Abstract: The present invention provides plants that exhibit modulated reproductive development and methods of modulating the timing of reproductive development in plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of enhancing lignin biosynthesis in plants. The invention provides, for example, a method of enhancing lignification in a vascular plant by ectopically expressing a nucleic acid molecule encoding an AGL1-like gene product, or an AGL1-like gene product and an AGL5-like gene product in the plant.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of selectively controlling lignin biosynthesis in plants such that lignification is reduced or enhanced, as desired. The invention provides, for example, a method of reducing lignification in a vascular plant by ectopically expressing a nucleic acid molecule encoding an AGL8-like gene product in the plant, whereby lignification is reduced due to ectopic expression of the nucleic acid molecule. An AGL8-like gene product useful in the invention can have, for example, substantially the amino acid sequence of an AGL8 ortholog such as Arabidopsis AGL8 (SEQ ID NO:2).

Abstract: A method for decreasing the rate of organ or floral abscission is described. The method includes modifying the ARF GAP domain of a gene. In one instance the gene is the NEVERSHED gene.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-naturally occurring seed plant that is characterized by producing seeds of increased size due to ectopic expression of a nucleic acid molecule encoding an AGL8-related gene product. The AGL8-related gene product can have, for example, substantially the amino acid sequence of an AGL8 ortholog such as Arabidopsis AGL8 (SEQ ID NO:2). The present invention further provides a non-naturally occurring seed plant that is characterized by producing fruit of increased size due to ectopic expression of a nucleic acid molecule encoding an AGL8-family gene product. The AGL8-family gene product can have substantially the amino acid sequence of an AGL8 ortholog, for example, the amino acid sequence of Arabidopsis AGL8 (SEQ ID NO:2). Related methods and kits also are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of selectively controlling lignin biosynthesis in plants such that lignification is reduced or enhanced, as desired. The invention provides, for example, a method of reducing lignification in a vascular plant by ectopically expressing a nucleic acid molecule encoding an AGL8-like gene product in the plant, whereby lignification is reduced due to ectopic expression of the nucleic acid molecule. An AGL8-like gene product useful in the invention can have, for example, substantially the amino acid sequence of an AGL8 ortholog such as Arabidopsis AGL8 (SEQ ID NO:2).

Abstract: The present invention provides plants that exhibit modulated reproductive development and methods of modulating the timing of reproductive development in plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of selectively controlling lignin biosynthesis in plants such that lignification is reduced or enhanced, as desired. The invention provides, for example, a method of reducing lignification in a vascular plant by ectopically expressing a nucleic acid molecule encoding an AGL8-like gene product in the plant, whereby lignification is reduced due to ectopic expression of the nucleic acid molecule. An AGL8-like gene product useful in the invention can have, for example, substantially the amino acid sequence of an AGL8 ortholog such as Arabidopsis AGL8 (SEQ ID NO:2).

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of selectively controlling lignin biosynthesis in plants such that lignification is reduced or enhanced, as desired. The invention provides, for example, a method of reducing lignification in a vascular plant by ectopically expressing a nucleic acid molecule encoding an AGL8-like gene product in the plant, whereby lignification is reduced due to ectopic expression of the nucleic acid molecule. An AGL8-like gene product useful in the invention can have, for example, substantially the amino acid sequence of an AGL8 ortholog such as Arabidopsis AGL8 (SEQ ID NO:2).

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of selectively controlling lignin biosynthesis in plants such that lignification is reduced or enhanced, as desired. The invention provides, for example, a method of reducing lignification in a vascular plant by ectopically expressing a nucleic acid molecule encoding an AGL8-like gene product in the plant, whereby lignification is reduced due to ectopic expression of the nucleic acid molecule. An AGL8-like gene product useful in the invention can have, for example, substantially the amino acid sequence of an AGL8 ortholog such as Arabidopsis AGL8 (SEQ ID NO:2).

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of selectively controlling lignin biosynthesis in plants such that lignification is reduced or enhanced, as desired. The invention provides, for example, a method of reducing lignification in a vascular plant by ectopically expressing a nucleic acid molecule encoding an AGL8-like gene product in the plant, whereby lignification is reduced due to ectopic expression of the nucleic acid molecule. An AGL8-like gene product useful in the invention can have, for example, substantially the amino acid sequence of an AGL8 ortholog such as Arabidopsis AGL8 (SEQ ID NO:2).

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of selectively controlling lignin biosynthesis in plants such that lignification is reduced or enhanced, as desired. The invention provides, for example, a method of reducing lignification in a vascular plant by ectopically expressing a nucleic acid molecule encoding an AGL8-like gene product in the plant, whereby lignification is reduced due to ectopic expression of the nucleic acid molecule. An AGL8-like gene product useful in the invention can have, for example, substantially the amino acid sequence of an AGL8 ortholog such as Arabidopsis AGL8 (SEQ ID NO:2).

