Abstract: The present invention provides a method for modulating non-root plant growth of a plant employing plant regulatory peptides, nucleotides encoding same, receptors therefor, binding agents thereof or agonists or antagonists thereof. Such methods encompass methods for increasing shoot growth or accelerating shoot development of plants, whereby said plants: yield a greater amount of above-ground plant matter than an untreated or wild-type plant grown under the same conditions; grows faster than an untreated or wild-type plant grown under tire same conditions; develops faster than an untreated or wild-type plant grown under the same conditions. The methods find particular application, wherein the conditions comprise stress conditions, and in particular abiotic stress conditions, which may be selected from increased salinity, drought, nitrogen limitation and pH stress.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for modulating or inhibiting modulation of the root architecture of a plant employing a new class of root architecture regulator (RAR) peptides, nucleotides encoding same, receptors therefor, binding agents thereof or agonists or antagonists thereof. Such methods encompass methods for increasing nutrient uptake by plants, increasing root nodule formation, promoting lateral root growth and development of plants, as well as methods for inhibiting root architecture modification resulting from root knot nematode action on plant roots. Also provided are RAR peptides, polynucleotides encoding RAR peptides and vectors and host cells comprising same, and plants obtained by methods of the invention or comprising RAR-encoding trans genes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for modulating non-root plant growth of a plant employing plant regulatory peptides, nucleotides encoding same, receptors therefor, binding agents thereof or agonists or antagonists thereof. Such methods encompass methods for increasing shoot growth or accelerating shoot development of plants, whereby said plants: yield a greater amount of above-ground plant matter than an untreated or wild-type plant grown under the same conditions; grows faster than an untreated or wild-type plant grown under tire same conditions; develops faster than an untreated or wild-type plant grown under the same conditions. The methods find particular application wherein the conditions comprise stress conditions, and in particular abiotic stress conditions, which may be selected from increased salinity, drought, nitrogen limitation and pH stress.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for modulating or inhibiting modulation of the root architecture of a plant employing a new class of root architecture regulator (RAR) peptides, nucleotides encoding same, receptors therefor, binding agents thereof or agonists or antagonists thereof. Such methods encompass methods for increasing nutrient uptake by plants, increasing root nodule formation, promoting lateral root growth and development of plants, as well as methods for inhibiting root architecture modification resulting from root knot nematode action on plant roots. Also provided are RAR peptides, polynucleotides encoding RAR peptides and vectors and host cells comprising same, and plants obtained by methods of the invention or comprising RAR-encoding transgenes.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of Nod factors and derivatives thereof for the modulation of blood vessel growth and development as well as compositions for modulating angiogenesis.

Abstract: The invention includes a consensus nucleotide sequence found in the promoter regions of those Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium nodulation genes which are activated by chemical inducer(s) in legume exudate. A promoter comprising the consensus sequence is a legume exudate-inducible promoter. A recombinant gene comprising a structural gene and a legume exudate-inducible promoter is selectively expressed in the presence of legume exudate or chemical inducer(s) and a functional nodD gene. The consensus nucleotide sequence isATCCAYNNYGYRGATGNWYKYKATCSAAWCAATCRATTTTACCARWYYKNSRR whereN is A, G, C or TY is C or TR is A or GW is A or TK is G or T andS is C or G.

Abstract: Nodulation gene-inducing factors have been isolated and identified. A number of substituted flavones, some of which are components of exudates and extracts of leguminous plants, have been found to induce expression of certain nodulation genes in Rhizobium strains. Three components of clover extract 7,4'-dihydroxyflavone, 7,4'-dihydroxy-3'methoxyflavone, and 4'-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavone have been identified as nodulation inducers of certain Rhizobium trifolii nod genes. A number of other flavonoids including flavones, flavanones, flavanols and dihydroflavanols, not necessarily found in legume exudates, were also found to induce expression of certain nodulation genes.