Abstract: Methods for transforming monocot leaf explants are provided.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for the transient expression and activity of site-specific DNA modifying agent, morphogenic factors or developmental genes, either alone or in combination for eukaryotic cells. The morphogenic factor and DNA modifying agent may be provided to the same cell or to a different cell than that which was originally transformed. The morphogenic factor, or the double-strand-break-inducing agent, may further comprise a cell penetrating peptide. Exogenously provided DNA modifying agents and/or morphogenic factors need not be segregated away in future generations due to transient activities in the desired cell.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for the introduction and the regulated expression of genes in plants. Compositions include promoter constructs that provide a level of activity useful for the regulated expression of site-specific recombinases, while avoiding premature excision. Further provided are isolated polynucleotides encoding novel babyboom polypeptides, expression cassettes, and plants comprising the same. Methods for the introduction of genes into plants are provided, including methods for plastid transformation and methods for the transformation of tissues from mature seeds and leaves.

Abstract: Plant cell fate and development is altered by treating cells with cellular reprogramming factors. Embryogenesis inducing morphogenic developmental genes are used as cellular reprogramming factors, specifically comprising polypeptides or polynucleotides encoding gene products for generating doubled haploids or haploid plants from gametes. Maize microspores treated by contacting the isolated cells with an exogenous purified, recombinant embryogenesis inducing morphogenic developmental gene polypeptide results in embryogenesis. The gametes of a maize plant develop into embryoids when transformed with a genetic construct including regulatory elements and structural genes capable of acting in a cascading fashion to alter cellular fate of plant cells. Developmental morphogenic proteins expressed from a genetic construct are used for ex situ treatment methods and for in planta cellular reprogramming.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for an inducible, high efficiency intra-genomic homologous recombination (IGHR) system in plants, that can be used for non-chimeric, heritable gene targeting. The advantage of IGHR approach to targeted integration is that every cell contains donor DNA and nuclease-encoding sequences, so that there are many potentially homology-directed targeting events that can occur during plant development.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for the creation of a Cas endonuclease-mediated double-strand break and stable integration of a heterologous polynucleotide in the genome of a somatic plant cell, for example in leaf tissue.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for the use of pollen-inhibitor genes and/or color marker genes in accelerated trait introgression. Compositions and methods are also provided for introducing a pollen-inhibitor gene and/or a color marker gene in close proximity to a trait locus of interest. Breeding methods and methods for selecting plants comprising a trait locus of interest in close proximity to at least one pollen-inhibitor gene and/ or color marker gene are also disclosed. The methods and compositions employ at least one pollen-inhibitor gene and /or color marker gene to provide an effective system for accelerated trait introgression in the genome of a plant.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for the introduction and the regulated expression of genes in plants. Compositions include promoter constructs that provide a level of activity useful for the regulated expression of site-specific recombinases, while avoiding premature excision. Further provided are isolated polynucleotides encoding novel babyboom polypeptides, expression cassettes, and plants comprising the same. Methods for the introduction of genes into plants are provided, including methods for plastid transformation and methods for the transformation of tissues from mature seeds and leaves.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for the use of pollen-inhibitor genes and/or color marker genes in accelerated trait introgression. Compositions and methods are also provided for introducing a pollen-inhibitor gene and/or a color marker gene in close proximity to a trait locus of interest. Breeding methods and methods for selecting plants comprising a trait locus of interest in close proximity to at least one pollen-inhibitor gene and/or color marker gene are also disclosed. The methods and compositions employ at least one pollen-inhibitor gene and/or color marker gene to provide an effective system for accelerated trait introgression in the genome of a plant.

