Methods for the identification of herbicides and the modulation of plant growth

A method for identifying a compound as a candidate for a herbicide, comprising:

• a) measuring the expression of an RNA in a plant or plant cell in the presence and absence of said compound, wherein said RNA is selected from the group consisting of:
• i) an mRNA corresponding to the cDNA of SEQ ID NO:1, 3, or 5;
• ii) an RNA having at least 80% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:1, 3, or 5;
• iii) an RNA encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2, 4, or 6;
• and
• iv) an RNA encoding a polypeptide having at least 80% sequence identity to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2, 4, or 6;
• and
• b) comparing the expression of said RNA in the presence and absence of said compound, wherein a change in the expression of said RNA in the presence of said compound indicates that said compound is a herbicide candidate.

A method for identifying a compound as a candidate for a herbicide, comprising:

• a) measuring the expression of a protein in a plant or plant cell in the presence and absence of said compound, wherein said protein is selected from the group consisting of:
• i) the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2, 4, or 6;
• and
• ii) a polypeptide having at least 80% sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2, 4, or 6;
• and
• b) comparing the expression of said protein in the presence and absence of said compound, wherein a change in the expression of said protein in the presence of said compound indicates that said compound is a herbicide candidate.

A method for identifying a compound as a herbicide, comprising:

• a) selecting a compound that binds to the polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:
• i) the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2, 4, or 6;
• and
• ii) a polypeptide having at least 80% sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2, 4, or 6;
• and
• b) contacting a plant with said compound to confirm herbicidal activity.

An isolated antisense RNA for modulating plant growth, comprising an RNA selected from the group consisting of:

• a) an RNA complementary to SEQ ID NO:
• 1, 3, or 5;
• b) an RNA complementary to at least 20 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:1, 3, or 5;
• c) an RNA complementary to a polynucleotide having at least 80% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:1, 3, or 5;
• d) an RNA complementary to at least 30 consecutive nucleotides of a polynucleotide encoding SEQ ID NO:2, 4, or 6;
• and
• e) an RNA complementary to a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having at least 80% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:2, 4, or 6.

A method for modulating plant growth and/or development comprising:

• a) introducing into a plant or plant cell at least one RNA polynucleotide, said RNA polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of:
• i) an RNA complementary to SEQ ID NO:1, 3, or 5;
• ii) an RNA complementary to at least 20 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:1, 3, or 5;
• iii) an RNA complementary to a nucleic acid having at least 80% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:1, 3, or 5;
• iv) an RNA complementary to at least 30 consecutive nucleotides of a nucleic acid encoding SEQ ID NO:2, 4, or 6;
• v) an RNA complementary to a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having at least 80% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:2, 4, or 6;
• vi) a ribozyme specific for a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having at least 80% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:2, 4, or 6;
• vii) a dsRNA specific for a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having at least 80% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:2, 4, or 6;
• viii) an RNA having at least 80% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:1, 3, or 5;
• and
• ix) an RNA encoding a polypeptide having at least 80% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:2, 4, or 6;
• and
• b) selecting said plant or plant cell expressing said RNA polynucleotide;
• wherein said plant growth and/or development is altered.