Abstract: A rice microRNA, miR164 gene, that controls plant root system development and fertility, is obtained through gene isolation, cloning and function verification. Uses of a nucleic acid fragment comprising miR164, which fragment may confer a transformed plant with the ability to increase root number and to alter fertility, wherein the said nucleic acid fragment is selected from one of the following nucleotide sequences: 1) a DNA sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1; 2) a RNA sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2; or 3) the conserved sequence of miR164 having the same function as 1) or 2). The nucleotide sequence containing the precursor of miR164 is ligated with an exogenous promoter and introduced into rice to obtain transgenic rice plants which has large root systems but became infertile. The fertility can be restored by external application of phytohormones.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methodology and constructs for modifying plant architecture and enhancing plant biomass and/or sucrose yield.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments for altering embryo/endosperm size during seed development are disclosed along with a method of controlling embryo/endosperm size during seed development in plants.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a plant body in which the program for accumulating storage products has been modified, and applications of the same. In the invention, the plant body is constructed so as to have a B3 DNA-binding domain and an EAR motif, and so as to be capable of repressing the expression of two or more genes which code for two or more proteins having a sugar-inducible promotor function-suppressing activity.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for knock-down of a target gene in plants, particularly efficient and specific methods for knock-down of a target gene in plants. This invention also relates to methods for silencing endogenous plant genes or plant pathogen genes. It further relates to nucleic acid constructs (DNA, RNA) which comprise a nucleic acid sequence that corresponds to a target gene or fragment thereof flanked by two complementary sites to an smRNA, e.g., a miRNA (one complementary site is on either side of the nucleic acid sequence), resulting in, for example the configuration: complementary site—nucleic acid sequence that corresponds to a target gene—complementary site.

Abstract: The present application provides Brassica INDEHISCENTI (BIND) sequences.

Abstract: The invention provides transgenic plants with resistance to infection by a root-infecting fungal plant pathogen such as Phymatotrichopsis omnivora. Also provided are methods of making such plants. Further provided are nucleic acid vectors for producing such a plant. Additionally, methods are provided for growing a dicotyledonous plant that is resistant to root rot disease in soil that comprises Phymatotrichopsis omnivora, or another pathogen.

Abstract: Maize plants with reduced gene silencing are disclosed.

Abstract: The enzymes of the ACC synthase family are used in producing ethylene. Nucleotide and polypeptide sequences of ACC synthases, namely ACS2, ACS6, and ACS7 from Zea mays, are provided. Knockout plant cells having inhibition in expression and/or activity in an ACC synthase such as ACS2, ACS6, or ACS7 and knockout plants displaying a staygreen phenotype, a male sterility phenotype, or an inhibition in ethylene production are also provided, as are seeds obtained from such plants. Methods for modulating staygreen potential in plants, methods for modulating sterility in plants, and methods for inhibiting ethylene production in plants are also provided.

Abstract: The enzymes of the ACC synthase family are used in producing ethylene. Nucleotide and polypeptide sequences of ACC synthases, namely ACS2, ACS6, and ACS7 from Zea mays, are provided. Knockout plant cells having inhibition in expression and/or activity in an ACC synthase such as ACS2, ACS6, or ACS7 and knockout plants displaying a staygreen phenotype, a male sterility phenotype, or an inhibition in ethylene production are also provided, as are seeds obtained from such plants. Methods for modulating staygreen potential in plants, methods for modulating sterility in plants, and methods for inhibiting ethylene production in plants are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of the improvement of the tolerance of maize to fungal pathogens and in particular to fusariosis by the qualitative and/or quantitative modification of the lignin biosynthesis pathway.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid fragments comprising precursor miRNA, and artificial miRNAs and their use in down-regulating gene expression are described.

Abstract: Novel plant polysaccharide synthesis genes and polypeptides encoded by such genes are provided. These genes and polynucleotide sequences are useful regulating polysaccharide synthesis and plant phenotype. Moreover, these genes are useful for expression profiling of plant polysaccharide synthesis genes. One aspect of the present invention therefore are polynucleotides encoding cellulose synthase from Pinus radiata and methods of using such a polynucleotide to regulate polysaccharides of a plant.

Abstract: A method to silence a gene in cells by post-transcriptional gene silencing is described which method employs short RNA molecules (SRMs). SRMs are short sense RNA molecules (SSRMs) and short antisense RNA molecules (SARMs) which SARMs are complementary to a region of a target RNA transcribed from a gene to be silenced and said SSRMs correspond to the sequence of the target RNA.

Abstract: We describe a plant lipase polypeptide and nucleic acids that encode said polypeptide which has homology to a patatin and which has phospholipase and/or triacylglycerol lipase activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules and their corresponding encoded polypeptides able confer the trait of modulated plant size, vegetative growth, organ number, plant architecture, growth rate, seedling vigor, growth rate, fruit and seed yield, tillering and/or biomass in plants.

