Methods and compositions for obtaining low plant height plants via gibberellin metabolic engineering to increase harvestable yield

Abstract

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for modifying gibberellin (GA) content in corn plants or other cereal plants. Also provided are methods and compositions for altering the expression of genes associated with gibberellin biogenesis through suppression, mutagenesis, and / or editing of GA20 oxidase genes or specific subtypes of GA3 oxidase genes.SOLUTION: Further provided are modified plant cells and plants having a suppression element or mutation that reduces the expression or activity of a GA oxidase gene, wherein such modified plant cells and plants have reduced gibberellin levels and improved characteristics (such as reduced plant height and increased lodging resistance), but not a variant form.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 376,298, filed August 17, 2016, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 442,377, filed January 4, 2017, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 502,313, filed May 5, 2017. Each of these U.S. provisional applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] Sequence Listing References The sequence listing contained in the file entitled "P34494WO00_SEQ.txt", which is 293,398 bytes (as measured by MS-Windows®) created on August 17, 2017, is submitted electronically herewith and is incorporated by reference in its entirety. [Background technology]

[0003] Field The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for improving traits such as lodging resistance and increased yield in monocotyledonous or cereal plants, including corn.

[0004] Related Technical Fields Gibberellins (gibberellic acid or GA) are plant hormones that regulate many key plant growth and development processes. GA levels have been engineered in semi-dwarf varieties of wheat, rice, and sorghum, and this manipulation led to increased yields and reduced lodging in these cereals during the 20th century, which played a major role in the Green Revolution. However, in other cereals, such as maize, manipulation of the GA pathway has not resulted in significant yield increases. Indeed, mutations in GA pathway genes have been associated with various maize variants, but these variants have not been accompanied by yield improvements, which has prevented researchers from discovering semi-dwarf, high-yielding maize varieties through manipulation of the GA pathway.

[0005] There is a continuing need in the art for the development of monocotyledonous or cereal plants, such as maize, that have increased yield and / or lodging resistance. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule, wherein the non-coding RNA molecule aligns with at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 contiguous nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA oxidase protein of a monocotyledonous or cereal plant or plant cell. the endogenous GA oxidase protein has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:30, or SEQ ID NO:33, and the transcribable DNA sequence is operably linked to a plant-expressible promoter.

[0007] In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides a recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule, wherein the non-coding RNA molecule is at least 9 for at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA20 oxidase protein of a monocotyledonous or cereal plant or plant cell. the endogenous GA20 oxidase protein has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:9, and the transcribable DNA sequence is operably linked to a plant-expressible promoter.

[0008] In a third aspect, the present disclosure provides a recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule, wherein the non-coding RNA molecule is at least 9 for at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA20 oxidase protein of a monocotyledonous or cereal plant or plant cell. the endogenous GA20 oxidase protein has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:15, and the transcribable DNA sequence is operably linked to a plant-expressible promoter.

[0009] In a fourth aspect, the present disclosure provides a recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule, wherein the non-coding RNA molecule aligns at least 90%, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 contiguous nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA3 oxidase protein of a monocotyledonous or cereal plant or plant cell. the endogenous GA3 oxidase protein has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:30 or SEQ ID NO:33, and the transcribable DNA sequence is operably linked to a plant-expressible promoter.

[0010] In a fifth aspect, the present disclosure provides a recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule, wherein the non-coding RNA molecule is at least 9 for at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA20 oxidase protein of a monocotyledonous or cereal plant or plant cell. the endogenous GA20 oxidase protein has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO: 12, and the transcribable DNA sequence is operably linked to a plant-expressible promoter.

[0011] In a sixth aspect, the present disclosure provides a recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule, wherein the non-coding RNA molecule is at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% identical to or more than 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 contiguous nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous protein of a monocotyledonous or cereal plant or plant cell. , at least 99.5%, or 100% complementary to SEQ ID NO:86, SEQ ID NO:90, SEQ ID NO:94, SEQ ID NO:97, SEQ ID NO:101, SEQ ID NO:104, SEQ ID NO:108, SEQ ID NO:112, SEQ ID NO:116, SEQ ID NO:118, SEQ ID NO:121, SEQ ID NO:125, SEQ ID NO:129, SEQ ID NO:133, or SEQ ID NO:136, and the transcribable DNA sequence is operably linked to a plant-expressible promoter. In another aspect, the present disclosure also provides transformation vectors comprising the recombinant DNA constructs disclosed herein. In another aspect, the present disclosure also provides monocotyledonous or cereal transgenic plants, transgenic plant parts, or transgenic plant cells comprising the recombinant DNA constructs disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a transgenic maize plant, transgenic plant part, or transgenic plant cell is provided. In another embodiment, a method for producing a transgenic cereal plant is provided, the method comprising (a) transforming at least one cell of an explant with a recombinant DNA construct disclosed herein, and (b) regenerating or developing a transgenic cereal plant from the transformed explant. In another embodiment, the cereal plant is transformed via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation or biolistics.

[0012] In a seventh aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for reducing the level of at least one active GA molecule in the stem or stalk of a corn plant or cereal plant, the method comprising suppressing one or more GA3 oxidase genes or GA20 oxidase genes in one or more tissues of a transgenic cereal plant or transgenic corn plant with a recombinant DNA construct.

[0013] In an eighth aspect, the present disclosure provides a transgenic corn plant or transgenic cereal plant comprising a recombinant DNA construct, the recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that targets at least one endogenous GA20 oxidase gene or GA3 oxidase gene for repression, the transcribable DNA sequence being operably linked to a plant-expressible promoter, and the transgenic monocotyledonous plant or transgenic cereal plant having a reduced plant height compared to a wild-type control plant.

[0014] In a ninth aspect, the present disclosure provides a cereal plant comprising a mutation introduced by mutagenesis techniques into or near an endogenous GA oxidase gene, wherein the expression level of the endogenous GA oxidase gene is reduced or eliminated in the cereal plant, and the cereal plant has a reduced plant height compared to a wild-type control plant.

[0015] In a tenth aspect, the present disclosure provides a corn plant or cereal plant comprising a genome edit introduced via targeted genome editing techniques at or near the locus of an endogenous GA oxidase gene, wherein the expression level of the endogenous GA oxidase gene is reduced or eliminated compared to a control plant, and the edited cereal plant has a reduced plant height compared to the control plant.

[0016] In an eleventh aspect, the present disclosure provides a composition comprising a guide RNA, wherein the guide RNA comprises a guide sequence having at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% identity or complementarity to at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, or at least 25 consecutive nucleotides of a target DNA sequence located at or near the genomic locus of an endogenous GA oxidase gene of a cereal plant. In one aspect, the composition further comprises an RNA-guided endonuclease.

[0017] In a twelfth aspect, the present disclosure provides a recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding guide RNA molecule, wherein the guide RNA molecule comprises a guide sequence having at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% complementarity to at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, or at least 25 consecutive nucleotides of a target DNA sequence located at or near the genomic locus of an endogenous GA oxidase gene of a maize plant or cereal plant.

[0018] In a thirteenth aspect, the present disclosure provides a recombinant DNA donor template comprising at least one homologous sequence, wherein the at least one homologous sequence has at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% complementarity to at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50, at least 60, at least 70, at least 80, at least 90, at least 100, at least 150, at least 200, at least 250, at least 500, at least 1000, at least 2500, or at least 5000 contiguous nucleotides of a target DNA sequence, wherein the target DNA sequence is a genomic sequence located at or near the genomic locus of an endogenous GA oxidase gene of a maize plant or cereal plant.

[0019] In a fourteenth aspect, the present disclosure provides a recombinant DNA donor template comprising two homology arms, including a first homology arm and a second homology arm, wherein the first homology arm comprises a sequence having at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% complementarity to at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50, at least 60, at least 70, at least 80, at least 90, at least 100, at least 150, at least 200, at least 250, at least 500, at least 1000, at least 2500, or at least 5000 contiguous nucleotides of a first contiguous DNA sequence; The homologous arms comprise a sequence having at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% complementarity to at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50, at least 60, at least 70, at least 80, at least 90, at least 100, at least 150, at least 200, at least 250, at least 500, at least 1000, at least 2500, or at least 5000 contiguous nucleotides of the second flanking DNA sequence, wherein the first flanking DNA sequence and the second flanking DNA sequence are genomic sequences located at or near the genomic locus of an endogenous GA oxidase gene of the corn plant or cereal plant.

[0010] Further provided in one aspect is a DNA molecule or vector comprising a recombinant DNA donor template disclosed herein. In another aspect, there is further provided a bacterial cell or host cell comprising the recombinant DNA donor template disclosed herein. In another aspect, there is further provided a corn or cereal plant, plant part, or plant cell comprising the recombinant DNA construct disclosed herein.

[0020] In a fifteenth aspect, the present disclosure provides an engineered site-specific nuclease that binds to a target site located at or near the genomic locus of an endogenous GA oxidase gene in a corn plant or cereal plant and generates a double-stranded break or nick at the target site.

[0021] In a sixteenth aspect, the present disclosure provides a recombinant DNA construct comprising a transgene encoding a site-specific nuclease, wherein the site-specific nuclease binds to a target site located at or near the genomic locus of an endogenous GA oxidase gene of a monocotyledonous or cereal plant and generates a double-stranded break or nick at the target site.

[0022] In a seventeenth aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for producing a transgenic corn plant or a transgenic cereal plant, the method comprising: (a) transforming at least one cell of an explant with a recombinant DNA donor template disclosed herein; and (b) regenerating or developing a transgenic corn plant or a transgenic cereal plant from the transformed explant, wherein the transgenic corn plant or the transgenic cereal plant comprises an insert sequence of the recombinant DNA donor template.

[0023] In an eighteenth aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for producing a corn plant or cereal plant with a genome edit at or near an endogenous GA oxidase gene, the method comprising: (a) introducing into at least one cell of an explant of the corn plant or cereal plant a site-specific nuclease, or introducing a recombinant DNA molecule comprising a transgene encoding the site-specific nuclease, wherein the site-specific nuclease binds to a target site located at or near the genomic locus of the endogenous GA oxidase gene and generates a double-stranded break or nick at the target site; and (b) regenerating or developing an edited corn plant or cereal plant from at least one explant cell that comprises a genome edit at or near the endogenous GA oxidase gene of the edited monocotyledonous plant or cereal plant.

[0024] In a nineteenth aspect, the present disclosure provides a modified corn plant, the modified corn plant having a height of less than 2000 mm, less than 1950 mm, less than 1900 mm, less than 1850 mm, less than 1800 mm, less than 1750 mm, less than 1700 mm, less than 1650 mm, less than 1600 mm, less than 1550 mm, less than 1500 mm, less than 1450 mm, less than 1400 mm, less than 1350 mm, less than 1300 mm, less than 1250 mm, less than 1200 mm. and one or more of: (i) an average stem or stalk diameter of more than 18 mm, more than 18.5 mm, more than 19 mm, more than 19.5 mm, more than 20 mm, more than 20.5 mm, more than 21 mm, more than 21.5 mm, or more than 22 mm; (ii) improved lodging resistance compared to wild-type control plants; or (iii) improved drought tolerance compared to wild-type control plants.

[0025] In a twentieth aspect, the present disclosure provides a modified cereal plant, the modified cereal plant having a reduced plant height compared to a wild-type control plant and (i) a stem or stalk that is increased in diameter compared to a wild-type control plant, (ii) improved lodging resistance compared to a wild-type control plant, or (iii) improved drought tolerance compared to a wild-type control plant. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows that the plant height of inbred maize plants expressing the GA20 oxidase suppression construct was reduced across eight transformation events compared to inbred control plants. [Figure 2] Figure 2A shows that hybrid corn plants expressing the GA20 oxidase suppression construct had reduced average plant height compared to hybrid control plants, and Figure 2B shows an image of a wild-type hybrid control plant (left) next to a hybrid corn plant (right) expressing the GA20 oxidase suppression construct and exhibiting reduced plant height. [Figure 3]Figure 3A shows that the average stalk diameter of hybrid corn plants expressing the GA20 oxidase suppression construct was increased compared to hybrid control plants, and Figure 3B shows a juxtaposition of a stalk cross section (left) from a wild-type hybrid control plant next to a stalk cross section (right) from a hybrid corn plant expressing the GA20 oxidase suppression construct and exhibiting increased stalk diameter. [Figure 4] 1 shows that hybrid corn plants expressing a GA20 oxidase suppression construct had increased mean fresh ear weight compared to hybrid control plants. [Figure 5] Compared with wild-type hybrid control plants in two field trials, hybrid maize plants expressing the GA20 oxidase suppression construct showed increased mean fresh ear weight, whereas the hybrid control plants were more susceptible to lodging due to wind events. [Figure 6] 1 shows increased harvest index in hybrid maize plants expressing a GA20 oxidase suppression construct compared to hybrid control plants. [Figure 7] 1 shows an increase in average grain yield estimates for hybrid maize plants expressing the GA20 oxidase suppression construct compared to hybrid control plants. [Figure 8] 1 shows that the average yield score of hybrid maize plants expressing the GA20 oxidase suppression construct was increased compared to hybrid control plants. [Figure 9] 1 shows the time course of plant height during developmental stages V11 through R1 and beyond for transgenic maize plants versus controls. [Figure 10] Graphs comparing measurements of stable oxygen isotope ratios (δ18O) as an indicator of stomatal conductance and water levels in leaf tissue at the R5 stage between transgenic maize plants and controls are shown. [Figure 11]Graph showing the rate of apical rooting between developmental stages V10 and beyond R2 in transgenic and control plants under both SAP and HD conditions, using sensors at different soil depths to detect changes in water level (a change in water level detected by the sensor indicates the presence of roots at that depth). [Figure 12] Figure 12A shows the difference in stomatal conductance between morning and afternoon for transgenic corn plants and controls under normal and drought conditions in the greenhouse, and Figure 12B shows the difference in photosynthesis between morning and afternoon for transgenic corn plants and controls under normal and drought conditions in the greenhouse. [Figure 13] Figure 13A shows the difference in miRNA expression levels in bulk stem tissue or isolated vascular and non-vascular stem tissues of transgenic corn plants compared to controls. Figure 13B shows the difference in GA20 oxidase_3 RNA transcript and GA20 oxidase_5m RNA transcript expression levels in bulk stem tissue or isolated vascular and non-vascular stem tissues of transgenic corn plants compared to controls. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] definition To facilitate understanding of this disclosure, several terms and abbreviations used herein are defined below as follows:

[0028] The term "and / or," when used in a list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be used alone or in combination with any one or more of the listed items. For example, the phrase "A and / or B" is intended to mean either or both of A and B, i.e., A alone, B alone, or a combination of A and B. The phrase "A, B, and / or C" is intended to mean A alone, B alone, C alone, a combination of A and B, a combination of A and C, a combination of B and C, or a combination of A, B, and C.

[0029] The term "about" as used herein is intended to limit the numerical value it modifies, meaning that such value varies within a margin of error. When a specific error range (such as standard deviation relative to an average value) is not stated, the term "about" should be understood to mean a range that includes the stated value and a range that is included by rounding up or down to that value, taking into account significant digits.

[0030] As used herein, the term "cereal plant" refers to a monocotyledonous (monocot) crop plant that is within the herbaceous family Poaceae or Gramineae and is typically harvested for its seeds; such monocotyledonous crop plants include, for example, wheat, maize, rice, foxtail millet, barley, sorghum, oats, and rye.

[0031] The term "percent identity" or "percent identical" as used herein with respect to two or more nucleotide or protein sequences is calculated by (i) comparing two optimally aligned sequences (nucleotide or protein) over a comparison window, (ii) determining the number of positions at which the same nucleic acid base (for nucleotide sequences) or amino acid residue (for proteins) occurs in both sequences to generate a number of matching positions, (iii) dividing the number of matching positions by the total number of positions in the comparison window, and (iv) multiplying this quotient by 100% to generate a percent identity. For purposes of calculating "percent identity" between a DNA sequence and an RNA sequence, uracil (U) in an RNA sequence is considered to be identical to thymine (T) in a DNA sequence. If the comparison window is defined as the alignment region between two or more sequences (i.e., excluding some nucleotides at the 5' and 3' ends of the aligned polynucleotide sequence, or excluding some amino acids at the N- and C-termini of the aligned protein sequence, such that some excluded nucleotides or amino acids are not identical between the compared sequences), then "percent identity" can also be referred to as "percent aligned identity." If "percent identity" is calculated with respect to a reference sequence without specifying a particular comparison window, then the percent identity is determined by dividing the number of matching positions across the alignment region by the total length of the reference sequence. Thus, for the purposes of this disclosure, when two sequences (query and subject) are optimally aligned (allowing gaps in their alignment), "percent identity" with respect to a query sequence is equal to the number of identical positions between the two sequences divided by the total number of positions in the query sequence across its length (or comparison window), then multiplied by 100%.

[0032] It is known that residue positions that are not identical in multiple proteins often differ by conservative amino acid substitutions, in which an amino acid residue is replaced with another amino acid residue having similar size and chemical properties (e.g., charge, hydrophobicity, polarity, etc.), and therefore may not alter the functional properties of the molecule. When sequences differ by conservative substitutions, the percent sequence similarity may be adjusted upward to correct for the conservative nature of the non-identical substitution(s). Sequences that differ by such conservative substitutions are said to have "sequence similarity" or "similarity." Thus, "percent similarity" or "percent similarity," as used herein with respect to two or more protein sequences, is calculated by: (i) comparing two optimally aligned protein sequences over a comparison window; (ii) determining the number of positions at which identical or similar amino acid residues occur in both sequences to generate a number of matching positions; (iii) dividing the number of matching positions by the total number of positions in the comparison window (or, if no comparison window is specified, the total length of the reference protein or query protein); and (iv) multiplying this quotient by 100% to generate a percentage similarity. Conservative amino acid substitutions for proteins are known in the art.

[0033] For optimal sequence alignment to calculate percent sequence identity or similarity, various pairwise or multiple sequence alignment algorithms and programs (such as ClustalW, or Basic Local Alignment Search Tool® (BLAST®)) are known in the art that can be used to compare sequence identity or sequence similarity between two or more nucleotide or protein sequences. Although other alignment and comparison methods are known in the art, the alignment between two sequences (including the percent identity ranges listed above) can be determined by the ClustalW or BLAST® algorithms. See, for example, Chenna R. et al., "Multiple sequence alignment with the Clustal series of programs," Nucleic Acids Research 31:3497-3500 (2003), Thompson JD et al., "Clustal W: Improving the sensitivity of progressive multiple sequence alignment through sequence weighting, position-specific gap penalties and weight matrix choice," Nucleic Acids Research 22:4673-4680 (1994), and Larkin MA et al., "Clustal W and Clustal X version 2.0," Bioinformatics 23:2947-48 (2007), as well as Altschul, S. F., Gish, W., Miller, W., Myers, E. W. & Lipman, D. J. (1990) "Basic local alignment search tool," J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410 (1990). The contents and disclosures of these documents are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0034] The term "percent complementarity" or "percent complementary," as used herein with respect to two nucleotide sequences, is similar to the concept of percent identity, but refers to the proportion of nucleotides in a query sequence that optimally base-pair or hybridize with nucleotides in a subject sequence when the query and subject sequences are linearly aligned and optimally base-paired, without any secondary folding structures (such as loops, stems, or hairpins). Such percent complementarity can be between two DNA strands, two RNA strands, or a DNA and an RNA strand. "Percent complementarity" is calculated by (i) optimally base-pairing or hybridizing the two nucleotide sequences in a linear, fully extended alignment (i.e., without any folding or secondary structures) across the comparison window, (ii) determining the number of base-pairing positions between the two sequences across the comparison window to generate the number of complementary positions, (iii) dividing the number of complementary positions by the total number of positions in the comparison window, and (iv) multiplying this quotient by 100% to generate the percent complementarity of the two sequences. Optimal base pairing of two sequences can be determined based on known pairing of nucleotide bases through hydrogen bonds (such as GC, AT, and AU). If "percent complementarity" is calculated with respect to a reference sequence without specifying a particular comparison window, the percent identity is determined by dividing the number of complementary positions between the two linear sequences by the total length of the reference sequence. Thus, for the purposes of this disclosure, when two sequences (query and subject) are optimally base paired (allowing for nucleotide mismatches or non-base pairing, but without folding or secondary structure), "percent complementarity" with respect to a query sequence is equal to the number of base-paired positions between the two sequences divided by the total number of positions across that length in the query sequence (or the number of positions across the comparison window in the query sequence), then multiplied by 100%.

[0035] The term "operably linked" refers to a functional association between a promoter or other regulatory element and an associated transcribable DNA sequence or coding sequence of a gene (or transgene) such that the promoter etc. operates or functions to initiate, support, influence, induce, and / or promote the transcription and expression of the associated transcribable DNA sequence or coding sequence, at least in certain cell(s), tissue(s), developmental stage(s), and / or condition(s).

[0036] The term "plant-expressible promoter" refers to a promoter that is capable of initiating, supporting, influencing, inducing, and / or promoting the transcription and expression of a transcribable DNA sequence, coding sequence, or gene associated therewith in a plant cell or tissue.

[0037] The term "heterologous" with respect to a promoter or other control sequence associated with an associated polynucleotide sequence (e.g., a transcribable DNA sequence or coding sequence or gene) is a promoter or control sequence that is not operably linked to such associated polynucleotide sequence in nature; for example, such promoter or control sequence has a different origin compared to the associated polynucleotide sequence and / or such promoter or control sequence does not naturally occur in the plant species that is to be transformed with the promoter or control sequence.

[0038] The term "recombinant," as it relates to a polynucleotide (DNA or RNA) molecule, protein, construct, vector, etc., refers to a polynucleotide or protein molecule or sequence that is man-made, not normally found in nature, and / or is present in a context in which it is not normally found in nature, including polynucleotide (DNA or RNA) molecules, proteins, constructs, etc. that contain combinations of two or more polynucleotide or protein sequences that would not be expected to occur together in the same manner in nature without human intervention (such as polynucleotide molecules, proteins, constructs, etc. that contain at least two polynucleotide or protein sequences that are operably linked but heterologous with respect to one another). For example, the term "recombinant" can refer to any combination of two or more DNA or protein sequences in the same molecule (e.g., a plasmid, construct, vector, chromosome, protein, etc.), where such combination in the same molecule is man-made and not normally found in nature. As used in this definition, the phrase "not normally found in nature" means not found in nature without human introduction. A recombinant polynucleotide or protein molecule, construct, etc. may comprise a polynucleotide or protein sequence(s) that is (i) separated from other polynucleotide or protein sequence(s) that are naturally adjacent to each other, and / or (ii) adjacent to (or contiguous with) other polynucleotide or protein sequence(s) that are not naturally adjacent to each other. Such recombinant polynucleotide molecules, proteins, constructs, etc. may also refer to polynucleotide or protein molecules or sequences that have been genetically engineered and / or constructed outside a cell. For example, a recombinant DNA molecule may include any engineered or man-made plasmid, vector, etc., and may include linear or circular DNA molecules.Such plasmids, vectors, etc. may contain various maintenance elements (including a prokaryotic origin of replication) and selectable markers, as well as one or more transgenes or expression cassettes, etc., which may be in addition to plant selectable marker genes.

[0039] As used herein, the term "isolated" refers to a molecule that is at least partially separated from other molecules that are typically associated with it in its natural state. In one embodiment, the term "isolated" refers to a DNA molecule that is separated from nucleic acids that normally flank it in its natural state. For example, a DNA molecule that encodes a protein that naturally occurs in a bacterium would be an isolated DNA molecule if the DNA molecule encoding that protein is not included in the DNA of that bacterium as found in nature. Thus, a DNA molecule that is fused or operably linked to one or more other DNA molecule(s) with which it would not be associated in nature, e.g., as a result of recombinant DNA or plant transformation techniques, is considered isolated herein. Such molecules are considered isolated even when integrated into a host cell chromosome or when present in a nucleic acid solution containing other DNA molecules.

[0040] As used herein, "encoding region" or "coding region" refers to a portion of a polynucleotide that encodes a functional unit or molecule (for example, but not limited to, an mRNA, protein, or non-coding RNA sequence or molecule).

[0041] As used herein, "modified" in connection with a plant, plant seed, plant part, plant cell, and / or plant genome refers to a plant, plant seed, plant part, plant cell, and / or plant genome that has been manipulated to alter the expression level and / or coding sequence of one or more GA oxidase gene(s) compared to a wild-type or control plant, plant seed, plant part, plant cell, and / or plant genome, such as through (A) a transgenic event that includes a suppression construct or transcribable DNA sequence that encodes a non-coding RNA that targets one or more GA 3 oxidase genes and / or GA 20 oxidase genes for suppression, or (B) a genome editing event or mutation that affects (e.g., reduces or eliminates) the expression level or activity of one or more endogenous GA 3 oxidase genes and / or GA 20 oxidase genes. Indeed, the term "modified" may further refer to a plant, plant seed, plant part, plant cell, and / or plant genome having one or more mutations that affect the expression of one or more endogenous GA oxidase genes (such as one or more endogenous GA 3 oxidase genes and / or GA 20 oxidase genes), where such mutations are introduced via chemical mutagenesis, transposon insertion or removal, or any other known mutagenesis technique, or via genome editing. Thus, for clarity, modified plants, plant seeds, plant parts, plant cells, and / or plant genomes include mutagenized, edited, and / or transgenic plants, plant seeds, plant parts, plant cells, and / or plant genomes in which the expression level, expression pattern, and / or coding sequence of one or more GA oxidase gene(s) of such plants, plant seeds, plant parts, plant cells, and / or plant genomes have been altered compared to a wild-type or control plant, plant seed, plant part, plant cell, and / or plant genome.Modified plants or seeds can contain a variety of molecular changes that affect the expression of GA oxidase gene(s) (such as the GA3 oxidase gene and / or the GA20 oxidase gene(s)), including genetic and / or epigenetic modifications. Modified plants, plant parts, seeds, etc. can have been subjected to mutagenesis, genome editing, or site-specific integration (for example, but not limited to, via methods using site-specific nucleases), genetic transformation (for example, but not limited to, via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation or biolistic methods), or a combination thereof. Such "modified" plants, plant seeds, plant parts, and plant cells include plants, plant seeds, plant parts, and plant cells that are progeny of or are derived from "modified" plants, plant seeds, plant parts, and plant cells that carry molecular changes (e.g., altered expression levels and / or activity) in one or more GA oxidase genes. The modified seeds provided herein can give rise to the modified plants provided herein. The modified plants, plant seeds, plant parts, plant cells, or plant genomes provided herein may contain the recombinant DNA constructs or vectors or genome editing provided herein. A "modified plant product" may be any product prepared from the modified plants, plant parts, plant cells, or plant chromosomes provided herein, or any part or component thereof.

[0042] As used herein, the term "control plant" (or, equivalently, "control" plant seed, plant part, plant cell, and / or plant genome) is used in comparison to a modified plant (or modified plant seed, plant part, plant cell, and / or plant genome) and refers to a plant (or plant seed, plant part, plant cell, and / or plant genome) that has the same or similar genetic background (e.g., the same parent line, hybrid, inbred, tester, etc.) as the modified plant (or plant seed, plant part, plant cell, and / or plant genome), except for the presence of transgenic and / or genome editing event(s) affecting one or more GA oxidase genes. For example, the control plant can be an inbred that is the same as the inbred used to prepare the modified plant, or the control plant can be the product of a hybrid cross of the same inbred parent lines as the modified plant, except that any transgenic or genome editing event(s) affecting one or more GA oxidase genes are not present in the control plant. For purposes of comparison with modified plants, plant seeds, plant parts, plant cells, and / or plant genomes, a "wild-type plant" (or, equivalently, a "wild-type" plant seed, plant part, plant cell, and / or plant genome) refers to a control plant, plant seed, plant part, plant cell, and / or plant genome that is not transgenic or has not undergone genome editing. As used herein, a "control" plant, plant seed, plant part, plant cell, and / or plant genome can also be a plant, plant seed, plant part, plant cell, and / or plant genome that has a similar (but not the same or identical) genetic background as the modified plant, plant seed, plant part, plant cell, and / or plant genome, provided that they are deemed sufficiently similar for purposes of comparison of the characteristics or traits to be analyzed.

