Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.

Mei Guo

Mary A Rupe

Carl R Simmons

Wesley B Bruce

Rajeev Gupta

Shoba Sivasankar

Yongzhong Wu

Howard P Hershey

Xiaomu Niu

Dale F Loussaert

Olga Nikolaevna Danilevskaya

Jeffrey R Schussler

Methods for modulating plants using optimized ZmME293 down-regulation constructs are disclosed. Also disclosed are nucleotide sequences, constructs, vectors, and modified plant cells, as well as transgenic plants displaying increased seed and/or biomass yield, improved tolerance to abiotic stress such as drought or high plant density, improved nitrogen utilization efficiency, increased ear number and/or reduction in time to scenescence.

Down-regulation of a homeodomain-leucine zipper I-class homeobox gene for improved plant performance

The present invention provides polynucleotides and related polypeptides of the ZmARGOS gene family. The invention provides genomic sequence for the ZmARGOS genes. ZmARGOS is responsible for controlling plant growth, organ size and yield in crop plants.

Maize genes for controlling plant growth and organ size and their use in improving crop plants

The present invention provides polynucleotides and related polypeptides of the ZmERECTA gene family. The invention provides nucleic acid sequences for the Zm ERECTA genes. ZmERECTA is responsible for controlling plant growth, organ size and yield in crop plants.

Maize ERECTA genes for improving plant growth, transpiration, efficiency and drought tolerance in crop plants

The present invention provides polynucleotides and related polypeptides (SEQ ID NO: 11 and 44) of the ZmARGOS (Auxin-Regulated Gene involved in Organ Size) gene family. The invention provides genomic sequence for the ZmARGOS genes. ZmARGOS is responsible for controlling plant growth, organ size and yield in crop plants. Transgenic plants expressing ZmARGOS show a positive impact on biomass accumulation and rate of maize plant growth, as well as an increase in organ size. These maize genes will find utility for enhancing agronomic traits in maize (and other crops).

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The present invention provides methods to increase crop yield utilizing transgenic complementary paired genes controlling plant growth and yield. The specific genes increase female reproductive organs and are paired with genes responsible for modifying the growth of non-yield specific plant tissues. Plants, plant progeny, seeds and tissues created by these methods are also described. Polynucleotides encoding the paired sequences are provided for expression in a plant of interest. Expression cassettes, plants, plant cells, plant parts and seeds comprising the sequences of the invention are further provided. In specific embodiments, the polynucleotide is operably linked to a constitutive promoter.

Method to increase crop grain yield utilizing complementary paired growth and yield genes

The present invention provides polynucleotides and related polypeptides (SEQ ID NO: 3 and 4) of the ZmARGOS (Auxin-Regulated Gene involved in Organ Size) gene family. The invention provides genomic sequence for the ZmARGOS genes. ZmARGOS is responsible for controlling plant growth, organ size and yield in crop plants. Transgenic plants expressing ZmARGOS show a positive impact on biomass accumulation and rate of maize plant growth, as well as an increase in organ size. These maize genes will find utility for enhancing agronomic traits in maize (and other crops).

The present invention provides polynucleotides and related polypeptides (SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2) of the ZmARGOS (Auxin-Regulated Gene involved in Organ Size) gene family. The invention provides genomic sequence for the ZmARGOS genes. ZmARGOS is responsible for controlling plant growth, organ size and yield in crop plants. Transgenic plants expressing ZmARGOS show a positive impact on biomass accumulation and rate of maize plant growth, as well as an increase in organ size. These maize genes will find utility for enhancing agronomic traits in maize (and other crops).

Zea maize auxin response related genes for controlling plant growth and organ size and their use in improving crop plants

The present invention provides polynucleotides and related polypeptides of the protein ZMNAM isolated from maize endosperm. The invention provides genomic sequence for the ZMNAM gene. ZMNAM is a novel gene and is regulated by gene-specific imprinting. ZMNAM expression is endosperm-specific and expressed throughout the endosperm development, peaking at 25 DAP. Genomic imprinting has been implicated to play a role in endosperm development. Genes regulated by allele-specific imprinting are suspected to be non-essential to seed development. Gene-specific imprinting however, regulates developmentally important genes. The ZMNAM gene, a putative transcriptional factor, may play an important role in endosperm development, which may further affect kernel size, plant vigor during germination and at the early seedling stage.

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West Des Moines, IA, United States of America

Mei Guo