Abstract: C4 plants comprising a genetic disruption of the PEPCK biosynthetic pathway are provided. The plants exhibit beneficial traits when compared to wild type plants cultivated under similar growth conditions. Methods of using the plants are also provided. The growth conditions can be adverse growth conditions. Adverse growth conditions can be limiting nitrogen conditions, drought conditions, waterlogged conditions, high disease load, high pest load, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Nucleotide sequences encoding YEP6 polypeptides are provided herein, along with plants and cells having reduced levels of YEP6 gene expression, reduced levels of YEP6 polypeptide activity, or both. Plants with reduced levels of gene expression of at least one YEP6 gene and/or reduced levels of YEP6 polypeptide activity that exhibit increased yield, increased staygreen, increased abiotic stress tolerance, or any combination of these, are provided. Methods for increasing yield, staygreen and abiotic stress tolerance in plants, by modulating YEP6 gene expression or activity, are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are transgenic plants and plant cells having increased photosynthetic rate, increased biomass production, and/or improved cold tolerance compared to control plants (such as non-transgenic plants of the same species as the transgenic plants). In some examples, the transgenic plants/plant cells contain a plant transformation vector including a nucleic acid encoding a pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase (PPDK) polypeptide. Also disclosed herein are methods for making the transgenic plants, for instance by introducing into progenitor cells of the plant a plant transformation vector including a nucleic acid that encodes a PPDK polypeptide, and growing the transformed progenitor cells to produce a transgenic plant, in which the PPDK nucleic acid is expressed. Further disclosed herein are PPDK-encoding nucleic acids, PPDK polypeptides, and plant transformation vectors of use in producing the transgenic plants or plant cells.

Abstract: The invention provides a fertile transgenic monocot, e.g., maize, plant encoding an endosperm specific prolamin box binding factor peptide (PBF) that is expressed so as to increase the methionine and/or lysine content of the seeds of said plant over said content in the seeds of the corresponding plant that lacks said gene, wherein said corresponding plant was used to prepare said transgenic plant, or an ancestor of said transgenic plant.

Abstract: The invention provides fertile transgenic maize plant comprising a recombinant PBF gene that is expressed so as to increase the methionine and/or lysine content of the seeds of said plant over said content in the seeds of the corresponding plant that lacks said gene, wherein said corresponding plant was used to prepare said transgenic plant, or an ancestor of said transgenic plant