Abstract: Plant cell fate and development is altered by treating cells with cellular reprogramming factors. Embryogenesis inducing morphogenic developmental genes are used as cellular reprogramming factors, specifically comprising polypeptides or polynucleotides encoding gene products for generating doubled haploids or haploid plants from gametes. Maize microspores treated by contacting the isolated cells with an exogenous purified, recombinant embryogenesis inducing morphogenic developmental gene polypeptide results in embryogenesis. The gametes of a maize plant develop into embryoids when transformed with a genetic construct including regulatory elements and structural genes capable of acting in a cascading fashion to alter cellular fate of plant cells. Developmental morphogenic proteins expressed from a genetic construct are used for ex situ treatment methods and for in planta cellular reprogramming.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for the improvement of double-strand-break-inducing agent activity in eukaryotic cells, through the usage of one or more morphogenic factors or developmental genes. The morphogenic factor may be provided to the same cell or to a different cell than that comprising or receiving the double-strand-break-inducing agent. The morphogenic factor may be provided to a cell as a polynucleotide composition on a recombinant vector, and may be placed on the vector outside of a T-DNA border. The morphogenic factor may be provided via an upregulation of an endogenous gene. The morphogenic factor, or the double-strand-break-inducing agent, may further comprise a cell penetrating peptide. The morphogenic factor may be co-introduced with a vector comprising RepA.

Abstract: Methods for transforming dicot vegetative plant organs and their composite tissues are provided.

Abstract: The methods disclosed herein provide for clonal plant production using a morphogenic gene to produce non-transgenic and transgenic plants wherein the morphogenic gene does not integrate into the genome of the plant.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for the improvement of double-strand-break-inducing agent activity in eukaryotic cells, through the usage of one or more morphogenic factors or developmental genes. The morphogenic factor may be provided to the same cell or to a different cell than that comprising or receiving the double-strand-break-inducing agent. The morphogenic factor may be provided to a cell as a polynucleotide composition on a recombinant vector, and may be placed on the vector outside of a T-DNA border. The morphogenic factor may be provided via an upregulation of an endogenous gene. The morphogenic factor, or the double-strand-break-inducing agent, may further comprise a cell penetrating peptide. The morphogenic factor may be co-introduced with a vector comprising RepA.

Abstract: The disclosure pertains to methods and compositions for the rapid and efficient transformation of plants. The disclosure further provides methods for producing a transgenic plant, comprising (a) transforming a cell of an explant with an expression construct comprising (i) a nucleotide sequence encoding a WUS/WOX homeobox polypeptide; (ii) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising two AP2-DNA binding domains; or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii); and (b) allowing expression of the polypeptide of (a) in each transformed cell to form a regenerable plant structure in the absence of exogenous cytokinin, wherein no callus is formed; and (c) germinating the regenerable plant structure to form the transgenic plant. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: The disclosure pertains to methods and compositions for the rapid and efficient transformation of plants. The disclosure further provides methods for producing a transgenic plant, comprising (a) transforming a cell of an explant with an expression construct comprising (i) a nucleotide sequence encoding a WUS/WOX homeobox polypeptide; (ii) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising two AP2-DNA binding domains; or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii); and (b) allowing expression of the polypeptide of (a) in each transformed cell to form a regenerable plant structure in the absence of exogenous cytokinin, wherein no callus is formed; and (c) germinating the regenerable plant structure to form the transgenic plant. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: Liquid compositions for preserving and storing pollen, especially maize pollen, include pollen suspensions in solutions with particular pH ranges. Methods for preserving and storing pollen, especially maize pollen, include suspending pollen in solutions with particular pH ranges and storing them at particular temperatures.

Abstract: Automated, high-throughput and multiplexed methods for clonal plant production from maternal or paternal derived cellular structures including embryos and microspores, using morphogenic factors to produce plants are disclosed. Large scale and rapid clonal propagation methods facilitate increased efficiency in producing doubled haploid plants for breeding and for trait introgression purposes.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant are provided. Compositions include nucleotide sequences for regulatory regions. Phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) promoters from maize are provided. Also provided is a method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using a promoter sequence, such as a maize PLTP promoter, disclosed herein. DNA constructs comprising a promoter operably linked to a heterologous nucleotide sequence of interest are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for the improvement of homology-directed repair of a double strand break in a plant cell, via the use of a polynucleotide comprising sequences homologous to the target site. In some aspects, the double strand break is created by an RNA-guided Cas endonuclease. The homology-directed repair of the double-strand break may include incorporation of a heterologous polynucleotide, for example a gene encoding a trait of agronomic importance. The homology-directed repair of the double-strand break may occur as a result of template-directed repair using a polynucleotide repair template.