University of Toronto

Performance Plants, Inc.

Peter John McCourt

Majid Ghassemian

Sean Cutler

Danielle Vidaurre

Dario Torquato Bonetta

George Stamatiou

Dario Bonetta

Described herein are compositions comprising at least one auxin transport inhibitor for pre-treating a plant or seed to increase saccharification, or saccharide release by hydrolysis, the at least one auxin transport inhibitor being in an amount effective to increase sugar release from a plant tissue by hydrolysis. Also described are plant mutations, and methods to screen for such plant mutations, having an improved sugar release phenotype. The described compositions, methods and plant mutations are particularly useful for producing biofuel crops, such as maize, to improve sugar extractability from lignocellulosic biomass and hence, the efficiency of bioethanol production overall.

Compositions, methods, and plant genes for the improved production of fermentable sugars for biofuel production

The novel constructs and methods of this invention improve tolerance in plants to environmental stresses and senescence. Nucleic acids encoding a plant farnesyl transferase are described, as are transgenic plants and seeds incorporating these nucleic acids and proteins. Also provided are non-naturally occurring mutations in the gene encoding farnesyl transferase which enhance drought tolerance in the plants, improve resistance to senescence and modify growth habit.

Stress tolerance and delayed senescence in plants

The novel constructs and methods of this invention improve tolerance in plants to environmental stresses and senescence. Nucleic acids encoding a plant farnesyl transferase are described, as are transgenic plants and seeds incorporating these nucleic acids and proteins. Also provided are inhibitors of naturally-occurring farnesyl transferase which, when expressed, will enhance drought tolerance in the plants, improve resistance to senescence and modify growth habit.

Growing community of inventors

Toronto, Canada

Peter John McCourt