High starch accumulation in plants

A method for preparing a plant that accumulates starch without decreasing plant growth or yield comprising introducing into the plant a heterologous polynucleotide that encodes an RNA sequence which upon expression in a plant leads to a reduction in expression of a protein or a gene coding for a protein that aids in starch degradation, wherein the polynucleotide is integrated into the genome of a plant cell and an intact plant is generated from the plant cell and reduction in expression of the protein or the gene coding for the protein that aids in starch degradation occurs without a significant decrease in yield or plant growth.

A transgenic plant or plant material that comprises a heterologous polynucleotide that encodes an RNA sequence which upon expression in a plant leads to a reduction in expression of a protein or a gene coding for a protein that aids in starch degradation, wherein reduction in expression of the protein or the gene coding for the protein that aids in starch degradation occurs without a significant decrease in yield or plant growth.

A method to accumulate starch in a plant without decreasing plant growth or yield comprising inhibiting endogenous expression of a protein or a gene coding for a protein that aids in starch degradation throughout the life of the plant, wherein the plant is complimented with a transgene coding for the protein which was inhibited which is operably linked to a promoter which is only active early in the life cycle of the plant so as to accumulate starch in the plant without a significant decrease in yield or plant growth.