[0043] As used herein, a "target site" for genome editing refers to a location in a polynucleotide sequence within a plant genome at which a site-specific nuclease binds and cleaves to introduce a double-stranded break (or single-stranded nick) in the nucleic acid backbone of the polynucleotide sequence and / or its complementary DNA strand. The target site may comprise at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, at least 27, at least 29, or at least 30 contiguous nucleotides. A "target site" for an RNA-guided nuclease may include the sequence of the complementary strand of either a double-stranded nucleic acid (DNA) molecule or a chromosome at the target site. The site-specific nuclease may bind to the target site, such as via a non-coding guide RNA (for example, but not limited to, a CRISPR RNA (crRNA) or a single guide RNA (sgRNA), which are further described below). The non-coding guide RNA provided herein may be complementary to the target site (e.g., complementary to either strand of a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule or chromosome at the target site). It will be understood that it may not be necessary for the non-coding guide RNA to have perfect identity or complementarity to bind to or hybridize to the target site. For example, the number of mismatches tolerated between the target site and the non-coding RNA may be at least 1, at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, or at least 8 (or more). "Target site" also refers to the location of a polynucleotide sequence within a plant genome where another site-specific nuclease that cannot be guided by a non-coding RNA molecule (such as a meganuclease, zinc finger nuclease (ZFN), or transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN)) binds and cleaves to introduce a double-stranded break (or single-stranded nick) in the polynucleotide sequence and / or its complementary DNA strand.As used herein, "target region" or "targeted region" refers to a sequence or region of a polynucleotide that is flanked by two or more target sites. In some embodiments, but not limited to, a mutation, deletion, insertion, or inversion may be introduced into the target region. As used herein, "flanking," when used to describe a target region of a polynucleotide sequence or polynucleotide molecule, refers to two or more target sites of the polynucleotide sequence or polynucleotide molecule surrounding the target region, one target site on each side of the target region. While not related to genome editing, the term "target site" can also be used in the context of gene suppression to refer to a portion of an mRNA molecule (e.g., a "recognition site") that is complementary to at least a portion of a non-coding RNA molecule (e.g., miRNA, siRNA, etc.) encoded by a suppression construct.

[0044] As used herein, a "donor molecule," "donor template," or "donor template molecule" (collectively, "donor template") may be a recombinant DNA donor template and is defined as a nucleic acid template or a nucleic acid molecule having an insertion sequence for site-specific and targeted insertion or recombination into the genome of a plant cell through repair of a nick or double-stranded DNA break that occurs in the genome of the plant cell. For example, a "donor template" may be used for site-specific integration of a transgene or suppression construct, or may be used as a template for introducing a mutation (insertion, deletion, etc.) into a target site in the genome of a plant. The targeted genome editing techniques provided herein may involve the use of one or more, two or more, three or more, four or more, or five or more donor molecules or donor templates. A "donor template" may be a single-stranded or double-stranded DNA molecule or RNA molecule or a plasmid. The "insertion sequence" of a donor template is a sequence designed to result in targeted insertion into the genome of a plant cell, and this sequence may be of any appropriate length. For example, the length of the insert sequence of the donor template can be 2 to 50,000, 2 to 10,000, 2 to 5000, 2 to 1000, 2 to 500, 2 to 250, 2 to 100, 2 to 50, 2 to 30, 15 to 50, 15 to 100, 15 to 500, 15 to 1000, 15 to 5000, 18 to 30, 18 to 26, 20 to 26, 20 to 50, 20 to 100, 20 to 250, 20 to 500, 20 It can be between 1000, 20 and 5000, 20 and 10,000, 50 and 250, 50 and 500, 50 and 1000, 50 and 5000, 50 and 10,000, 100 and 250, 100 and 500, 100 and 1000, 100 and 5000, 100 and 10,000, 250 and 500, 250 and 1000, 250 and 5000, or 250 and 10,000 nucleotides or base pairs.The donor template may also have at least one homologous sequence or homology arm (such as two homology arms) for directing integration of the mutation or insertion sequence into a target site in the plant genome via homologous recombination, where the homologous sequence or homology arm(s) is / are identical to or complementary to, or has a certain percent identity or complementarity to, a sequence located at or near the target site in the plant genome. When the donor template comprises homology arm(s) and an insertion sequence, the homology arm(s) will be adjacent to or surround the insertion sequence of the donor template.

[0045] The insert sequence of the donor template may contain one or more genes or sequences, each encoding a non-coding RNA or mRNA sequence to be transcribed and / or a protein sequence to be translated. The transcribed sequence or gene in the donor template may encode a protein or a non-coding RNA molecule. The insert sequence of the donor template may contain a polynucleotide sequence that does not include a functional gene or an entire gene sequence (e.g., the donor template may simply include a regulatory sequence (such as a promoter sequence) or may include only a portion of a gene or coding sequence), or may not include any identifiable gene expression elements or any actively transcribed gene sequence. Furthermore, the donor template may be linear or circular, and may be single-stranded or double-stranded. The donor template can be delivered to the cell as naked nucleic acid (e.g., delivered via biolistic bombardment), complexed with one or more delivery agents (e.g., liposomes, proteins, poloxamers, protein-encapsulated T-strands, etc.), or delivered to the cell in a bacterial or viral delivery vehicle (e.g., Agrobacterium tumefaciens or geminivirus, respectively). The insert sequence of the donor templates provided herein can include a transcribable DNA sequence that can be transcribed into an RNA molecule; such a transcribable DNA sequence can be non-coding and may or may not be operably linked to a promoter and / or other regulatory sequences.

[0046] According to some embodiments, the donor template may not contain an insertion sequence, but instead may contain one or more homologous sequences that contain one or more mutations (insertion, deletion, substitution, etc.) compared to the genomic sequence of a target site in the plant's genome (such as located at or near the GA3 oxidase or GA20 oxidase gene in the plant's genome). Alternatively, the donor template may contain an insertion sequence that does not contain a coding or transcribable DNA sequence, and the insertion sequence is used to introduce one or more mutations into a target site in the plant's genome (such as located at or near the GA3 oxidase or GA20 oxidase gene in the plant's genome).

[0047] The donor templates provided herein may contain at least one, at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, at least seven, at least eight, at least nine, or at least ten genes or transcribable DNA sequences. Alternatively, the donor template may contain no genes at all. The genes or transcribable DNA sequences of the donor template may include, but are not limited to, insecticide resistance genes, herbicide resistance genes, nitrogen use efficiency genes, water use efficiency genes, nutritional value genes, DNA binding genes, selectable marker genes, RNAi or suppression constructs, site-specific genome modification enzyme genes, CRISPR / Cas9 single guide RNAs, geminivirus-based expression cassettes, or plant virus expression vector systems. According to other embodiments, the insert sequence of the donor template may contain a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule, which may target a GA oxidase gene (such as a GA3 oxidase gene or a GA20 oxidase gene) for suppression. The donor template can include a promoter, such as a tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter, a constitutive promoter, or an inducible promoter. The donor template can include a leader, an enhancer, a promoter, a transcription start site, a 5'-UTR, one or more exon(s), one or more intron(s), a transcription termination site, region or sequence, a 3'-UTR, and / or a polyadenylation signal. The leader, enhancer, and / or promoter can be operably linked to a gene or transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA, a guide RNA, an mRNA, and / or a protein.

[0048] As used herein, a "vascular promoter" refers to a plant-expressible promoter that induces, drives, or initiates expression of a transcribable DNA sequence or transgene operably linked to such a promoter in one or more vascular tissue(s) of a plant, even if the promoter also causes expression in other non-vascular plant cell(s) or tissue(s). Such vascular tissue(s) may include one or more of the cells or tissue(s) of the phloem, vascular parenchyma, and / or bundle sheath of a plant. A "vascular promoter" is distinguished from a constitutive promoter in that its expression pattern includes, is regulated, and is relatively more restricted to one or more vascular tissue(s) of a plant. Vascular promoters include both vascular-specific promoters and vascular-preferential promoters.

[0049] As used herein, a "leaf promoter" refers to a plant-expressible promoter that induces, drives, or initiates expression of a transcribable DNA sequence or transgene operably linked to such promoter in one or more leaf tissue(s) of a plant, even if the promoter also induces expression in other non-leaf plant cell(s) or non-leaf plant tissue(s). Leaf promoters include both leaf-specific promoters and leaf-preferential promoters. A "leaf promoter" differs from a vascular promoter in that it induces expression more predominantly or exclusively in the leaf tissue(s) of a plant compared to other plant tissues, while a vascular promoter induces expression in vascular tissue(s), which more commonly includes vascular tissue(s) outside of the leaf (such as the vascular tissue(s) of a plant stem or the vascular tissue(s) of a plant stem and leaf).

[0050] As used herein, a "plant-expressible promoter" refers to a promoter that induces, drives, or initiates expression of a transcribable DNA sequence or transgene operably linked to such a promoter in one or more plant cells or plant tissues (such as one or more cells or tissues of a corn plant or cereal plant).

[0051] explanation The most grain-producing herbs (e.g., wheat, rice, and sorghum) produce both male and female structures within each floret of the panicle (i.e., they have a single reproductive structure). However, corn or maize is unique among grain-producing herbs in that it separately produces male (tassel) and female (ear) inflorescences. Maize produces completely sexually dimorphic reproductive structures by selectively aborting the formation of male organs (anthers) in ear florets and female organs (ovules) in tassel florets during early development. Precise regulation of gibberellin synthesis and signaling is crucial to controlling this selective abortion process, and female-reproductive ears are most sensitive to disruption of the GA pathway. In fact, the "anther ear" phenotype is the most common reproductive phenotype in GA mutants of maize.

[0052] In contrast to maize, mutations in the gibberellin synthesis or signaling pathways that led to the "Green Revolution" in wheat, rice, and sorghum have had little effect on their reproductive structures. This is because the process that selectively disrupts panicle-bearing grain formation does not occur during development in these crop species, making them less susceptible to disruption of GA levels. Disruption of GA synthesis and signaling pathways has repeatedly resulted in dramatic distortion and masculinization of ears ("anther ear") and sterility in tassels (disruption of anther and microspore development), in addition to severe dwarfing in some cases, so the same mutations have not been used in maize. See, for example, Chen, Y. et al., "The Maize DWARF1 Encodes a Gibberellin 3-Oxidase and Is Dual Localized to the Nucleus and Cytosol," Plant Physiology 166:2028-2039 (2014). When these GA mutant phenotypes (heteromorphisms) occurred in maize, they resulted in significantly reduced grain production and yield. Furthermore, anther formation within the ear increased the likelihood of fungal or insect infection, thereby reducing the quality of the grain produced by such mutant ears. Forward breeding to develop semi-dwarf maize lines has been unsuccessful, and the reproductive heteromorphisms (as well as the extreme dwarfism) of GA mutants have been difficult to overcome. Thus, the same mutations in the GA pathway that led to the Green Revolution in other herbs have not yet led to success in maize.

[0053] Despite the previously challenging nature of achieving increased grain yield in maize through manipulation of the GA pathway, the present inventors have discovered a method for manipulating GA levels in maize plants in a manner that reduces overall plant height and stem internode length and increases lodging resistance without inducing the reproductive abnormalities previously associated with GA pathway mutations in maize. Additional evidence indicates that such low-plant height or semi-dwarf maize plants may also possess one or more additional traits, including increased stem diameter, reduced stem green snap, deeper roots, increased leaf area, earlier canopy closure, increased stomatal conductance, reduced ear height, increased leaf water content, improved drought tolerance, increased nitrogen use efficiency, increased water use efficiency, reduced leaf anthocyanin content and area under normal conditions or under nitrogen- or water-limiting stress conditions, increased ear weight, increased kernel number, increased kernel weight, increased yield, and / or increased harvest index.

[0054] Without being bound by theory, it is proposed that incomplete suppression of the GA20 oxidase gene or GA3 oxidase gene(s) and / or targeting a subset of one or more GA oxidase gene(s) may be effective in achieving a low-height, semi-dwarf phenotype with increased lodging resistance but without reproductive abnormalities in the ear. Without being limited by theory, it is further proposed that suppression of the GA20 oxidase gene and / or GA3 oxidase gene(s) exclusively in certain active GA-producing tissues (such as the vascular and / or leaf tissues of a plant) may be sufficient to produce a low-height plant with increased lodging resistance but without significant abnormalities in the reproductive tissues. Expressing the GA20 oxidase or GA3 oxidase suppressor element in a tissue-specific or tissue-preferential manner may be sufficient and effective in producing plants with a low plant height phenotype (e.g., by avoiding or restricting suppression of the GA20 oxidase gene(s) to those reproductive tissues) while avoiding potential heterogeneity in reproductive tissues previously observed in maize GA mutants. For example, the GA20 oxidase gene and / or GA3 oxidase gene(s) may be targeted for suppression using a vascular promoter (such as the rice tungro bacillus-like virus (RTBV) promoter) that directs expression in vascular tissues of the plant. As demonstrated in the Examples below, the expression pattern of the RTBV promoter is enriched in vascular tissues of maize plants compared to non-vascular tissues, and this RTBV promoter, when operably linked to repression elements targeting the GA20 oxidase gene and the GA3 oxidase gene(s), is sufficient to produce a semi-dwarf phenotype in maize plants. Reducing the levels of active GAs in the tissue(s) that produce them in maize or cereal plants can reduce plant height and increase lodging resistance, while avoiding dysmorphism in such plants if the levels of active GAs are not significantly affected or reduced in reproductive tissues (such as the developing female organs or ears of the plant).If the level of active GAs could be reduced in the stalk, stem, or internode(s) of a corn or cereal plant without significantly affecting GA levels in the reproductive tissues (e.g., female or male reproductive organs or inflorescences), corn or cereal plants could be created with reduced plant height and increased lodging resistance without causing abnormalities in the reproductive tissues of the plant.

[0055] Thus, provided herein are recombinant DNA constructs and transgenic plants comprising a GA20 oxidase or GA3 oxidase repression element or sequence operably linked to a plant-expressible promoter, which may be a tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter. Such a tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter may induce expression of its associated GA oxidase repression element or sequence in one or more active GA-producing tissue(s) of a plant, thereby repressing or reducing the level of active GA produced in such tissue(s). Such a tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter may induce expression of its associated GA oxidase repression construct or transgene during one or more vegetative stages of development. Such a tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter may result in little or no expression in one or more cells or tissue(s) of the developing female organ or ear of a plant, thereby avoiding the possibility of heterogeneity in such reproductive tissues. According to some embodiments, the tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter is a vascular promoter, such as the RTBV promoter, the sequence of which is provided herein as SEQ ID NO: 65, and a shortened version of the RTBV promoter is further provided herein as SEQ ID NO: 66.

[0056] Active or bioactive forms of gibberellic acid (i.e., "active gibberellins" or "active GAs") are known in the art for a given plant species and are distinguished from inactive GAs. For example, active GAs in maize and higher plants include GA1, GA3, GA4, and GA7. Thus, "active GA-producing tissue" is plant tissue that produces one or more active GAs.

[0057] It was surprising to discover that, in addition to suppressing the GA20 oxidase gene in active GA-producing tissues of a plant with a vascular tissue promoter, suppressing the same GA20 oxidase gene with various constitutive promoters resulted in a low-plant-height, semi-dwarf phenotype in maize, but no visible abnormalities in the ear. Given that mutations in the GA pathway have previously been shown to cause abnormalities in reproductive tissues, it was surprising that constitutive suppression of GA20 oxidase did not result in a similar reproductive phenotype in the ear. Therefore, it is further proposed that suppression of one or more GA20 oxidase genes using a constitutive promoter may be performed to create low-plant-height, lodging-resistant maize or cereal plants without causing any significant or observable reproductive abnormalities in the plant. Other surprising findings were obtained when the same GA20 oxidase suppression construct was expressed in stems, leaves, or reproductive tissues. As described further below, targeted suppression of the same GA20 oxidase gene in stem or ear tissue of maize plants did not result in a low-height, semi-dwarf phenotype. Furthermore, direct expression of a GA20 oxidase suppression construct specifically in the reproductive tissue of the developing ear of maize plants under a female reproductive tissue (ear) promoter did not result in any significant or observable abnormalities in the ear. In contrast, expression of the same GA20 oxidase suppression construct in leaf tissue was sufficient to induce a moderately low-height phenotype in the plant without significant or observable reproductive abnormalities.

[0058] Without being limited by theory, it is proposed that the low-height semi-dwarf phenotype in maize and other cereal plants may be due to sufficient expression levels of a suppression construct targeting a specific GA oxidase gene(s) in the plant's active GA-producing tissue(s). At least for targeted suppression of a specific GA20 oxidase gene in maize, restricting the expression pattern to avoid reproductive ear tissue may not be necessary to avoid reproductive abnormalities in the developing ear. However, expressing a GA20 oxidase suppression construct at a low level and / or in a limited number of plant tissues may be insufficient to induce a pronounced low-height semi-dwarf phenotype. Given that the semi-dwarf phenotype observed with targeted suppression of GA20 oxidase results from shortened plant stem internodes, it is surprising that suppressing the GA20 oxidase gene in at least some stem tissues was insufficient to induce shortened internodes and reduced plant height. Without being bound by theory, it is proposed that suppressing certain GA oxidase genes in the tissue(s) and / or cell(s) where active GAs are produced in a plant may be sufficient to produce semi-dwarf plants, and that although the low plant height trait results from shortened stem internodes, this suppression need not be in stem or internode tissue(s). Given the ability of GAs to move through the plant vasculature, it is proposed that manipulating GA oxidase genes in the plant tissue(s) where active GAs are produced may result in low-plant height semi-dwarf plants, but that this may be achieved largely by suppressing the levels of active GAs produced in non-stem tissues (i.e., away from their site of action in the stem, where reduced internode elongation results in the semi-dwarf phenotype). Indeed, it has been found that suppressing certain GA20 oxidase genes in leaf tissue results in a moderate semi-dwarf phenotype in maize plants.Considering that expression of the GA20 oxidase suppression construct under several different "stem" promoters did not result in a semi-dwarf phenotype in maize, it is noteworthy that expression of the same GA20 oxidase suppression construct under a vascular promoter was effective in consistently producing a semi-dwarf phenotype with a high degree of penetrance across events and germplasm, which was also observed when the same GA20 oxidase suppression construct was expressed using other vascular promoters.

[0059] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, modified cereal or corn plants are provided that have at least one advantageous agronomic trait and at least one female reproductive organ or ear that is substantially or completely free of dysmorphism. Advantageous agronomic traits may include, for example, reduced plant height, shortened internode length of one or more internode(s), increased stem or stalk diameter (thickening), increased lodging resistance, improved drought tolerance, increased nitrogen use efficiency, increased water use efficiency, deeper rooting, increased leaf area, earlier canopy closure, and / or increased harvestable yield. The dysmorphism may include male (tassel or anther) sterility, reduced grain or seed number, and / or the presence of one or more masculinized or male (or male-like) reproductive structures (e.g., anthers, ears) in the female organ or ear of the plant. Provided herein are modified cereal or corn plants that are free of significant dysmorphism in the reproductive tissues of the plant. Such modified cereal or corn plants may have female reproductive organs or ears that appear normal compared to control or wild-type plants. Indeed, modified cereal or corn plants are provided that include at least one reproductive organ or ear that does not have, does not exhibit, or is substantially or completely free of, heteromorphisms (including male sterility, reduced kernel or seed number, and / or masculinizing structure(s)) in one or more female organs or ears. As used herein, a female organ or ear of a plant (such as corn) is "substantially free" of male reproductive structures if, based on visual inspection of the female organ or ear at a later reproductive stage, no or few male reproductive structures are present in the female organ or ear of the plant. A female organ or ear of a plant (such as corn) is "completely free" of mature male reproductive structures if no male reproductive structures are present, observable, or unobservable in the female organ or ear of the plant (such as a corn plant) upon visual inspection of the female organ or ear at a later reproductive stage.In female organs or ears of plants (such as corn) that do not produce significant dysmorphism and that have substantially no male reproductive structures in the ear, the number of grains or seeds per female organ or ear of the plant can be at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, at least 99.6%, at least 99.7%, at least 99.8%, or at least 99.9% of the number of grains or seeds per female organ or ear of a wild-type or control plant. Similarly, in the female organs or ears of plants (such as corn) that do not develop significant dysmorphism and that have substantially no male reproductive structures in the ears, the average weight of grains or seeds in the female organs or ears of the plants can be at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, at least 99.6%, at least 99.7%, at least 99.8%, or at least 99.9% of the average weight of grains or seeds per female organ or ear of a wild-type plant or control plant. In the female organs or ears of plants (such as corn) that are completely devoid of mature male reproductive structures, the number of grains or seeds per female organ or ear of the plant can be approximately the same as that of a wild-type plant or control plant. In other words, the reproductive development of the female organs or ears of such plants can be normal or substantially normal. However, the number of seeds or kernels per female organ or ear may depend on other factors that affect resource utilization and development of such plants. Indeed, the number of kernels or seeds per female organ or ear of such plants, and / or the kernel or seed weight of the female organ or ear of the plants, may be about the same as or greater than that of wild-type or control plants.

[0060] The plant hormone gibberellin plays an important role in many plant developmental processes, including germination, cell elongation, flowering, embryogenesis, and seed development. Certain biosynthetic enzymes (e.g., GA20 oxidase and GA3 oxidase) and degradative enzymes (e.g., GA2 oxidase) in the GA pathway are crucial for influencing the levels of active GAs in plant tissues. Therefore, in addition to suppressing certain GA20 oxidase genes, it has been further proposed that suppressing the GA3 oxidase gene constitutively, or in a tissue-specific or tissue-preferential manner may also produce maize plants with a low plant height phenotype, increased lodging resistance, and increased yield without causing ear heteromorphism. Thus, in some embodiments, constructs and transgenes are provided that include a GA3 oxidase suppression element or sequence operably linked to a constitutive, tissue-specific, or tissue-preferential promoter (e.g., a vascular promoter or a leaf promoter). In some embodiments, the tissue-specific or tissue-preferential promoter is a vascular promoter, such as the RTBV promoter. However, it is possible that other types of tissue-specific or tissue-preferential promoters could be used to repress GA 3 oxidase in active GA-producing tissues of maize or cereal plants, resulting in a semi-dwarf phenotype without significant heterozygosity.

[0061] Depending on the embodiment of the present invention, any targeted gene suppression method known in the art can be used to suppress GA oxidase gene(s), including expression of antisense RNA, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), or inverted repeat RNA sequences, or co-suppression or RNA interference (RNAi) via expression of small interfering RNA (siRNA), small hairpin RNA (shRNA), trans-acting siRNA (ta-siRNA), or microRNA (miRNA). Furthermore, silencing of the GA oxidase gene can be achieved using sense and / or antisense RNA molecules targeted to coding and / or non-coding genomic sequences or regions located within or near the GA oxidase gene. Thus, any of these methods can be used in a tissue-specific or tissue-preferential manner to target and suppress endogenous GA20 oxidase gene(s) or GA3 oxidase gene(s). See, for example, U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2009 / 0070898, 2011 / 0296555, and 2011 / 0035839, the contents and disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0062] As used herein, the term "suppression" refers to the lowering, reduction, or elimination of the expression level of mRNA and / or protein encoded by a target gene in a plant, plant cell, or plant tissue at one or more stage(s) of plant development compared to the expression level of such target mRNA and / or protein in a wild-type or control plant, cell, or tissue at the same stage(s) of plant development. According to some embodiments, modified or transgenic plants are provided in which the expression level of the GA20 oxidase gene in at least one plant tissue is reduced by at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 90%, or 100% compared to a control plant. According to some embodiments, modified or transgenic plants are provided in which the expression level of the GA3 oxidase gene in at least one plant tissue is reduced by at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 90%, or 100% compared to a control plant. According to some embodiments, modified or transgenic plants are provided in which the expression level of the GA20 oxidase gene in at least one plant tissue is reduced by 5% to 20%, 5% to 25%, 5% to 30%, 5% to 40%, 5% to 50%, 5% to 60%, 5% to 70%, 5% to 75%, 5% to 80%, 5% to 90%, 5% to 100%, 75% to 100%, 50% to 100%, 50% to 90%, 50% to 75%, 25% to 75%, 30% to 80%, or 10% to 75% compared to a control plant.According to some embodiments, modified or transgenic plants are provided in which the expression level of a GA3 oxidase gene in at least one plant tissue is reduced by 5% to 20%, 5% to 25%, 5% to 30%, 5% to 40%, 5% to 50%, 5% to 60%, 5% to 70%, 5% to 75%, 5% to 80%, 5% to 90%, 5% to 100%, 75% to 100%, 50% to 100%, 50% to 90%, 50% to 75%, 25% to 75%, 30% to 80%, or 10% to 75% compared to a control plant. According to such embodiments, at least one tissue of the modified or transgenic plant having reduced expression levels of the GA20 oxidase gene and / or the GA3 oxidase gene(s) includes one or more active GA-producing tissue(s) of the plant (such as vascular tissue and / or leaf tissue(s) of the plant) during one or more vegetative growth stages of development.

[0063] In some embodiments, repression of the endogenous GA20 oxidase or GA3 oxidase gene is tissue-specific (e.g., in only leaf tissue and / or vascular tissue). Repression of the GA20 oxidase gene can be constitutive and / or specific or preferential to vascular or leaf tissue. In other embodiments, repression of the GA20 oxidase or GA3 oxidase gene is constitutive and not tissue-specific. According to some embodiments, expression of the endogenous GA20 oxidase and / or GA3 oxidase gene is reduced in one or more tissue types (e.g., leaf tissue and / or vascular tissue(s)) of the modified or transgenic plant compared to the same tissue(s) of a control plant.

[0064] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a recombinant DNA molecule, construct, or vector comprising a suppression element targeting a GA20 oxidase gene or a GA3 oxidase gene(s) operably linked to a plant-expressible constitutive, tissue-specific, or tissue-preferential promoter. The suppression element may comprise a transcribable DNA sequence at least 19 nucleotides in length (e.g., from about 19 nucleotides in length to about 27 nucleotides in length, or 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, or 27 nucleotides in length), which corresponds to and / or is complementary to at least a portion of the target GA oxidase gene to be suppressed. The length of the inhibitory element can be 19-30, 19-50, 19-100, 19-200, 19-300, 19-500, 19-1000, 19-1500, 19-2000, 19-3000, 19-4000, or 19-5000 nucleotides. The length of the inhibitory element can be at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, or at least 23 or more nucleotides (e.g., at least 25, at least 30, at least 50, at least 100, at least 200, at least 300, at least 500, at least 1000, at least 1500, at least 2000, at least 3000, at least 4000, or at least 5000 nucleotides in length). Depending on the length and sequence of the suppressor element, one or more sequence mismatches or non-complementary bases (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or more mismatches) can be tolerated without diminishing suppression, provided that the non-coding RNA molecule encoded by the suppressor element is still capable of sufficiently hybridizing to and binding to the target mRNA molecule of the GA20 oxidase gene or GA3 oxidase gene(s). Indeed, even shorter RNAi suppressor elements, ranging in length from about 19 nucleotides to about 27 nucleotides, can have one or more mismatches or non-complementary bases and still be effective in suppressing the target GA oxidase gene.Thus, the sense suppression element sequence or antisense suppression element sequence may have at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to the corresponding sequence of at least one segment or portion of the targeted GA oxidase gene or its complementary sequence, respectively.

[0065] The suppression element or transcribable DNA sequence of the present invention for targeted suppression of GA oxidase gene(s) may comprise one or more of the following: (a) a DNA sequence comprising at least one antisense DNA sequence that is antisense or complementary to at least one segment or portion of the targeted GA oxidase gene; (b) a DNA sequence comprising multiple copies of at least one antisense DNA sequence that is antisense or complementary to at least one segment or portion of the targeted GA oxidase gene; (c) a DNA sequence comprising at least one sense DNA sequence that comprises at least one segment or portion of the targeted GA oxidase gene; (d) a DNA sequence comprising multiple copies of at least one sense DNA sequence that each comprises at least one segment or portion of the targeted GA oxidase gene; (e) a DNA sequence comprising an inverted repeat of a segment or portion of the targeted GA oxidase gene and / or a DNA sequence that can be used to suppress the targeted GA oxidase gene by double-stranded RNA. (f) a DNA sequence to be transcribed into RNA for inhibiting a target GA oxidase gene by forming a single double-stranded RNA, the DNA sequence comprising a plurality of contiguous antisense DNA sequences, each antisense to or complementary to at least one segment or portion of the target GA oxidase gene, and a plurality of contiguous sense DNA sequences, each comprising at least one segment or portion of the target GA oxidase gene; (g) a DNA sequence to be transcribed into RNA for inhibiting a target GA oxidase gene by forming a plurality of double-stranded RNAs, the DNA sequence comprising a plurality of contiguous antisense DNA sequences, each antisense to or complementary to at least one segment or portion of the target GA oxidase gene, and a plurality of contiguous sense DNA sequences, each comprising at least one segment or portion of the target GA oxidase gene;(i) a DNA sequence comprising a miRNA precursor encoding an artificial miRNA complementary to at least one segment or portion of the target GA oxidase gene; (j) a DNA sequence comprising nucleotides of an siRNA; (k) a DNA sequence transcribed into an RNA aptamer capable of binding to a ligand; and (l) a DNA sequence transcribed into an RNA aptamer capable of binding to a ligand, and a DNA transcribed into a regulatory RNA capable of controlling the expression of the target GA oxidase gene, wherein the control of the target GA oxidase gene depends on the conformation of the regulatory RNA, and the conformation of the regulatory RNA is allosterically affected by the state of the ligand binding to the RNA aptamer. Any of these gene suppression elements, whether transcribed into single-stranded or double-stranded RNA, can be designed to suppress multiple GA oxidase target genes, depending on the number and sequence of the suppression element(s).

