plants with altered sugar release, cellulose and lignin content, based on modulation of the expression or activity of the PdDUF266A gene, have diverse uses including pulp and paper production, and biofuel and bioproducts production.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for increasing drought resistance and heat resistance of a plant. The methods encompass expression of at least one heat shock protein (HSP) from the group consisting of HSP40, HSP60 or HSP70 together with a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) comprising an aspartic acid (D) at a position that corresponds to the position 509 of SEQ ID NO: 4, in the plant. In comparison to a plant not manipulated in this manner, the disclosed, genetically-modified, plants display improved drought resistance and heat resistance. Also provided are plants that can be obtained by the method according to the invention, and nucleic acid vectors to be used in the described methods.

Abstract: This disclosure provides genetically modified plants having desirable levels of sugar release, cellulose content and reduction of recalcitrance; methods of genetically modifying plants to modulate sugar release, cellulose and lignin contents; and uses of such plants. The inventors have determined that genetic modification of PdDUF266A from Populus, encoded by locus Potri.011G009500 resulted in transgenic Populus trees with changes in lignin and cellulose content as well as altered sugar release phenotypes. Plants with altered sugar release, cellulose and lignin content, based on modulation of the expression or activity of the PdDUF266A gene, have diverse uses including pulp and paper production, and biofuel and bioproducts production.

Abstract: This disclosure provides genetically modified plants having desirable levels of sugar release and syringyl/guaiacyl (S/G) ratio; methods of genetically modifying plants to modulate sugar release and S/G ratio; and uses of such plants. The inventors have determined that genetic modification of a laccase gene (LAC2) from Populus, encoded by locus Potri.008G064000 resulted in transgenic Populus trees with changes in syringyl/guaiacyl ratios as well as altered sugar release phenotypes. Plants with altered sugar release, and S/G ratio, based on modulation of the expression or activity of the LAC2 gene, have divergent uses including pulp and paper production, and biofuel and bioproducts production.