Increasing plant growth by modulating omega-amidase expression in plants
AssigneesLos Alamos National Security, LLC, University of Maine System Board of Trustees
InventorsPat J. Unkefer, Penelope S. Anderson, Thomas J. Knight
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for increasing the leaf-to-root ratio of the signal metabolite 2-oxoglutaramate and related proline molecules in plants by modulating levels of ω-amidase to increase nitrogen use efficiency, resulting in enhanced growth, faster growth rates, greater seed and fruit/pod yields, earlier and more productive flowering, increased tolerance to high salt conditions, and increased biomass yields.
Claims33
A transgenic plant comprising an ω-amidase transgene, wherein the ω-amidase transgene is operably linked to a root-preferred promoter and wherein the ω-amidase transgene encodes an ω-amidase protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:
- 3, wherein the transgenic plant has increased biomass relative to a plant of the same species that does not comprise the ω-amidase transgene.
A method for increasing biomass of a plant relative to a wild type or untransformed plant of the same species, comprising:
- (a) introducing an ω-amidase transgene into the plant, wherein the ω-amidase transgene is operably linked to a root-preferred promoter and wherein the ω-amidase transgene encodes an ω-amidase protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:
- 3;
- (b) expressing the ω-amidase transgene in root tissue of the plant or the progeny of the plant;
- and
- (c) selecting a plant having an increased biomass relative to a plant of the same species that does not comprise the ω-amidase transgene.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.