Abstract: Materials and methods for identifying lignin regulatory region-regulatory protein associations are disclosed. Materials and methods for modulating lignin accumulation are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of identifying herbicidal auxins. The invention further provides auxin-herbicide-resistant plants and genes conferring auxin-herbicide resistance. This invention also provides a method of identifying other proteins that bind picolinate auxins from additional plant species. The invention further provides a method to identify the molecular binding site for picolinate auxins. The invention also includes the use of the picolinate herbicidal auxin target site proteins, and methods of discovering new compounds with herbicidal or plant growth regulatory activity. The invention also includes methods for producing plants that are resistant to picolinate herbicidal auxins. Specific examples of novel proteins associated with herbicide binding include AFB5, AFB4, and SGT1b.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to controlling plant pest infestation, and particularly plant nematode infestation, by inhibiting one or more biological functions in the plant pest. The invention discloses methods and compositions for use in controlling plant pest infestation by providing one or more different recombinant double stranded RNA molecules in the diet of the pest in order to achieve a reduction in pest infestation through suppression of pest gene expression. The invention is also directed to methods for making transgenic plants that express the double stranded RNA molecules, to methods for detecting cells comprising the disclosed sequences, and to methods for detecting the disclosed sequences in biological samples.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of modifying a plant phenotype by transforming a plant to alter the level of expression of non-symbiotic plant hemoglobin in the plant, whereby the transformed plant exhibits, under normal oxygen conditions, a plant phenotype that is modified as compared to a non-transformed plant. Plants exhibiting modified phenotypes under normal oxygen conditions also are provided. Methods of modifying the response to a plant hormone in a plant also are provided.

Abstract: A method to generate siRNAs in vivo is described, as are constructs and compositions useful in the method. The method does not depend on the use of DNA or synthetic constructs that contain inverted duplications or dual promoters so as to form perfect or largely double-stranded RNA. Rather, the method depends on constructs that yield single-stranded RNA transcripts, and exploits endogenous or in vivo-produced miRNAs or siRNAs to initiate production of siRNAs. The miRNAs or siRNAs guide cleavage of the transcript and set the register for production of siRNAs (usually 21 nucleotides in length) encoded adjacent to the initiation cleavage site within the construct. The method results in specific formation of siRNAs of predictable size and register (phase) relative to the initiation cleavage site. The method can be used to produce specific siRNAs in vivo for inactivation or suppression of one or more target genes or other entities, such as pathogens.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for modulating the level of phytate in plants. More specifically, the invention relates to methods of modulating the level of phytate utilizing nucleic acids comprising multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) nucleotide sequences to modulate the expression of MRP(s) in a plant of interest. The compositions and methods of the invention find use in agriculture for improving the nutritional quality of food and feed by reducing the levels of phytate and/or increasing the levels of non-phytate phosphorus in food and feed. The invention also finds use in reducing the environmental impact of animal waste.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plant growth promoting protein complex. More specifically, the invention relates to the use of specific proteins from the Anaphase Promoting Complex/Cyclosome for increasing shoot growth rates and/or enhancing cell division rates.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of identifying herbicidal auxins. The invention further provides auxin-herbicide-resistant plants and genes conferring auxin-herbicide resistance. This invention also provides a method of identifying other proteins that bind picolinate auxins from additional plant species. The invention further provides a method to identify the molecular binding site for picolinate auxins. The invention also includes the use of the picolinate herbicidal auxin target site proteins, and methods of discovering new compounds with herbicidal or plant growth regulatory activity. The invention also includes methods for producing plants that are resistant to picolinate herbicidal auxins. Specific examples of novel proteins associated with herbicide binding include AFB5, AFB4, and SGT1b.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to controlling plant pest infestation, and particularly plant nematode infestation, by inhibiting one or more biological functions in the plant pest. The invention discloses methods and compositions for use in controlling plant pest infestation by providing one or more different recombinant double stranded RNA molecules in the diet of the pest in order to achieve a reduction in pest infestation through suppression of pest gene expression. The invention is also directed to methods for making transgenic plants that express the double stranded RNA molecules, to methods for detecting cells comprising the disclosed sequences, and to methods for detecting the disclosed sequences in biological samples.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genetically modified plant cells and plants in which the genetic modification leads to a reduction in GBSSI, SSIII and BEI activity in comparison to the activity in corresponding wild type plant cells or wild type plants. Furthermore, the present invention relates to methods for the production of such plant cells and plants. The present invention also relates to the starch produced by the plant cells of the invention or plants of the invention, as well as to methods for the production of this starch and derivatised starch.

