Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Scott Daniel Michaels

Richard Mark Amasino

Fritz Michael Schomburg

Si-Bum Sung

Katia Scortecci

Colleen M Bizzell

David Patton

Edward T Himelblau

The present invention provides genetic identification and use information about a family of genes, the FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) genes, that is part of the regulate the timing of the onset of flowering in plants. This information enables creation of transgenic plants in which the timing of the flowering of the plants has been selectively altered. Since these genes natively act to delay the time of flowering in plants, enhancing activity of the FLC protein delays the timing of flowering initiation while inhibiting the activity of FLC advances the timing of the start of flowering. A representative number of samples of the gene family are described. Members of the gene family are demonstrated to work in other plant species as well.

Alteration of flowering time in plants

The present invention discloses the function, the cDNA sequences, and the expressed amino acid sequences of two genes the expression of which reduced bioactive GA levels and the height of a plant. This information enables creation of dwarf transgenic plants or transgenic plants with a specific dwarf organ.

Dwarfism genes and dwarf plants

The present invention provides an FPA polynucleotide sequence which is involved in controlling the flowering time of plants. The present invention also provides a vector incorporating the protein coding sequence, or a portion or homolog thereof, as well as a genetically modified plant. Also disclosed are methods of producing a genetically modified plant in which the flowering time of the plant has been selectively altered, and methods for reducing the activity of FLC mRNA in plants containing the FLC gene.

Floral induction gene

The present invention discloses the function, the cDNA sequences, and the expressed amino acid sequences of two genes the expression of each of which delayed the flower initiation time of a plant. This information enables creation of transgenic plants with altered flower initiation time.

Growing community of inventors

Madison, WI, United States of America

Scott Daniel Michaels