Nucleotide sequences and polypeptides encoded thereby useful for modifying plant characteristics

An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising:

• a) a nucleic acid having a nucleotide sequence which encodes an amino acid sequence exhibiting at least 85% sequence identity to an amino acid sequence in Sequence Listing;
• b) a nucleic acid which is a complement of a nucleotide sequence according to paragraph (a);
• c) a nucleic acid which is the reverse of the nucleotide sequence according to subparagraph (a), such that the reverse nucleotide sequence has a sequence order which is the reverse of the sequence order of the nucleotide sequence according to subparagraph (a);
• or
• d) a nucleic acid capable of hybridizing to a nucleic acid according to any one of paragraphs (a)-(c), under conditions that permit formation of a nucleic acid duplex at a temperature from about 40° C. and 48° C. below the melting temperature of the nucleic acid duplex.