Abstract: Pairs of plants are provided in which complementing constructs result in suppression of a parental phenotype in the progeny. Methods to generate and maintain such plants and methods of use of such plants, are provided, including use of parental plants to produce sterile plants for hybrid seed production. Also provided are methods for maintaining a homozygous recessive condition and for repressing transmission of transgenes.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided which allow for the production of an inverted repeat in a plant or plant part, which, when transcribed as an RNA can be used in some examples to decrease expression of a target polynucleotide of interest. The methods and composition provide precursor inverted repeat cassettes that are not capable of producing a hairpin RNA polynucleotide, and plants and plant parts comprising such precursor inverted repeat cassettes. The precursor inverted repeat cassettes are altered in planta by using a recombination system to produce a inverted repeat. Plants, plant parts, and seeds comprising the various components are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides for the use of isolated polynucleotides encoding maize poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) proteins to produce eukaryotic cells and organisms, particularly plant cells and plants, with modified programmed cell death. Eukaryotic cells and organisms particularly plant cells and plants, are provided wherein either in at least part of the cells, preferably selected cells, the programmed cell death (PCD) is provoked, or wherein, on the contrary, PCD of the cells or of at least part of the cells in an organism is inhibited, by modulation of the level or activity or PARP proteins in those cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of cotton parp2 gene or cDNA sequences to obtain stress tolerant cotton plants. Various cotton parp2 sequences are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the increase in yield in a plant organism by reducing gene expression. The invention furthermore relates to nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides, nucleic acid constructs, vectors, antisense molecules, antibodies, host cells, plant tissue, propagation material, harvested material and plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel genes involved in cellulose biosynthesis and methods using such genes to modulate cellulose biosynthesis in fiber-producing plants such as cotton. The invention also provides methods for identifying and isolating alleles of these genes in a population of fiber-producing plants that correlate with the quality of the produced fibers.

Abstract: The present invention provides polypeptides, and polynucleotides encoding therefore, involved in the regulation of fibre initiation and/or elongation in fibre producing plants. In particular, the present invention provides methods of altering fibre initiation in cotton making use of transcription factors, regulatory proteins or cell cycle proteins produced at or around anthesis. The invention also relates to the use of these as markers of fibre production in plants including cotton.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions and methods include expression cassettes and transformed plants and provide for downregulation of cytokinin oxidase in a plant.

Abstract: Broad experimental tools that include biochemical molecular developmental global genomics and loss and gain of function transgenic approaches have been applied to address target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathway in plants especially using Arabidopsis model system and Brassica napus crop Towards this objective, putative TOR interacting proteins (TIPs) have been identified and functions of these implicated in diverse developmental and biochemical processes have been investigated Functional studies including over-expression and silencing of TIPs have shown a range of phenotypes that include nutrition-use-efficiency, altered plant architecture and stress resistance in transgenic Arabidopsis and Brassica lines Some of these phenotypes are relevant to important developmental pathways implicated in canola crop yield and performance

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated polynucleotide sequences encoding ?-D-N-acetylhexosaminidase. The present invention further provides DNA construct comprising the polynucleotide sequence coding for ?-D-N-acetylhexosaminidase in sense or anti-sense orientation, RNAi construct, recombinant vector comprising the construct and host cells comprising the recombinant vector disclosed in the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is a means of controlling plant pests by a novel method of expressing Cry2A B. thuringiensis ?-endotoxins in plants. The invention comprises novel nucleic acid segments encoding proteins comprising Cry2A B. thuringiensis ?-endotoxins. The nucleic acid segments are disclosed, as are transformation vectors containing the nucleic acid segments, plants transformed with the claimed segments, methods for transforming plants, and methods of controlling plant infestation by pests.

Abstract: A method to generate siRNAs in vivo is described, as are constructs and compositions useful in the method. The method does not depend on the use of DNA or synthetic constructs that contain inverted duplications or dual promoters so as to form perfect or largely double-stranded RNA. Rather, the method depends on constructs that yield single-stranded RNA transcripts, and exploits endogenous or in vivo-produced miRNAs or siRNAs to initiate production of siRNAs. The miRNAs or siRNAs guide cleavage of the transcript and set the register for production of siRNAs (usually 21 nucleotides in length) encoded adjacent to the initiation cleavage site within the construct. The method results in specific formation of siRNAs of predictable size and register (phase) relative to the initiation cleavage site. The method can be used to produce specific siRNAs in vivo for inactivation or suppression of one or more target genes or other entities, such as pathogens.

Abstract: DNA constructs comprising a first DNA segment that corresponds to at least a portion of a gene in the monolignol biosynthetic pathway, a spacer DNA segment, and a second DNA segment that is complementary to the first DNA segment can be used to reduce or modulate the lignin content in plants. In some embodiments, DNA constructs comprise at least a portion of a gene for 4CL, C3H, CCR, C4H or CCoAOMT. Vascular-preferred and constitutive promoters can be used to drive expression of the constructs.

