Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for the introduction and the regulated expression of genes in plants. Compositions include promoter constructs that provide a level of activity useful for the regulated expression of site-specific recombinases, while avoiding premature excision. Further provided are isolated polynucleotides encoding novel babyboom polypeptides, expression cassettes, and plants comprising the same. Methods for the introduction of genes into plants are provided, including methods for plastid transformation and methods for the transformation of tissues from mature seeds and leaves.

Abstract: The disclosure pertains to methods and compositions for the rapid and efficient transformation of plants. The disclosure further provides methods for producing a transgenic plant, comprising (a) transforming a cell of an explant with an expression construct comprising (i) a nucleotide sequence encoding a WUS/WOX homeobox polypeptide; (ii) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising two AP2-DNA binding domains; or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii); and (b) allowing expression of the polypeptide of (a) in each transformed cell to form a regenerable plant structure in the absence of exogenous cytokinin, wherein no callus is formed; and (c) germinating the regenerable plant structure to form the transgenic plant. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: Plant cell fate and development is altered by treating cells with cellular reprogramming factors. Embryogenesis inducing morphogenic developmental genes are used as cellular reprogramming factors, specifically comprising polypeptides or polynucleotides encoding gene products for generating doubled haploids or haploid plants from gametes. Maize microspores treated by contacting the isolated cells with an exogenous purified, recombinant embryogenesis inducing morphogenic developmental gene polypeptide results in embryogenesis. The gametes of a maize plant develop into embryoids when transformed with a genetic construct including regulatory elements and structural genes capable of acting in a cascading fashion to alter cellular fate of plant cells. Developmental morphogenic proteins expressed from a genetic construct are used for ex situ treatment methods and for in planta cellular reprogramming.

Abstract: The methods disclosed herein provide for clonal plant production using a morphogenic gene to produce non-transgenic and transgenic plants wherein the morphogenic gene does not integrate into the genome of the plant.

Abstract: Plant cell fate and development is altered by treating cells with cellular reprogramming factors. Embryogenesis inducing morphogenic developmental genes are used as cellular reprogramming factors, specifically comprising polypeptides or polynucleotides encoding gene products for generating doubled haploids or haploid plants from gametes. Maize microspores treated by contacting the isolated cells with an exogenous purified, recombinant embryogenesis inducing morphogenic developmental gene polypeptide results in embryogenesis. The gametes of a maize plant develop into embryoids when transformed with a genetic construct including regulatory elements and structural genes capable of acting in a cascading fashion to alter cellular fate of plant cells. Developmental morphogenic proteins expressed from a genetic construct are used for ex situ treatment methods and for in planta cellular reprogramming.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant are provided. Compositions include nucleotide sequences for regulatory regions. Phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) promoters from maize are provided. Also provided is a method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using a promoter sequence, such as a maize PLTP promoter, disclosed herein. DNA constructs comprising a promoter operably linked to a heterologous nucleotide sequence of interest are also provided.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for the introduction and the regulated expression of genes in plants. Compositions include promoter constructs that provide a level of activity useful for the regulated expression of site-specific recombinases, while avoiding premature excision. Further provided are isolated polynucleotides encoding novel babyboom polypeptides, expression cassettes, and plants comprising the same. Methods for the introduction of genes into plants are provided, including methods for plastid transformation and methods for the transformation of tissues from mature seeds and leaves.

Abstract: The methods disclosed herein use a morphogenic gene or a repressor gene to provide a transgenic plant containing a single copy of a transgenic event wherein the morphogenic gene or the repressor gene does not integrate into the genome of the plant and the plant does not contain vector (plasmid) backbone.

Abstract: A variety of methods and compostions are provided, including methods and compositions for targeted modification of a specific target site in a cell or organism, methods for integrating polynucleotides of interest, methods to assess promoter activity, directly select transformed organisms, minimize or eliminate expression resulting from random integration into the genome of an organism, such as a plant, remove polynucleotides of interest, combine multiple transfer cassettes, invert or excise a polynucleotide, silence a gene, and identify and/or characterize transcriptional regulating regions. The methods involve the introduction of a cell proliferation factor and a double-strand break-inducing enzyme into an organism.

