Ut-battelle, Inc.

University of Tennessee Research Foundation

Priya Ranjan

Gerald A Tuskan

Wellington Muchero

Lee E Gunter

Sara S Jawdy

Jay Chieh Chen

Xiaohan Yang

Jin-Gui Chen

Anthony Christian Bryan

Jessy L Labbe

Juan Wang

Olaf Czarnecki

Jianjun Guo

Stephen P DiFazio

The present disclosure is directed to methods of improving mycorrhization in a plant or plant cell. Another aspect of this disclosure is directed to a genetically modified plant or plant cell with improved mycorrhization.

Methods of improving mycorrhization in plants and genetically modifed plants with improved mycorrhization

This disclosure provides plants having desirable levels of lignin synthesis, sugar release, S/G ratio, and resistance to stress and pathogens; methods of selecting plants with such desirable levels of lignin synthesis, sugar release, S/G ratio, and resistance to stress and pathogens; methods of genetically modifying plants to modulate lignin synthesis, sugar release, S/G ratio, and resistance to stress and pathogens; and uses of such plants. The inventors have determined that the expression and/or activity of POPTR_0014s08530, a gene encoding an/CtBP transcription factor, modulates lignin synthesis, sugar release, S/G ratio, and resistance to stress and pathogens in plants. Plants with lignin synthesis, sugar release, S/G ratio, and resistance to stress and pathogens, based on modulation of the expression or activity of the POPTR_0014s08530 gene, have divergent uses including pulp and paper production, and ethanol/biofuel production.

Key gene regulating plant cell wall recalcitrance

Growing community of inventors

Knoxville, TN, United States of America

Priya Ranjan