Compositions for modulating plant growth and stress tolerance, and methods of use thereof

2-4. (canceled)

6-7. (canceled)

(canceled)

(canceled)

A method of suppressing the growth of an undesirable plant growing where it is not wanted, comprising:

• contacting the undesirable plant with a composition that comprises itaconate at amounts effective to suppress the growth of the undesirable plant by at least 30%, wherein the itaconate is at a concentration of 0.1 mM to 10 mM.

15-17. (canceled)

A method of promoting the growth of a cultivated plant while suppressing the growth of an undesirable plant growing where it is not wanted, comprising:

• contacting the cultivated plant and the undesirable plant with a composition that comprises itaconate;
• wherein the composition comprises itaconate at an amount effective to stimulate the growth of the cultivated plant by at least 10% and suppress the growth of the undesirable plant by at least 30%.

(canceled)

(canceled)

26-27. (canceled)

(canceled)

(canceled)

(canceled)

A transgenic plant or plant cell that expresses a polynucleotide encoding cis-aconitate decarboxylase at a level higher than that of a wild-type plant and the transgenic plant has improved growth, crop vigor, accelerated shoot growth and/or increased itaconate content compared to that in control plants lacking higher levels of cis-aconitate decarboxylase activity, and wherein the polynucleotide is at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NO:1.

(canceled)

A recombinant plant cell comprising a heterologous polynucleotide resulting in overexpression of a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having aconitate decarboxylase activity, wherein the recombinant host cell comprises increased itaconate production compared to a wild-type cell.

44-46. (canceled)