Polynucleotides and methods for the improvement of plants

Abstract

The invention provides methods for producing a plant with altered seed yield, the methods comprising transformation of a plant with a genetic construct including a polynucleotide encoding of a polypeptide with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a variant or fragment thereof. The method also provides isolated polypeptides, polynucleotides, constructs and vectors useful for producing a plant with altered seed yield. The method also provides plant cell and plants transformed to contain and express the polypeptides, polynucleotides and constructs. The invention also provides plants produced by methods of the invention.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to compositions and methods for producing plants with increased seed yield.BACKGROUND ART[0002]As the population of the world increases, a major goal of agricultural research is to improve the grain yield of crop plant species.[0003]Such improvements have until recently depended on selective breeding of plants for desirable characteristics. However for many plants the heterogeneous genetic compliments produced in off-spring do not result in the same desirable traits as those of their parents, thus limiting the effectiveness of selective breeding approaches.[0004]Advances in molecular biology now make it possible to genetically manipulate the germplasm of both plants and animals. Genetic engineering of plants involves the isolation and manipulation of genetic material and the subsequent introduction of such material into a plant. This technology has led to the development of plants that are capable of expressing pharmaceuticals and o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0028]Preferably the plant produced by the method of the invention has increased seed yield relative to a suitable control plant.

[0030]In one embodiment, the method results in a plant with decreased seed yield, relative to a suitable control, due to transformation of a plant cell or plant, with a genetic construct capable of down-regulating expression of a polypeptide which positively modulates seed yield.

[0031]In a preferred embodiment, the method results in a plant with increased seed yield, relative to a suitable control, due to transformation of a plant cell or plant, with a genetic construct capable of up-regulating expression of a polypeptide which positively modulates seed yield.

[0033]Preferably the plant produced by the method of the invention has increased seed yield relative to a suitable control plant.

[0206]Methods are also provided for selecting plants with altered seed yield. Such methods involve testing of plants for altered for the expression of a polynucleotide or polypeptide of the invention. Such methods may be applied at a young age or early developmental stage when the altered seed yield may not necessarily be visible, to accelerate breeding programs directed toward improving seed yield.

Problems solved by technology

However for many plants the heterogeneous genetic compliments produced in off-spring do not result in the same desirable traits as those of their parents, thus limiting the effectiveness of selective breeding approaches.

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