# US 12,110,495 B2 · Compositions and methods for altering flowering and plant architecture to improve yield potential > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,110,495 B2 - Document ID: US12110495B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/370,561 - Filed: 2019-03-29 - Published: 2019-07-18 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-20 - Assignees: Monsanto Technology LLC - Applicants: Monsanto Technology LLC - Inventors: Brent Brower-Toland; Rico A. Caldo; Shunhong Dai; Karen Gabbert; Alexander Goldshmidt; Miya D. Howell; Balasulojini Karunanandaa; Sivalinganna Manjunath; Bradley W. McDill; Daniel J. Ovadya; Sasha Preuss; Elena A. Rice; Beth Savidge; Vijay K. Sharma - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110495B2 ## CPC - C12N 15/827: {Flower development or morphology, e.g. flowering promoting factor [FPF]} - C07K 14/415: from plants - C12N 15/8261: {with agronomic (input) traits, e.g. crop yield} - Y02A 40/146: Genetically Modified [GMO] plants, e.g. transgenic plants - C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00) - 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) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ## Abstract The present invention provides recombinant DNA constructs, vectors and molecules comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding a florigenic FT protein operably linked to a vegetative stage promoter, which may also be a meristem-preferred or meristem-specific promoter. Transgenic plants, plant cells and tissues, and plant parts are further provided comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding a florigenic FT protein. Transgenic plants comprising a florigenic FT transgene may produce more bolls, siliques, fruits, nuts, or pods per node on the transgenic plant, particularly on the main stem of the plant, relative to a control or wild type plant. Methods are further provided for introducing a florigenic FT transgene into a plant, and planting transgenic FT plants in the field including at higher densities. Transgenic plants of the present invention may thus provide greater yield potential than wild type plants and may be planted at a higher density due to their altered plant architecture. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A transgenic soybean plant comprising an insertion of a recombinant DNA construct comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding a florigenic FT protein operably linked to a meristem-preferred or meristem-specific promoter comprising a polynucleotide sequence that is at least 90% identical to a polynucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, and SEQ ID NO: 38, wherein the florigenic FT protein comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 92% identity to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 8, and SEQ ID NO: 12 into the genome of the transgenic soybean plant, wherein the transgenic soybean plant has more floral racemes per node than a control plant not having the recombinant DNA construct. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The transgenic soybean plant of claim 1, wherein the transgenic soybean plant is homozygous for the insertion of the recombinant DNA construct. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The transgenic soybean plant of claim 1, wherein the transgenic soybean plant is hemizygous for the insertion of the recombinant DNA construct. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The transgenic soybean plant of claim 1, wherein the transgenic soybean plant produces more flowers per node than a control plant not having the recombinant DNA construct. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The transgenic soybean plant of claim 1, wherein the transgenic soybean plant flowers earlier than a control plant not having the recombinant DNA construct. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The transgenic soybean plant of claim 1, wherein the transgenic soybean plant produces more pods per node than a control plant not having the recombinant DNA construct. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The transgenic soybean plant of claim 1, wherein the polynucleotide sequence encoding the florigenic FT protein has at least 90% identity to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 9, and SEQ ID NO: 11. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A transgenic soybean plant part of the transgenic soybean plant of claim 1, wherein the transgenic plant part is one of the following: a seed, fruit, leaf, cotyledon, hypocotyl, meristem, embryo, endosperm, root, shoot, stem, pod, flower, inflorescence, stalk, pedicel, style, stigma, receptacle, petal, sepal, pollen, anther, filament, ovary, ovule, pericarp, phloem, or vascular tissue. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The transgenic soybean plant of claim 1, wherein the florigenic FT protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 8, and SEQ ID NO: 12. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The transgenic soybean plant of claim 1, wherein the promoter comprises SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, or SEQ ID NO: 28. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The transgenic soybean plant of claim 1, wherein the florigenic FT protein comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 95% identity to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 8, and SEQ ID NO: 12. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The transgenic soybean plant of claim 1, wherein the florigenic FT protein further comprises one or more of the following amino acids: a tyrosine or other uncharged polar or nonpolar residue at the amino acid position of the florigenic FT protein corresponding to amino acid position 85 of SEQ ID NO: 14; a leucine or other nonpolar residue at the amino acid position of the florigenic FT protein corresponding to amino acid position 128 of SEQ ID NO: 14; and a tryptophan or other large nonpolar residue at the amino acid position of the florigenic FT protein corresponding to amino acid position 138 of SEQ ID NO: 14. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The transgenic soybean plant of claim 1, wherein the florigenic FT protein does not have one or more of the following amino acids: a histidine at the amino acid position corresponding to a lysine or arginine at the amino acid position corresponding to position 85 of SEQ ID NO: 14; a lysine or arginine at the amino acid position corresponding to position 128 of SEQ ID NO: 14; and a serine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, lysine or arginine at the amino acid position corresponding to position 138 of SEQ ID NO: 14.