Transgenic plants expressing a dual-specificity MAPK phosphatase and uses thereof

A method for promoting early flowering of a plant, said method comprsing the steps of:

• (a) introducing into one or more plant cells a transgene comprising DNA encoding a phosphatase domain of a dual-specificity mitogen-activating protein kinase phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) operably linked to a promoter functional in said plant cell(s), to yield one or more transformed plant cells;
• and
• (b) regenerating a transgenic plant from one or more said transformed plant cells, wherein the phosphatase domain of said dual-specificity MKP-1 is expressed in the cells of said transgenic plant, and wherein expression of said DNA encoding said phosphatase domain of said dual-specificity MKP-1 promotes early flowering of said transgenic plant.

A method for increasing the reproductive life cycle of a plant, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) introducing into one or more plant cells a transgene comprising DNA encoding a phosphatase domain of a dual-specificity mitogen-activating protein kinase phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) operably linked to a promoter functional in said plant cell(s), to yield one or more transformed plant cells;
• and
• (b) regenerating a transgenic plant from one or more said transformed plant cells, wherein the phosphatase domain of said dual-specificity MKP-1 is expressed in the cells of said transgenic plant, and wherein expression of said DNA encoding said phosphatase domain of said dual-specificity MKP-1 increases the reproductive life cycle of said transgenic plant relative to a control plant.

A method for decreasing the vegetative growth of a plant, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) introducing into one or more plant cells a transgene comprising DNA encoding a phosphatase domain of a dual-specificity mitogen-activating protein kinase phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) operably linked to a promoter functional in said plant cell(s), to yield one or more transformed plant cells;
• and
• (b) regenerating a transgenic plant from one or more said transformed plant cells, wherein the phosphatase domain of said dual-specificity MKP-1 is expressed in the cells of said transgenic plant, and wherein expression of said DNA encoding said phosphatase domain of said dual-specificity MKP-1 decreases the vegetative growth of said transgenic plant relative to a control plant.

A method for shortening the time to reproductive capacity of a plant, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) introducing into one or more plant cells a transgene comprising DNA encoding a phosphatase domain of a dual-specificity mitogen-activating protein kinase phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) operably linked to a promoter functional in said plant cell(s), to yield one or more transformed plant cells;
• and
• (b) regenerating a transgenic plant from one or more said transformed plant cells, wherein the phosphatase domain of said dual-specificity MKP-1 is expressed in the cells of said transgenic plant and wherein expression of said DNA encoding said phosphatase domain of said dual-specificity MKP-1 shortens the time to reproductive capacity of said transgenic plant relative to a control plant.

A method for decreasing the auxin sensitivity of a plant, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) introducing into one or more plant cells a transgene comprising DNA encoding a phosphatase domain of a dual-specificity mitogen-activating protein kinase phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) operably linked to a promoter functional in said plant cell(s), to yield one or more transformed plant cells;
• and
• (b) regenerating a transgenic plant from one or more said transformed plant cells, wherein the phosphatase domain of said dual-specificity MKP-1 is expressed in the cells of said transgenic plant, and wherein expression of said DNA encoding said phosphatase domain of said dual-specificity MKP-1 decrease(s the auxin sensitivity of said transgenic plant relative to a control plant.

A method for increasing seed production of a plant, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) introducing into one or more plant cells a transgene comprising DNA encoding a phosphatase domain of a dual-specificity mitogen-activating protein kinase phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) operably linked to a promoter functional in said plant cell(s), to yield one or more transformed plant cells;
• and
• (b) regenerating a transgenic plant from one or more said transformed plant cells, wherein the phosphatase domain of said dual-specificity MKP-1 is expressed in the cells of said transgenic plant, and wherein expression of said DNA encoding said phosphatase domain of said dual-specificity MKP-1 increases seed production of said transgenic plant relative to a control plant.

A plant comprising a transgene that expresses a phosphatase domain of a dual-specificity MKP-1, wherein said transgene is expressed in said transgenic plant under the control of a promoter that is functional in a plant cell.