# US 11,299,523 B2 · Modulation of rice MPG1 activity to increase biomass accumulation, grain yield, and stress tolerance in plants > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,523 B2 - Document ID: US11299523B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/315,258 - Filed: 2017-07-06 - Published: 2019-08-01 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-06 - Assignees: Colorado State University Research Foundation - Applicants: Colorado State University Research Foundation - Inventors: Daniel R. Bush; Amanda K. Broz; Bettina E. Broeckling; Michael M. Friedman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299523B2 ## CPC - C07K 14/415: from plants - C12N 15/8223: {Vegetative tissue-specific promoters} - C12N 15/827: {Flower development or morphology, e.g. flowering promoting factor [FPF]} - C12N 15/8271: {for stress resistance, e.g. heavy metal resistance} - C07K: PEPTIDES (peptides in foodstuffs A23; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs, working-up proteins for foodstuffs A23J; preparations for medicinal purposes A61K; peptides containing beta-lactam rings C07D; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, C07D; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type C07D519/02; macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units in their molecules, i.e. when the preparation does not provide for a specific; but for a random sequence of the amino acid units, homopolyamides and block copolyamides derived from amino acids C08G69/00; macromolecular products derived from proteins C08H1/00; preparation of glue or gelatine C09H; single cell proteins, enzymes C12N; genetic engineering processes for obtaining peptides C12N15/00; compositions for measuring or testing processes involving enzymes C12Q; investigation or analysis of biological material G01N33/00) - C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00) ## Abstract The invention provides methods for improving plant yield, biomass accumulation and stress tolerance. A novel AP2-like transcription factor MPG1, which when modulated impacts grain yield, biomass and abiotic and biotic stress tolerance when compared to non-modulated plants. The invention further provides methods using recombinant expression cassettes, host cells, transgenic plants and breeding methods using the same. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of increasing biomass or seed yield in a plant comprising: introducing in said plant a polynucleotide encoding a MPG1 transcription factor polypeptide, wherein said MPG1 transcription factor polypeptide has MPG1 transcription factor protein activity and is a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2; and selecting for a plant with increased biomass or seed yield under non-stress conditions relative to a control plant without the polynucleotide encoding the MPG1 transcription factor polypeptide. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity with the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising introducing into said plant an expression cassette comprising the polynucleotide encoding the MPG1 transcription factor polypeptide operably linked to a promoter that drives expression in a plant cell, wherein said polynucleotide comprises: (a) the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3; (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2; (c) a nucleotide sequence comprising at least 95% sequence identity to the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3; or (d) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, comprising: (a) transforming a plant cell with said expression cassette; and (b) regenerating a transformed plant from the transformed plant cell of step (a). ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein said expression cassette is stably incorporated into the genome of the plant. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein said promoter is a constitutive, tissue specific, or developmentally regulated promoter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the polynucleotide encoding the MPG1 transcription factor polypeptide comprises the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3; or a nucleotide sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3. ### Claim 9 A method of producing a plant with increased biomass or seed yield, the method comprising: introducing in a plant cell a polynucleotide encoding a MPG1 transcription factor, wherein the MPG1 transcription factor comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2; regenerating a plant from the plant cell; and selecting for a plant with increased biomass or seed yield under non-stress conditions relative to a control plant without the polynucleotide encoding the MPG1 transcription factor polypeptide.