Mendel Biotechnology, Inc.

Nutech Ventures

Michigan State University

University of Nebraska

Michael Fromm

James Z Zhang

Cai-Zhong Jiang

Sally Ann Mackenzie

Kamaldeep Virdi

Yashitola Wamboldt

Guo-Liang Yu

Oliver J Ratcliffe

T Lynne Reuber

Robert A Creelman

Jacqueline E Heard

Jose Luis Riechmann

Omaira Pineda

Luc Adam

Roderick W Kumimoto

Michael F Thomashow

James S Keddie

Marsha L Pilgrim

Pierre Broun

Arnold N DuBell, Iii

Volker Haake

Eric J Stockinger

Bradley K Sherman

Daniel Zarka

Raymond R Samaha

Kirsten Jaglo-Ottosen

Sarah Jane Gilmour

The present invention provides methods for obtaining plants that exhibit useful traits by perturbation of plastid function in plant rootstocks and grafting the rootstocks to scions. Methods for identifying genetic loci that provide for useful traits in plants and plants produced with those loci are also provided. In addition, plants that exhibit the useful traits, parts of the plants including seeds, and products of the plants are provided as well as methods of using the plants. Recombinant DNA vectors and transgenic plants comprising those vectors that provide for plastid perturbation are also provided.

Methods and compositions for obtaining useful plant traits

The invention relates to plant transcription factor polypeptides, polynucleotides that encode them, homologs from a variety of plant species, and methods of using the polynucleotides and polypeptides to produce transgenic plants having advantageous properties compared to a reference plant. Sequence information related to these polynucleotides and polypeptides can also be used in bioinformatic search methods and is also disclosed.

Polynucleotides and polypeptides in plants

A method for screening for a trait associated with the altered expression of a gene of interest in plants is provided. The method is a combinatorial approach which uses traditional plant breeding techniques for modifying the patterns of expression of a gene of interest. Kits for use in the method and transgenic plants generated by the method are also provided.

Genetic trait breeding method

The present invention provides for a non-naturally occurring binding protein comprising an amino acid sequence capable of binding to a CCG regulatory sequence and an amino acid sequence which forms a transcription activation region. In particular the invention comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of an AP2 domain of SEQ. I.D. Nos. 13, 15, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, and 95. When these proteins are overexpressed in a plant the plant exhibits increased tolerance to environmental stresses such as cold, freezing, drought or high salinity.

Plant having altered environmental stress tolerance

Recombinant proteins comprising on or more mitochondrial leader peptide sequences and a domain having herbicidal sulfonamide-insensitive dihydropteroate synthase activity are disclosed. Transformation of plants with nucleic acids that encode this mitochondrially-targeted recombinant protein is also provided. Such transformed plants exhibit resistance to herbicidal sulfonamides, such as asulam, and therefore may be cultivated where such herbicides are being used to control weed growth.

Sulfonamide resistance in plants

Growing community of inventors

Lincoln, NE, United States of America

Michael Fromm