Abstract: The present disclosure provides a transgenic plant, seed or progeny genetically engineered to overexpress one or more exogenous Oryza sativa acyl-CoA-binding protein 2 (OsACBP2) in an amount effective to enhance grain size and/or weight relative to a vector-transformed control plant. Also provided are methods of enhancing grain size and/or weight by genetically engineering a plant to overexpress one or more exogenous OsACBP2 in an amount effective to enhance grain size and/or weight relative to a vector-transformed control plant. In certain embodiments the plant belongs to the Poaceae family.

Abstract: OsACBP5 can be used to enhance tolerance to fungal necrotrophs in genetically modified plants. OsACBP5-overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis were conferred enhanced tolerance to fungal necrotrophs such as root-infecting necrotroph Rhizoctonia solani and shoot-infecting necrotrophs (Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria brassicicola). Vectors/expression cassettes for conferring tolerance to fungal necrotrophs to plants/plant material are provided. Methods of using OsACBP5 to enhance tolerance to fungal necrotrophs are provided. Plants and plant material with improved tolerance to fungal necrotrophs are also provided. Methods for screening for genes with OsACBP5-like activity are also provided.

Abstract: OsACBP5 can be used to enhance tolerance to fungal necrotrophs in genetically modified plants. OsACBP5-overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis were conferred enhanced tolerance to fungal necrotrophs such as root-infecting necrotroph Rhizoctonia solani and shoot-infecting necrotrophs (Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria brassicicola). Vectors/expression cassettes for conferring tolerance to fungal necrotrophs to plants/plant material are provided. Methods of using OsACBP5 to enhance tolerance to fungal necrotrophs are provided. Plants and plant material with improved tolerance to fungal necrotrophs are also provided. Methods for screening for genes with OsACBP5-like activity are also provided.

Abstract: Provided herein is a transgenic plant, seed, or progeny, genetically engineered to overexpress one or more exogenous 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 1 (HMGS1) in an amount effective to enhance growth and/or seed yield relative to a control plant. Also provided are methods of enhancing plant growth and/or seed yield by genetically engineering a plant to overexpress one or more exogenous HMGS1 in an amount effective to enhance growth and/or seed yield relative to a control plant. The plant belongs to the Solanaceae family, and the one or more exogenous HMGS1 comprise an amino acid sequence at least 77% identical to Brassica juncea HMGS1 as set forth in SEQ ID NO:6. Further provided are methods of screening for a functional variant of Brassica juncea HMGS1.

Abstract: ACBP2 can be used to enhance drought tolerance in genetically modified plants. ACBP2 was observed to be expressed in guard cells, and ACBP2-overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis were conferred enhanced drought tolerance. Vectors/expression cassettes for conferring drought tolerance to plants/plant material are provided. Methods of using ACBP2 to enhance drought tolerance of plants are provided. Plants and plant material with improved drought tolerance are also provided. Methods for screening for genes with ACBP2-like activity are also provided.

Abstract: ACBP6 can be used to enhance low temperature tolerance in genetically modified plants. An acbp6 T-DNA insertional mutant that lacked ACBP6 mRNA and protein, displayed increased sensitivity to freezing temperature (?8° C.), while ACBP6-overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis were conferred enhanced freezing tolerance. Methods of using ACBP6 to enhance low temperature tolerance of plants are provided.

Abstract: Methods of using genetically-transformed plants in the phytoremediation of lead are described. Unlike many organisms in which only 10-kDa ACBPs have been identified, there exists a family of six ACBPs in the model plant Arabidopsis. Other than a function in mediating the transfer of acyl-CoA esters in plant lipid metabolism, all six Arabidopsis ACBPs can bind the heavy metal lead and are therefore applicable for phytoremediation. These methods of phytoremediation will provide a cheap, simple and efficient method in the removal of contaminating lead from soil/water/environment by the growth of the ACBP-overexpressing genetically-transformed plants in the contaminated environment. There is also provided a method to remove lead from contaminated water.

Abstract: ACBP6 can be used to enhance low temperature tolerance in genetically modified plants. An acbp6 T-DNA insertional mutant that lacked ACBP6 mRNA and protein, displayed increased sensitivity to freezing temperature (?8° C.), while ACBP6-overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis were conferred enhanced freezing tolerance. Methods of using ACBP6 to enhance low temperature tolerance of plants are provided.

Abstract: Methods of using genetically-transformed plants in the phytoremediation of lead are described. Unlike many organisms in which only 10-kDa ACBPs have been identified, there exists a family of six ACBPs in the model plant Arabidopsis. Other than a function in mediating the transfer of acyl-CoA esters in plant lipid metabolism, all six Arabidopsis ACBPs can bind the heavy metal lead and are therefore applicable for phytoremediation. These methods of phytoremediation will provide a cheap, simple and efficient method in the removal of contaminating lead from soil/water/environment by the growth of the ACBP-overexpressing genetically-transformed plants in the contaminated environment. There is also provided a method to remove lead from contaminated water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to proteinase inhibitor II genes, SaPIN2a and SaPIN2b, their production in transformed plants, and isolation of SaPIN2a and SaPIN2b proteins from transformed plants of the invention. The invention further relates to use in inhibiting endogenous protease activities in transformed plants. In specific embodiments, the protease activities are trypsin-like and chymotrypsin-like activities. The invention relates to a method for protection of heterologous protein production in transformed plants by the co-expression of a proteinase inhibitor gene, e.g. SaPIN2a or SaPIN2b, which encodes a proteinase inhibitor protein, or a biologically active fragment, analog, and variant thereof, that inhibits protease activities. Specifically, the present invention also provides methods of inhibiting programmed cell death, including senescence, in plants. The invention further relates to methods to enhance resistance of plants to pests or pathogens, including insects.

Abstract: The present invention discloses genetically modified plants, such as potato plants. The plants are more resistant to a pathogen of interest following transformation of plant cells with a chimeric gene comprising a chitinase gene and ?-1,3-glucanase gene. The invention also provides a method of enhancing the resistance of plants to pathogens by introducing a Brassica chitinase gene encoding two or more chitin-binding domains and ?-1,3-glucanase gene and expressing the chitinase gene and ?-1,3-glucanase gene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to proteinase inhibitor II genes, SaPIN2a and SaPIN2b, their production in transformed plants, and isolation of SaPIN2a and SaPIN2b proteins from transformed plants of the invention. The invention further relates to use in inhibiting endogenous protease activities in transformed plants. In specific embodiments, the protease activities are trypsin-like and chymotrypsin-like activities. The invention relates to a method for protection of heterologous protein production in transformed plants by the co-expression of a proteinase inhibitor gene, e.g. SaPIN2a or SaPIN2b, which encodes a proteinase inhibitor protein, or a biologically active fragment, analog, and variant thereof, that inhibits protease activities. Specifically, the present invention also provides methods of inhibiting programmed cell death, including senescence, in plants. The invention further relates to methods to enhance resistance of plants to pests or pathogens, including insects.

Abstract: The present invention discloses genetically modified plants, such as potato plants. The plants are more resistant to a pathogen of interest following transformation of plant cells with a chimeric gene comprising a chitinase gene and &bgr;-1,3-glucanase gene. The invention also provides a method of enhancing the resistance of plants to pathogens by introducing a Brassica chitinase gene encoding two or more chitin-binding domains and &bgr;-1,3-glucanase gene and expressing the chitinase gene and &bgr;-1,3-glucanase gene.