Abstract: The present invention provides a recombinant nucleic acid molecule containing an inducible regulatory element operably linked to a nucleic acid molecule encoding a floral meristem identity gene product such as APETALA1 (AP1), CAULIFLOWER (CAL) or LEAFY (LFY). The invention also provides a transgenic seed plant, such as an angiosperm or gymnosperm, that contains a recombinant nucleic acid molecule of the invention. The invention further provides methods, such as methods of converting shoot meristem to floral meristem in a transgenic angiosperm and methods of promoting early reproductive development in a seed plant, which use a recombinant nucleic acid molecule of the invention. In addition, the invention provides a nucleic acid molecule encoding a chimeric protein, which contains a nucleic acid molecule encoding a floral meristem identity gene product linked in frame to a nucleic acid molecule encoding a ligand binding domain.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-naturally occurring seed plant that is characterized by delayed seed dispersal due to ectopic expression of a nucleic acid molecule encoding an AGL8-like gene product. Further provided herein is a non-naturally occurring seed plant, such as an agl1 agl5 double mutant, that is characterized by delayed seed dispersal due to suppression of AGL1 and AGL5 expression in the seed plant. The invention also provides a substantially purified dehiscence zone-selective regulatory element, which includes a nucleotide sequence that confers selective expression upon an operatively linked nucleic acid molecule in the valve margin or dehiscence zone of a seed plant. Also provided by the invention are kits for producing a transgenic seed plant characterized by delayed seed dispersal, such kits containing a dehiscence zone-selective regulatory element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-naturally occurring seed plant that is characterized by producing seeds of increased size due to ectopic expression of a nucleic acid molecule encoding an AGL8-related gene product. The AGL8-related gene product can have, for example, substantially the amino acid sequence of an AGL8 ortholog such as Arabidopsis AGL8 (SEQ ID NO:2). The present invention further provides a non-naturally occurring seed plant that is characterized by producing fruit of increased size due to ectopic expression of a nucleic acid molecule encoding an AGL8-family gene product. The AGL8-family gene product can have substantially the amino acid sequence of an AGL8 ortholog, for example, the amino acid sequence of Arabidopsis AGL8 (SEQ ID NO:2). Related methods and kits also are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-naturally occurring seed plant that is characterized by delayed seed dispersal due to ectopic expression of a nucleic acid molecule encoding an AGL8-like gene product. Further provided herein is a non-naturally occurring seed plant, such as an agl1 agl5 double mutant, that is characterized by delayed seed dispersal due to suppression of AGL1 and AGL5 expression in the seed plant. The invention also provides a substantially purified dehiscence zone-selective regulatory element, which includes a nucleotide sequence that confers selective expression upon an operatively linked nucleic acid molecule in the valve margin or dehiscence zone of a seed plant. Also provided by the invention are kits for producing a transgenic seed plant characterized by delayed seed dispersal, such kits containing a dehiscence zone-selective regulatory element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nucleic acid molecule encoding a CAULIFLOWER (CAL) gene product such as a nucleic acid molecule encoding Arabidopsis thaliana CAL and a nucleic acid molecule encoding Brassica oleracea CAL (BoCAL). The invention also provides a nucleic acid molecule encoding a truncated CAL gene product such as a nucleic acid molecule encoding Brassica oleracea var. botrytis CAL (BobCAL). The invention also provides a nucleic acid containing the Arabidopsis thaliana CAL gene, a nucleic acid molecule containing the Brassica oleracea CAL gene and a nucleic acid molecule containing the Brassica oleracea var. botrytis CAL gene. The invention further provides a kit for converting shoot meristem to floral meristem and a kit for promoting early flowering in an angiosperm. The invention provides a CAL polypeptide and an antibody that specifically binds CAL polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substantially purified nucleic acid molecule encoding a Brassica oleracea APETALA1 (AP1) gene product, Brassica oleracea var. botrytis AP1 gene product or a Zea mays AP1 gene product. The invention also provides a substantially purified Brassica oleracea AP1 gene product, a substantially purified Brassica oleracea var. botrytis AP1 gene product or a substantially purified Zea mays AP1 gene product in addition to an antibody that specifically binds such an AP1 gene product. In addtion, the invention provides an expression vector containing a nucleic acid molecule encoding a floral meristem identity gene product operably linked to a heterologous regulatory element. Kits for converting shoot meristem to floral meristem in an angiosperm and kits for promoting early reproductive development in a seed plant also are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-naturally occurring seed plant such as a transgenic angiosperm or gymnosperm that contains an ectopically expressible nucleic acid molecule encoding a floral meristem identity gene product. The invention further provides a method of converting shoot meristem to floral meristem in an angiosperm by ectopically expressing a floral meristem identity gene product in the angiosperm. In addition, the invention provides a method of promoting early reproductive development in a seed plant by ectopically expressing a floral meristem identity gene product in the seed plant.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recombinant nucleic acid molecule containing an inducible regulatory element operably linked to a nucleic acid molecule encoding a floral meristem identity gene product such as APETALA1 (AP1), CAULIFLOWER (CAL) or LEAFY (LFY). The invention also provides a transgenic seed plant, such as an angiosperm or gymnosperm, that contains a recombinant nucleic acid molecule of the invention. The invention further provides methods, such as methods of converting shoot meristem to floral meristem in a transgenic angiosperm and methods of promoting early reproductive development in a seed plant, which use a recombinant nucleic acid molecule of the invention. In addition, the invention provides a nucleic acid molecule encoding a chimeric protein, which contains a nucleic acid molecule encoding a floral meristem identity gene product linked in frame to a nucleic acid molecule encoding a ligand binding domain.