Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.

Jennifer Youjin Chung

Jeffrey Habben

Nicholas J Bate

Compositions and methods for modulating flower organ development, leaf formation, phototropism, apical dominance, fruit development, initiation of roots and for increasing yield in a plant are provided. The compositions include an AP2 transcription factor sequence. Compositions of the invention comprise amino acid sequences and nucleotide sequences selected from SEQ ID NOS: 1-11 as well as variants and fragments thereof. Nucleotide sequences encoding the AP2 transcription factors are provided in DNA constructs for expression in a plant of interest are provided for modulating the level of an AP2 transcription factor sequence in a plant or a plant part are provided. The methods comprise introducing into a plant or plant part a heterologous polynucleotide comprising an AP2 transcription factor sequence of the invention. The level of the AP2 transcription factor polypeptide can be increased or decreased. Such method can be used to increase the yield in plants; in one embodiment, the method is used to increase grain yield in cereals.

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Johnston, IA, United States of America

Jennifer Youjin Chung