[0066] Multiple sense and / or antisense suppression elements for multiple GA oxidase targets can be arranged consecutively in tandem or as tandem segments or repeats (such as tandem inverted repeats), and these suppression elements can be separated by one or more spacer sequence(s), with each suppression element sequence targeting one or more GA oxidase gene(s). Furthermore, the sense or antisense sequence of a suppression element may not be a perfect match or complement to the target GA oxidase gene sequence, depending on the sequence and length of the suppression element. Even shorter RNAi suppression elements, from about 19 nucleotides to about 27 nucleotides in length, can have one or more mismatched or non-complementary bases and still be effective in suppressing the target GA oxidase gene. Thus, the sense suppression element sequence or antisense suppression element sequence may have at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to the corresponding sequence of at least one segment or portion of the targeted GA oxidase gene or its complementary sequence, respectively.

[0067] For antisense suppression, the transcribable DNA sequence or suppression element contains a sequence that is antisense or complementary to at least one portion or segment of the targeted GA oxidase gene. The suppression element may contain multiple antisense sequences complementary to one or more portions or segments of the targeted GA oxidase gene(s), or may contain multiple copies of an antisense sequence complementary to the targeted GA oxidase gene. The antisense suppression element sequence may have at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to the DNA sequence complementary to at least one segment or portion of the targeted GA oxidase gene. In other words, the antisense suppression element sequence may have at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to the target GA oxidase gene.

[0068] For the suppression of GA oxidase gene(s) using inverted repeats or transcribed dsRNA, the transcribable DNA sequence or suppression element can comprise a sense sequence comprising a segment or portion of the target GA oxidase gene and an antisense sequence complementary to the segment or portion of the target GA oxidase gene, with the sense and antisense DNA sequences arranged in tandem. The sense and / or antisense sequences can each have less than 100% identity or complementarity to the segment or portion of the target GA oxidase gene. The sense and antisense sequences can be separated by a spacer sequence, such that the RNA molecule transcribed from the suppression element forms a stem, loop, or stem-loop structure between the sense and antisense sequences. The suppression element can alternatively comprise multiple sense and antisense sequences arranged in tandem, with these sequences also being separated by one or more spacer sequences. Such suppression elements containing multiple sense and antisense sequences can be arranged as a series of sense sequences followed by a series of antisense sequences, or as a series of tandemly arranged sense and antisense sequences. Alternatively, one or more sense DNA sequences can be expressed separately from one or more antisense sequences (i.e., one or more sense DNA sequences can be expressed from a first transcribable DNA sequence and one or more antisense DNA sequences can be expressed from a second transcribable DNA sequence, with the first and second transcribable DNA sequences being expressed as separate transcripts).

[0069] For the repression of GA oxidase gene(s) using microRNA (miRNA), the transcribable DNA sequence or repression element may comprise a DNA sequence derived from a naturally occurring miRNA sequence in a virus or eukaryote (such as an animal or plant), or may be modified from or derived from such a naturally occurring miRNA sequence. Such naturally occurring or naturally occurring miRNA sequences may form a folded structure and serve as a scaffold for a precursor miRNA (pre-miRNA), and may correspond to the stem region of a naturally occurring miRNA precursor sequence (such as derived from a naturally occurring (or naturally occurring) primary miRNA (pri-miRNA) sequence or pre-miRNA sequence). However, in addition to such naturally occurring or naturally occurring miRNA scaffold or pre-processed sequence, the engineered or synthetic miRNA of the present embodiments further comprises a sequence corresponding to a segment or portion of the targeted GA oxidase gene(s). Thus, in addition to the preprocessed miRNA sequence or scaffold miRNA sequence, the repressor element may further comprise sense and / or antisense sequences corresponding to and / or complementary to a segment or portion of the targeted GA oxidase gene, although one or more sequence mismatches may be tolerated.

[0070] Manipulation of miRNAs is useful for improving the specificity of target gene suppression. See, for example, Parizotto et al., Genes Dev. 18:2237-2242 (2004), and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2004 / 0053411, 2004 / 0268441, 2005 / 0144669, and 2005 / 0037988, the contents and disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. miRNAs are non-protein-coding RNAs. Cleavage of miRNA precursor molecules results in the formation of mature miRNAs, typically about 19 to about 25 nucleotides in length (usually about 20 to about 24 nucleotides in length in plants), such as 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25 nucleotides in length, which contain sequences corresponding to and / or complementary to the gene targeted for suppression. Mature miRNAs hybridize to target mRNA transcripts and guide protein complexes to bind to the target transcript. This functions to cause translational inhibition and / or transcript degradation, which can negatively regulate or suppress target gene expression. miRNA precursors are also useful in plants to induce the in-phase production of siRNAs (trans-acting siRNAs (ta-siRNAs)) in a process that requires RNA-dependent RNA polymerase to induce target gene suppression. See, e.g., Allen et al., Cell 121:207-221 (2005); Vaucheret Science STKE, 2005:pe43 (2005); and Yoshikawa et al. Genes Dev., 19:2164-2175 (2005). The contents and disclosures of these documents are incorporated herein by reference.

[0071] Plant miRNAs regulate their target genes by recognizing and binding to complementary or nearly perfectly complementary sequences (miRNA recognition sites) in target mRNA transcripts, followed by cleavage of the transcripts with an RNase III enzyme (e.g., Argonaute 1). In plants, certain mismatches between a given miRNA recognition site and the corresponding mature miRNA are typically intolerant, specifically, nucleotide mismatches at positions 10 and 11 of the mature miRNA are typically intolerant. Positions within the mature miRNA are indicated in the 5' to 3' direction. Perfect complementarity is usually required between a given miRNA recognition site and the corresponding mature miRNA at positions 10 and 11 of the mature miRNA. See, for example, Franco-Zorrilla et al. (2007) Nature Genetics, 39:1033-1037 and Axtell et al. (2006) Cell, 127:565-577.

[0072] Many microRNA genes (MIR genes) have been identified and are publicly available in databases ("miRBase," available online at microrna.sanger.ac.uk / sequences; see also Griffiths-Jones et al. (2003) Nucleic Acids Res., 31:439-441). MIR genes have been reported to occur singly or in clusters in intergenic regions of the genome, but they can also be located completely or partially within introns of other genes (both protein-coding and non-protein-coding). For a review of miRNA biogenesis, see Kim (2005) Nature Rev. Mol. Cell. Biol., 6:376-385. Transcription of MIR genes may, at least in some cases, be under the activatory control of the MIR gene's own promoter. The primary transcript, termed the "pri-miRNA," can be quite large (several kilobases) and can be polycistronic, containing one or more pre-miRNAs (a foldback structure containing a stem-loop arrangement that undergoes processing into mature miRNAs) as well as the usual 5' "cap" and polyadenylated tail of an mRNA. See, e.g., Figure 1 in Kim (2005) Nature Rev. Mol. Cell. Biol., 6:376-385.

[0073] Transgenic expression of miRNAs (whether naturally occurring or artificial) can be used to control the expression of one or more target genes of the miRNA. MiRNA recognition sites have been identified in all regions of mRNAs, including the 5' untranslated region, coding region, intronic region, and 3' untranslated region, indicating that the location of the miRNA target or recognition site relative to the coding sequence does not necessarily affect repression (see, e.g., Jones-Rhoades and Bartel (2004). Mol. Cell, 14:787-799; Rhoades et al. (2002) Cell, 110:513-520; Allen et al. (2004) Nat. Genet., 36:1282-1290; Sunkar and Zhu (2004) Plant Cell, 16:2001-2019). miRNAs are important regulatory elements in eukaryotes, and transgenic suppression with miRNAs is a useful tool for manipulating biological pathways and responses. A description of naturally occurring miRNAs, their precursors, recognition sites, and promoters is provided in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006 / 0200878, the contents and disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0074] The design of artificial miRNA sequences can be achieved by replacing nucleotides in the stem region of a miRNA precursor with sequences complementary to the intended target, as demonstrated, for example, by Zeng et al. (2002) Mol. Cell, 9:1327-1333. In many embodiments, the target can be the sequence of the GA20 oxidase gene or the GA3 oxidase gene.One non-exemplary example of a general method for determining nucleotides to modify in a native miRNA sequence to generate an engineered miRNA precursor for a target of interest involves the following steps: (a) selecting a unique target sequence of at least 18 nucleotides specific to the target gene (performed, for example, by using a sequence alignment tool such as BLAST (see, e.g., Altschul et al. (1990) J. Mol. Biol., 215:403-410; Altschul et al. (1997) Nucleic Acids Res., 25:3389-3402)) (cDNA and / or genomic DNA sequences can be used to identify orthologs of the target transcript and any potential matches to unrelated genes, thereby avoiding unintentional silencing or suppression of non-target sequences); (b) analyzing the target gene for undesired sequences (e.g., matches to sequences from non-target species) and determining the sequence identity based on GC content, Reynolds score (Reynolds et al. al. (2004) Nature Biotechnol., 22:326-330), and functional asymmetry characterized by a negative free energy difference (“ΔΔG”) (Khvorova et al. (2003) Cell, 115:209-216), and target sequences (e.g., 19-mers) that have all or most of the following characteristics can be selected: (1) a Reynolds score of >4, (2) a GC content of between about 40% and about 60%, (3) a negative ΔΔG, (4) an adenosine terminal sequence, (5) no more than four consecutive identical nucleotides, (6) a location near the 3' end of the target gene, and (7) minimal differences from the miRNA precursor transcript. In one embodiment, non-coding RNA molecules used herein to silence a target gene (e.g., a GA20 oxidase gene or a GA3 oxidase gene) are designed to target sequences that exhibit one or more, two or more, three or more, four or more, or five or more of the above-mentioned characteristics.The position of every third nucleotide of the suppressor element can be important in influencing the efficiency of RNAi; for example, the "siExplorer" algorithm is publicly available at rna.chem.tu-tokyo.ac.jp / siexplorer.htm (see Katoh and Suzuki (2007) Nucleic Acids Res., 10.1093 / nar / gkl1120). (c) Determining the reverse complement of a selected target sequence (e.g., a 19-mer) for use in preparing a modified mature miRNA (the nucleotide added at position 20 of the 19-mer sequence can match the selected target sequence or recognition sequence, and the nucleotide at position 21 can be selected to either not pair to prevent spread of silencing to the target transcript or to pair with the target sequence to promote spread of silencing to the target transcript), and (d) Transforming artificial miRNAs into plants.

[0075] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a recombinant DNA molecule, construct, or vector comprising a transcribable DNA sequence or repression element encoding an miRNA molecule or precursor miRNA molecule for targeting and repressing GA oxidase gene(s). Such transcribable DNA sequences and repression elements may comprise a sequence of at least 19 nucleotides in length corresponding to and / or complementary to one or more GA oxidase gene(s), although one or more sequence mismatches or non-base-pairing nucleotides may be tolerated.

[0076] The GA oxidase gene(s) can also be silenced using one or more small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). The siRNA pathway requires out-of-phase cleavage of a longer double-stranded RNA intermediate ("RNA duplex") into the small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). The size or length of siRNAs ranges from about 19 to about 25 nucleotides or base pairs, with common classes of siRNAs containing 21 or 24 base pairs. Thus, a transcribable DNA sequence or suppression element can encode an RNA molecule at least about 19 to about 25 nucleotides in length (or longer), such as at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, or at least 25 nucleotides in length. Thus, for siRNA-mediated suppression, recombinant DNA molecules, constructs, or vectors are provided that include a transcribable DNA sequence and suppression element encoding an siRNA molecule for targeting and suppressing the GA oxidase gene(s). Such transcribable DNA sequences and repression elements may be at least 19 nucleotides in length and may have sequences corresponding to and / or complementary to one or more GA oxidase gene(s).

[0077] GA oxidase gene(s) can also be silenced using one or more trans-acting small interfering RNAs (ta-siRNAs). In the ta-siRNA pathway, miRNAs act to guide the in-phase processing of siRNA primary transcripts in a process that requires RNA-dependent RNA polymerase to produce double-stranded RNA precursors. ta-siRNAs are defined by the absence of secondary structure, the requirement for miRNA target sites to initiate double-stranded RNA production, DCL4 and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR6), and the production of multiple, perfectly matched, approximately 21-nt small RNAs with two-nucleotide 3' overhangs (see Allen et al. (2005) Cell, 121:207-221). The size or length of ta-siRNAs ranges from about 20 to about 22 nucleotides or base pairs, but is most commonly 21 base pairs. Thus, a transcribable DNA sequence or repression element of the invention can encode an RNA molecule at least about 20 to about 22 nucleotides in length (e.g., 20, 21, or 22 nucleotides in length). Thus, for ta-siRNA repression, recombinant DNA molecules, constructs, or vectors are provided that include a transcribable DNA sequence or repression element encoding a ta-siRNA molecule for targeting and repressing a GA oxidase gene(s). Such transcribable DNA sequences and repression elements can be at least 20 nucleotides in length and have sequences corresponding to and / or complementary to one or more GA oxidase gene(s). For methods of constructing suitable ta-siRNA scaffolds, see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 9,309,512, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0078] According to embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a recombinant DNA molecule, vector, or construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that binds to or hybridizes with a target mRNA in a plant cell, wherein the target mRNA molecule encodes a GA20 oxidase gene or a GA3 oxidase gene, and the transcribable DNA sequence is operably linked to a constitutive, tissue-specific, or tissue-preferential promoter. In addition to targeting the mature mRNA sequence, the non-coding RNA molecule may alternatively target an intron sequence of the GA oxidase gene or mRNA transcript, or alternatively target a GA oxidase mRNA sequence in which the coding and non-coding sequences overlap. According to other embodiments, a recombinant DNA molecule, vector, or construct is provided that includes a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA (precursor) molecule that is cleaved or processed into a mature non-coding RNA molecule that binds to or hybridizes to a target mRNA in a plant cell, wherein the target mRNA molecule encodes a GA20 oxidase protein or a GA3 oxidase protein, and the transcribable DNA sequence is operably linked to a constitutive, tissue-specific, or tissue-preferred promoter. For purposes of this disclosure, a "non-coding RNA molecule" is an RNA molecule that does not encode a protein. Examples of non-coding RNA molecules include, but are not limited to, microRNAs (miRNAs), miRNA precursors, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), siRNA precursors, small RNAs (18-26 nt in length) and their encoding precursors, heterochromatin-mediated siRNAs (hc-siRNAs), Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), hairpin double-stranded RNAs (hairpin dsRNAs), trans-acting siRNAs (ta-siRNAs), naturally occurring antisense siRNAs (nat-siRNAs), CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs), tracer RNAs (tracrRNAs), guide RNAs (gRNAs), and single guide RNAs (sgRNAs).

[0079] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, tissue-specific or tissue-preferential promoters suitable for expression of a GA20 oxidase inhibitory element or a GA3 oxidase inhibitory element may include promoters that induce or drive expression of the inhibitory element or sequence associated therewith in at least the vascular and / or leaf tissue(s) (or, in the case of GA3 oxidase, potentially other tissues) of a corn or cereal plant. While expression of a GA oxidase inhibitory element or construct under a tissue-specific or tissue-preferential promoter may occur in tissues other than vascular and leaf tissues in a cereal or corn plant, it is preferred that the level of active GA in the developing reproductive tissues of the plant (specifically, the female reproductive organ or ear) is not significantly reduced or significantly affected (compared to wild-type or control plants), such that ear development can proceed normally in the transgenic plant without dysmorphism or reduced productivity.

[0080] Any vascular promoter known in the art can potentially be used as a tissue-specific or tissue-preferential promoter. Examples of vascular promoters include the RTBV promoter (see, for example, SEQ ID NO: 65), known sucrose synthase gene promoters (such as the maize sucrose synthase-1 (Sus1 or Sh1) promoter (see, for example, SEQ ID NO: 67), the maize Sh1 gene paralog promoter, the barley sucrose synthase promoter (Ss1) promoter, the inesucrose synthase-1 (RSs1) promoter (see, for example, SEQ ID NO: 68), or the inesucrose synthase-2 (RSs2) promoter (see, for example, SEQ ID NO: 69)), known sucrose transporter gene promoters (such as the inesucrose transporter promoter (SUT1) (see, for example, SEQ ID NO: 70)), or various known viral promoters (such as the Commelina yellow mottle virus promoter). These promoters include the CoYMV promoter, the wheat dwarf geminivirus (WDV) long intergenic region (LIR) promoter, the maize stripe geminivirus (MSV) coat protein (CP) promoter, or the rice yellow streak 1 (YS1)-like promoter or OsYSL2 promoter (SEQ ID NO: 71), as well as any functional sequence portion or sequence truncation of any of the above promoters that have a similar expression pattern, such as a truncated RTBV promoter (see, e.g., SEQ ID NO: 66).

[0081] Any leaf promoter known in the art can potentially be used as a tissue-specific or tissue-preferential promoter. Examples of leaf promoters include the maize pyruvate phosphate dikinase promoter or PPDK promoter (e.g., see SEQ ID NO: 72), the maize fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase promoter or FDA promoter (e.g., see SEQ ID NO: 73), and the rice Nadh-Gogat promoter (e.g., see SEQ ID NO: 74), as well as any functional sequence portion or sequence truncation of any of the above promoters that have similar expression patterns. Other examples of leaf promoters derived from monocotyledonous genes include the ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBisCO) promoter or RuBisCO small subunit (RBCS) promoter, the chlorophyll a / b-binding protein gene promoter, the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) promoter, and the Myb gene promoter, as well as any functional sequence portion or sequence truncation of any of these promoters that have similar expression patterns.

[0082] Any other vascular promoter and / or leaf promoter known in the art can also be used, including promoter sequences derived from related genes from the same or different plant species or viruses and having similar expression patterns (e.g., sucrose synthase promoter sequences, sucrose transporter promoter sequences, and viral gene promoter sequences). Promoter sequences with a high degree of homology to any of the above are also provided. For example, a vascular promoter can include a DNA sequence with at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to one or more of SEQ ID NO:65, SEQ ID NO:66, SEQ ID NO:67, SEQ ID NO:68, SEQ ID NO:69, SEQ ID NO:70, and SEQ ID NO:71, any functional sequence portion or sequence truncation thereof, and / or any sequence complementary to any of the above sequences. A leaf promoter may comprise, for example, a DNA sequence having at least at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to one or more of SEQ ID NO:72, SEQ ID NO:73, and SEQ ID NO:74, any functional sequence portion or sequence truncation thereof, and / or any sequence complementary to any of the above sequences. A constitutive promoter may comprise a DNA sequence having at least at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to one or more of SEQ ID NO:75, SEQ ID NO:76, SEQ ID NO:77, SEQ ID NO:78, SEQ ID NO:79, SEQ ID NO:80, SEQ ID NO:81, SEQ ID NO:82, and SEQ ID NO:83, any functional sequence portion or sequence truncation thereof, and / or any sequence complementary to any of the above sequences.Examples of vascular promoters and / or leaf promoters may further include other known, engineered, and / or future-identified promoter sequences that have been shown to have expression patterns in the vascular and / or leaf tissue(s) of cereal or corn plants. Additionally, any known or future-identified constitutive promoter may be used to express the GA20 oxidase repression element or the GA3 oxidase repression element. General examples of constitutive promoters are provided below.

[0083] As understood in the art, the term "promoter" generally refers to a DNA sequence that contains an RNA polymerase binding site, a transcription initiation site, and / or a TATA box and that supports or facilitates the transcription and expression of an associated transcribable polynucleotide sequence and / or gene (or transgene). Promoters can be synthetic or artificial, and / or engineered, modified, or derived from known or naturally occurring promoter sequences. Promoters can also be chimeric promoters, comprising a combination of two or more heterologous sequences. Thus, promoters of the present invention can include promoter sequence variants that are similar in composition to, but not identical to, other promoter sequence(s) known or provided herein. Promoters can be classified according to various criteria (e.g., constitutive, developmental, tissue-specific, inducible) regarding the expression pattern of the associated coding or transcribable sequence or gene (including a transgene) operably linked to the promoter. A promoter that drives expression in all or nearly all tissues of a plant is referred to as a "constitutive" promoter. However, the expression level of a "constitutive promoter" is not necessarily uniform across different tissue types and cells. A promoter that induces expression during a particular period or stage of development is referred to as a "developmental" promoter. A promoter that induces enhanced expression in certain tissues of a plant relative to other plant tissues is referred to as a "tissue-enhanced" or "tissue-preferred" promoter. Thus, a "tissue-preferred" promoter induces relatively elevated, preferential, or predominant expression in certain tissue(s) of a plant, but induces lower levels of expression in other tissue(s) of the plant. A promoter that induces expression in certain tissue(s) of a plant, and little or no expression in other plant tissues, is referred to as a "tissue-specific" promoter. A tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter may also be defined in terms of the specific or preferred tissue(s) in which it induces expression of its associated transcribable DNA sequence or repressor element.For example, a promoter that induces expression specific to vascular tissue may be referred to as a "vascular-specific promoter," while a promoter that induces expression preferentially or predominantly in vascular tissue may be referred to as a "vascular-preferred promoter." Similarly, a promoter that induces expression specific to leaf tissue may be referred to as a "leaf-specific promoter," while a promoter that induces expression preferentially or predominantly in leaf tissue may be referred to as a "leaf-preferred promoter." An "inducible" promoter is a promoter that initiates transcription in response to an environmental stimulus, such as cold, drought, or light, or other stimuli (such as wounding or chemical application). Promoters may also be classified with respect to their origin, and are classified as heterologous, homologous, chimeric, synthetic, etc. A "heterologous" promoter is a promoter sequence that has a different origin compared to its associated transcribable sequence, coding sequence, or gene (or transgene), as defined above, and / or does not naturally occur in the plant species to be transformed.

[0084] Some cereal GA oxidases consist of a family of related GA oxidase genes. For example, maize has a family of at least nine GA20 oxidase genes, including GA20 oxidase_1, GA20 oxidase_2, GA20 oxidase_3, GA20 oxidase_4, GA20 oxidase_5, GA20 oxidase_6, GA20 oxidase_7, GA20 oxidase_8, and GA20 oxidase_9. However, only two GA3 oxidases, GA3 oxidase_1 and GA3 oxidase_2, are present in maize. The DNA and protein sequences of each of these GA20 oxidase genes are shown in Table 1 by SEQ ID NO: 1, and the DNA and protein sequences of each of these GA3 oxidase genes are shown in Table 2 by SEQ ID NO: 1. Table 1. DNA and protein sequences of the maize GA20 oxidase gene indicated by sequence identifiers. [Table 1] Table 2. DNA and protein sequences of maize GA3 oxidase genes indicated by sequence identifiers. [Table 2]

[0085] The genomic DNA sequence of GA20 oxidase_3 is shown in SEQ ID NO: 34, and the genomic DNA sequence of GA20 oxidase_5 is shown in SEQ ID NO: 35. For the GA20 oxidase_3 gene, SEQ ID NO: 34 represents 3,000 nucleotides located upstream of the 5'-UTR of GA20 oxidase_3, with nucleotides 3001 to 3096 corresponding to the 5'-UTR, nucleotides 3097 to 3665 corresponding to the first exon, nucleotides 3666 to 3775 corresponding to the first intron, nucleotides 3776 to 4097 corresponding to the second exon, nucleotides 4098 to 5314 corresponding to the second intron, nucleotides 5315 to 5584 corresponding to the third exon, and nucleotides 5585 to 5800 corresponding to the 3'-UTR. SEQ ID NO:34 also indicates 3,000 nucleotides (nucleotides 5801-8800) located downstream of the end of the 3'-UTR. For the GA20 oxidase_5 gene, SEQ ID NO:35 indicates 3,000 nucleotides (nucleotides 1-3,000) located upstream of the start codon of GA20 oxidase_5, with nucleotides 3001-3791 corresponding to the first exon, nucleotides 3792-3906 corresponding to the first intron, nucleotides 3907-4475 corresponding to the second exon, nucleotides 4476-5197 corresponding to the second intron, nucleotides 5198-5473 corresponding to the third exon, and nucleotides 5474-5859 corresponding to the 3'-UTR. SEQ ID NO:35 also indicates 3,000 nucleotides (nucleotides 5860-8859) located downstream of the end of the 3'-UTR.

[0086] The genomic DNA sequence of GA3 oxidase_1 is shown in SEQ ID NO: 36, and the genomic DNA sequence of GA3 oxidase_2 is shown in SEQ ID NO: 37. For the GA3 oxidase_1 gene, nucleotides 1 to 29 of SEQ ID NO: 36 correspond to the 5'-UTR, nucleotides 30 to 514 of SEQ ID NO: 36 correspond to the first exon, nucleotides 515 to 879 of SEQ ID NO: 36 correspond to the first intron, nucleotides 880 to 1038 of SEQ ID NO: 36 correspond to the second exon, nucleotides 1039 to 1158 of SEQ ID NO: 36 correspond to the second intron, nucleotides 1159 to 1663 of SEQ ID NO: 36 correspond to the third exon, and nucleotides 1664 to 1788 of SEQ ID NO: 36 correspond to the 3'-UTR. For the GA3 oxidase_2 gene, nucleotides 1 to 38 of SEQ ID NO: 37 correspond to the 5'-UTR, nucleotides 39 to 532 of SEQ ID NO: 37 correspond to the first exon, nucleotides 533 to 692 of SEQ ID NO: 37 correspond to the first intron, nucleotides 693 to 851 of SEQ ID NO: 37 correspond to the second exon, nucleotides 852 to 982 of SEQ ID NO: 37 correspond to the second intron, nucleotides 983 to 1445 of SEQ ID NO: 37 correspond to the third exon, and nucleotides 1446 to 1698 of SEQ ID NO: 37 correspond to the 3'-UTR.

[0087] In addition to the phenotypic findings obtained by targeting the GA20 oxidase_3 gene and / or the GA20 oxidase_5 gene(s), or the GA3 oxidase_1 gene and / or the GA3 oxidase_2 gene(s), a semi-dwarf phenotype was also observed by suppressing the GA20 oxidase_4 gene. The genomic DNA sequence of GA20 oxidase_4 is provided in SEQ ID NO:38. For the GA oxidase_4 gene, SEQ ID NO:38 represents nucleotides 1 to 1416 located upstream of the 5'-UTR, nucleotides 1417 to 1543 of SEQ ID NO:38 correspond to the 5'-UTR, nucleotides 1544 to 1995 of SEQ ID NO:38 correspond to the first exon, nucleotides 1996 to 2083 of SEQ ID NO:38 correspond to the first intron, nucleotides 2084 to 2411 of SEQ ID NO:38 correspond to the second exon, nucleotides 2412 to 2516 of SEQ ID NO:38 correspond to the second intron, nucleotides 2517 to 2852 of SEQ ID NO:38 correspond to the third exon, nucleotides 2853 to 3066 of SEQ ID NO:38 correspond to the 3'-UTR, and nucleotides 3067 to 4465 of SEQ ID NO:38 correspond to the genomic sequence located downstream of the 3'-UTR.

[0088] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a recombinant DNA molecule, vector, or construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule, wherein the non-coding RNA molecule (i) is expressed from an endogenous GA oxidase gene and / or (ii) comprises a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least a segment or portion of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA oxidase protein of the plant, wherein the transcribable DNA sequence is operably linked to a plant-expressible promoter, and wherein the plant is a cereal plant or a maize plant.

[0089] According to some embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule targets GA20 oxidase gene(s) (such as the GA20 oxidase_3 gene and / or the GA20 oxidase_5 gene(s)) for inhibition and comprises a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of one or more of SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:13, and SEQ ID NO:14. According to some embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA20 oxidase protein of a plant that has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to one or both of SEQ ID NO:9 and SEQ ID NO:15.According to another embodiment, the non-coding RNA molecule may comprise a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA20 oxidase protein of a plant having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% similarity to one or both of SEQ ID NO:9 and SEQ ID NO:15. In addition to targeting the mature mRNA sequence (including either or both untranslated or exon sequences), the non-coding RNA molecule may further target intron sequences of the GA20 oxidase gene or transcript.