Abstract: A variety of methods and compositions are provided, including methods and compositions for targeted modification of a specific target site in a cell or organism, methods for integrating polynucleotides of interest, methods to assess promoter activity, directly select transformed organisms, minimize or eliminate expression resulting from random integration into the genome of an organism, such as a plant, remove polynucleotides of interest, combine multiple transfer cassettes, invert or excise a polynucleotide, silence a gene, and identify and/or characterize transcriptional regulating regions. The methods involve the introduction of a cell proliferation factor and a double-strand break-inducing enzyme into an organism.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating plant development are provided. Nucleotide sequences and amino acid sequences encoding Ovule Development Protein 2 (ODP2) proteins are provided. The sequences can be used in a variety of methods including modulating development, developmental pathways, altering oil content in a plant, increasing transformation efficiencies, modulating stress tolerance, and modulating the regenerative capacity of a plant. Transformed plants, plant cells, tissues, and seed are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating plant development are provided. Nucleotide sequences and amino acid sequences encoding Ovule Development Protein 2 (ODP2) proteins are provided. The sequences can be used in a variety of methods including modulating development, developmental pathways, altering oil content in a plant, increasing transformation efficiencies, modulating stress tolerance, and modulating the regenerative capacity of a plant. Transformed plants, plant cells, tissues, and seed are also provided.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant are provided. Compositions include nucleotide sequences for regulatory regions. Phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) promoters are provided. Also provided is a method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using a promoter sequence, such as a PLTP promoter, disclosed herein. DNA constructs comprising a promoter operably linked to a heterologous nucleotide sequence of interest are also provided.

Abstract: A variety of methods and compositions are provided, including methods and compositions for targeted modification of a specific target site in a cell or organism, methods for integrating polynucleotides of interest, methods to assess promoter activity, directly select transformed organisms, minimize or eliminate expression resulting from random integration into the genome of an organism, such as a plant, remove polynucleotides of interest, combine multiple transfer cassettes, invert or excise a polynucleotide, silence a gene, and identify and/or characterize transcriptional regulating regions. The methods involve the introduction of a cell proliferation factor and a double-strand break-inducing enzyme into an organism.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for the introduction and the regulated expression of genes in plants. Compositions include promoter constructs that provide a level of activity useful for the regulated expression of site-specific recombinases, while avoiding premature excision. Further provided are isolated polynucleotides encoding novel babyboom polypeptides, expression cassettes, and plants comprising the same. Methods for the introduction of genes into plants are provided, including methods for plastid transformation and methods for the transformation of tissues from mature seeds and leaves.

Abstract: The disclosure pertains to methods and compositions for the rapid and efficient transformation of plants. The disclosure further provides methods for producing a transgenic plant, comprising (a) transforming a cell of an explant with an expression construct comprising (i) a nucleotide sequence encoding a WUS/WOX homeobox polypeptide; (ii) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising two AP2-DNA binding domains; or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii); and (b) allowing expression of the polypeptide of (a) in each transformed cell to form a regenerable plant structure in the absence of exogenous cytokinin, wherein no callus is formed; and (c) germinating the regenerable plant structure to form the transgenic plant. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: Methods of making a targeted modification in a male fertility gene in the genome of a plant are disclosed. The methods involve contacting a plant cell with an engineered double-strand-break-inducing agent capable of inducing a double-strand break in a target sequence in the male fertility gene and identifying a cell comprising an alteration in the target sequence. Also disclosed are plants, plant cells, plant parts, and seeds comprising a male fertility gene with an alteration in a male fertility gene. Nucleic acid molecules comprising male fertility genes with at least one targeted modification therein, optimized nucleic acid molecules encoding endonucleases that are engineered double-strand-break-inducing agents and expression cassettes, host cells, and plants comprising one or more of the nucleic acid molecules are further disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating plant development are provided. Nucleotide sequences and amino acid sequences encoding Ovule Development Protein 2 (ODP2) proteins are provided. The sequences can be used in a variety of methods including modulating development, developmental pathways, altering oil content in a plant, increasing transformation efficiencies, modulating stress tolerance, and modulating the regenerative capacity of a plant. Transformed plants, plant cells, tissues, and seed are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating plant development are provided. Nucleotide sequences and amino acid sequences encoding Ovule Development Protein 2 (ODP2) proteins are provided. The sequences can be used in a variety of methods including modulating development, developmental pathways, altering oil content in a plant, increasing transformation efficiencies, modulating stress tolerance, and modulating the regenerative capacity of a plant. Transformed plants, plant cells, tissues, and seed are also provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to isolated polynucleotides encoding WUS polypeptides. The invention further provides isolated WUS polypeptides. The invention also provides methods of using the polynucleotides to modulate the level of WUS, improve transformation efficiency, to stimulate plant cell growth, including stem cells, to stimulate organogenesis, to stimulate somatic embryogenesis, to induce apomixis, and to provide a positive selection for cells comprising the polynucleotide. The invention also relates to cells, plants and seeds comprising the polynucleotides of the invention or produced by the methods of the invention.