Abstract: A method for the preparation of a eukaryotic organism, for example selected from plants, animals and fungi, showing constitutive, inducible and/or organ specific expression of a specifically modified TPS gene, which comprises the steps of providing a TPS gene; designing a suitable modification to the TPS gene by aligning the gene with the corresponding gene of yeast and establishing which part of the gene extends beyond the 5? terminus of the yeast gene; deleting or inactivating a part of the N-terminal region of the TPS gene extending beyond the 5? terminus of the yeast gene, in order to achieve an increased trehalose-6-phosphate synthase activity; cloning the thus modified gene into an expression vector under the control of a constitutive, inducible and/or organ-specific promoter; transforming a plant cell or tissue with the thus obtained expression vector; and regenerating a complete plant from the transformed plant cell or tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of trehalose-6-phosphate synthase to modulate plant growth. More specifically, it relates to the use of a class II trehalose-6-phosphate synthase, comprising both a synthase and a phosphatase-like part to modulate plant growth. Preferably, the activity of trehalose-6-phosphate synthase is down-regulated to obtain an increased plant biomass yield.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of trehalase to obtain drought and/or salt resistance in plants. More specifically, it relates to genetically modified constructs, transformed into plants and resulting in overexpression of trehalase, whereby the transformed plants show a significantly better drought resistance during the drought period, and a better recovery when water is supplied after the drought period.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a eukaryotic organism, for example selected from plants, animals and fungi, showing constitutive, inducible and/or organ specific expression of a specifically modified TPS gene, which comprises the steps of providing a TPS gene; designing a suitable modification to the TPS gene by aligning the gene with the corresponding gene of yeast and establishing which part of the gene extends beyond the 5? terminus of the yeast gene; deleting or inactivating a part of the N-terminal region of the TPS gene extending beyond the 5? terminus of the yeast gene, in order to achieve an increased trehalose-6-phosphate synthase activity; cloning the thus modified gene into an expression vector under the control of a constitutive, inducible and/or organ-specific promoter; transforming a plant cell or tissue with the thus obtained expression vector; and regenerating a complete plant from the transformed plant cell or tissue.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a eukaryotic organism, for example selected from plants, animals and fungi, showing constitutive, inducible and/or organ specific expression of a specifically modified TPS gene, which comprises the steps of providing a TPS gene; designing a suitable modification to the TPS gene by aligning the gene with the corresponding gene of yeast and establishing which part of the gene extends beyond the 5? terminus of the yeast gene; deleting or inactivating a part of the N-terminal region of the TPS gene extending beyond the 5? terminus of the yeast gene, in order to achieve an increased trehalose-6-phosphate synthase activity; cloning the thus modified gene into an expression vector under the control of a constitutive, inducible and/or organ-specific promoter; transforming a plant cell or tissue with the thus obtained expression vector; and regenerating a complete plant from the transformed plant cell or tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of trehalose-6-phosphate synthase to modulate plant growth. More specifically, it relates to the use of a class II trehalose-6-phosphate synthase, comprising both a synthase and a phosphatase-like part to modulate plant growth. Preferably, the activity of trehalose-6-phosphate synthase is down-regulated to obtain an increased plant biomass yield.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants, particularly increasing seed yield, by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a Class III Trehalose Phosphate Phosphatase (TPP) polypeptide. The present invention also concerns plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding a Class III TPP polypeptide, which plants have enhanced yield-related traits relative to control plants. The invention further concerns novel Class III TPP nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences. The invention also provides nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences, and constructs comprising the same, which are useful in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a eukaryotic organism, for example selected from plants, animals and fungi, showing constitutive, inducible and/or organ specific expression of a specifically modified TPS gene, which comprises the steps of providing a TPS gene; designing a suitable modification to the TPS gene by aligning the gene with the corresponding gene of yeast and establishing which part of the gene extends beyond the 5? terminus of the yeast gene; deleting or inactivating a part of the N-terminal region of the TPS gene extending beyond the 5? terminus of the yeast gene, in order to achieve an increased trehalose-6-phosphate synthase activity; cloning the thus modified gene into an expression vector under the control of a constitutive, inducible and/or organ-specific promoter; transforming a plant cell or tissue with the thus obtained expression vector; and regenerating a complete plant from the transformed plant cell or tissue.

Abstract: A method for genetic mapping in eukaryotic organisms is described, comprising: multiple artificial DNA oligonucleotides being introduced in neutral positions into the genome of a single strain of the organism to create an artificially marked strain. This strain contains many specific markers, either composed solely of the inserted oligonucleotides or composed of inserted oligonucleotide(s) and part of the adjacent DNA sequence. The artificially marked strain is crossed with another strain displaying one or more distinct traits. The DNA of segregants from the cross displaying a specific trait is pooled and the presence of the artificial markers in the pooled DNA is detected. The genetic map position of all genes involved in establishing the trait is indicated by a drop in signal intensity for the artificial markers located closest to these genes. The method allows the use of isogenic strains for genetic mapping.

Abstract: The invention relates to new eukaryotic strains, preferably yeast strains, having the new fil phenotype, i.e. having the unexpected property of conserving good stress resistance in fermentation and/or growth phase, while conserving normal respiratory and fermentation metabolism on fermentable sugars such as glucose.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of proteins facilitating water diffusion or water transport through the cell membrane, preferably aquaporin or aquaporin related proteins to obtain freeze-tolerant eukaryotic cells, preferably yeast cells or plant cells. It relates further to a method for obtaining such cells, and to freeze-tolerant cells, characterized by an enhanced expression level of proteins facilitating water diffusion or water transport through the cell membrane.

Abstract: Transgenic plants or transgenic plant cells having increased stress resistance under environmental or artificial stress conditions are produced by a method comprising the steps of: a) transforming part of a plant or part of a plant cell population with a nucleotide sequence comprising (i) a first nucleotide sequence coding for a eukaryotic environmental or artificial stress resistance protein, or an allele or a homologue thereof, or a catalytically active part of the said protein, the said sequence being operably linked to a promoter, and (ii) one or more restriction sites comprising a second nucleotide sequence, b) applying environmental or artificial stress conditions to the transformed plant or plant cell population obtained in step (a), or its progeny, and c) selecting, from the transformed plant or plant cell population placed under the environmental or artificial stress conditions of step (b), that part of the transformed plant or plant cell population which exhibits an increased stress resistance under