[0090] According to some embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule targets the GA3 oxidase gene(s) for inhibition and comprises a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of one or more of SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:31, and SEQ ID NO:32. According to other embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA3 oxidase protein of a plant having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to one or both of SEQ ID NO:30 and SEQ ID NO:33.According to another embodiment, the non-coding RNA molecule may comprise a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA3 oxidase protein of a plant having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% similarity to one or both of SEQ ID NO:30 and SEQ ID NO:33. In addition to targeting the mature mRNA sequence (including either or both untranslated or exon sequences), the non-coding RNA molecule may further target intron sequences of the GA3 oxidase gene or transcript.

[0091] According to some embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule targets the GA20 oxidase_4 gene for inhibition and comprises a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of one or both of SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:11. According to other embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA20 oxidase protein of a plant having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to one or both of SEQ ID NO:12.According to another embodiment, the non-coding RNA molecule may comprise a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA20 oxidase protein of a plant having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% similarity to SEQ ID NO:12. In addition to targeting the mature mRNA sequence (including either or both untranslated or exon sequences), the non-coding RNA molecule may further target intron sequences of the GA20 oxidase gene or transcript.

[0092] In many embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule encoded by the transcribable DNA sequence of the recombinant DNA molecule, vector, or construct may be a precursor miRNA or precursor siRNA that is processed or cleaved in the plant cell to form a mature miRNA or mature siRNA that targets the GA20 oxidase gene or the GA3 oxidase gene.

[0093] According to embodiments of the present invention, GA levels can be reduced in the stalk or stem of cereal or maize plants by targeting only a limited subset of genes within the GA oxidase family for repression. Without being bound by theory, it is proposed that targeting a limited number of genes within the GA oxidase family for repression results in a low plant height phenotype and lodging resistance in transgenic plants, but does not result in abnormalities in the reproductive or ear tissues of the plants, which may be due to differential expression among GA oxidase genes, sufficient complementation of the repressed GA oxidase gene(s) by other GA oxidase gene(s) in such reproductive tissues, and / or incomplete repression of the targeted GA oxidase gene(s). Thus, it is proposed that variants can be avoided not simply by restricting expression or suppression of a GA oxidase gene(s) to a tissue-specific or tissue-preferential promoter, but rather that a limited subset of GA oxidase genes (e.g., a limited number of GA20 oxidase genes) can be targeted for suppression, such that other GA oxidase genes (e.g., other GA20 oxidase genes) within the same gene family can compensate for the reduced expression of the suppressed GA oxidase gene(s) in those tissues. Even incomplete suppression of a targeted GA oxidase gene(s) can result in sufficient expression levels of the targeted GA oxidase gene(s) in one or more tissues, thereby avoiding variants or undesirable traits in plants that are expected to negatively affect crop yield (e.g., reproductive variants or excessively reduced plant height). Unlike mutations that completely eliminate gene function, suppression may allow partial activity of the targeted gene to persist. Because different GA20 oxidase genes have distinct expression patterns in plants, targeting a limited subset of GA20 oxidase genes for suppression may allow for the modification of certain traits in cereal plants while avoiding the heterogeneity previously associated with GA mutants.In other words, growth, development, and reproductive traits or dysmorphisms previously associated with GA mutants in maize and other cereals can be disassociated by targeting only a limited number or subset (i.e., one or more, but not all) of the GA20 oxidase or GA3 oxidase genes and / or by incompletely suppressing the targeted GA oxidase genes. By transgenically targeting a subset of one or more endogenous GA3 oxidase or GA20 oxidase genes for suppression in plants, broader expression patterns (e.g., those using constitutive promoters) can be used, resulting in the production of semi-dwarf plants without significant reproductive dysmorphisms and / or other undesirable traits in the plants, even when the transgenic construct is expressed in the reproductive tissue(s). Indeed, provided herein are suppression elements and constructs that selectively target the GA20 oxidase_3 gene and / or the GA20 oxidase_5 gene (shown in Table 1 above) for suppression, and such suppression elements and constructs can be operably linked to a vascular promoter, a leaf promoter, and / or a constitutive promoter.

[0094] For suppression constructs that target only a limited subset of GA20 oxidase genes (e.g., the GA20 oxidase_3, GA20 oxidase_4, and / or GA20 oxidase_5 gene(s)), or for suppression constructs that target the GA3 oxidase_1 gene and / or the GA3 oxidase_2 gene(s), restricting the expression pattern of the suppressor element is less important for achieving normal reproductive development of cereal or maize plants and avoiding heterogeneity in female organs or ears, which may be due to compensation from other GA20 oxidase genes and / or GA3 oxidase genes. Thus, for example, expression of suppression constructs and suppression elements selectively or preferentially targeting the corn GA20 oxidase_3 gene and / or GA20 oxidase_5 gene(s), GA20 oxidase_4 gene, and / or GA3 oxidase_1 gene and / or GA3 oxidase_2 gene(s), or similar genes and homologs in other cereal plants, can be driven by a variety of different plant-expressible promoter types, including constitutive promoters and tissue-specific or tissue-preferential promoters (such as vascular promoters or leaf promoters) (e.g., the RTBV promoter introduced above (e.g., a promoter comprising the RTBV sequence (SEQ ID NO: 65) or a truncated RTBV sequence (SEQ ID NO: 66))), as well as any other promoter that drives expression in tissues, including most or all of the vascular and / or leaf tissue(s) of a plant. Any known or later identified constitutive promoter with sufficiently high levels of expression may also be used to express suppression constructs targeting a subset of the corn GA20 oxidase gene and / or GA3 oxidase gene, specifically the GA20 oxidase_3 gene and / or GA20 oxidase_5 gene(s), the GA20 oxidase_4 gene, and / or the GA3 oxidase_1 gene and / or the GA3 oxidase_2 gene(s), or similar genes and homologs in other cereal plants.

[0095] Examples of constitutive promoters that can be used in monocotyledonous plants (such as cereal plants or maize plants) include, for example, various actin gene promoters (such as the rice actin 1 promoter (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,876; see also SEQ ID NO: 75 or SEQ ID NO: 76) and the rice actin 2 promoter (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,429,357; see also, e.g., SEQ ID NO: 77 or SEQ ID NO: 78)), the CaMV35S promoter or the CaMV19S promoter (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,605; see also, e.g., SEQ ID NO: 79 for CaMV35S), the maize ubiquitin promoter (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,474), the Coix lacryma-jobi polyubiquitin promoter (see, e.g., SEQ ID NO: 80), the rice or maize Gos2 promoter (see, e.g., Pater et al., The Plant Journal, 2(6):837-44). 1992. See also SEQ ID NO: 81 for the rice Gos2 promoter), FMV35S promoter (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,372,211), double-enhanced CMV promoter (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,938), MMV promoter (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,420,547; see also SEQ ID NO: 82), PCLSV promoter (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,019).See also, e.g., SEQ ID NO: 83), the Emu promoter (see, e.g., Last et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. 81:581 (1991), and McElroy et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 231:150 (1991)), tubulin promoters from maize, rice, or other species, the nopaline synthase (nos) promoter, the octopine synthase (ocs) promoter, the mannopine synthase (mas) promoter, or the plant alcohol dehydrogenase (e.g., maize Adh1) promoter, any other promoter (including viral promoters) known in the art or hereafter identified for constitutive expression in cereal or maize plants, any other constitutive promoter known in the art that can be used in monocotyledonous or cereal plants, and any functional sequence portion or sequence truncation of any of the above-mentioned promoters.

[0096] To produce a lodging-resistant, low-height, semi-dwarf phenotype, it may be necessary for a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that targets the GA oxidase gene to be expressed at a sufficient level, because reduced expression levels may be insufficient to reduce the level of active GA in the plant to a sufficient degree to induce a pronounced phenotype. Therefore, tissue-specific and tissue-preferred promoters that induce their associated transcribable DNA sequence at moderate or strong expression levels in the active GA-producing tissue(s) of the plant may be preferred. Further, such tissue-specific and tissue-preferential genes may induce expression of the transcribable DNA sequence associated therewith during one or more vegetative stage(s) of plant development as the plant grows and / or elongates, including one or more of the following vegetative stage(s): VE, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6, V7, V8, V9, V10, V11, V12, V13, V14, Vn, and VT, and expression during such vegetative stage(s) may be at least V3-V5. and / or expression occurring during the vegetative growth phase of the plant, such as expression occurring between V4 and V12, at least between V4 and V12, at least between V5 and V12, at least between V6 and V12, at least between V7 and V12, at least between V8 and V12, at least between V3 and V14, at least between V5 and V14, at least between V6 and V14, at least between V7 and V14, at least between V8 and V14, at least between V9 and V14, at least between V10 and V14, or any other range of vegetative growth stages during which plant growth and / or elongation occurs.

[0097] In many embodiments, plant-expressible promoters that constitutively induce expression or induce expression in at least one portion of the plant's vascular tissue and / or leaf tissue may be preferred. Different promoters that induce expression of repression elements targeting the endogenous maize GA20 oxidase_3 gene and / or GA20 oxidase_5 gene(s), GA20 oxidase_4 gene, GA3 oxidase_1 gene and / or GA3 oxidase_2 gene(s), or similar genes and homologs in other cereal plants, may be effective in reducing plant height and increasing lodging resistance to different degrees depending on their particular expression pattern and intensity in the plant. However, some tissue-specific and tissue-preferred promoters that drive the expression of GA20 oxidase or GA3 oxidase suppression elements in plants do not produce significant low plant height or lodging resistance phenotypes, which may be due to the promoter's spatiotemporal expression pattern during plant development and / or the promoter's expression amount or intensity being too low or weak. Furthermore, some suppression constructs only reduce, but do not eliminate, the expression of the targeted GA20 oxidase or GA3 oxidase gene(s) when expressed in plants. Therefore, depending on the expression pattern and expression intensity of a given promoter, the expression pattern and expression level of the GA20 oxidase or GA3 oxidase suppression construct from such a promoter may be insufficient to produce observable plant height and lodging resistance phenotypes in plants.

[0098] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a recombinant DNA molecule, vector, or construct for suppressing one or more endogenous GA20 oxidase or GA3 oxidase gene(s) in a plant, the recombinant DNA molecule, vector, or construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule, the non-coding RNA molecule being expressed from the endogenous GA oxidase gene and comprising a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least one segment or portion of an mRNA molecule encoding the plant's endogenous GA oxidase protein, the transcribable DNA sequence being operably linked to a plant-expressible promoter, and the plant being a cereal or corn plant. As described above, in addition to targeting the mature mRNA sequence, the non-coding RNA molecule may further target an intron sequence(s) of the GA oxidase gene or transcript. According to many embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule targets the GA20 oxidase_3 gene for inhibition and may comprise a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:7 or SEQ ID NO:8. According to some embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule targets the GA20 oxidase_3 gene for inhibition may be complementary to at least 19 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:7 or SEQ ID NO:8, but not more than 27 consecutive nucleotides (e.g., complementary to 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, or 27 consecutive nucleotides).According to some embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule targets the GA20 oxidase gene for inhibition and may comprise a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA20 oxidase protein of a plant having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:9. According to another embodiment, the non-coding RNA molecule may comprise a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA20 oxidase protein having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% similarity to SEQ ID NO:9.

[0099] As described above, non-coding RNA molecules can target intronic sequences of the GA oxidase gene instead of, or in addition to, the 5' or 3' UTR of an exon of the GA oxidase gene. Thus, a non-coding RNA molecule targeting the GA20 oxidase_3 gene for silencing can include a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to SEQ ID NO:34 and / or at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:34, and / or nucleotides 3666-3775 or nucleotides 4098-5314 of SEQ ID NO:34. It is important to note that the sequences provided herein for the GA20 oxidase_3 gene may vary among corn plants, corn lines, and corn germplasm due to genetic polymorphisms and / or the presence of different alleles of the gene. Additionally, the GA20 oxidase_3 gene may be expressed as alternatively spliced ​​isoforms that can result in different mRNA, cDNA, and coding sequences that can impact the design of suppression constructs and non-coding RNA molecules. Thus, non-coding RNA molecules that target the GA20 oxidase_3 gene for inhibition can be more broadly defined as comprising a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:34.

[0100] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a recombinant DNA molecule, vector, or construct for suppressing an endogenous GA20 oxidase_5 gene in a plant, the recombinant DNA molecule, vector, or construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule, wherein the non-coding RNA molecule targeting the GA20 oxidase_5 gene for suppression comprises a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:13 or SEQ ID NO:14. According to some embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule that targets the GA20 oxidase_5 gene for inhibition is complementary to at least 19 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:13 or SEQ ID NO:14, but can be complementary to no more than 27 contiguous nucleotides (e.g., complementary to 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, or 27 contiguous nucleotides). According to some embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule targets the GA20 oxidase gene for inhibition and comprises a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA20 oxidase protein of the plant, having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:15.According to another embodiment, the non-coding RNA molecule may comprise a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA20 oxidase protein having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% similarity to SEQ ID NO:15.

[0101] As described above, non-coding RNA molecules can target intronic sequences of the GA oxidase gene instead of, or in addition to, exonic or untranslated regions of the mature mRNA of the GA oxidase gene. Thus, a non-coding RNA molecule targeting the GA20 oxidase_5 gene for silencing can include a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to SEQ ID NO:35 and / or at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:35, and / or nucleotides 3792-3906 or nucleotides 4476-5197 of SEQ ID NO:35. The sequences provided herein for GA20 oxidase_5 may vary among corn plants, corn lines, and corn germplasm due to genetic polymorphisms and / or the presence of different alleles of the gene. Furthermore, the GA20 oxidase_5 gene may be expressed as alternatively spliced ​​isoforms, resulting in different mRNA, cDNA, and coding sequences, which may influence the design of suppression constructs and non-coding RNA molecules. Accordingly, non-coding RNA molecules that target the GA20 oxidase_3 gene for suppression may be more broadly defined as comprising a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:35.

[0102] According to another embodiment, there is provided a recombinant DNA molecule, vector, or construct for jointly suppressing the endogenous GA20 oxidase_3 gene and the GA20 oxidase_5 gene in a plant, the recombinant DNA molecule, vector, or construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule, wherein the non-coding RNA molecule targeting the GA20 oxidase_3 gene and the GA20 oxidase_5 gene for suppression comprises a sequence comprising at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:7 and / or SEQ ID NO:8. (ii) has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:13 and / or SEQ ID NO:14. According to some of these embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule that targets the GA20 oxidase_3 gene and the GA20 oxidase_5 gene for joint inhibition can be complementary to at least 19 contiguous nucleotides, but not more than 27 contiguous nucleotides (e.g., complementary to 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, or 27 contiguous nucleotides) of (i) SEQ ID NO:7 (and / or SEQ ID NO:8) and (ii) SEQ ID NO:13 (and / or SEQ ID NO:14).According to many embodiments, the sequence of the non-coding RNA molecule that targets the GA20 oxidase_3 gene and the GA20 oxidase_5 gene for suppression together comprises: (i) at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:9 for at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA20 oxidase protein of a plant that has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:9; and (ii) at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementary to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA20 oxidase protein of a plant having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO: 15. As described above, the non-coding RNA molecule may target an intron sequence of the GA oxidase gene. Thus, the non-coding RNA molecule may target intron sequence(s) of one or both of the GA20 oxidase_3 gene and / or GA20 oxidase_5 gene(s) shown above.

[0103] According to certain embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule encoded by the transcribable DNA sequence comprises a sequence or inhibitory element encoding a non-coding RNA molecule comprising (i) a sequence having at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:41, SEQ ID NO:43, or SEQ ID NO:45, and / or (ii) a sequence having at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:42, SEQ ID NO:44, or SEQ ID NO:46. According to some embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule encoded by the transcribable DNA sequence may comprise a sequence with one or more mismatches (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, or more complementary mismatches) to the sequence of a target or recognition site in the mRNA of the targeted GA20 oxidase gene (e.g., a sequence that is nearly complementary to SEQ ID NO: 40 but has one or more complementary mismatches to SEQ ID NO: 40). According to certain embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule encoded by the transcribable DNA sequence comprises a sequence with 100% identity to SEQ ID NO: 40, which sequence has 100% complementarity to a target sequence within the GA20 oxidase_3 cDNA and coding sequence (i.e., SEQ ID NO: 7 and SEQ ID NO: 8, respectively) and / or to the corresponding sequence in the mRNA encoded by the endogenous GA20 oxidase_3 gene. However, the sequence of a non-coding RNA molecule encoded by a transcribable DNA sequence having 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:42, SEQ ID NO:44, or SEQ ID NO:46 may not be perfectly complementary to the target sequence within the cDNA and coding sequence of the GA20 oxidase_5 gene (i.e., SEQ ID NO:13 and SEQ ID NO:14, respectively) and / or to the corresponding sequence of the mRNA encoded by the endogenous GA20 oxidase_5 gene.For example, the closest complementary match between the non-coding RNA molecule or miRNA sequence of SEQ ID NO: 40 and the cDNA and coding sequence of the GA20 oxidase_5 gene may include one mismatch at position 1 of SEQ ID NO: 39 (i.e., the "C" at position 1 of SEQ ID NO: 39 is replaced with a "G" (i.e., [ka] However, the non-coding RNA molecule or miRNA sequence of SEQ ID NO: 40 can still bind to and hybridize to the mRNA encoded by the endogenous GA20 oxidase_5 gene despite the presence of this slight mismatch.

[0104] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a recombinant DNA molecule, vector, or construct for silencing one or more endogenous GA3 oxidase gene(s) in a plant, the recombinant DNA molecule, vector, or construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule, the non-coding RNA molecule being expressed from the endogenous GA3 oxidase gene and comprising a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least one segment or portion of an mRNA molecule encoding the plant's endogenous GA3 oxidase protein, the transcribable DNA sequence being operably linked to a plant-expressible promoter, and the plant being a cereal or corn plant. In addition to targeting the mature mRNA sequence, the non-coding RNA molecule may further target an intron sequence of the GA3 oxidase gene or transcript.

[0105] According to some embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule targets the GA3 oxidase_1 gene for inhibition and may comprise a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 28 or SEQ ID NO: 29. According to some embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule targets the GA3 oxidase gene for inhibition may be complementary to at least 19 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 28 or SEQ ID NO: 29, but not more than 27 consecutive nucleotides (e.g., complementary to 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, or 27 consecutive nucleotides). According to some embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule that targets the GA3 oxidase gene for inhibition comprises a sequence that is at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementary to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA3 oxidase protein of a plant, having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:30.According to another embodiment, the non-coding RNA molecule may comprise a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA3 oxidase protein having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% similarity to SEQ ID NO:30.

[0106] As described above, non-coding RNA molecules can target intronic sequences of the GA3 oxidase gene instead of, or in addition to, the 5' or 3' UTR of an exon of the GA3 oxidase gene. Thus, non-coding RNA molecules targeting the GA3 oxidase_1 gene for inhibition can include a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to SEQ ID NO:36 and / or at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:36, and / or nucleotides 515-879 or nucleotides 1039-1158 of SEQ ID NO:36. The sequences provided herein for GA3 oxidase_1 may vary among corn plants, corn lines, and corn germplasm due to genetic polymorphisms and / or the presence of different alleles of the gene. Furthermore, the GA3 oxidase_1 gene may be expressed as alternatively spliced ​​isoforms, resulting in different mRNA, cDNA, and coding sequences, which may influence the design of suppression constructs and non-coding RNA molecules. Thus, non-coding RNA molecules that target the GA3 oxidase_1 gene for suppression may be more broadly defined as comprising a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:36.

[0107] According to some embodiments, a non-coding RNA molecule targets the GA3 oxidase_2 gene for inhibition and may comprise a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 31 or SEQ ID NO: 32. According to some embodiments, a non-coding RNA molecule targets the GA3 oxidase gene for inhibition may be complementary to at least 19 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 31 or SEQ ID NO: 32, but not more than 27 consecutive nucleotides (e.g., complementary to 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, or 27 consecutive nucleotides). According to some embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule that targets the GA3 oxidase gene for inhibition comprises a sequence that is at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementary to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA3 oxidase protein of a plant, having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:33.According to another embodiment, the non-coding RNA molecule may comprise a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA3 oxidase protein having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% similarity to SEQ ID NO:33.

[0108] As described above, non-coding RNA molecules can target intronic sequences of the GA3 oxidase gene instead of, or in addition to, the 5' or 3' UTR of an exon of the GA3 oxidase gene. Thus, non-coding RNA molecules targeting the GA3 oxidase_2 gene for inhibition can include a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to SEQ ID NO:37 and / or at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:37, and / or nucleotides 533-692 or 852-982 of SEQ ID NO:37. The sequences provided herein for GA3 oxidase_2 may vary among corn plants, corn lines, and corn germplasm due to genetic polymorphisms and / or the presence of different alleles of the gene. Furthermore, the GA3 oxidase_2 gene may be expressed as alternatively spliced ​​isoforms, resulting in different mRNA, cDNA, and coding sequences, which may influence the design of suppression constructs and non-coding RNA molecules. Thus, non-coding RNA molecules that target the GA3 oxidase_2 gene for suppression may be more broadly defined as comprising a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:37.

[0109] According to certain embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule encoded by the transcribable DNA sequence for targeting the GA3 oxidase gene comprises a sequence or inhibitory element encoding a non-coding RNA molecule comprising (i) a sequence having at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to SEQ ID NO:57 or SEQ ID NO:59, and / or (ii) a sequence having at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:58 or SEQ ID NO:60. According to some embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule encoded by the transcribable DNA sequence can comprise a sequence with one or more mismatches (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, or more complementary mismatches) to the sequence of a target or recognition site in the mRNA of the targeted GA3 oxidase gene (e.g., a sequence that is approximately complementary to SEQ ID NO:57 or SEQ ID NO:59 but with one or more complementary mismatches to SEQ ID NO:57 or SEQ ID NO:59). According to certain embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule encoded by the transcribable DNA sequence comprises a sequence with 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:58 or SEQ ID NO:60, which sequence has 100% complementarity to a target sequence within the cDNA and coding sequence of the maize GA3 oxidase_1 or GA3 oxidase_2 gene (i.e., SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:31, and / or SEQ ID NO:32) and / or to the corresponding sequence in the mRNA encoded by the endogenous GA3 oxidase_1 or GA3 oxidase_2 gene.

[0110] According to some embodiments, a non-coding RNA molecule targets the GA20 oxidase_4 gene for inhibition and may comprise a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 10 or SEQ ID NO: 11. According to some embodiments, a non-coding RNA molecule targets the GA20 oxidase_4 gene for inhibition may be complementary to at least 19 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 10 or SEQ ID NO: 11, but not more than 27 consecutive nucleotides (e.g., complementary to 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, or 27 consecutive nucleotides). According to some embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule that targets the GA20 oxidase gene for inhibition comprises a sequence that is at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementary to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA20 oxidase protein of a plant, having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:12.According to another embodiment, the non-coding RNA molecule may comprise a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA20 oxidase protein having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% similarity to SEQ ID NO:12.

[0111] As described above, non-coding RNA molecules can target intronic sequences of the GA20 oxidase gene instead of, or in addition to, the 5' or 3' UTR of an exon of the GA20 oxidase gene. Thus, non-coding RNA molecules targeting the GA20 oxidase_4 gene for inhibition can include a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to SEQ ID NO:38 and / or at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of nucleotides 1996-2083 or nucleotides 2412-2516 of SEQ ID NO:38. The sequences provided herein for GA20 oxidase_4 may vary among corn plants, corn lines, and corn germplasm due to genetic polymorphisms and / or the presence of different alleles of the gene. Furthermore, the GA20 oxidase_4 gene may be expressed as alternatively spliced ​​isoforms, resulting in different mRNA, cDNA, and coding sequences, which may influence the design of suppression constructs and non-coding RNA molecules. Thus, non-coding RNA molecules that target the GA20 oxidase_4 gene for suppression may be more broadly defined as comprising a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:38.

[0112] According to certain embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule encoded by the transcribable DNA sequence for targeting the GA20 oxidase_4 gene comprises a sequence or inhibitory element encoding a non-coding RNA molecule comprising (i) a sequence having at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to SEQ ID NO: 61, and / or (ii) a sequence having at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO: 62. According to some embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule encoded by the transcribable DNA sequence may comprise a sequence having one or more mismatches (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, or more complementary mismatches) with respect to the sequence of a target or recognition site in the mRNA of the targeted GA20 oxidase gene (e.g., a sequence that is nearly complementary to SEQ ID NO: 61 but has one or more complementary mismatches with SEQ ID NO: 61). According to certain embodiments, the non-coding RNA molecule encoded by the transcribable DNA sequence comprises a sequence having 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:62, which has 100% complementarity to a target sequence within the cDNA and coding sequence of the maize GA20 oxidase_4 gene (i.e., SEQ ID NO:10 or SEQ ID NO:11) and / or to the corresponding sequence of the mRNA encoded by the endogenous GA20 oxidase_4 gene.

[0113] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that targets an endogenous GA20 oxidase_3 gene and / or GA20 oxidase_5 gene(s) for inhibition, wherein the transcribable DNA sequence is operably linked to a constitutive, tissue-specific, or tissue-preferred promoter, and the transcribable DNA sequence reduces or decreases the expression level of the endogenous GA20 oxidase_3 gene and / or GA20 oxidase_5 gene(s) in one or more tissue(s) of a plant transformed with the transcribable DNA sequence.Such a non-coding RNA molecule encoded by a transcribable DNA sequence may comprise: (i) at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous plant GA20 oxidase protein having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:9. and / or (ii) has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA20 oxidase protein of a plant having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:15.

[0114] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that targets an endogenous GA3 oxidase_1 gene and / or GA3 oxidase_2 gene(s) for inhibition, wherein the transcribable DNA sequence is operably linked to a constitutive, tissue-specific, or tissue-preferred promoter, and the transcribable DNA sequence reduces or decreases the expression level of the endogenous GA3 oxidase_1 gene and / or GA3 oxidase_2 gene(s) in one or more tissue(s) of a plant transformed with the transcribable DNA sequence.Such a non-coding RNA molecule encoded by a transcribable DNA sequence may comprise: (i) at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5% of at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA3 oxidase protein of a plant having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO: 30; or 100% complementary to, and / or (ii) has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementary to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA3 oxidase protein of a plant having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:33.

[0115] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that targets an endogenous GA20 oxidase_4 gene for suppression, wherein the transcribable DNA sequence is operably linked to a constitutive, tissue-specific, or tissue-preferred promoter, and the transcribable DNA sequence reduces or decreases the expression level of the endogenous GA20 oxidase_4 gene in one or more tissue(s) of a plant transformed with the transcribable DNA sequence. Such a non-coding RNA molecule encoded by the transcribable DNA sequence may comprise (i) a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA20 oxidase protein of a plant having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:12.

[0116] According to many embodiments, modified or transgenic plants are provided having endogenous GA20 oxidase_3 and / or GA20 oxidase_5 genes that have been transformed with a recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that targets the endogenous GA20 oxidase_3 and / or GA20 oxidase_5 gene(s), and / or that have been edited via targeted genome editing techniques, as provided herein, wherein the transcribable DNA sequence is a constitutive promoter or a tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter (e.g., a vascular promoter or a leaf promoter). and wherein the expression level of the endogenous GA20 oxidase_3 gene and / or GA20 oxidase_5 gene(s) in one or more plant tissue(s) (e.g., one or more vascular tissues and / or leaf tissue(s)) of the modified or transgenic plant is eliminated, reduced, or decreased by at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 90%, or 100% compared to a wild-type plant or a control plant.According to many embodiments, modified or transgenic plants are provided that have been transformed with a recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that targets the endogenous GA20 oxidase_3 gene and / or GA20 oxidase_5 gene(s), and / or have been edited via targeted genome editing techniques to reduce or eliminate their expression and / or activity levels, wherein the transcribable DNA sequence is driven by a constitutive promoter or a tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter (e.g., a vascular promoter or a leaf promoter). The level of one or more active GAs (such as GA1, GA3, GA4, and / or GA7) in one or more plant tissue(s) (such as one or more stem tissues, internodal tissues, vascular tissues, and / or leaf tissue(s), or one or more stem tissues and / or internodal tissue(s)) of the operably linked, modified, or transgenic plant is reduced or decreased by at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 90%, or 100% compared to a wild-type plant or a control plant.

