Down-regulation of a homeodomain-leucine zipper i-class homeobox gene for improved plant performance
AssigneePioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
InventorsMei Guo, Xiaomu Niu, Mary Rupe, Jeffrey R. Schussler
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Abstract
Methods for modulating plants using optimized ZmME293 down-regulation constructs are disclosed. Also disclosed are nucleotide sequences, constructs, vectors, and modified plant cells, as well as transgenic plants displaying increased seed and/or biomass yield, improved tolerance to abiotic stress such as drought or high plant density, improved nitrogen utilization efficiency, increased ear number and/or reduction in time to scenescence.
Claims33
An isolated nucleic acid comprising a promoter that functions in plants and further comprising a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:
- 1, 34, 37, 40, 41 and 43.
An isolated nucleic acid comprising a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:
- 1, 34, 37, 40, 41 and 43.
A plant or plant cell comprising an expression cassette effective for reducing expression of at least one endogenous homeodomain-leucine zipper I-class homeobox gene, wherein said expression cassette comprises a promoter that functions in plants operably linked to a nucleic acid configured for RNA silencing or interference, wherein said nucleic acid comprises polynucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
- 40, 41 and 43.
A method of increasing sink capacity, accelerating remobilization and/or senescence and grain dry down in a plant, the method comprising reducing the expression of one or more ZmME293 genes in the plant, by expressing a transgenic nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
- 40, 41 and 43.
A method of increasing yield in a plant, the method comprising down regulating the expression of one or more ZmME293 genes in the plant by expressing a transgenic nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
- 40, 41 and 43.
A method of increasing drought tolerance in the absence of a yield penalty under non-drought conditions, the method comprising reducing endogenous ME293 transcript levels or ME293 activity.
An expression cassette consisting essentially of nucleotide sequences SEQ ID NO:
- 40 and SEQ ID NO:
- 41, wherein the nucleotide sequences are separated by an intervening polynucleotide.
The method of increasing source capacity of the ZmME293 transgenic plants to support the increased sink capacity in order to realize increased yield potential.
A method of reducing the expression of ZmME293 or the activity of ZmME293 in a plant, the method comprising modulating the expression levels of ZmME293 mRNA or the protein level of ZmME293 or the activity of ZmME293 polypeptide, wherein the modulation results in an improved agronomic performance of the plant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.