Abstract: The invention provides polynucleotide and polypeptide sequences isolated from P. radiate and E. grandis that are involved in wood and cell wall biosynthesis. Methods for using the sequences, along with constructs and transgenic plants, are provided also.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plant cell which is genetically modified, the genetic modification leading to the reduction of the activity of one or more SSIII proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell and to the reduction of the activity of one or more BEI proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell and to the reduction of the activity of one or more BEII proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell in comparison with corresponding plant cells, of wild-type plants, which have not been genetically modified. Further aspects of the invention relate to plants containing such plant cells, to a method for generating the plant cells and plants, and to the starch obtainable from them.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns methods and compositions relating to UXS polypeptides and/or nucleic acids encoding UXS polypeptides. In certain claims, the methods and compositions are of use to improve digestibility and/or ease of grain processing. Such improvements relate to a modulation in arabinoxylan and/or hemicellulose content in transgenic plants. Such plants can, for example, comprise one or more nucleic acid sequences that inhibit expression of one or more UDP-Xylose Synthase (UXS) genes.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing the level of gossypol in cottonseed. The method generally includes selectively inducing RNA gene silencing in the seed of a transgenic cotton plant, to interfere with expression of the ?-cadinene synthase gene or the ?-cadinene-8-hydroxylase gene in the seed of the cotton plant without substantially affecting expression of that gene in the foliage, floral parts, and roots of the plant. The transgenic cotton plant comprises at least one of a ?-cadinene synthase gene trigger sequence and/or a ?-cadinene-8-hydroxylase gene trigger sequence operably linked to one or more a seed-specific promoter gene sequences, and the trigger sequence(s) is/are able to induce RNA gene silencing when expressed in cottonseed of the plant.

Abstract: Genes VvPI from Vitis vinifera cv. Cabernet Sauvignon and LePI from Lycopersicon esculentum are described; together with the use of these genes to produce sterile male flowers and seedless or parthenocarpic fruits. Silencing vectors that comprise these sequences or a part thereof are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sweet sorghum plant characterized by altered lignin content and/or altered lignin composition compared to a wild plant and this is achieved by manipulating the expression of caffeoylCoA-O-methyltransferae (CCoAOMT) in particular and optionally caffeic acid-O-methyltranferase (COMT) in sweet sorghum by incorporation of a construct comprising an isolated DNA sequence represented by SEQ ID NO 2 and optionally SEQ ID NO 1.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for reducing the level of nornicotine and N?-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) in Nicotiana plants and plant parts thereof are provided. The compositions comprise isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides for cytochrome P450s that are involved in the metabolic conversion of nicotine to nornicotine in these plants. Expression cassettes, vectors, plants, and plant parts thereof comprising inhibitory sequences that target expression or function of the disclosed cytochrome P450 polypeptides are also provided. Methods for the use of these novel sequences to inhibit expression or function of cytochrome P450 polypeptides involved in this metabolic conversion are also provided. The methods find use in the production of tobacco products that have reduced levels of nornicotine and its carcinogenic metabolite, NNN, and thus reduced carcinogenic potential for individuals consuming these tobacco products or exposed to secondary smoke derived from these products.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for obtaining plants that produce 2n pollen. These plants are useful in plant breeding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the increase in yield in a plant organisms by reducing gene expression. The invention furthermore relates to nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides, nucleic acid constructs, vectors, antisense molecules, antibodies, host cells, plant tissue, propagation material, harvested material and plants.

Abstract: Embodiments provided herein concern tobacco and tobacco products having a reduced amount of a harmful compound. More specifically, several embodiments concern approaches to modify the expression of a gene that is involved in the production of a harmful compound in tobacco, tobacco products made using these approaches and methods of determining whether the removal of said compounds using said approaches yields a tobacco and/or a tobacco product that has a reduced potential to contribute to a tobacco-related disease.

Abstract: We have developed a versatile plant viral vector system based on Alternanthera mosaic virus (AltMV), suitable for infection by agroinfiltration or in vivo T7 transcripts from the same clone; agroinfection is enhanced by coinfiltration of a T7 RNA polymerase construct. Variants adapted for efficient protein expression, or for virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), are based on a specific amino acid substitution (L88P) in the triple gene block 1 (TGB1) protein affecting RNA silencing suppression. A bipartite delivery system developed for AltMV delivers replicase (RdRp) functions separately from movement and encapsidation (TGB and coat protein, CP) functions by agroinfiltration, resulting in precise recombination of RdRp and TGB-CP constructs in planta. The bipartite delivery system has potential for high throughput protein expression or VIGS with the appropriate TGB1 variant, for hosts including Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis thaliana.