[0117] According to many embodiments, modified or transgenic plants are provided having endogenous GA3 oxidase_1 or GA3 oxidase_2 genes that have been transformed with a recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that targets the endogenous GA3 oxidase_1 and / or GA3 oxidase_2 gene(s) for silencing, and / or edited via targeted genome editing techniques, as provided herein, wherein the transcribable DNA sequence is a constitutive promoter or a tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter (e.g., a vascular promoter or a leaf promoter). ), such that the expression level of the endogenous GA3 oxidase_1 gene and / or GA3 oxidase_2 gene(s) in one or more plant tissue(s) (such as one or more vascular tissues and / or leaf tissue(s)) of the modified or transgenic plant is eliminated, reduced, or decreased by at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 90%, or 100% compared to a wild-type or control plant.According to many embodiments, modified or transgenic plants are provided that have been transformed with a recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that targets the endogenous GA3 oxidase_1 gene and / or GA3 oxidase_2 gene(s) for repression, and / or have been edited via targeted genome editing techniques to reduce or eliminate its expression and / or activity levels, wherein the transcribable DNA sequence can function as a constitutive promoter or a tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter (e.g., a vascular promoter or a leaf promoter). The level of one or more active GAs (such as GA1, GA3, GA4, and / or GA7) in one or more plant tissue(s) (such as one or more stem tissues, internodal tissues, vascular tissues, and / or leaf tissue(s), or one or more stem tissues and / or internodal tissue(s)) of the operably linked, modified, or transgenic plant is reduced or decreased by at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 90%, or 100% compared to a wild-type plant or a control plant.

[0118] According to many embodiments, modified or transgenic plants are provided that have been transformed with a recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that targets the endogenous GA20 oxidase_4 gene for silencing, as provided herein, and / or have an endogenous GA20 oxidase_4 gene edited via targeted genome editing techniques, wherein the transcribable DNA sequence is operably linked to a constitutive promoter or a tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter (e.g., a vascular promoter or a leaf promoter), and wherein the expression level of the endogenous GA20 oxidase_4 gene(s) in one or more plant tissue(s) (e.g., one or more vascular tissues and / or leaf tissue(s)) of the modified or transgenic plant is eliminated, reduced, or decreased by at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 90%, or 100% compared to a wild-type or control plant.In many embodiments, modified or transgenic plants are provided that have been transformed with a recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that targets the endogenous GA20 oxidase_4 gene(s) for repression, and / or have had the endogenous GA20 oxidase_4 gene edited via targeted genome editing techniques to reduce or eliminate its expression and / or activity levels, wherein the transcribable DNA sequence is operably linked to a constitutive promoter or a tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter (e.g., a vascular promoter or a leaf promoter), and the modified or transgenic plants are The level of one or more active GAs (such as GA1, GA3, GA4, and / or GA7) in one or more plant tissue(s) (such as one or more stem tissues, internode tissues, vascular tissues, and / or leaf tissue(s), or one or more stem tissues and / or internode tissue(s)) of the transgenic plant is reduced or decreased by at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 90%, or 100% compared to a wild-type plant or a control plant.

[0119] According to many embodiments, there are provided modified or transgenic plants having an endogenous GA20 oxidase_3 gene, GA20 oxidase_4 gene, or GA20 oxidase_5 gene that has been transformed with a recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that targets the endogenous GA3 oxidase_1 gene and / or GA3 oxidase_2 gene(s) for repression, and / or that has been edited via targeted genome editing techniques to reduce or eliminate its expression and / or activity levels, as provided herein, wherein the transcribable DNA sequence is operably linked to a constitutive promoter or a tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter (such as a vascular promoter or a leaf promoter), and the modified or transgenic plant has one or more of the following traits: plant height (plant height), semi-dwarfing or reduced plant height or stature, reduced stem internode length, increased lodging resistance, and / or increased stem or stalk diameter. Such modified or transgenic plants may have no significant reproductive anomalies. Modified or transgenic plants may have one or more of the following additional traits: reduced stem breakage, deeper roots, increased leaf area, earlier canopy closure, increased stomatal conductance, reduced ear height, increased leaf water content, improved drought tolerance, increased nitrogen use efficiency, increased water use efficiency, reduced anthocyanin content and area in leaves under normal conditions and / or nitrogen- or water-limiting stress conditions, increased ear weight, increased kernel number, increased kernel weight, increased yield, and / or increased harvest index.According to many of these embodiments, the expression level and / or activity level of the endogenous GA20 oxidase_3 gene, GA20 oxidase_4 gene, and / or GA20 oxidase_5 gene(s), or the endogenous GA3 oxidase_1 gene and / or GA3 oxidase_2 gene(s) in one or more plant tissue(s) (e.g., one or more vascular tissue(s) and / or leaf tissue(s)) of the modified or transgenic plant is at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 10 ... The level of one or more active GAs (such as GA1, GA3, GA4, and / or GA7) in one or more plant tissue(s) (such as one or more stem tissues, internodal tissues, vascular tissues, and / or leaf tissue(s) or one or more stem tissues and / or internodal tissue(s)) of the modified or transgenic plant may be eliminated, reduced, or decreased by at least 90%, or 100%, compared to a wild-type or control plant, and / or the level of one or more active GAs (such as GA1, GA3, GA4, and / or GA7) in one or more plant tissue(s) (such as one or more stem tissues, internodal tissues, vascular tissues, and / or leaf tissue(s) or one or more stem tissues and / or internodal tissue(s)) of the modified or transgenic plant is reduced or decreased by at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 90%, or 100%.

[0120] According to many of the embodiments described in the above paragraphs, the non-coding RNA molecule encoded by the transcribable DNA sequence of the recombinant DNA molecule, vector, or construct may be a precursor miRNA or precursor siRNA that can be subsequently processed or cleaved to form a mature miRNA or mature siRNA in the plant cell.

[0121] A recombinant DNA molecule, construct, or vector of the present disclosure may comprise a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that targets an endogenous GA oxidase gene for repression, wherein the transcribable DNA sequence is operably linked to a plant-expressible promoter (such as a constitutive promoter, or a vascular promoter and / or a leaf promoter). For purposes of the present disclosure, a non-coding RNA molecule encoded by a transcribable DNA sequence that targets an endogenous GA oxidase gene for repression includes a mature non-coding RNA molecule that targets an endogenous GA oxidase gene for repression and / or a precursor RNA molecule that can be processed in a plant cell to be converted into a mature non-coding RNA molecule (such as miRNA or siRNA) that targets an endogenous GA oxidase gene for repression. In addition to its associated promoter, a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule for repressing an endogenous GA oxidase gene may also be operably linked to one or more additional regulatory element(s), such as enhancer(s), leader, transcription start site (TSS), linker, 5' untranslated region(s) (UTR) and 3' untranslated region(s) (UTR), intron(s), polyadenylation signal, termination region or sequence, as appropriate, necessary, or preferred for enhancing, regulating, or enabling expression of the transcribable DNA sequence in plant cells. Such additional regulatory element(s) are optional and / or may be used to enhance or optimize expression of the transgene or transcribable DNA sequence. "Enhancers" as provided herein may be distinguished from "promoters" in that enhancers typically do not include a transcription initiation site, TATA box, or equivalent sequence and, therefore, are insufficient alone to induce transcription. As used herein, a "leader" may be generally defined as the DNA sequence in the 5'-UTR of a gene (or transgene) that is located between the transcription start site (TSS) and the 5' end of the transcribable DNA sequence or the start site of the protein-coding sequence of the transgene.

[0122] According to another embodiment, a method is provided for transforming plant cells, tissues, or explants with a recombinant DNA molecule or construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence or transgene operably linked to a plant-expressible promoter to produce transgenic plants. The transcribable DNA sequence may encode a non-coding RNA molecule that targets GA oxidase gene(s) for repression, or may encode an RNA precursor that is processed into a mature RNA molecule (e.g., miRNA or siRNA) that targets one or more GA oxidase gene(s) for repression. Many methods for transforming chromosomes or plastids in plant cells with recombinant DNA molecules or constructs are known in the art, and such methods can be used in accordance with embodiments of the methods of the present invention to generate transgenic plant cells and transgenic plants. Any suitable method or technique known in the art for transforming plant cells can be used in accordance with the methods of the present invention. Effective plant transformation methods include bacterial-mediated transformation (e.g., Agrobacterium- or Rhizobium-mediated transformation) and propellant or biolistic transformation. Various methods are known in the art for transforming explants with transformation vectors via bacterial-mediated transformation or via jet microparticle or particle bombardment, followed by subsequent culturing of such explants to regenerate or develop transgenic plants. Other methods of plant transformation, such as microinjection, electroporation, vacuum infiltration, pressure, sonication, agitation with carborundum fibers, and PEG-mediated transformation, are also known in the art.

[0123] Methods for transforming plant cells and explants are well known to those skilled in the art. Methods for biolistic transformation of plant cells using particles coated with recombinant DNA are provided, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,550,318, 5,538,880, 6,160,208, 6,399,861, and 6,153,812, and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is described, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,159,135, 5,824,877, 5,591,616, 6,384,301, 5,750,871, 5,463,174, and 5,188,958, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Additional transformation methods can be found, for example, in the Compendium of Transgenic Crop Plants (2009) Blackwell Publishing. Any suitable plant transformation method known in the art or later developed can be used to transform plant cells or explants with any of the nucleic acid molecules, constructs, or vectors provided herein.

[0124] Transgenic plants produced by transformation methods can be chimeric or non-chimeric for each transformation event, depending on the method and explant used. Further provided are methods for expressing a non-coding RNA molecule that repressively targets an endogenous GA oxidase gene in one or more plant cells or tissues under the control of a plant-expressible promoter (such as a constitutive promoter, tissue-specific promoter, tissue-preferred promoter, vascular promoter, and / or leaf promoter provided herein). Such methods can be used to create transgenic cereal or maize plants with shortened or semi-dwarf plant height, shortened internode length, increased stalk / stem diameter, and / or improved lodging resistance. Such transgenic cereal or maize plants may further possess other traits that may be advantageous to yield, such as reduced stem breakage, deeper roots, increased leaf area, earlier canopy closure, improved drought tolerance, increased nitrogen use efficiency, increased water use efficiency, increased stomatal conductance, reduced ear height, increased leaf water content, reduced anthocyanin content and / or anthocyanin area in leaves under normal conditions or nitrogen- or water-limiting stress conditions, increased ear weight, increased seed or kernel number, increased seed or kernel weight, increased yield, and / or increased harvest index when compared to wild-type or control plants. As used herein, "harvest index" refers to the mass of harvested grain divided by the total mass of aboveground biomass of the plant over the harvested area.

[0125] Transgenic plants expressing a GA oxidase transgene or non-coding RNA molecule that targets an endogenous GA oxidase gene for repression may exhibit earlier canopy closure (e.g., canopy closure may be about 1 day earlier, or 12 to 48 hours, 12 to 36 hours, 18 to 36 hours, or about 24 hours earlier) compared to wild-type or control plants. Transgenic plants expressing a GA oxidase transgene or non-coding RNA molecule that targets an endogenous GA oxidase gene for repression may exhibit reduced ear height compared to wild-type or control plants, although ear height may generally be at least 18 inches above ground. Transgenic plants expressing a non-coding RNA molecule that targets an endogenous GA oxidase gene for repression may exhibit increased biomass and / or leaf area compared to wild-type or control plants during one or more later vegetative stages (e.g., V8 to V12). When grown in the field, transgenic plants expressing a GA oxidase transgene or non-coding RNA molecule that silences and targets the endogenous GA oxidase gene may develop deeper roots during later vegetative stages compared to wild-type or control plants, which may be due to an increased rate of apical rooting. These transgenic plants may reach a depth of 90 cm below ground earlier (e.g., 10-25 days earlier, 15-25 days earlier, or approximately 20 days earlier) compared to wild-type or control plants, which may be due to the plant's transition from the vegetative to reproductive stage (e.g., V16 / R1 approximately 50 days after planting compared to approximately 70 days after planting for control plants).

[0126] Recipient cell(s) or explants or cell targets for transformation include, but are not limited to, seed cells, fruit cells, leaf cells, cotyledon cells, hypocotyl cells, meristematic cells, embryo cells, endosperm cells, root cells, shoot cells, stem cells, sheath cells, flower cells, inflorescence cells, stalk cells, pedicel cells, style cells, stigma cells, receptacle cells, petal cells, sepal cells, pollen cells, anther cells, fiber cells, ovary cells, ovule cells, pericarp cells, phloem cells, bud cells, callus cells, chloroplasts, stomatal cells, trichome cells, root hair cells, storage root cells, or vascular tissue cells, seeds, embryos, meristems, cotyledons, hypocotyls, endosperms, roots, shoots, stems, nodes, callus, suspension cells, protoplasts, flowers, leaves, pollen, anthers, ovaries, ovules, pericarp, buds, and / or vascular tissue, or any transformable portion of any of the above. For plant transformation, any target cell(s), target tissue(s), target explant(s), etc. that can be used to receive the recombinant DNA transformation vectors or molecules of the present disclosure can be collectively referred to as "explants" for transformation. Preferably, the transformable or transformed explant cells or explant tissues can be further developed or regenerated into plants. Any cell or explant that can serve as a source of growth or regeneration for fertile plants is contemplated as a useful recipient cell or recipient explant for practicing the present disclosure (i.e., as a target explant for transformation). Callus can be initiated or created from a variety of tissue sources, including, but not limited to, embryos or embryo portions, non-embryonic seed tissue, seedling apical meristems, microspores, and the like. Any cell capable of growing as callus can serve as a recipient cell for transformation. Transformation methods and materials for preparing transgenic plants (e.g., various media and recipient target cells or recipient target explants, as well as methods for transformation and subsequent regeneration into transgenic plants) are known in the art.

[0127] Transformation of target plant material or target explants can be carried out in tissue culture in a nutrient medium, such as a mixture of nutrients that allows for in vitro cell growth or cell culture. The transformed explant, cell, or tissue can be subjected to additional culture steps, such as callus induction, selection, and regeneration, as known in the art. Transformation can also be carried out without the creation or use of callus tissue. Transformed cells, tissues, or explants containing a recombinant DNA sequence insertion or event can be propagated, developed, or regenerated in culture medium, plugs, or soil according to methods known in the art to become transgenic plants. Transgenic plants can be further crossed with themselves or other plants to obtain transgenic seeds and transgenic progeny. Transgenic plants can also be prepared by crossing a first plant containing a recombinant DNA sequence or transformation event with a second plant that does not contain the insertion. For example, a recombinant DNA construct or sequence can be introduced into a first plant line suitable for transformation, and then the first plant line can be crossed with a second plant line to introgress the recombinant DNA construct or sequence into the second plant line. The progeny of such a cross can be backcrossed multiple times (e.g., 6-8 generations or 6-8 backcrosses) to a more desirable line to produce progeny plants that have a genotype substantially identical to the original parent line except for the introduction of the recombinant DNA construct or sequence.

[0128] The transgenic or edited plants, plant parts, cells, or explants provided herein may be elite varieties or lines. Elite varieties or lines refer to varieties resulting from breeding and selection for superior agronomic performance. The transgenic or edited plants, cells, or explants provided herein may be hybrid plants, cells, or explants. As used herein, a "hybrid" is created by crossing two plants from different varieties, lines, inbreds, or species, resulting in offspring containing genetic material from each parent. Those skilled in the art will recognize that higher-order hybrids may also be obtained. For example, a first hybrid can be prepared by crossing variety A with variety B to create an AxB hybrid, and a second hybrid can be prepared by crossing variety C with variety D to create a CxD hybrid. Further crossing of the first hybrid with the second hybrid can create a higher order hybrid (AxB)x(CxD) that contains genetic information from all four parent varieties.

[0129] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, modified plants are provided that contain a GA oxidase suppression element that targets two or more GA oxidase genes for suppression, or a combination of two or more GA oxidase suppression element(s) and / or gene edit(s). A recombinant DNA construct or vector can contain a single cassette or suppression element that contains a transcribable DNA sequence designed or selected to encode a non-coding RNA molecule that is complementary to a recognition or target sequence in the mRNA of two or more GA oxidase genes, including at least a first GA oxidase gene and a second GA oxidase gene. That is, the mRNAs of the targeted GA oxidase genes share an identical or nearly identical (or similar) sequence, such that a single suppression element and encoded non-coding RNA molecule can target each of the targeted GA oxidase genes for suppression. For example, expression cassettes and suppression constructs are provided herein that contain a transcribable DNA sequence that encodes a single non-coding RNA molecule that targets both the GA20 oxidase_3 gene and the GA20 oxidase_5 gene for suppression.

[0130] According to other embodiments, a recombinant DNA construct or vector may contain two or more suppression elements or sequences that can be stacked together in a construct or vector, either tandemly in a single expression cassette or separately in two or more expression cassettes. The recombinant DNA construct or vector may contain a single expression cassette or suppression element that contains a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that contains two or more targeting sequences arranged in tandem, including at least a first targeting sequence and a second targeting sequence, where the first targeting sequence is complementary to a recognition or targeting site in the mRNA of a first GA oxidase gene and the second targeting sequence is complementary to a recognition or targeting site in the mRNA of a second GA oxidase gene, and the transcribable DNA sequence is operably linked to a plant-expressible promoter. The plant-expressible promoter may be a constitutive promoter or a tissue-specific or tissue-preferential promoter as provided herein. The non-coding RNA molecule can be expressed as a pre-miRNA that is processed to become two or more mature miRNAs, including at least a first mature miRNA and a second miRNA, where the first miRNA contains a targeting sequence complementary to a recognition or target site in the mRNA of a first GA oxidase gene, and the second miRNA contains a targeting sequence complementary to a recognition or target site in the mRNA of a second GA oxidase gene.

[0131] According to other embodiments, a recombinant DNA construct or vector may comprise two or more expression cassettes, including a first expression cassette and a second expression cassette, wherein the first expression cassette comprises a first transcribable DNA sequence operably linked to a first plant-expressible promoter, the second expression cassette comprises a second transcribable DNA sequence operably linked to a second plant-expressible promoter, the first transcribable DNA sequence encoding a first non-coding RNA molecule comprising a targeting sequence complementary to a recognition or target site in the mRNA of a first GA oxidase gene, and the second transcribable DNA sequence encoding a second non-coding RNA molecule comprising a targeting sequence complementary to a recognition or target site in the mRNA of a second GA oxidase gene. The first plant-expressible promoter and the second plant-expressible promoter may each be a constitutive promoter or a tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter provided herein, and the first plant-expressible promoter and the second plant-expressible promoter may be the same or different promoters.

[0132] According to other embodiments, two or more suppression elements or constructs targeting the GA oxidase gene(s) and / or GA oxidase gene edit(s) can be integrated into a single modified plant by crossing two or more plants together in one or more generations, resulting in a modified plant with a desired combination of suppression element(s) and / or gene edit(s). According to such embodiments, a first modified plant containing a suppression element or construct (or GA oxidase gene edit) targeting the GA oxidase gene(s) can be crossed with a second modified plant containing a suppression element or construct (or GA oxidase gene edit) targeting the GA oxidase gene(s), resulting in modified progeny plants containing the first suppression element or construct and a second suppression element or construct, a suppression element or construct and a GA oxidase gene edit, or a first GA oxidase gene edit and a second GA oxidase gene edit. Alternatively, modified plants containing two or more suppression elements or constructs targeting the GA oxidase gene(s) and / or GA oxidase gene edit(s) can be produced by (i) co-transformation of a first suppression element or construct with a second suppression element or construct, each targeting the GA oxidase gene for suppression; (ii) transformation of a modified plant with a second suppression element or construct, where the modified plant already contains the first suppression element or construct; (iii) transformation of a modified plant with a suppression element or construct. The modified plant may be prepared by (i) transformation with a construct where the modified plant already contains an edited GA oxidase gene; (ii) transformation of the modified plant with a construct(s) where the purpose of the transformation is to make one or more edits to the GA oxidase gene(s) and the modified plant already contains a suppression element or construct; or (iii) transformation with a construct(s) where the purpose of the transformation is to make two or more edits to the GA oxidase gene(s).

[0133] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, modified plants are provided that include two or more constructs that target GA oxidase gene(s) for suppression, including a first recombinant DNA construct and a second recombinant DNA construct, where the first recombinant DNA construct includes a first transcribable DNA sequence encoding a first non-coding RNA molecule complementary to a recognition or target sequence in the mRNA of the first GA oxidase gene, and the second recombinant DNA construct includes a second transcribable DNA sequence encoding a second non-coding RNA molecule complementary to a recognition or target sequence in the mRNA of the second GA oxidase gene. The first and second recombinant DNA constructs can be stacked in a single vector and transformed into the plant as a single event, or can be present in separate vectors or constructs that can be transformed as separate events. According to such embodiments, the first GA oxidase gene may be a GA20 oxidase_3 gene, a GA20 oxidase_5 gene, a GA20 oxidase_4 gene, a GA3 oxidase_1 gene, or a GA3 oxidase_2 gene, the first non-coding RNA molecule is complementary to a recognition or target sequence of mRNA expressed from such a GA oxidase gene, and the second GA oxidase gene may be a GA20 oxidase_3 gene, a GA20 oxidase_5 gene, a GA20 oxidase_4 gene, a GA3 oxidase_1 gene, or a GA3 oxidase_2 gene. According to some embodiments, the first GA oxidase gene and the second GA oxidase gene may be the same or different GA oxidase gene(s). Alternatively, the second GA oxidase gene can be another GA oxidase gene (such as the GA20 oxidase_1 gene, the GA20 oxidase_2 gene, the GA20 oxidase_6 gene, the GA20 oxidase_7 gene, the GA20 oxidase_8 gene, or the GA20 oxidase_9 gene), and the second non-coding RNA molecule is complementary to a recognition sequence or target sequence of an mRNA expressed from such a GA oxidase gene.

[0134] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a modified plant comprising a recombinant DNA construct that targets a GA oxidase gene for repression, the construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule comprising two or more targeting sequences arranged in tandem, the two or more targeting sequences including at least a first targeting sequence complementary to a recognition or targeting sequence in the mRNA of a first GA oxidase gene and a second targeting sequence complementary to a recognition or targeting sequence in the mRNA of a second GA oxidase gene. The non-coding RNA molecule can be expressed as a pre-miRNA that is processed into two or more mature miRNAs, including at least a first mature miRNA and a second miRNA, wherein the first miRNA comprises the first targeting sequence complementary to a recognition or targeting site in the mRNA of the first GA oxidase gene and the second miRNA comprises the second targeting sequence complementary to a recognition or targeting site in the mRNA of the second GA oxidase gene. According to such embodiments, the first GA oxidase gene may be a GA20 oxidase_3 gene, a GA20 oxidase_5 gene, a GA20 oxidase_4 gene, a GA3 oxidase_1 gene, or a GA3 oxidase_2 gene, the first non-coding RNA molecule is complementary to a recognition or target sequence of mRNA expressed from such a GA oxidase gene, and the second GA oxidase gene may be a GA20 oxidase_3 gene, a GA20 oxidase_5 gene, a GA20 oxidase_4 gene, a GA3 oxidase_1 gene, or a GA3 oxidase_2 gene. According to some embodiments, the first GA oxidase gene and the second GA oxidase gene may be the same or different GA oxidase gene(s). Alternatively, the second GA oxidase gene can be another GA oxidase gene (such as the GA20 oxidase_1 gene, the GA20 oxidase_2 gene, the GA20 oxidase_6 gene, the GA20 oxidase_7 gene, the GA20 oxidase_8 gene, or the GA20 oxidase_9 gene), and the second non-coding RNA molecule is complementary to a recognition sequence or target sequence of an mRNA expressed from such a GA oxidase gene.

[0135] In the above stacking scenarios, regardless of whether the targeting sequences are stacked in tandem in a single transcribable DNA sequence (or expression cassette) or in separate transcribable DNA sequences (or expression cassettes), the second GA oxidase gene can be a GA oxidase gene other than the GA20 oxidase_3 gene, the GA20 oxidase_5 gene, the GA20 oxidase_4 gene, the GA3 oxidase_1 gene, or the GA3 oxidase_2 gene (such as the GA20 oxidase_1 gene, the GA20 oxidase_2 gene, the GA20 oxidase_6 gene, the GA20 oxidase_7 gene, the GA20 oxidase_8 gene, or the GA20 oxidase_9 gene). According to such embodiments, the second targeting sequence of the non-coding RNA molecule may have at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of any one or more of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:25, and / or SEQ ID NO:26. According to some embodiments, the second targeting sequence of the non-coding RNA molecule is at least 19 contiguous nucleotides, but can be complementary to no more than 27 contiguous nucleotides (such as complementary to 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, or 27 contiguous nucleotides) of any one or more of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:25, and / or SEQ ID NO:26.According to some embodiments, the second targeting sequence of the non-coding RNA molecule may have at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA oxidase protein of the plant having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to any one or more of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:24, and / or SEQ ID NO:27. According to another embodiment, the second targeting sequence of the non-coding RNA molecule may comprise a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 contiguous nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA oxidase protein having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% similarity to any one or more of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:24, and / or SEQ ID NO:27.

[0136] The recombinant DNA molecules or constructs of the present disclosure may constitute or be included in a DNA transformation vector for use in transforming a target plant cell, target tissue, or target explant. Such transformation vectors generally contain sequences or elements necessary or advantageous for effective transformation, in addition to at least one transgene, expression cassette, and / or transcribable DNA sequence encoding a GA oxidase gene or non-coding RNA molecule that repressively targets an endogenous GA oxidase gene. For Agrobacterium-, Rhizobia-, or other bacterial-mediated transformation, the transformation vector may contain an engineered transfer DNA (or T-DNA) segment or region having two border sequences (a left border (LB) and a right border (RB)) flanking at least one transcribable DNA sequence or transgene, such that, upon insertion of the T-DNA into the plant genome, a transformation event of the transcribable DNA sequence, transgene, or expression cassette is created. Thus, a transcribable DNA sequence, transgene, or expression cassette encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that targets the endogenous GA oxidase gene for suppression can be located between the left and right borders of the T-DNA, possibly together with additional transgene(s) or expression cassette(s) (such as a plant selectable marker transgene and / or other gene(s) of agronomic interest that may confer a trait or phenotype of agronomic interest to the plant). According to alternative embodiments, the transcribable DNA sequence, transgene, or expression cassette encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that targets the endogenous GA oxidase gene for suppression and the plant selectable marker transgene (or other gene(s) of agronomic interest) can be present in separate T-DNA segments, present in the same or different recombinant DNA molecule(s) (such as for co-transformation). The transformation vector or construct can further comprise prokaryotic maintenance elements, which can be located outside the T-DNA region(s) in the vector.

[0137] A plant selectable marker transgene in a transformation vector or construct of the present disclosure can be used to assist in the selection of transformed cells or tissues due to the presence of a selective agent (such as an antibiotic or herbicide), where the plant selectable marker transgene confers tolerance or resistance to the selective agent. Thus, the selective agent biases or favors the survival, development, growth, proliferation, etc. of transformed cells expressing the plant selectable marker gene, resulting in an increased proportion of transformed cells or tissue in the R0 plant. Commonly used plant selectable marker genes include, for example, those that confer tolerance or resistance to antibiotics (such as kanamycin and paromomycin (nptII), hygromycin B (aphIV), streptomycin or spectinomycin (aadA), and gentamicin (aac3 and aacC4)), or those that confer tolerance or resistance to herbicides (such as glufosinate (bar or pat), dicamba (DMO), and glyphosate (aroA or EPSPS)). Plant selectable marker genes that confer the ability to visually select transformants can also be used, such as luciferase or green fluorescent protein (GFP), or genes expressing beta-glucuronidase, for which various chromogenic substrates are known, or the uidA gene (GUS). In some embodiments, the vectors or polynucleotides provided herein contain at least one selectable marker gene selected from the group consisting of nptII, aphIV, aadA, aac3, aacC4, bar, pat, DMO, EPSPS, aroA, GFP, and GUS. Plant transformation can also be performed without selection during one or more steps or stages of culture, development, or regeneration of transformed explants, tissues, plants, and / or plant parts.

[0138] According to embodiments of the present invention, methods for transforming plant cells, tissues, or explants with recombinant DNA molecules or constructs may further include site-specific or targeted integration. According to such methods, a portion of a recombinant DNA donor template molecule (i.e., an insertion sequence) may be inserted or integrated into a desired site or locus within the plant genome. The insertion sequence of the donor template may include a transgene or construct (e.g., a transgene or transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that targets the endogenous GA oxidase gene for repression). The donor template may also have one or two homology arms flanking the insertion sequence to facilitate targeted insertion events via homologous recombination and / or homology-directed repair. Each homology arm can have at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% identity or complementarity to at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50, at least 60, at least 70, at least 80, at least 90, at least 100, at least 150, at least 200, at least 250, at least 500, at least 1000, at least 2500, or at least 5000 contiguous nucleotides of a target DNA sequence in the genome of a monocotyledonous or cereal plant. Thus, a recombinant DNA molecule of the present disclosure can comprise a donor template for generating site-specific or targeted integration of a transgene or construct (such as a transgene or transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that targets an endogenous GA oxidase gene for repression) into the genome of a plant.

