Abstract: The present disclosure provides genetically modified plants, plant cells, or plant tissues wherein the plants, plant cells, or plant tissues comprise an exogenous nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a 30S ribosomal protein or a homolog thereof, wherein the 30S ribosomal protein or the homolog thereof is expressed in the plant, plant cell, or plant tissue. The current disclosure provides methods of improving drought tolerance and water loss in a plant, plant cell, or plant tissue, the methods comprising an exogenous nucleic acid sequence encoding a 30S ribosomal protein or a homolog thereof, wherein the 30S ribosomal protein or the homolog thereof is expressed in the plant, plant cell, or plant tissue.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods to genetically engineer plants by manipulating the expression of the Receptor-like Protein 33 (RLP33) to better suit and tolerate drought/water deficit environments. Also provided are genetically engineer plants that can be obtained by the methods according to the present disclosure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for increasing drought resistance, salt resistance, and biomass production of a plant. The methods encompass expression of DiGeorge-Syndrome Critical Region 14 (DGCR14) gene in the plant. In comparison to a plant not manipulated in this manner, the disclosed, genetically-modified, plants display improved drought resistance and salt resistance. Also provided are plants that can be obtained by the method according to the invention, and nucleic acid vectors to be used in the described methods.

Abstract: The present disclosure based on the inventors' recognition that PAN domain containing proteins play important immune regulating functions. Disclosed herein are methods for modulating immune responses in plants and animals, improving in vitro fertilization efficiency, and inhibiting human cell division and cellular migration in cancer cells. Also disclosed herein are genetically modified plants that are resistant to pathogenic infections.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to genetically modified plants, plant cells, or plant tissues wherein the genetic modification comprises expression of an exogenous nucleic acid comprising a ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit-related (PRL-1) gene or homolog thereof, in the plant, plant cell, or plant tissue; and wherein the expression of the exogenous nucleic acid comprising the PRL-1 gene or homolog thereof results in enhanced photosynthetic efficiency and/or plant biomass of the plant, plant cell, or plant tissue as compared to a wild-type plant, plant cell or plant tissue without the genetic modification. Another aspect of the current disclosure is directed to methods of enhancing photosynthetic efficiency and biomass yield in a plant, plant cell, or plant tissue, the methods comprising expressing an exogenous nucleic acid comprising a PRL-1 gene or homolog thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods to genetically engineer plants by manipulating the expression of the PtrXB38 polypeptide to increase root development. Also provided are genetically engineer plants that can be obtained by the methods according to the present disclosure.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods for modulating protein function through attaching a PAN domain or a functional fragment thereof to a target protein thereby promoting internalization and degradation of the target protein, wherein the target protein does not comprise a native PAN domain. Another aspect of the current disclosure is directed to a method of inhibiting the internalization of a targeted extracellular protein wherein the targeted extracellular protein comprises a PAN domain.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides agricultural compositions and methods of using these compositions to increase plant growth, pathogen resistance and drought tolerance. The agricultural compositions disclosed herein comprise mixtures of mutualistic beneficial fungi such as Laccaria bicolor and Piriformispora indica, and bacterial strains of Pseudomonas.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides agricultural compositions and methods of using these compositions to increase plant growth, pathogen resistance and drought tolerance. The agricultural compositions disclosed herein comprise mixtures of mutualistic beneficial fungi such as Laccaria bicolor and Piriformispora indica, and bacterial strains of Pseudomonas.

Abstract: This disclosure provides genetically modified plants, plant cells and plant tissues that show modified lignin content and/or sugar release as compared to a wild type control plant which was not genetically modified. In addition, the disclosure provides methods of regulating lignin content and sugar release in a plant. The disclosure also provides methods of producing bioproducts using the genetically modified plants of the instant disclosure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides genetically modified plants, plant cells and plant tissues that show reduced lignin content as compared to a control plant which was not genetically modified. In addition, the disclosure provides methods of regulating lignin content in a plant. The disclosure also provides methods of producing bioproducts using the genetically modified plants of the instant disclosure.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods of improving callus formation in plants. This disclosure further provides genetically engineered plants with improved callus formation.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods of improving mycorrhization in a plant or plant cell. Another aspect of this disclosure is directed to a genetically modified plant or plant cell with improved mycorrhization.

Abstract: The present disclosure based on the inventors' recognition that PAN domain containing proteins play important immune regulating functions. Disclosed herein are methods for modulating immune responses in plants and animals, improving in vitro fertilization efficiency, and inhibiting human cell division and cellular migration in cancer cells. Also disclosed herein are genetically modified plants that are resistant to pathogenic infections.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for increasing drought resistance, salt resistance, and biomass production of a plant. The methods encompass expression of DiGeorge-Syndrome Critical Region 14 (DGCR14) gene in the plant. In comparison to a plant not manipulated in this manner, the disclosed, genetically-modified, plants display improved drought resistance and salt resistance. Also provided are plants that can be obtained by the method according to the invention, and nucleic acid vectors to be used in the described methods.

Abstract: Pathogenic fungi from the genus Sphaerulina cause damage to a diverse array of economically important plant species. The present disclosure provides methods of determining whether a plant is susceptible to pathogenic fungi infections. The disclosure further provides methods of engineering pathogenic fungi-resistant plants from susceptible plants using targeted genome editing techniques.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides genetically modified plants, plant cells and plant tissues that show reduced lignin content as compared to a control plant which was not genetically modified. In addition, the disclosure provides methods of regulating lignin content in a plant. The disclosure also provides methods of producing bioproducts using the genetically modified plants of the instant disclosure.

Abstract: This disclosure provides genetically modified plants, plant cells and plant tissues that show modified lignin content and/or sugar release as compared to a wild type control plant which was not genetically modified. In addition, the disclosure provides methods of regulating lignin content and sugar release in a plant. The disclosure also provides methods of producing bioproducts using the genetically modified plants of the instant disclosure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of producing fatty acids haying chains longer than 18 carbon atoms by growing a strain of Mortierella elongata on a fermentation medium comprising a carbon source and a nitrogen source.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides agricultural compositions and methods of using these compositions to increase plant growth, pathogen resistance and drought tolerance. The agricultural compositions disclosed herein comprise mixtures of mutualistic beneficial fungi such as Laccaria bicolor and Piriformispora indica, and bacterial strains of Pseudomonas.