Transgenic plants with enhanced agronomic traits

A recombinant DNA construct comprising a promoter functional in plant cells that is operably linked to a polynucleotide that (a) encodes a protein that has an amino acid sequence having at least 95% identity over at least 95% of the length of a reference sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:

• 16-21 when the amino acid sequence is aligned with the reference sequence;
• or (b) is transcribed into a precursor for a miRNA that has the function of a miRNA having a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
• 1-2, 7, 9-13, and 15;
• and wherein said recombinant DNA construct is stably integrated into a chromosome in a transgenic plant cell.

A plant cell comprising a stably integrated recombinant DNA construct wherein said recombinant DNA construct comprises a promoter that is functional in said plant cell operably linked to a polynucleotide that is expressed in said cell to effect:

• (a) modulation of expression of a protein relative to a control wherein the polynucleotide is transcribed into:
• (1) a messenger RNA encoding the protein;
• (2) a miRNA decoy for a miRNA which targets a messenger RNA encoding the protein;
• (3) a miRNA-resistant messenger RNA encoding the protein;
• (4) a dsRNA which is processed into siRNAs which targets a messenger RNA encoding the protein;
• (5) a miRNA that targets a messenger RNA encoding the protein;
• (6) a miRNA-sensitive messenger RNA encoding the protein;
• (7) a ta-siRNA which is processed into siRNAs which targets a messenger RNA encoding the protein;
• or
• (8) a small RNA which prevents cleavage of a messenger RNA encoding the protein;
• or
• (b) modulation of the activity of a miRNA relative to a control wherein the polynucleotide is transcribed into:
• (1) an RNA that results in the production of the miRNA which has its activity modulated;
• or
• (2) a miRNA decoy which targets the miRNA which has its activity modulated;
• and wherein said plant cell is selected by screening a population of transgenic plants that have said recombinant DNA construct in plant cells and an enhanced trait as compared to control plants;
• and wherein said enhanced trait is enhanced water use efficiency, enhanced cold tolerance, enhanced heat tolerance, enhanced resistance to salt exposure, enhanced shade tolerance, increased yield, enhanced nitrogen use efficiency, enhanced seed protein or enhanced seed oil.