Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acids which encompass FtsZ nucleic acid molecules, FtsZ protein products (including, but not limited to, transcriptional products such as mRNAs, antisense and ribozyme molecules, and translational products such as FtsZ proteins, polypeptides, peptides and fusion proteins related thereto), antibodies to FtsZ protein products, vectors and expression vectors with FtsZ nucleic acids, cells, plants and plant parts with FtsZ nucleic acids, modified starch and starch granules from such plants and the use of the foregoing to improve agronomically valuable plants, including but not limited to maize, wheat, barley and potato.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transgenic plant which comprises a recombinant gene encoding one of the subunit proteins of adenosine diphosphoglucose pyrophosphorylase (“ADPG PPase”). In plants, functional ADPG PPase holoenzyme is a heterotetrameric protein composed of two subunits, each encoded by a different gene. The present invention shows that the activity of ADPG PPase in the cell of plants can be increased by expressing only one of the two subunit proteins required to make an active enzyme.

Abstract: A method of increasing the activity of adenosine diphosphoglucose pyrophosphorylase (ADPG PPase) in a plant that produces a functional ADPG PPase, comprising introducing into the plant a gene encoding one of the subunit proteins of a heterotetrameric ADPG PPase. In the method, the subunit gene is expressed in the plant to produce the subunit protein, thereby increasing ADPG PPase activity in the plant.

Abstract: A process is provided whereby the constitution of starch produced in a plant is altered without there being a substantial change in the total amount of starch which is produced. In the process a plant cell is transformed using a chimaeric gene comprising an antisense coding sequence from the waxy locus of a plant genome or an antisense similar coding sequence from a non-plant genome.