Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for modulating flowering time in plants. Maize RAP2.7 nucleotide sequences are disclosed which upon overexpression cause later flowering and when inhibited cause earlier flowering. Also disclosed is a DNA sequence which acts as a regulator/enhancer of RAP2.7, termed VGT1. This sequence does not code for any known protein, but acts as either a RNAi element or a regulatory DNA or RNA element that either directly regulates expression of flowering genes such as Rap2.7 or specifically targets expression of other genes which control flowering genes such as Rap2.7. This element this can be used as a sequence-based marker to identify inbred and hybrids which have altered maturity. Methods for expressing these nucleotide sequences in a plant for modifying maturity and flowering in plants are provided as well as expression constructs, vectors, transformed cells and plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions may comprise a novel nucleic acid sequence for a promoter with tissue specificity and/or cytokinin. inducibility. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequence is also provided. The method comprises transforming a plant cell to contain a heterologous nucleotide sequence operably linked to the promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant from the transformed plant cell. Other methods provide for downregulation of cytokinin oxidase in a plant.

Abstract: The invention relates to the regulation of gene expression, particularly to methods and compositions for regulating gene expression in plants. Expression cassettes comprising a polynucleotide molecule of interest operably linked to the Brachytic2 (Br2) promoter, the Dwarf3 (Dw3) promoter, or a functional fragment or variant thereof, are provided. Methods of using such expression cassettes, as well as plant cells, plant tissues, plants, and seeds transformed with these expression cassettes, are additionally provided. The methods and compositions find use in regulating the expression of a polynucleotide molecule of interest in a plant.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and method for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. The composition is a novel nucleic acid sequence for a seed-preferred promoter. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequence is also provided. The method comprises transforming a plant cell to contain a heterologous nucleotide sequence operably linked to the seed-preferred promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant from the transformed plant cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and method for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. The composition is a novel nucleic acid sequence for a promoter. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequence is also provided. The method comprises transforming a plant cell to contain a heterologous nucleotide sequence operably linked to the promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant from the transformed plant cell.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to the field of plant molecular biology. More specifically, this invention relates to methods and reagents for the temporally- and/or spatially-regulated expression of genes that affect metabolically effective levels of cytokinins in plants, particularly in plant seeds and related female reproductive tissue. This invention further relates to transgenic plants having enhanced levels of cytokinin expression wherein the transgenic plant exhibits useful characteristics, such as improved seed size, decreased tip kernel abortion, increased seed set during unfavorable environmental conditions, or stability of yield. The present invention also provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions comprise novel nucleotide sequences for seed-preferred promoters known as eep1 and eep2. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for a vascular tissue-preferred promoter for the gene encoding prunasin hydrolase and sequences isolated therefrom. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises stably incorporating into the genome of a plant cell a nucleotide sequence operably linked to the vascular tissue-preferred promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant that expresses the nucleotide sequence.

Abstract: The present invention provides for rapid and large scale evaluation of expression of, or function of, nucleotide sequences in plants. The invention comprises three specific components which provide for fast and large scale evaluation of nucleotide sequences. The first component includes delivery in either a single event a library of different engineered vectors or a single engineered vector for a single target nucleotide sequence comprising sequences the function of which is desired to be known in plant cells. Surprisingly, applicants have discovered that, the introduction of multiple vectors to plant cells predominantly results in individual transgenic plants which contain only a single transformation event. The second feature of the invention involves a highly transformable, fast cycling and/or miniature size plant and the final step involves mass scale analysis of T0 plants for various phenotypes and plasmid rescue to identify the nucleotide sequence present in a particular phenotype.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for a vascular tissue-preferred promoter for the gene encoding prunasin hydrolase and sequences isolated therefrom. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises stably incorporating into the genome of a plant cell a nucleotide sequence operably linked to the vascular tissue-preferred promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant that expresses the nucleotide sequence.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel isolated sucrose synthase nucleic acid and its encoded protein. The present invention also provides methods and compositions relating to altering sucrose synthase levels in plants, and in particular, in plant stalks and/or plant seeds. The invention further provides recombinant expression cassettes, host cells, transgenic plants, and antibody compositions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and method for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. The composition is a novel nucleic acid sequence for a tissue-preferred promoter. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequence is also provided. The method comprises transforming a plant cell to contain a heterologous nucleotide sequence operably linked to the tissue-preferred promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant from the transformed plant cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and method for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. The composition is a novel nucleic acid sequence for a seed-preferred promoter. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequence is also provided. The method comprises transforming a plant cell to contain a heterologous nucleotide sequence operably linked to the seed-preferred promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant from the transformed plant cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and method for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. The composition is a novel nucleic acid sequence for a seed-preferred promoter. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequence is also provided. The method comprises transforming a plant cell to contain a heterologous nucleotide sequence operably linked to the seed-preferred promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant from the transformed plant cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and method for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. The composition is a novel nucleic acid sequence for a seed-preferred promoter. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequence is also provided. The method comprises transforming a plant cell to contain a heterologous nucleotide sequence operably linked to the seed-preferred promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant from the transformed plant cell.