[0139] Any site or locus within the plant genome may be selected for the site-specific integration of the transgene, construct, or transcribable DNA sequence provided herein. For site-specific integration, a double-strand break (DSB) or nick can first be generated at the selected genomic locus using a site-specific nuclease, such as a zinc finger nuclease, an engineered or natural meganuclease, a TALE-endonuclease, or an RNA-guided endonuclease (e.g., Cas9 or Cpf1). Any site-specific integration method known in the art can be used. In the presence of a donor template molecule containing an insertion sequence, a DSB or nick is generated, and then the DSB or nick is repaired by homologous recombination between the homology arm(s) of the donor template and the plant genome or by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), resulting in the site-specific integration of the insertion sequence into the plant genome, thereby creating an insertion event that targets the DSB site or nick site. In this way, site-specific insertion or integration of a transgene, construct, or sequence can be achieved.

[0140] Introduction of DSBs or nicks can also be used to target and introduce mutations into the plant genome. This approach can result in knockout or knockdown of the GA oxidase gene by introducing mutations (e.g., deletions, insertions, inversions, and / or substitutions) at the target site via incomplete repair of the DSB or nick. Such mutations can also arise without the use of a donor template molecule due to incomplete repair at the targeted locus. A "knockout" of the GA oxidase gene can be achieved by introducing a DSB or nick at or near the endogenous locus of the GA oxidase gene that results in the abolition of GA oxidase protein expression or the expression of a nonfunctional protein, while a "knockdown" of the GA oxidase gene can be achieved in a similar manner by introducing a DSB or nick at or near the endogenous locus of the GA oxidase gene that results in incomplete repair at a site that does not affect the coding sequence of the GA oxidase gene in a manner that is expected to eliminate function of the encoded GA oxidase protein. For example, a DSB or nick site within the endogenous locus can be generated in the upstream or 5' region (e.g., promoter and / or enhancer sequence) of the GA oxidase gene to affect or reduce its expression level. Similarly, such knockout or knockdown mutations targeted to the GA oxidase gene can be generated in a donor template molecule to induce specific or desired mutations at or near the target site via DSB or nick repair. The donor template molecule can include a homologous sequence, with or without an insertion sequence, that contains one or more mutations (e.g., one or more deletions, insertions, inversions, and / or substitutions) compared to the targeted genomic sequence located at or near the DSB site or at or near the nick site. For example, a knockout mutation targeted to the GA oxidase gene can be achieved by deleting or inverting at least a portion of the gene or by introducing a frameshift or premature stop codon into the coding sequence of the gene.Deletion of a portion of the GA oxidase gene can also be introduced by generating DSBs or nicks at two target sites, resulting in deletion of the intervening target region adjacent to the target site.

[0141] The site-specific nuclease provided herein may be selected from the group consisting of zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), meganucleases, RNA-guided endonucleases, TALE-endonucleases (TALENs), recombinases, transposases, or any combination thereof. See, for example, Khandagale, K. et al., "Genome editing for targeted improvement in plants," Plant Biotechnol Rep 10:327-343 (2016), and Gaj, T. et al., "ZFNs, TALENs, and CRISPR / Cas-based methods for genome engineering," Trends Biotechnol. 31(7):397-405 (2013), the contents and disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The recombinase may be a serine recombinase bound to a DNA recognition motif, a tyrosine recombinase bound to a DNA recognition motif, or other recombinase enzymes known in the art. The recombinase or transposase can be a DNA transposase or DNA recombinase linked to a DNA-binding domain. The tyrosine recombinase linked to a DNA recognition motif can be selected from the group consisting of Cre recombinase, Flp recombinase, and Tnp1 recombinase. According to some embodiments, the Cre recombinase or Gin recombinase provided herein is tethered to a zinc finger DNA-binding domain. In another embodiment, the serine recombinase linked to a DNA recognition motif provided herein is selected from the group consisting of PhiC31 integrase, R4 integrase, and TP-901 integrase. In another embodiment, the DNA transposase linked to a DNA-binding domain provided herein is selected from the group consisting of TALE-piggyBac and TALE-mutator.

[0142] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the RNA-guided endonuclease may be any of Cas1, Cas1B, Cas2, Cas3, Cas4, Cas5, Cas6, Cas7, Cas8, Cas9 (also known as Csn1 and Csx12), Cas10, Csy1, Csy2, Csy3, Cse1, Cse2, Csc1, Csc2, Csa5, Csn2, Csm2, Csm3, Csm4, Csm5, Csm6, Csx1, Csx2, Csx1 ... The RNA-guided endonuclease may be selected from the group consisting of mr1, Cmr3, Cmr4, Cmr5, Cmr6, Csb1, Csb2, Csb3, Csx17, Csx14, Csx10, Csx16, CsaX, Csx3, Csx1, Csx15, Csf1, Csf2, Csf3, Csf4, Cpf1, CasX, CasY, and homologs or modified versions thereof, Argonaute (examples of Argonaute proteins include, but are not limited to, Thermus thermophilus Argonaute (TtAgo), Pyrococcus furiosus Argonaute (PfAgo), Natronobacterium gregoryi Argonaute (NgAgo), and homologs or modified versions thereof). According to some embodiments, the RNA-guided endonuclease may be a Cas9 enzyme or a Cpf1 enzyme.

[0143] In one embodiment, the site-specific nuclease provided herein is selected from the group consisting of zinc finger nucleases, meganucleases, RNA-guided nucleases, TALE-nucleases, recombinases, transposases, or any combination thereof. In another embodiment, the site-specific nuclease provided herein is selected from the group consisting of Cas9 or Cpf1. In another embodiment, the site-specific nuclease provided herein is selected from the group consisting of Cas1, Cas1B, Cas2, Cas3, Cas4, Cas5, Cas6, Cas7, Cas8, Cas9, Cas10, Csy1, Csy2, Csy3, Cse1, Cse2, Csc1, Csc2, Csa5, Csn2, Csm2, Csm3, Csm4, Csm5, Csm6 , Cmr1, Cmr3, Cmr4, Cmr5, Cmr6, Csb1, Csb2, Csb3, Csx17, Csx14, Csx10, Csx16, CsaX, Csx3, Csx1, Csx15, Csf1, Csf2, Csf3, Csf4, Cpf1, CasX, CasY, homologs thereof, or modified versions thereof. In another embodiment, the RNA-guided nuclease provided herein is selected from the group consisting of Cas9 or Cpf1. In another aspect, the RNA-guided nucleases provided herein are selected from the group consisting of Cas1, Cas1B, Cas2, Cas3, Cas4, Cas5, Cas6, Cas7, Cas8, Cas9, Cas10, Csy1, Csy2, Csy3, Cse1, Cse2, Csc1, Csc2, Csa5, Csn2, Csm2, Csm3, Csm4, Csm5, Csm 6, Cmr1, Cmr3, Cmr4, Cmr5, Cmr6, Csb1, Csb2, Csb3, Csx17, Csx14, Csx10, Csx16, CsaX, Csx3, Csx1, Csx15, Csf1, Csf2, Csf3, Csf4, Cpf1, CasX, CasY, homologs thereof, or modified versions thereof. In another aspect, the methods and / or compositions provided herein comprise at least 1, at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, at least 8, at least 9, or at least 10 site-specific nucleases.In yet another aspect, the methods and / or compositions provided herein comprise at least one, at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, at least seven, at least eight, at least nine, or at least ten polynucleotides encoding at least one, at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, at least seven, at least eight, at least nine, or at least ten site-specific nucleases.

[0144] For RNA-guided endonucleases, a guide RNA (gRNA) molecule is further provided to guide the endonuclease to a target site in the plant genome through base pairing or hybridization, thereby generating a DSB or nick at or near the target site. The gRNA can be transformed or introduced into plant cells or tissues (possibly together with a nuclease or a DNA molecule, construct, or vector encoding the nuclease) as a gRNA molecule or as a recombinant DNA molecule, construct, or vector comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding the guide RNA operably linked to a plant-expressible promoter. As understood in the art, "guide RNA" can include, for example, CRISPR RNA (crRNA), single-stranded guide RNA (sgRNA), or any other RNA molecule capable of guiding or directing an endonuclease to a specific target site in the genome. A "single-stranded guide RNA" (or "sgRNA") is an RNA molecule comprising a crRNA covalently linked to a tracrRNA by a linker sequence, which can be expressed as a single RNA transcript or RNA molecule. The guide RNA comprises a guide sequence or targeting sequence identical to or complementary to a target site in the plant genome (e.g., at or near the GA oxidase gene). It is known in the art that a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) may be present at a genomic location immediately adjacent to and upstream of the 5' end of the genomic target site sequence complementary to the guide RNA targeting sequence (i.e., immediately downstream (3') of the sense (+) strand (relative to the guide RNA targeting sequence) of the genomic target site). See, for example, Wu, X. et al., "Target specificity of the CRISPR-Cas9 system," Quant Biol. 2(2):59-70 (2014), the contents and disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The genomic PAM sequence present on the sense (+) strand (relative to the guide RNA targeting sequence) adjacent to the target site may comprise 5'-NGG-3'.However, the corresponding sequence of the guide RNA (i.e., immediately downstream (3') of the targeting sequence of the guide RNA) generally will not be complementary to the genomic PAM sequence. The guide RNA will typically be a non-coding RNA molecule that does not encode a protein. The guide sequence of the guide RNA will be at least 10 nucleotides in length, such as 12-40 nucleotides, 12-30 nucleotides, 12-20 nucleotides, 12-35 nucleotides, 12-30 nucleotides, 15-30 nucleotides, 17-30 nucleotides, or 17-25 nucleotides in length, or about 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, or more nucleotides in length. The guide sequence can have at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% identity or complementarity to at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, or more consecutive nucleotides of the DNA sequence located at the genomic target site.

[0145] For RNA-guided endonuclease genome editing of or near the GA20 oxidase_3 gene, guide RNAs may be used that include guide sequences that have at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% identity or complementarity to at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, or more contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:34 or a sequence complementary thereto (e.g., 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, or more contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:34 or a sequence complementary thereto). For RNA-guided endonuclease genome editing of or near the GA20 oxidase_5 gene, guide RNAs may be used that include guide sequences that have at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% identity or complementarity to at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, or more contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 35 or a sequence complementary thereto (e.g., 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, or more contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 35 or a sequence complementary thereto). The term "contiguous" as used herein with respect to a polynucleotide or protein sequence means that the sequence does not contain deletions or gaps.

[0146] For knockdown (and in some cases knockout) mutations via genome editing, upstream or downstream sequences (such as promoter and / or enhancer sequences) of the GA20 oxidase_3 gene or the GA20 oxidase_5 gene, or intron sequences, 5' UTR sequences, and / or 3' UTR sequences of the GA20 oxidase_3 gene or the GA20 oxidase_5 gene, can be targeted with an RNA-guided endonuclease to mutate one or more promoter and / or regulatory sequences of the gene, thereby affecting or reducing its expression level. For knockdown (and in some cases knockout) of the maize GA20 oxidase_3 gene, at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, or at least a few nucleotides within the nucleotide sequence ranging from 1 to 3096 of SEQ ID NO: 34, the nucleotide sequence ranging from 3666 to 3775 of SEQ ID NO: 34, the nucleotide sequence ranging from 4098 to 5314 of SEQ ID NO: 34, the nucleotide sequence ranging from 5585 to 5800 of SEQ ID NO: 34, or the nucleotide sequence ranging from 5801 to 8800 of SEQ ID NO: 34, or a sequence complementary thereto, Guide RNAs can be used that contain guide sequences that have at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% identity or complementarity to at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, or more contiguous nucleotides (e.g., 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, or more contiguous nucleotides within the nucleotide sequence ranging from 1 to 3096, 3666 to 3775, 4098 to 5314, 5585 to 5800, 5801 to 8800, or 5585 to 8800 of SEQ ID NO: 34, or a sequence complementary thereto).

[0147] For knockdown (and in some cases knockout) of the maize GA20 oxidase_5 gene, at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, or 112 sequences selected from the nucleotide sequence ranging from 1 to 3000 of SEQ ID NO: 35, the nucleotide sequence ranging from 1 to 3000 of SEQ ID NO: 35, the nucleotide sequence ranging from 3792 to 3906 of SEQ ID NO: 35, the nucleotide sequence ranging from 4476 to 5197 of SEQ ID NO: 35, or the nucleotide sequence ranging from 5860 to 8859 of SEQ ID NO: 35, or a sequence complementary thereto, Guide RNAs can be used that contain guide sequences that have at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% identity or complementarity to at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, or more contiguous nucleotides (e.g., 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, or more contiguous nucleotides within the nucleotide sequence ranging from 1 to 3000, 3792 to 3906, 4476 to 5197, or 5860 to 8859 of SEQ ID NO: 35, or a sequence complementary thereto).

[0148] For knockout (and possibly knockdown) mutations via genome editing, the coding sequence and / or intronic sequences of the coding sequence of the GA20 oxidase_3 gene or the GA20 oxidase_5 gene can be targeted with an RNA-guided endonuclease to potentially eliminate expression and / or activity of functional GA oxidase protein from the gene. However, knockout of GA oxidase gene expression can also be achieved in some cases by targeting sequences upstream of the gene and / or 5' UTR sequence(s), or other sequences located at or near the genomic locus of the gene. Thus, as described above for knockdown of the GA20 oxidase_3 or GA20 oxidase_5 gene, knockout of GA oxidase gene expression can be achieved by targeting genomic sequences located at or near the site or locus of the targeted GA20 oxidase_3 or GA20 oxidase_5 gene, sequences upstream or downstream of the GA20 oxidase_3 or GA20 oxidase_5 gene (such as promoter and / or enhancer sequences), or intron sequences, 5' UTR sequences, and / or 3' UTR sequences of the GA20 oxidase_3 or GA20 oxidase_5 gene.

[0149] For knockout (and in some cases knockdown) of the maize GA20 oxidase_3 gene, at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, or at least 50 nucleotides within the nucleotide sequence ranging from 3097 to 5584 of SEQ ID NO: 34, the nucleotide sequence ranging from 3097 to 3665 of SEQ ID NO: 34, the nucleotide sequence ranging from 3776 to 4097 of SEQ ID NO: 34, or the nucleotide sequence ranging from 5315 to 5584 of SEQ ID NO: 34, or a sequence complementary thereto, Guide RNAs can be used that contain guide sequences that have at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% identity or complementarity to at least 25 or more contiguous nucleotides (e.g., 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, or more contiguous nucleotides within the nucleotide sequence ranging from 3097 to 5584, 3097 to 3665, 3097 to 3775, 3665 to 4097, 3776 to 4097, 3776 to 5314, 4098 to 5584, or 5315 to 5584 of SEQ ID NO: 34, or a sequence complementary thereto).

[0150] For knockout (and in some cases knockdown) of the maize GA20 oxidase_5 gene, at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least a few nucleotides within the nucleotide sequence ranging from 3001 to 5473 of SEQ ID NO: 35, the nucleotide sequence ranging from 3001 to 3791 of SEQ ID NO: 35, the nucleotide sequence ranging from 3907 to 4475 of SEQ ID NO: 35, or the nucleotide sequence ranging from 5198 to 5473 of SEQ ID NO: 35, or a sequence complementary thereto, Guide RNAs can be used that contain guide sequences that have at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% identity or complementarity to at least 25 or more contiguous nucleotides (e.g., 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, or more contiguous nucleotides within the nucleotide sequence ranging from 3001 to 5473, 3001 to 3791, 3001 to 3906, 3792 to 4475, 3907 to 4475, 3907 to 5197, 4476 to 5473, or 5198 to 5473 of SEQ ID NO: 35, or a sequence complementary thereto).

[0151] According to some embodiments, there is provided a guide RNA for targeting an endogenous GA20 oxidase_3 gene and / or a GA20 oxidase_5 gene, the guide RNA comprising a guide sequence having at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% identity or complementarity to at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, or at least 21 contiguous nucleotides of any one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 138-167.

[0152] For genome editing of or near the GA20 oxidase_4 gene with an RNA-guided endonuclease, a guide RNA may be used that includes a guide sequence that has at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% identity or complementarity to at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, or more consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 38 or a sequence complementary thereto (e.g., 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, or more consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 38 or a sequence complementary thereto).

[0153] For knockout (and possibly knockdown) mutations via genome editing, the coding sequence and / or intron sequences of the GA20 oxidase_4 gene may be targeted with an RNA-guided endonuclease to eliminate the expression and / or activity of functional GA20 oxidase_4 protein from the gene. For the maize GA20 oxidase_4 gene, at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, or any of the nucleotide sequences within the nucleotide sequence ranging from 1544 to 2852 of SEQ ID NO: 38, the nucleotide sequence ranging from 1544 to 1995 of SEQ ID NO: 38, the nucleotide sequence ranging from 2084 to 2411 of SEQ ID NO: 38, or the nucleotide sequence ranging from 2517 to 2852 of SEQ ID NO: 38, or a sequence complementary thereto, may be selected from the group consisting of at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, or any of the nucleotide sequences within the nucleotide sequence ranging from 1544 to 2852 of SEQ ID NO: 38, the nucleotide sequence ranging from 1544 to 1995 of SEQ ID NO: 38, the nucleotide sequence ranging from 2084 to 2411 of SEQ ID NO: 38, or the nucleotide sequence ranging from 2 guide RNAs can be used that contain guide sequences that have at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% identity or complementarity to more than 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, or more contiguous nucleotides within the nucleotide sequence ranging from 1544 to 2852, 1544 to 1995, 1544 to 2083, 1996 to 2411, 2084 to 2411, 2084 to 2516, 2412 to 2852, or 2517 to 2852 of SEQ ID NO: 38, or a sequence complementary thereto.

[0154] For knockdown (and in some cases knockout) mutations via genome editing, sequences upstream or downstream of the GA20 oxidase_4 gene (such as promoter and / or enhancer sequences), or intron sequences, 5'UTR sequences, and / or 3'UTR sequences of the GA20 oxidase_4 gene, can be targeted with an RNA-guided endonuclease to mutate one or more promoter and / or regulatory sequences of the gene, thereby affecting or reducing its expression level. For knockdown of the maize GA20 oxidase_3 gene, at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, or at least 24 of the nucleotide sequence ranging from 1 to 1416 of SEQ ID NO: 38, the nucleotide sequence ranging from 1417 to 1543 of SEQ ID NO: 38, the nucleotide sequence ranging from 1996 to 2083 of SEQ ID NO: 38, the nucleotide sequence ranging from 2412 to 2516 of SEQ ID NO: 38, the nucleotide sequence ranging from 2853 to 3066 of SEQ ID NO: 38, or the nucleotide sequence ranging from 3067 to 4465 of SEQ ID NO: 38, or a sequence complementary thereto, Guide RNAs can be used that contain guide sequences that have at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% identity or complementarity to at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, or more contiguous nucleotides (e.g., 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, or more contiguous nucleotides within the nucleotide sequence ranging from 1 to 1416, 1417 to 1543, 1 to 1543, 1996 to 2083, 2412 to 2516, 2853 to 3066, 3067 to 4465, or 2853 to 4465 of SEQ ID NO: 38, or a sequence complementary thereto).

[0155] In addition to the guide sequence, the guide RNA may further comprise one or more other structural or backbone sequences(s), which may bind to or interact with the RNA-guided endonuclease. Such backbone or structural sequences may further bind to or interact with other RNA molecules (e.g., tracrRNA). Methods and techniques for designing target sites in the genome of plants using RNA-guided endonucleases to be targeted for genome editing and site-specific integration by the construct and guide RNA are known in the art.

[0156] In some embodiments, recombinant DNA constructs and vectors are provided that include a polynucleotide sequence encoding a site-specific nuclease (such as a zinc finger nuclease (ZFN), meganuclease, RNA-guided endonuclease, TALE-endonuclease (TALEN), recombinase, or transposase), where the coding sequence is operably linked to a plant-expressible promoter. For RNA-guided endonucleases, recombinant DNA constructs and vectors are further provided that include a polynucleotide sequence encoding a guide RNA, where the guide RNA comprises a guide sequence of sufficient length to have a certain percent identity or percent complementarity to a target site in the plant genome (such as one located at or near the targeted GA oxidase gene). In some embodiments, the polynucleotide sequence of the recombinant DNA constructs and vectors that encodes the site-specific nuclease or guide RNA may be operably linked to a plant-expressible promoter (such as an inducible promoter, a constitutive promoter, or a tissue-specific promoter).

[0157] According to some embodiments, a recombinant DNA construct or vector may comprise a first polynucleotide sequence encoding a site-specific nuclease and a second polynucleotide sequence encoding a guide RNA, which may be introduced together into a plant cell via a plant transformation technique. Alternatively, two recombinant DNA constructs or vectors may be provided, comprising a first recombinant DNA construct or vector and a second DNA construct or vector, which may be introduced together or sequentially into a plant cell via a plant transformation technique, wherein the first recombinant DNA construct or vector comprises a polynucleotide sequence encoding a site-specific nuclease and the second recombinant DNA construct or vector comprises a polynucleotide sequence encoding a guide RNA. According to some embodiments, a recombinant DNA construct or vector comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding a site-specific nuclease may be introduced into a plant cell already comprising (or transformed with) a recombinant DNA construct or vector comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding a guide RNA via a plant transformation technique. Alternatively, a recombinant DNA construct or vector comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding a guide RNA can be introduced via plant transformation techniques into a plant cell that already contains (or has been transformed with) a recombinant DNA construct or vector comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding a site-specific nuclease. According to yet another embodiment, a first plant containing (or transformed with) a recombinant DNA construct or vector comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding a site-specific nuclease can be crossed with a second plant containing (or transformed with) a recombinant DNA construct or vector comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding a guide RNA. Such recombinant DNA constructs or vectors can be transiently transformed into plant cells or stably transformed or integrated into the genome of the plant cell.

[0158] In one embodiment, a vector comprising a polynucleotide encoding a site-specific nuclease and optionally one or more, two or more, three or more, or four or more gRNAs is provided to a plant cell by a transformation method known in the art (for example, but not limited to, microprojectile bombardment, PEG-mediated protoplast transfection, or Agrobacterium-mediated transformation). In one embodiment, a vector comprising a polynucleotide encoding a Cas9 nuclease and optionally one or more, two or more, three or more, or four or more gRNAs is provided to a plant cell by a transformation method known in the art (for example, but not limited to, microprojectile bombardment, PEG-mediated protoplast transfection, or Agrobacterium-mediated transformation). In another embodiment, a vector comprising a polynucleotide encoding Cpf1 and optionally one or more, two or more, three or more, or four or more crRNAs is provided to a cell by transformation methods known in the art (such as, but not limited to, viral transfection, biolistic bombardment, PEG-mediated protoplast transfection, or Agrobacterium-mediated transformation).

[0159] Some site-specific nucleases (such as recombinases, zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), meganucleases, and TALENs) are not RNA-guided but instead utilize their own protein structure to determine their target site for generating a DSB or nick, or are fused, tethered, or attached to a DNA-binding protein domain or motif. The protein structure of the site-specific nuclease (or fused / attached / tethered DNA-binding domain) determines which target site can be targeted by the site-specific nuclease. According to many of these embodiments, non-RNA-guided site-specific nucleases (such as recombinases, zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), meganucleases, and TALENs) can be designed, engineered, and constructed according to known methods to target and bind to target sites located at or near the genomic locus of an endogenous GA oxidase gene in a corn plant or cereal plant (such as the GA20 oxidase_3 gene or GA20 oxidase_5 gene in corn), thereby creating a DSB or nick in such genomic locus and thereby knocking out or knocking down expression of the GA oxidase gene via repair of the DSB or nick.For example, an engineered site-specific nuclease (e.g., a recombinase, zinc finger nuclease (ZFN), meganuclease, or TALEN) can be designed to (i) target and bind to a target site in the plant genome corresponding to the sequence in SEQ ID NO: 34 or its complementary sequence, thereby creating a DSB or nick in the genomic locus of the GA20 oxidase_3 gene, or (ii) target and bind to a target site in the plant genome corresponding to the sequence in SEQ ID NO: 35 or its complementary sequence, thereby creating a DSB or nick in the genomic locus of the GA20 oxidase_5 gene. or (iii) by targeted binding to a target site in the plant's genome corresponding to a sequence in SEQ ID NO: 38 or its complementary sequence, creating a DSB or nick in the genomic locus of the GA20 oxidase_4 gene, which DSB or nick can then create a mutation or insertion in the sequence located at the DSB or nick site via cellular repair machinery, which can be guided by a donor molecule or donor template.

[0160] In one aspect, the targeted genome editing techniques described herein may include the use of a recombinase. In some embodiments, the tyrosine recombinase, such as that bound to a DNA recognition domain or DNA recognition motif, may be selected from the group consisting of Cre recombinase, Flp recombinase, and Tnp1 recombinase. In one aspect, the Cre recombinase or Gin recombinase provided herein may be tethered to a zinc finger DNA binding domain. The Flp-FRT site-specific recombination system may be derived from the 2μ plasmid derived from baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this system, Flp recombinase (flippase) can recombine sequences between flippase recognition target (FRT) sites. The FRT site comprises 34 nucleotides. Flp can bind to the "arms" of the FRT site (one arm is in the opposite orientation) and cleave the FRT sites located at either end of the inverted nucleic acid sequence. After cleavage, Flp can recombine the nucleic acid sequence between the two FRT sites. Cre-lox is a site-specific recombination system derived from bacteriophage P1, similar to the Flp-FRT recombination system. Cre-lox can be used to invert, delete, or translocate nucleic acid sequences. In this system, Cre recombinase can recombine pairs of lox nucleic acid sequences. Lox sites contain 34 nucleotides, with the first 13 nucleotides (arms) forming a palindrome and the last 13 nucleotides (arms). During recombination, the Cre recombinase protein binds to two lox sites present in different nucleic acids and cleaves these lox sites. The cleaved nucleic acids are spliced ​​together (reciprocally translocated), completing the recombination. In another embodiment, the lox sites provided herein are loxP, lox2272, loxN, lox511, lox5171, lox71, lox66, M2, M3, M7, or M11 sites.

[0161] ZFNs are synthetic proteins consisting of an engineered zinc finger DNA-binding domain fused to a cleavage domain (or cleavage half-domain), which may be derived from a restriction endonuclease (e.g., FokI). The DNA-binding domain may be classical (C2H2) or non-classical (e.g., C3H or C4). The DNA-binding domain may contain one or more zinc fingers (e.g., two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or more zinc fingers) depending on the target site. Multiple zinc fingers in a DNA-binding domain may be separated by linker sequence(s). ZFNs can be designed to cleave almost any span of double-stranded DNA by modifying the zinc finger DNA-binding domain. ZFNs form dimers from monomers composed of a nonspecific DNA-cleavage domain (e.g., derived from FokI nuclease) fused to a DNA-binding domain containing a zinc finger array engineered to bind to the DNA sequence of the target site. The DNA-binding domain of a ZFN can typically be composed of three to four (or more) zinc fingers. The amino acids at positions −1, +2, +3, and +6 relative to the start of the zinc finger α-helix (which contributes to site-specific binding to the target site) can be altered and customized to accommodate specific target sequences. Other amino acids can form consensus scaffolds to generate ZFNs with different sequence specificities. Methods and rules for designing ZFNs to target and bind specific target sequences are known in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2005 / 0064474, 2009 / 0117617, and 2012 / 0142062, the contents and disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The FokI nuclease domain may need to dimerize to cleave DNA, so two ZFNs must bind with their C-terminal regions to opposite DNA strands (5–7 bp apart) at the cleavage site. ZFN monomers can cleave the target site if the two ZF binding sites are palindromic.As used herein, ZFN is broad and includes monomeric ZFNs that can cleave double-stranded DNA without assistance from another ZFN. The term ZFN can also be used to refer to one or both members of a pair of ZFNs engineered to work together to cleave the same site in DNA.

