Compositions and methods for increasing plant growth and improving multiple yield-related traits

A method of producing a transgenic plant having improved traits as compared to a non-transgenic or wild-type control plant of the same plant species, the method comprises:

• a) introducing into a plant cell a nucleic acid construct consisting of a heterologous plant tissue-specific promoter as set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 23 which is operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding a transcription factor polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 04 and obtaining transformed plant cells;
• b) obtaining transgenic plants expressing said polypeptide from the transformed plant cells of step a);
• and
• c) selecting a transgenic plant from said transgenic plants of step b) that expresses said polypeptide,
• and wherein expression of said polypeptide in said selected transgenic plant results in said improved traits comprising i) at least 5% increased plant height, ii) at least 5% increased number of tillers/branches;, iii) at least 20% increased biomass yield, iv) at least 50% enhanced root development, v) at least 5% lower insoluble lignin content, vi) at least 20% increased ratio of syringyl to guaiacyl monomeric units in lignin,;
• and vii) at least 10% increased saccharide release from plant cell wall.