Abstract: This invention provides a stably transformed plant, plant part and/or plant cell, comprising a heterologous polynucleotide encoding a superoxide reductase (SOR) from an archaeon species, wherein said stably transformed plant, plant cell, and/or plant part has increased disease resistance. The invention further provides a method of increasing disease resistance in a plant, plant cell, or plant part, comprising: introducing into said plant, plant cell, or plant part a heterologous polynucleotide encoding a superoxide reductase from an archaeon species to produce a stably transformed plant, plant cell, or plant part, thereby producing a plant, plant part, or plant cell having increased disease resistance as compared to a control. Additionally provided are plants, plant parts, and plant cells produced by the methods of the invention, as well as progeny and products produced therefrom.

Abstract: This invention provides a stably transformed plant, plant part and/or plant cell, comprising a heterologous polynucleotide encoding a superoxide reductase (SOR) from an archaeon species, wherein said stably transformed plant, plant cell, and/or plant part has increased disease resistance. The invention further provides a method of increasing disease resistance in a plant, plant cell, or plant part, comprising: introducing into said plant, plant cell, or plant part a heterologous polynucleotide encoding a superoxide reductase from an archaeon species to produce a stably transformed plant, plant cell, or plant part, thereby producing a plant, plant part, or plant cell having increased disease resistance as compared to a control. Additionally provided are plants, plant parts, and plant cells produced by the methods of the invention, as well as progeny and products produced therefrom.

Abstract: This invention provides a stably transformed plant, plant part and/or plant cell, comprising a heterologous polynucleotide encoding a superoxide reductase (SOR) from an archaeon species, wherein said stably transformed plant, plant cell, and/or plant part has increased disease resistance. The invention further provides a method of increasing disease resistance in a plant, plant cell, or plant part, comprising: introducing into said plant, plant cell, or plant part a heterologous polynucleotide encoding a superoxide reductase from an archaeon species to produce a stably transformed plant, plant cell, or plant part, thereby producing a plant, plant part, or plant cell having increased disease resistance as compared to a control. Additionally provided are plants, plant parts, and plant cells produced by the methods of the invention, as well as progeny and products produced therefrom.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods for reducing reactive oxygen species in plants, yeast, algae or bacteria by transforming a plant, yeast or bacteria with a heterologous polynucleotide encoding a superoxide reductase from an archaeon species. The invention also provides methods for protecting a photosynthetic reaction center, for reducing photorespiration and/or for increasing the photosynthetic efficiency of plants or cyanobacteria as well as methods for increasing tolerance to abiotic stress in plants, yeast or bacteria by transforming a plant, yeast, or bacteria with a heterologous polynucleotide encoding a archaeon superoxide reductase. Methods for delaying senescence, reducing lignin polymerization and increasing accessibility of cell wall cellulose to an enzyme in a plant by transforming the plant with a heterologous polynucleotide encoding an archaeon superoxide reductase are also provided.