[0162] Without being limited by any scientific theory, the DNA-binding specificity of zinc finger domains can be reengineered using one of a variety of methods, allowing for the construction of customized ZFNs that can target almost any target sequence (e.g., those located at or near the GA oxidase gene in a plant genome). Publicly available methods for engineering zinc finger domains include Context-Dependent Assembly (CoDA), Oligomerized Pool Engineering (OPEN), and Modular Assembly. In one embodiment, the methods and / or compositions provided herein comprise one or more, two or more, three or more, four or more, or five or more ZFNs. In another embodiment, the ZFNs provided herein are capable of generating targeted DSBs or nicks. In one embodiment, a vector comprising a polynucleotide encoding one or more, two or more, three or more, four or more, or five or more ZFNs is provided to a cell by transformation methods known in the art (such as, but not limited to, viral transfection, biolistic bombardment, PEG-mediated protoplast transfection, or Agrobacterium-mediated transformation). The ZFNs can be introduced as ZFN proteins, polynucleotides encoding ZFN proteins, and / or combinations of proteins and polynucleotides encoding proteins.

[0163] Meganucleases (e.g., homing endonucleases of the LAGLIDADG family) are commonly identified in microorganisms and are unique enzymes that site-specifically digest target DNA due to their robust activity and long recognition sequences (>14 bp). Engineered versions of naturally occurring meganucleases typically have extended DNA recognition sequences (e.g., 14-40 bp). According to some embodiments, meganucleases may comprise a backbone or base enzyme selected from the group consisting of I-CreI, I-CeuI, I-MsoI, I-SceI, I-AniI, and I-DmoI. Because the DNA recognition and cleavage functions of meganucleases are intertwined in a single domain, engineering meganucleases can be more challenging compared to ZFNs and TALENs. Specialized mutagenesis and high-throughput screening methods have been used to create novel meganuclease variants that recognize unique sequences and have improved nuclease activity. Thus, meganucleases can be selected or engineered to bind to a plant's genomic target sequence (such as one located at or near the genomic locus of the GA oxidase gene). In one embodiment, the methods and / or compositions provided herein comprise one or more, two or more, three or more, four or more, or five or more meganucleases. In another embodiment, the meganucleases provided herein are capable of generating targeted DSBs. In one embodiment, a vector comprising a polynucleotide encoding one or more, two or more, three or more, four or more, or five or more meganucleases is provided to a cell by transformation methods known in the art (e.g., but not limited to, viral transfection, biolistics, PEG-mediated protoplast transfection, or Agrobacterium-mediated transformation).

[0164] TALENs are artificial restriction enzymes generated by fusing a transcription activator-like effector (TALE) DNA-binding domain to a nuclease domain (e.g., FokI). When each member of a TALEN pair binds to a DNA site adjacent to the target site, the FokI monomers dimerize, generating a double-stranded DNA break at the target site. In addition to the wild-type FokI cleavage domain, mutant FokI cleavage domains with mutations have been engineered to improve cleavage specificity and activity. The FokI domain functions as a dimer and requires two constructs containing unique DNA-binding domains for the target genomic site with appropriate orientation and spacing. Both the number of amino acid residues between the TALEN DNA-binding domain and the FokI cleavage domain and the number of bases between the two individual TALEN binding sites are parameters for achieving high levels of activity.

[0165] TALENs are artificial restriction enzymes generated by fusing a transcription activator-like effector (TALE) DNA-binding domain to a nuclease domain. In some embodiments, the nuclease is selected from the group consisting of PvuII, MutH, TevI, FokI, AlwI, MlyI, SbfI, SdaI, StsI, CleDORF, Clo051, and Pept071. When each member of a TALEN pair binds to a DNA site adjacent to the target site, the FokI monomer dimerizes, generating a double-stranded DNA break at the target site. The term TALEN as used herein is broad and includes a monomeric TALEN that can cleave double-stranded DNA without assistance from another TALEN. The term TALEN also refers to one or both members of a TALEN pair that work together to cleave the same site in DNA.

[0166] Transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) can be engineered to bind virtually any DNA sequence, such as those located at or near the genomic locus of a plant GA oxidase gene. TALEs contain a central DNA-binding domain consisting of 13–28 repeats of 33–34 amino acid monomers. The amino acids in each monomer are highly conserved except for hypervariable amino acid residues at positions 12 and 13. These two variable amino acids are called repeat variable dimers (RVDs). The RVD amino acid pairs NI, NG, HD, and NN preferentially recognize adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine / adenine, respectively, and the RVD can be adjusted to recognize consecutive DNA bases. This simple relationship between amino acid sequence and DNA recognition allows for the engineering of specific DNA-binding domains by selecting the appropriate combination of repeat segments containing the RVD.

[0167] In addition to the wild-type FokI cleavage domain, mutant FokI cleavage domains with mutations have been engineered to improve cleavage specificity and activity. The FokI domain functions as a dimer and requires two constructs containing unique DNA-binding domains with appropriate orientation and spacing for target genomic sites. The number of amino acid residues between the TALEN DNA-binding domain and the FokI cleavage domain, as well as the number of bases between the two individual TALEN binding sites, are both parameters for achieving high levels of activity. Instead of FokI and FokI mutants, the PvuII cleavage domain, MutH cleavage domain, and TevI cleavage domain are useful for use with TALEs. PvuII functions as a highly specific cleavage domain when coupled to TALEs (see Yank et al. 2013, PLoS One. 8:e82539). MutH has the ability to introduce strand-specific nicks into DNA (see Gabsalilow et al. 2013, Nucleic Acids Research. 41:e83). TevI introduces a double-strand break at the targeted site in DNA (see Beurdeley et al., 2013. Nature Communications. 4:1762).

[0168] The relationship between the amino acid sequence of the TALE binding domain and DNA recognition allows for protein design. Software programs such as DNA Works can be used to design TALE constructs. Other methods for designing TALE constructs are known to those skilled in the art. See Doyle et al., Nucleic Acids Research (2012) 40:W117-122. Cermak et al., Nucleic Acids Research (2011). 39:e82, and tale-nt.cac.cornell.edu / about. In one aspect, the methods and / or compositions provided herein comprise one or more, two or more, three or more, four or more, or five or more TALENs. In another aspect, the TALENs provided herein are capable of generating targeted DSBs. In one embodiment, the vector comprising the polynucleotide encoding one or more, two or more, three or more, four or more, or five or more TALENs is introduced into cells by transformation methods known in the art (for example, but not limited to, viral transfection, particle bombardment, PEG-mediated protoplast transfection or Agrobacterium-mediated transformation).See, for example, US Patent Application Nos. 2011 / 0145940, 2011 / 0301073, and 2013 / 0117869. The contents and disclosures of these documents are incorporated herein by reference.

[0169] As provided herein, "targeted genome editing techniques" refer to any method, protocol, or technique that uses site-specific nucleases (such as meganucleases, zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), RNA-guided endonucleases (e.g., CRISPR / Cas9 systems), TALE-endonucleases (TALENs), recombinases, or transposases) to enable precise and / or targeted editing of specific locations in a plant's genome (i.e., the editing is mostly or completely non-random). As used herein, "editing" or "genome editing" refers to generating targeted mutations, deletions, inversions, or substitutions of at least 1, at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, at least 15, at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50, at least 75, at least 100, at least 250, at least 500, at least 1000, at least 2500, at least 5000, at least 10,000, or at least 25,000 nucleotides in an endogenous plant genomic nucleic acid sequence. As used herein, "editing" or "genome editing" also encompasses targeting at least 1, at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, at least 15, at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50, at least 75, at least 100, at least 250, at least 500, at least 750, at least 1000, at least 1500, at least 2000, at least 2500, at least 3000, at least 4000, at least 5000, at least 10,000, or at least 25,000 nucleotides of the endogenous genome of a plant to result in insertion or site-specific integration into the endogenous genome of a plant.The singular "edit" or "genome edit" refers to one such targeted mutation, deletion, inversion, substitution, or insertion, while "edit" or "genome edit" refers to two or more targeted mutation(s), deletion(s), inversion(s), substitution(s), and / or insertion(s), each "edit" introduced via a targeted genome editing technique.

[0170] Considering that suppressing the corn GA20 oxidase_3, GA20 oxidase_4, and / or GA20 oxidase_5 genes produces plants with reduced plant height and internode length, among other advantageous traits, it is proposed that genome editing of one or more of these gene(s) to reduce or eliminate expression of one or both of these genes may confer similar advantageous traits to corn plants. Considering further that constitutive expression of suppression constructs targeting these GA20 oxidase genes produces corn plants with advantageous low plant height traits without causing ear heterogeneity, and that direct expression in reproductive ear tissue does not cause reproductive heterogeneity, it is proposed that editing one or both of these loci to knock down or knock out their expression may produce a similar effect in corn plants. Targeted gene editing techniques can be used to modify the sequence of the promoter and / or regulatory region(s) of one or more of the GA20 oxidase_3, GA20 oxidase_4, and / or GA20 oxidase_5 genes, such as through targeted deletion, insertion, mutation, or other sequence alteration, to knock down or knock out expression of these gene(s). Indeed, the promoter or regulatory region(s) and / or promoter or regulatory sequence(s), or 5'-UTR sequence, 3'UTR sequence, and / or intron sequence(s) of one or more of the GA20 oxidase_3, GA20 oxidase_4, and / or GA20 oxidase_5 genes can be widely deleted or mutated. Alternatively, all or part of one or more coding (exon) sequences, 5'UTR sequences, 3'UTR sequences, and / or intron sequence(s) of the GA20 oxidase_3 gene, the GA20 oxidase_4 gene, and / or the GA20 oxidase_5 gene may be edited, deleted, mutated, or otherwise modified to knock down or knock out the expression or activity of these gene(s).Such targeted modifications to the GA20 oxidase_3 locus, GA20 oxidase_4 locus, and / or GA20 oxidase_5 locus can be achieved using any suitable genome editing technique known in the art, such as through repair of a double-strand break (DSB) or nick introduced by a site-specific nuclease (e.g., a zinc finger nuclease, an engineered or natural meganuclease, a TALE-endonuclease, or an RNA-guided endonuclease (e.g., Cas9 or Cpfl), etc.). Such repair of the DSB or nick can spontaneously or stochastically introduce a deletion, addition, mutation, etc. at the target site where the DSB or nick was introduced, or site repair can require the use of a donor template molecule to induce or induce a preferred or specific deletion, addition, mutation, etc. at the target site.

[0171] As provided herein, plants transformed with or containing a recombinant DNA molecule or transformation vector comprising a transgene encoding a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that targets the endogenous GA oxidase gene for repression can include various monocotyledonous or cereal plants, such as maize / corn and other monocotyledonous or cereal plants that have separate male and female flowers (similar to maize) and therefore may be susceptible to variegation in female reproductive organs, structures, or tissues if they have mutations in the GA pathway.

[0172] The compositions and methods of the present invention may further be applicable to other cereal plants that are expected to benefit from reduced plant height and / or increased lodging resistance. Such plants may be transformed with recombinant DNA molecules or constructs to suppress one or more endogenous GA20 oxidase and / or GA3 oxidase genes in accordance with the methods and techniques provided herein, resulting in cereal plants that may have reduced plant height and / or lodging resistance. Indeed, cereal plants that ectopically express a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that targets an endogenous GA oxidase gene for suppression may have a variety of advantageous traits (such as reduced plant height or plant height, shorter internode length, increased stalk / stem diameter, improved lodging resistance, etc.) compared to wild-type or control plants lacking the transgene or transcribable DNA sequence, in addition to improving other yield-related and / or drought tolerance traits provided herein. As described further below, cereal plants (such as wheat, rice, millet, barley, and sorghum) that have already been modified to increase yield and lodging resistance by introducing mutations into the GA pathway can alternatively be transformed with the recombinant DNA molecules or constructs provided herein. Unlike many of the GA pathway mutations in such crops, which may be recessive, transgenic constructs expressing suppression elements targeting the endogenous biosynthetic GA oxidase gene of such crops can be dominant even when present in the plant as hemizygous or as a single copy. Thus, plants that can be transformed with recombinant DNA molecules or constructs expressing suppression constructs could potentially include a variety of monocotyledonous plants or cereals. Having a dominant transgenic locus that induces a semi-dwarf, lodging-resistant phenotype may be advantageous or preferable over a recessive mutant allele for the same phenotype due to benefits in breeding and trait integration.

[0173] In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, it is further proposed that transgenic cereal plants with similar semi-dwarf and / or lodging-resistant phenotypes may also be produced by targeting the GA oxidase genes of other cereal plants that share the highest sequence identity / similarity to the maize GA20 oxidase_3, GA20 oxidase_4, GA20 oxidase_5, GA3 oxidase_1, and / or GA3 oxidase_2 genes shown herein to result in a low-height, semi-dwarf phenotype and other advantageous traits when suppressed with recombinant DNA suppression constructs. Table 3 shows a list of GA oxidase genes from other cereal plants (sorghum - Sorghum bicolor, rice - Oryza sativa, foxtail millet - Setaria italica, wheat - Triticum aestivum, and barley - Hordeum vulgare) that have a high degree of sequence identity with one of the maize GA oxidase genes whose suppression results in a low plant height semi-dwarf phenotype. Table 3. Homologues of maize GA oxidase genes from other cereal plants. [Table 3-1] [Table 3-2]

[0174] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a recombinant DNA molecule, vector, or construct for suppressing an endogenous GA oxidase (or GA oxidase-like) gene in a cereal plant, the recombinant DNA molecule, vector, or construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule, the non-coding RNA molecule comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of: (i) SEQ ID NO:84, SEQ ID NO:85, SEQ ID NO:87, SEQ ID NO:88, SEQ ID NO:89, SEQ ID NO:91, SEQ ID NO:92, SEQ ID NO:93, SEQ ID NO:95, SEQ ID NO:96 , SEQ ID NO:98, SEQ ID NO:99, SEQ ID NO:100, SEQ ID NO:102, SEQ ID NO:103, SEQ ID NO:105, SEQ ID NO:106, SEQ ID NO:107, SEQ ID NO:109, SEQ ID NO:110, SEQ ID NO:111, SEQ ID NO:113, SEQ ID NO:114, SEQ ID NO:115, SEQ ID NO:119, SEQ ID NO:120, SEQ ID NO:122, SEQ ID NO:123, SEQ ID NO:124, SEQ ID NO:126, SEQ ID NO:127, SEQ ID NO:128, SEQ ID NO:130, SEQ ID NO:131, SEQ ID NO:132, SEQ ID NO:134, SEQ ID NO:135, and / or SEQ ID NO:137 and having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to one or more of at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides. and / or (ii) at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99% to any one or more of SEQ ID NO:86, SEQ ID NO:90, SEQ ID NO:94, SEQ ID NO:97, SEQ ID NO:101, SEQ ID NO:104, SEQ ID NO:108, SEQ ID NO:112, SEQ ID NO:116, SEQ ID NO:118, SEQ ID NO:121, SEQ ID NO:125, SEQ ID NO:129, SEQ ID NO:133, and / or SEQ ID NO:136.The non-coding RNA molecule has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding a protein of a cereal plant with 5% or 100% identity. Similarly, the non-coding RNA molecule may target an endogenous GA oxidase (or GA oxidase-like) gene of a cereal plant with a certain percent identity to the GA oxidase gene(s) shown to affect plant height in maize. Accordingly, there is further provided a non-coding RNA molecule comprising a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous protein of a cereal plant having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to any one or more of SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:30, and / or SEQ ID NO:33. As described above, the non-coding RNA molecule can target exon, intron, and / or UTR sequences of a GA oxidase (or GA oxidase-like) gene.

[0175] Further provided are methods for introducing or transforming any of the above-described constructs, vectors, or constructs (which may be constructed in any suitable manner described herein to include different stacking or co-targeting arrangements) into cereal plants, plant parts, or plant cells according to any of the methods described herein, as well as modified cereal plants, plant parts, plant tissues, and plant cells prepared thereby and / or containing any such recombinant DNA molecule, vector, or construct. Because it is envisioned that the non-coding RNA molecule expressed from the above construct will be designed to target an endogenous GA oxidase gene, it will be preferred that the cereal plant transformed with such a recombinant DNA molecule, vector, or construct corresponds to the species of origin of the target sequence, or a closely related species, accession, germplasm, line, etc. For example, a suppression construct complementary to SEQ ID NO: 84 would be expected to be used to transform sorghum plants (such as Sorghum bicolor plants) or have closely related or similar GA oxidase (or GA oxidase-like) gene sequences, possibly related sorghum species, accessions, etc.

[0176] Table 3 further shows the genomic sequences for each of the above-listed genes from cereal plants, and these genomic sequences can be used to target these genes for genome editing according to any known method. Any site-specific nuclease and method described herein can be used to generate a DSB or nick at or near the genomic locus of a gene, and such DSB or nick can be imperfectly repaired or can be used via template-mediated recombination to create a mutation, etc., in the gene, near the gene, or within the gene. Suitable nucleases can be selected from the group consisting of zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), meganucleases, RNA-guided endonucleases, TALE-endonucleases (TALENs), recombinases, transposases, or any combination thereof. For RNA-guided endonucleases, recombinant DNA constructs or vectors containing guide RNAs that can be used to guide the nuclease to the target site are provided.Therefore, guide RNAs for editing GA oxidase (or GA-oxidase-like) genes in cereals include SEQ ID NO:84, SEQ ID NO:85, SEQ ID NO:87, SEQ ID NO:88, SEQ ID NO:89, SEQ ID NO:91, SEQ ID NO:92, SEQ ID NO:93, SEQ ID NO:95, SEQ ID NO:96, SEQ ID NO:98, SEQ ID NO:99, SEQ ID NO:100, SEQ ID NO:102, SEQ ID NO:103, SEQ ID NO:105, SEQ ID NO:106, SEQ ID NO:107, SEQ ID NO:109, SEQ ID NO:110, SEQ ID NO:111, SEQ ID NO:113, SEQ ID NO:114, SEQ ID NO:115, SEQ ID NO:119, SEQ ID NO:120, SEQ ID NO:122, SEQ ID NO:123, SEQ ID NO:124, SEQ ID NO:126, SEQ ID NO:127, SEQ ID NO:128 The nucleic acid sequence may comprise a guide sequence having at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% identity or complementarity to at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, or more consecutive nucleotides of any one or more of SEQ ID NO: 130, SEQ ID NO: 131, SEQ ID NO: 132, SEQ ID NO: 134, SEQ ID NO: 135, and / or SEQ ID NO: 137. For site-specific nucleases that are not RNA-guided (such as zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), meganucleases, TALE-endonucleases (TALENs), recombinases, and / or transposases), genome target specificity for editing is determined by their protein structure, specifically, their DNA-binding domain. Such site-specific nucleases can be selected, designed, or engineered to bind to and cleave a desired target site located at or near any of the above-mentioned GA oxidase (or GA oxidase-like) genes within the genome of a cereal plant.As with transformation with a suppression construct, the cereal plant transformed with a particular guide RNA or a recombinant DNA molecule, vector, or construct encoding the guide RNA will preferably be of a species in which the targeted genomic sequence is present, or a closely related species, line, germplasm, or line, so that the guide RNA can recognize and bind to the desired target cleavage site.

[0177] Further provided are methods for introducing or transforming cereal plants, plant parts, or plant cells with any of the above-described guide RNAs, or any construct, vector, or construct encoding such guide RNAs, possibly in addition to an RNA-guided nuclease, according to any of the methods described herein, as well as modified cereal plants, plant parts, plant tissues, and plant cells prepared thereby and / or containing any such recombinant DNA molecule, vector, or construct and / or edited GA oxidase (or GA oxidase-like) gene. Modified cereal plants having an edited GA oxidase (or GA oxidase-like) gene and / or a suppression element targeting the GA oxidase (or GA oxidase-like) gene may have one or more advantageous traits provided herein (such as reduced plant height, shorter internode length, increased stalk / stem diameter, improved lodging resistance, and / or drought tolerance) compared to wild-type or control plants lacking any such editing or suppression element. In addition to genome editing, mutations in GA oxidase (or GA oxidase-like) genes can be introduced via other mutagenesis approaches described herein.

[0178] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there are provided transgenic plant(s), transgenic plant cell(s), transgenic seed(s), and plant part(s) comprising a transformation event or insertion into the genome of at least one plant cell thereof, wherein the transformation event or insertion comprises a recombinant DNA sequence, construct, or expression cassette comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that targets an endogenous GA oxidase gene for repression, the transcribable DNA sequence being operably linked to a plant-expressible promoter (such as a constitutive promoter, a vascular promoter, and / or a leaf promoter). Such transgenic plants can be produced by any suitable transformation method set forth above for producing transgenic R plants, which can then be used to produce R seeds, as well as subsequent progeny generations and seeds resulting from additional crosses, etc., by selfing or crossing with other plants. Embodiments of the present disclosure further include plant cells, tissues, explants, plant parts, etc., that include one or more transgenic cells having a transformation event or genomic insertion of a recombinant DNA or polynucleotide sequence that includes a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that targets the endogenous GA oxidase gene for repression.

[0179] The transgenic plants, transgenic plant cells, transgenic seeds, and transgenic plant parts of the present disclosure can be homozygous or hemizygous for a transgenic event or insertion of a transcribable DNA sequence for silencing a GA oxidase gene or a targeted genome editing event into the genome of at least one plant cell thereof, and the plants, plant cells, seeds, and plant parts of embodiments of the present invention can contain any number of copies of such transgenic event(s), insertion(s), and / or edit(s). The expression dosage or amount of the transgene or transcribable DNA sequence can vary depending on its zygosity and / or copy number, which can affect the degree or extent of phenotypic change in transgenic plants, etc. As introduced above, the transgenic plants provided herein can include a variety of monocotyledonous or cereal plants, and even crop plants (such as wheat, rice, and sorghum) that already have increased yield and / or lodging resistance due to previous breeding efforts and mutations in the GA pathway of such plants. Advantages of using a transgene or transcribable DNA sequence to express a suppressor element targeted to the biosynthetic GA oxidase gene include not only the ability to restrict expression in a tissue-specific or tissue-preferential manner, but also the potential dominance (e.g., dominant-negative effect) of a single copy or hemizygous copy of the transcribable DNA sequence to induce advantageous short height and semi-dwarf traits or phenotypes in crop plants. Thus, the recombinant DNA molecules or constructs of the present disclosure can be used to create advantageous traits in a variety of monocotyledonous or cereal plants without heterozygotes using only a single copy of the transgenic event, insertion, or construct.Unlike previously described mutations or alleles in the GA pathway that are recessive and require the plant to be homozygous for the mutant allele, plants transformed with the GA-altering transgenes and suppression constructs of the present disclosure only require a single or hemizygous copy of the transgene or suppression construct, facilitating the production of hybrid cereal plants that may result in improved traits, yield, and crop breeding outcomes.

[0180] According to some embodiments, transgenic or modified cereal or corn plants comprising a GA oxidase transgene or transcribable DNA sequence for suppressing an endogenous GA oxidase gene, or a genome-edited GA oxidase gene, may be further characterized as having one or more advantageous traits compared to wild-type or control plants, such as reduced or semi-dwarf plant height, shorter internode length, increased stalk / stem diameter, improved lodging resistance, reduced stem breakage, deeper roots, increased leaf area, earlier canopy closure, increased leaf water content and / or increased stomatal conductance under water-limited conditions, reduced anthocyanin content and / or anthocyanin area in leaves under normal conditions or nitrogen- or water-limiting stress conditions, improved yield-related traits (including increased female reproductive organs or ears), increased ear weight, harvest index, yield, seed or kernel number, and / or seed or kernel weight. Such transgenic cereal or maize plants may further exhibit increased stress tolerance, such as increased drought tolerance, increased nitrogen utilization, and / or increased tolerance to high density planting.

[0181] For purposes of this disclosure, a "plant" includes an explant, plant part, seedling, plantlet, or whole plant at any stage of regeneration or development. As used herein, a "transgenic plant" refers to a plant whose genome has been modified by the integration or insertion of a recombinant DNA molecule, construct, or sequence. Transgenic plants include R0 plants developed or regenerated from an originally transformed plant cell(s), as well as progeny transgenic plants resulting in subsequent generations or crosses derived from the R0 transgenic plant. As used herein, "plant part" can refer to any organ or intact tissue of a plant (such as a meristem, shoot organ / structure (e.g., leaf, stem, or node), root, flower, or floral organ / structure (e.g., bract, sepal, petal, stamen, carpel, anther, and ovule)), seed (e.g., embryo, endosperm, and seed coat), fruit (e.g., mature ovary), propagule, or other plant tissue (e.g., vascular tissue, skin tissue, ground tissue, and the like), or any part thereof. Plant parts of the present disclosure can be viable, non-viable, regenerable, and / or non-regenerable. A "propagule" can include any plant part that is capable of developing into a whole plant.

[0182] According to embodiments of the present invention, plant cells transformed with a construct or molecule containing a transcribable DNA sequence for suppressing an endogenous GA oxidase gene, or with a construct used for genome editing, can include any plant cell (meristem cell, embryo cell, callus cell, etc.) capable of undergoing transformation as understood in the art based on the transformation method. As used herein, "transgenic plant cell" simply refers to any plant cell transformed with a stably integrated recombinant DNA molecule, construct, or sequence. Transgenic plant cells can include the originally transformed plant cell, a transgenic plant cell of a regenerated or developed R0 plant, a transgenic plant cell cultured from another transgenic plant cell, or a transgenic plant cell derived from any progeny plant or descendant of a transformed R0 plant (including a cell(s) of a plant seed or embryo, or a cultured plant cell, callus cell, etc.).

[0183] Embodiments of the present disclosure further include methods for preparing or producing transgenic or modified plants by transformation, genome editing, crossbreeding, etc., which methods include introducing into a plant cell a recombinant DNA molecule, construct, or sequence comprising a GA oxidase transgene or a transcribable DNA sequence for suppressing an endogenous GA oxidase gene, or editing the genomic locus of an endogenous GA oxidase gene, followed by regeneration or development of a transgenic or modified plant from the transformed or edited plant cell, which regeneration or development may be carried out under selection pressure that favors the transgenic event. Such methods may include transforming a plant cell with a recombinant DNA molecule, construct, or sequence comprising a transcribable DNA sequence for suppressing an endogenous GA oxidase gene, and selecting a plant having one or more modified phenotypes or traits compared to a wild-type or control plant, such phenotypes or traits being one or more of the following traits at one or more developmental stages: plant height or plant length. reduced or semi-dwarfing height, reduced internode length of one or more internode(s), increased stalk diameter / stem diameter, improved lodging resistance, reduced stem breakage, deeper roots, increased leaf area, earlier canopy closure, increased leaf water content and / or increased stomatal conductance under water-limited conditions, reduced anthocyanin content and / or anthocyanin area in leaves under normal conditions or nitrogen- or water-limiting stress conditions, improved yield-related traits (including increased female reproductive organs or ears), increased ear weight, harvest index, yield, seed or kernel number, and / or seed or kernel weight, increased stress tolerance (such as increased drought tolerance, increased nitrogen utilization, and / or increased tolerance to high density plantings).

[0184] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, methods are provided for planting modified or transgenic plant(s) provided herein in a field at normal / standard or high density. According to some embodiments, planting modified or transgenic plant(s) of the present disclosure in a field at higher density can increase crop plant yield per acre (or per land area). As described herein, modified or transgenic plants expressing a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that repressively targets an endogenous GA oxidase gene, or modified or transgenic plants with a genome-edited GA oxidase gene, can exhibit reduced plant height, shortened internode(s), increased stalk / stem diameter, and / or increased lodging resistance. It is proposed that modified or transgenic plants can tolerate high-density planting conditions because increased stem diameter can confer lodging resistance, and shortened plant height can increase light penetration to lower leaves under high-density planting conditions. Thus, planting the modified or transgenic plants provided herein at higher densities can increase yield per acre (or land area) in a field. For row crops, higher densities can be achieved by planting more seeds / plants per row length and / or decreasing the spacing between rows.

[0185] According to some embodiments, the modified or transgenic crop plants may be planted in a field at a density (number of plants per land / field area) that is at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 50%, at least 75%, at least 100%, at least 125%, at least 150%, at least 175%, at least 200%, at least 225%, or at least 250% higher than the normal planting density for that crop plant according to standard agronomic practices. The modified or transgenic crop plants may be planted in a field at a density of at least 38,000 plants per acre, at least 40,000 plants per acre, at least 42,000 plants per acre, at least 44,000 plants per acre, at least 45,000 plants per acre, at least 46,000 plants per acre, at least 48,000 plants per acre, 50,000 plants per acre, at least 52,000 plants per acre, at least 54,000 plants per acre, or at least 56,000 plants per acre.As an example, corn plants may be grown at higher densities (e.g., about 38,000 plants per acre to about 60,000 plants per acre, or about 40,000 plants per acre to about 58,000 plants per acre, or about 42,000 plants per acre to about 58,000 plants per acre, or about 40,000 plants per acre to about 45,000 plants per acre, or about 45,000 plants per acre to about 45,000 plants per acre) as opposed to a standard density range (e.g., about 18,000 plants per acre to about 38,000 plants per acre). The acreage may be planted at about 50,000 plants per acre, or in the range of about 50,000 plants per acre to about 58,000 plants per acre, or about 52,000 plants per acre to about 56,000 plants per acre, or about 38,000 plants per acre, about 42,000 plants per acre, about 46,000 plants per acre, or about 48,000 plants per acre, about 50,000 plants per acre, or about 52,000 plants per acre, or about 54,000 plants per acre, etc.

[0186] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, modified corn plant(s) are provided that have: (i) a plant height of less than 2000 mm, less than 1950 mm, less than 1900 mm, less than 1850 mm, less than 1800 mm, less than 1750 mm, less than 1700 mm, less than 1650 mm, less than 1600 mm, less than 1550 mm, less than 1500 mm, less than 1450 mm, less than 1400 mm, less than 1350 mm, less than 1300 mm, less than 1250 mm, less than 1200 mm, less than 1150 mm, less than 1100 mm, less than 1050 mm, or less than 1000 mm; and / or (ii) an average stalk or stalk diameter of at least 18 mm, at least 18.5 mm, at least 19 mm, at least 19.5 mm, at least 20 mm, at least 20.5 mm, at least 21 mm, at least 21.5 mm, or at least 22 mm. In other words, modified corn plant(s) are provided that have a plant height of less than 2000 mm, less than 1950 mm, less than 1900 mm, less than 1850 mm, less than 1800 mm, less than 1750 mm, less than 1700 mm, less than 1650 mm, less than 1600 mm, less than 1550 mm, less than 1500 mm, less than 1450 mm, less than 1400 mm, less than 1350 mm, less than 1300 mm, less than 1250 mm, less than 1200 mm, less than 1150 mm, less than 1100 mm, less than 1050 mm, or less than 1000 mm, and / or an average stalk or stalk diameter of more than 18 mm, more than 18.5 mm, more than 19 mm, more than 19.5 mm, more than 20 mm, more than 20.5 mm, more than 21 mm, more than 21.5 mm, or more than 22 mm. Any such plant height trait or plant height range expressed in millimeters (mm) may be converted to different units of measurement based on known conversions (e.g., 1 inch is equal to 2.54 cm or 25.4 millimeters, and millimeters (mm), centimeters (cm), and meters (m) differ by one or more powers of 10). Accordingly, any measurements provided herein are further described in any other equivalent units of measurement according to known or established conversions. However, the exact plant height and / or stalk diameter of the modified corn plants may depend on the environmental and genetic background.Thus, the change in plant height and / or stalk diameter of the modified corn plants may alternatively be described as the minimum difference or percent change when compared to a control plant. The modified corn plants may further comprise at least one ear that is substantially free of male reproductive tissue or structures or other anomalies.

[0187] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, plant height during the late vegetative and / or reproductive stages of development (e.g., R3 stage) may be between 1000 mm and 1800 mm, 1000 mm and 1700 mm, 1050 mm and 1700 mm, 1100 mm and 1700 mm, 1150 mm and 1700 mm, 1200 mm and 1700 mm, 1250 mm and 1700 mm, 1300 mm and 1700 mm, 1350 mm and 1700 mm, 1400 mm and 1700 mm, 1450 mm and 1700 mm, 1000mm~1500mm, 1050mm~1500mm, 1100mm~1500mm, 1150mm~1500mm, 1200mm~1500mm, 1250mm~1500mm, 1300mm~1500mm, 1350 mm~1500mm, 1400mm~1500mm, 1450mm~1500mm, 1000mm~1600mm, 1100mm~1600mm, 1200mm~1600mm, 1300mm~1600mm, 1350mm~16 00mm, 1400mm to 1600mm, 1450mm to 1600mm, 1000mm to 2000mm, 1200mm to 2000mm, 1200mm to 1800mm, 1300mm to 1700mm, 1400mm to 1700mm, 1400mm to 1600mm, 1400mm to 1700mm, 1400mm to 1800mm, 1400mm to 1900mm, 1400mm to 2000mm, or 1200mm to 2500mm, and / or average stem length Modified corn plants are provided that have a diameter of 17.5mm to 22mm, 18mm to 22mm, 18.5 to 22mm, 19mm to 22mm, 19.5mm to 22mm, 20mm to 22mm, 20.5mm to 22mm, 21mm to 22mm, 21.5mm to 22mm, 17.5mm to 21mm, 17.5mm to 20mm, 17.5mm to 19mm, 17.5mm to 18mm, 18mm to 21mm, 18mm to 20mm, or 18mm to 19mm. The modified corn plants may be substantially free of heteromorphs (such as male reproductive tissue or structures) in one or more ears of the modified corn plant.

[0188] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, modified maize plants are provided having (i) a plant height that is at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, or at least 75% less than the height of a wild-type or control plant, and / or (ii) a stalk or stalk diameter that is at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% greater than the stem diameter of a wild-type or control plant. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the modified corn plants have a reduced plant height of 20% or less, 25% or less, 30% or less, 35% or less, 40% or less, 45% or less, 50% or less, 55% or less, or 60% or less compared to the height of a wild-type or control plant, and / or a stem or stalk diameter of less than 10% (or less), 15% (or less), 20% (or less), 25% (or less), 30% (or less), 35% (or less), 40% (or less), 45% (or less), 50% (or less), 55% (or less), or 60% or less compared to the height of a wild-type or control plant. The stem or stalk diameter may have an increase of less than 5% (or less), less than 40% (or less), less than 45% (or less), less than 50% (or less), less than 55% (or less), less than 60% (or less), less than 65% (or less), less than 70% (or less), less than 75% (or less), less than 80% (or less), less than 85% (or less), less than 90% (or less), less than 95% (or less), or less than 100% (or less).For example, the modified plant may have (i) a plant height that is at least 10%, at least 15%, or at least 20% lower or reduced (i.e., a reduction of 10%, 15%, or 20% or more) but not more than 50% compared to a wild-type or control plant, and / or (ii) a stem or stalk diameter that is at least 5%, at least 10%, or at least 15% increased but not more than 30%, 35%, or 40% increased compared to a wild-type or control plant. For clarification, the phrases "at least 20% reduction" and "20% or more reduction" exclude, for example, a 10% reduction. Similarly, for clarification, the phrases "not greater than 50% shorter," "no more than 50% shorter," and "not more than 50% shorter" exclude a 60% reduction. The phrase "at least a 5% increase" would exclude a 2% increase, and the phrases "not more than 30% greater" and "no more than 30% greater" would exclude a 40% increase.

[0189] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a height that is 5% to 75%, 5% to 50%, 10% to 70%, 10% to 65%, 10% to 60%, 10% to 55%, 10% to 50%, 10% to 45%, 10% to 40%, 10% to 35%, 10% to 30%, 10% to 25%, 10% to 20%, 10% to 15%, 10% to 10%, 10% to 75%, 25% to 75%, 10% to 50%, 20% to 50%, 25% to 50%, 30% to 75%, 30% to 50%, 25% to 50%, 15% to 50%, 20% to 50, 25% to 45%, or 30% to 45% less than the height of a wild-type plant or a control plant, and / or Modified corn plants are provided having a stalk diameter or stalk diameter that is 5% to 100%, 5% to 95%, 5% to 90%, 5% to 85%, 5% to 80%, 5% to 75%, 5% to 70%, 5% to 65%, 5% to 60%, 5% to 55%, 5% to 50%, 5% to 45%, 5% to 40%, 5% to 35%, 5% to 30%, 5% to 25%, 5% to 20%, 5% to 15%, 5% to 10%, 10% to 100%, 10% to 75%, 10% to 50%, 10% to 40%, 10% to 30%, 10% to 20%, 25% to 75%, 25% to 50%, 50% to 75%, 8% to 20%, or 8% to 15% larger than the stalk diameter or stalk diameter.

[0190] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, modified corn plants are provided that have an average internode length (minus 2 internode length and / or minus 4 internode length (relative to the position of the ear)) that is at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, or at least 75% shorter than the same internode length or average internode length of a wild-type or control plant. The "minus 2 internode" of the corn plant refers to the second internode below the ear of the plant, and the "minus 4 internode" of the corn plant refers to the fourth internode below the ear of the plant. According to many embodiments, the internode length is 5% to 75%, 5% to 50%, 10% to 70%, 10% to 65%, 10% to 60%, 10% to 55%, 10% to 50%, 10% to 45%, 10% to 40%, 10% to 35%, 10% to 30%, 10% to 25%, 10% to 20%, 10% to 15%, 10% to 10%, 10% to 15% compared to the same internode length or average internode length of a wild-type plant or control plant. Modified corn plants are provided having an average internode length that is 75%, 25%-75%, 10%-50%, 20%-50%, 25%-50%, 30%-75%, 30%-50%, 25%-50%, 15%-50%, 20%-50%, 25%-45%, or 30%-45% shorter (minus two internode length and / or minus four internode length (relative to the ear position)).

[0191] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, modified corn plants are provided that have ear weights (individually or average) that are at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% greater than the ear weight of a wild-type or control plant. The modified corn plants provided herein may have an ear weight that is 5% to 100%, 5% to 95%, 5% to 90%, 5% to 85%, 5% to 80%, 5% to 75%, 5% to 70%, 5% to 65%, 5% to 60%, 5% to 55%, 5% to 50%, 5% to 45%, 5% to 40%, 5% to 35%, 5% to 30%, 5% to 25%, 5% to 20%, 5% to 15%, 5% to 10%, 10% to 100%, 10% to 75%, 10% to 50%, 25% to 75%, 25% to 50%, or 50% to 75% greater than the ear weight of a wild-type or control plant.

[0192] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, modified corn or cereal plants are provided that have a harvest index of at least 0.57, at least 0.58, at least 0.59, at least 0.60, at least 0.61, at least 0.62, at least 0.63, at least 0.64, or at least 0.65 (or greater). The modified corn plants may have a harvest index of 0.57-0.65, 0.57-0.64, 0.57-0.63, 0.57-0.62, 0.57-0.61, 0.57-0.60, 0.57-0.59, 0.57-0.58, 0.58-0.65, 0.59-0.65, or 0.60-0.65. The modified corn plants can have a harvest index that is at least 1%, at least 2%, at least 3%, at least 4%, at least 5%, at least 6%, at least 7%, at least 8%, at least 9%, at least 10%, at least 11%, at least 12%, at least 13%, at least 14%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, or at least 50% greater than the harvest index of a wild-type or control plant. The modified corn plants may have a harvest index that is 1% to 45%, 1% to 40%, 1% to 35%, 1% to 30%, 1% to 25%, 1% to 20%, 1% to 15%, 1% to 14%, 1% to 13%, 1% to 12%, 1% to 11%, 1% to 10%, 1% to 9%, 1% to 8%, 1% to 7%, 1% to 6%, 1% to 5%, 1% to 4%, 1% to 3%, 1% to 2%, 5% to 15%, 5% to 20%, 5% to 30%, or 5% to 40% greater compared to the harvest index of wild-type or control plants.

[0193] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, modified corn or grain plants are provided that have an increased harvestable yield of at least 1 bushel per acre, at least 2 bushels per acre, at least 3 bushels per acre, at least 4 bushels per acre, at least 5 bushels per acre, at least 6 bushels per acre, at least 7 bushels per acre, at least 8 bushels per acre, at least 9 bushels per acre, or at least 10 bushels per acre, compared to a wild-type or control plant. The increased harvestable yield of the modified corn plants may be 1 to 10 bushels per acre, 1 to 8 bushels per acre, 2 to 8 bushels per acre, 2 to 6 bushels per acre, 2 to 5 bushels per acre, 2.5 to 4.5 bushels per acre, or 3 to 4 bushels per acre. The harvestable yield of the modified corn plants can be increased by at least 1%, at least 2%, at least 3%, at least 4%, at least 5%, at least 6%, at least 7%, at least 8%, at least 9%, at least 10%, at least 11%, at least 12%, at least 13%, at least 14%, at least 15%, at least 20%, or at least 25% more compared to the harvestable yield of a wild-type or control plant. The harvestable yield of the modified corn plants can be 1% to 25%, 1% to 20%, 1% to 15%, 1% to 14%, 1% to 13%, 1% to 12%, 1% to 11%, 1% to 10%, 1% to 9%, 1% to 8%, 1% to 7%, 1% to 6%, 1% to 5%, 1% to 4%, 1% to 3%, 1% to 2%, 5% to 15%, 5% to 20%, 5% to 25%, 2% to 10%, 2% to 9%, 2% to 8%, 2% to 7%, 2% to 6%, 2% to 5%, or 2% to 4% greater than the harvestable yield of a wild-type or control plant.

[0194] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, modified cereal or corn plants are provided that have a lodging frequency that is at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or 100% lower or reduced compared to a wild-type or control plant. The modified cereal or corn plants may have a lodging frequency that is 5% to 100%, 5% to 95%, 5% to 90%, 5% to 85%, 5% to 80%, 5% to 75%, 5% to 70%, 5% to 65%, 5% to 60%, 5% to 55%, 5% to 50%, 5% to 45%, 5% to 40%, 5% to 35%, 5% to 30%, 5% to 25%, 5% to 20%, 5% to 15%, 5% to 10%, 10% to 100%, 10% to 75%, 10% to 50%, 10% to 40%, 10% to 30%, 10% to 20%, 25% to 75%, 25% to 50%, or 50% to 75% lower or reduced compared to wild-type or control plants. Further provided are populations of cereal or corn plants with increased lodging resistance and reduced lodging frequency. Populations of modified cereal or corn plants are provided that have at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or 100% lower or reduced lodging frequency compared to a population of wild-type or control plants.The population of modified corn plants showed a 5%-100%, 5%-95%, 5%-90%, 5%-85%, 5%-80%, 5%-75%, 5%-70%, 5%-65%, 5%-60%, 5%-55%, 5%-50%, 5%-45%, 5%-40%, 5%-35%, 5%-30%, 5%-25%, 5%-20%, 5%-30%, 5%-40%, 5%-50%, 5%-60%, 5%-75%, 5%-80%, 5%-90%, 5%-95%, 5%-100%, 5%-120%, 5%-140%, 5%-160%, 5%-180%, 5%-190%, 5%-200%, 5%-210%, 5%-220%, 5%-230%, 5%-240%, 5%-250%, 5%-300%, 5%-350%, 5%-400%, 5%-450%, 5%-500%, 5%-600%, 5%-750%, 5%-800%, 5%-900%, 5%-1000%, 5%-1200%, 5%-1400%, 5%-1600%, 5%-1800%, 5%-2000%, 5%-250%, 5%-3000%, 5%-3000%, 5%-4000%, 5%-5000%, 5%-5000%, 5%-6000%, 5%-7000%, 5%-8000%, 5%-1800%, 5%-1900%, 5%-20 The lodging frequency may be 0%, 5% to 15%, 5% to 10%, 10% to 100%, 10% to 75%, 10% to 50%, 10% to 40%, 10% to 30%, 10% to 20%, 25% to 75%, 25% to 50%, or 50% to 75% lower or reduced, and such lodging frequency may be expressed as an average value over a crop area of ​​equal density or a particular number of plants.

[0195] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, modified corn plants are provided that have significantly reduced or decreased plant heights (e.g., 2000 mm or less) and significantly increased stalk diameters (e.g., 18 mm or more) compared to wild-type or control plants. According to these embodiments, the reduced or decreased plant heights and increased stalk diameters may fall within any of the height ranges, diameter ranges, or percentage ranges described herein. Such modified corn plants having reduced plant heights and increased stalk diameters compared to wild-type or control plants may be transformed with a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule that targets at least one GA20 oxidase gene and / or at least one GA3 oxidase gene for repression. Modified corn plants having significantly reduced plant heights and / or significantly increased stalk diameters compared to wild-type or control plants may further have at least one ear that is substantially free of male reproductive tissues or structures and / or other abnormalities. In modified corn plants having significantly reduced plant height and / or increased stem diameter compared to wild-type or control plants, the activity of one or more GA20 oxidase and / or GA3 oxidase gene(s) may be reduced in one or more tissue(s) of the plant (e.g., one or more vascular tissues and / or leaf tissue(s) of the plant) compared to the same tissue(s) of the wild-type or control plant. According to many embodiments, the modified corn plants may include at least one polynucleotide or transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule operably linked to a promoter (which may be a constitutive, tissue-specific, or tissue-preferential promoter), wherein the non-coding RNA molecule repressively targets at least one GA20 oxidase and / or GA3 oxidase gene(s) as provided herein. The non-coding RNA molecule may be an miRNA molecule, an siRNA molecule, or a miRNA precursor molecule or an siRNA precursor molecule.According to some embodiments, modified corn plants having significantly reduced plant height and / or increased stem diameter compared to wild-type or control plants may further have an increased harvest index and / or increased lodging resistance compared to wild-type or control plants.

[0196] Modified corn or grain plants having significantly reduced plant height and / or significantly increased stalk diameter compared to wild-type or control plants may contain mutations (e.g., insertions, deletions, substitutions, etc.) introduced into the GA oxidase gene via gene editing techniques or other mutagenesis procedures, such that expression of the GA oxidase gene is reduced or eliminated in one or more tissues of the modified plant. Such modified corn plants having reduced plant height and / or increased stalk diameter compared to wild-type or control plants may further have an increased harvest index and / or increased lodging resistance compared to wild-type or control plants. Such modified corn plants may be substantially free of abnormalities (such as male reproductive tissues or structures and / or other abnormalities) in at least one ear of the modified plant. Plant mutagenesis techniques (excluding genome editing) can include chemical mutagenesis (i.e., treatment with chemical mutagens (e.g., azides, hydroxylamine, nitrite, acridine, nucleotide base analogs, or alkylating agents (e.g., EMS (ethyl methanesulfonate), MNU (N-methyl-N-nitrosourea), etc.)), physical mutagenesis (e.g., gamma rays, X-rays, UV, ion beams, other forms of radiation, etc.), and insertional mutagenesis (e.g., insertion of transposons or T-DNA). Plants, or various plant parts, plant tissues, or plant cells, can be subjected to mutagenesis. Treated plants can be propagated to collect seeds or produce progeny plants, and treated plant parts, plant tissues, or plant cells can be developed or regenerated into plants or other plant tissues. Mutations generated by chemical or physical mutagenesis techniques may include frameshift, missense, or nonsense mutations that result in reduced function or expression of the targeted gene (e.g., the GA3 oxidase gene or the GA20 oxidase gene).

[0197] One method of gene mutagenesis is called "TILLING" (for targeted induction of localized lesions in the genome), in which mutations are created in plant cells or tissues, preferably in the seeds, reproductive tissue, or germline of the plant, using, for example, a mutagen (such as EMS treatment). The resulting plants are grown and self-fertilized, and the progeny are used to prepare DNA samples. PCR amplification and sequencing of the nucleic acid sequence of the GA oxidase gene can be performed to identify whether the mutagenized plants have a mutation in the GA oxidase gene. Plants with a mutation in the GA oxidase gene can then be tested for an altered trait (such as reduced plant height). Alternatively, the mutagenized plants can be tested for an altered trait (such as reduced plant height), followed by PCR amplification and sequencing of the nucleic acid sequence of the GA oxidase gene to determine whether the plants with the altered trait also have a mutation in the GA oxidase gene. See, for example, Colbert et al., 2001, Plant Physiol 126:480-484, and McCallum et al., 2000, Nature Biotechnology 18:455-457. TILLING can be used to identify mutations that alter the expression of a gene or the activity of the protein it encodes, and can be used to introduce and select targeted mutations in the GA oxidase gene of corn or cereal plants.

[0198] Corn plants or cereal plants that have been subjected to mutagenesis or genome editing treatments can be screened and selected based on an observable phenotype (e.g., any of the phenotypes described herein (shortened plant height, increased stem / stalk diameter, etc.)), or by the use of a selectable marker in combination with a selection agent (e.g., a herbicide, etc.), the use of a screenable marker, or molecular techniques (e.g., reduced GA levels, reduced levels of GA oxidase transcript or protein, the presence of a transgene or transcribable sequence, etc.). Such screening and / or selection techniques can be used to identify and select plants that have a mutation in the GA oxidase gene that results in a desired plant phenotype.

[0199] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, populations of modified corn or cereal plants are provided, wherein the modified corn or cereal plant populations have a significantly lower average plant height and / or a significantly increased average stem or stalk diameter compared to wild-type or control plant populations. The modified corn or cereal plant populations generally share a common ancestor with a single modified corn or cereal plant and / or may have a single insertion, event, or editing with a transgenic GA oxidase suppression construct. The modified corn plants within the modified corn plant populations generally may include at least one ear that is substantially free of male reproductive tissue or structures and / or other abnormalities. The modified corn or cereal plant populations may have increased lodging resistance, on average per plant number or field area, or per plant number or field area, compared to wild-type or control plant populations. The modified corn or cereal plant population can have a lodging frequency that is at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, or 100% lower (or reduced) compared to a control corn or cereal plant population. The modified corn plant population can have a harvest index of at least 0.57 or greater.

[0200] According to embodiments of the present invention, modified corn or cereal plants are provided that have reduced gibberellin content (in active form) in at least stem tissue and internodal tissue(s) (such as stem tissue, internodal tissue, leaf tissue, and / or vascular tissue(s)) compared to the same tissue(s) of a wild-type or control plant. According to many embodiments, modified corn or cereal plants are provided that have significantly reduced plant height and / or significantly increased stem diameter compared to a wild-type or control plant, and the modified corn or cereal plants further have significantly reduced or decreased levels of active gibberellins or active GAs (e.g., one or more of GA1, GA3, GA4, and / or GA7) in one or more stem tissues, internodal tissues, leaf tissues, and / or vascular tissue(s) compared to the same tissue(s) of a wild-type or control plant. For example, the level of one or more active GAs in stem tissue, internode tissue, leaf tissue, and / or vascular tissue(s) of the modified corn or cereal plant can be at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% lower or reduced compared to that in the same tissue(s) of a wild-type or control corn plant.

[0201] According to some embodiments, in the modified corn or cereal plants, the level(s) of active gibberellins (GA) (e.g., one or more of GA1, GA3, GA4, and / or GA7) in one or more stem tissues, internode tissues, leaf tissues, and / or vascular tissue(s) is / are between 5% and 50%, 10% and 100%, 20% and 100%, 30% and 100%, 40% and 100%, 50% and 100%, 60% and 100%, 70% and 100%, 80% and 100%, 80% and 90%, 10% and 90%, 10% and 80%, 10% and 70%, 10% and 6 ... %, 10%~50%, 10%~40%, 10%~30%, 10%~20%, 50%~100%, 20%~90%, 20%~80%, 20%~70%, 20%~60%, 20%~50%, 20%~40%, 20%~40%, 20%~30%, 30%~90%, 30%~80%, 30%~70%, 30%~60%, 30%~50% , 30% to 40%, 40% to 90%, 40% to 80%, 40% to 70%, 40% to 60%, 40% to 50%, 50% to 90%, 50% to 80%, 50% to 70%, 50% to 60%, 60% to 90%, 60% to 80%, 60% to 70%, 70% to 90%, or 70% to 80% lower or (or reduced). Modified corn or grain plants having reduced active gibberellin (GA) level(s) in one or more stem tissues, internodal tissues, leaf tissues, and / or vascular tissue(s) may further be substantially free of abnormalities (such as male reproductive tissue or structures and / or other abnormalities) in at least one ear of the modified corn plant.

[0202] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, modified corn or cereal plants are provided in which the expression levels of one or more transcript(s) and / or protein(s) of the GA3 oxidase gene and / or the GA20 oxidase gene in one or more tissue(s) of the modified plant (such as one or more stem tissues, internodal tissues, leaf tissues, and / or vascular tissue(s)) are significantly reduced or eliminated compared to the same tissue(s) of a wild-type or control plant. According to many embodiments, modified corn or cereal plants are provided that have significantly reduced plant height and / or significantly increased stem diameter compared to wild-type or control plants, and in which the expression level of one or more transcript(s) and / or protein(s) of the GA20 oxidase gene and / or GA3 oxidase gene in one or more tissues of the modified plant (such as one or more stem tissues, internodal tissues, leaf tissues, and / or vascular tissue(s)) is significantly reduced or eliminated compared to the same tissue(s) of the wild-type or control corn plant. For example, the modified corn or cereal plant has significantly reduced or eliminated expression levels of the transcript(s) and / or protein(s) of the GA20 oxidase_3 gene and / or the GA20 oxidase_5 gene in one or more stem tissues, internode tissues, leaf tissues, and / or vascular tissue(s) of the modified plant, and / or has significantly reduced or eliminated expression levels of the transcript(s) and / o...

Claims

1. 1. A recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule, wherein the non-coding RNA molecule aligns with at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, or at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 contiguous nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA oxidase protein of a monocotyledonous or cereal plant or plant cell.

9. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 8, wherein the endogenous GA oxidase protein has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:30, or SEQ ID NO:33, and wherein the transcribable DNA sequence is operably linked to a plant-expressible promoter.

2. 2. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 1, wherein the non-coding RNA molecule comprises a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:31, or SEQ ID NO:

32.

3. the non-coding RNA molecule comprises a sequence that (i) has at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA20 oxidase protein of a monocotyledonous or cereal plant or plant cell, wherein the endogenous GA20 oxidase protein has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:9; and / or 2. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 1, wherein the construct has at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA20 oxidase protein of a monocotyledonous or cereal plant or plant cell, wherein the endogenous GA20 oxidase protein has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:

15.

4. The non-coding RNA molecule comprises a sequence that (i) has at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:7 or SEQ ID NO:8, and / or ii) The recombinant DNA construct of claim 3, having at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:13 or SEQ ID NO:

14.

5. 2. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 1, wherein the plant-expressible promoter is a vascular promoter.

6. 6. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 5, wherein the vascular promoter comprises one of the following: a sucrose synthase promoter, a sucrose transporter promoter, an Sh1 promoter, a Commelinus yellow mottle virus (CoYMV) promoter, a wheat dwarf geminivirus (WDV) long intergenic region (LIR) promoter, a maize stripe geminivirus (MSV) coat protein (CP) promoter, a rice yellow streak 1 (YS1)-like promoter, or a rice yellow streak 2 (OsYSL2) promoter.

7. 6. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 5, wherein the vascular promoter comprises a DNA sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to one or more of SEQ ID NO:67, SEQ ID NO:68, SEQ ID NO:69, SEQ ID NO:70, or SEQ ID NO:71, or a functional portion thereof.

8. 2. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 1, wherein the plant-expressible promoter is an RTBV promoter.

9. 9. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 8, wherein the plant-expressible promoter comprises a DNA sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to one or more of SEQ ID NO:65 or SEQ ID NO:66, or a functional portion thereof.

10. 2. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 1, wherein the plant-expressible promoter is a leaf promoter.

11. 11. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 10, wherein the leaf promoter comprises one of the following: RuBisCO promoter, PPDK promoter, FDA promoter, Nadh-Gogat promoter, chlorophyll a / b binding protein gene promoter, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) promoter, or Myb gene promoter.

12. 11. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 10, wherein the leaf promoter comprises a DNA sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to one or more of SEQ ID NO:72, SEQ ID NO:73, or SEQ ID NO:74, or a functional portion thereof.

13. 2. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 1, wherein the plant-expressible promoter is a constitutive promoter.

14. 14. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 13, wherein the constitutive promoter is selected from the group consisting of an actin promoter, a CaMV35S promoter or a CaMV19S promoter, a plant ubiquitin promoter, a plant Gos2 promoter, an FMV promoter, a CMV promoter, an MMV promoter, a PCLSV promoter, an Emu promoter, a tubulin promoter, a nopaline synthase promoter, an octopine synthase promoter, a mannopine synthase promoter, or a corn alcohol dehydrogenase promoter, or a functional portion thereof.

15. 14. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 13, wherein the constitutive promoter comprises a DNA sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to one or more of SEQ ID NO:75, SEQ ID NO:76, SEQ ID NO:77, SEQ ID NO:78, SEQ ID NO:79, SEQ ID NO:80, SEQ ID NO:81, SEQ ID NO:82, or SEQ ID NO:83, or a functional portion thereof.

16. 2. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 1, wherein the non-coding RNA molecule encoded by the transcribable DNA sequence is a precursor miRNA or precursor siRNA that is processed or cleaved in plant cells to form a mature miRNA or mature siRNA.

17. 2. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 1, wherein the non-coding RNA molecule comprises a sequence having at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA20 oxidase protein of a monocotyledonous or cereal plant or plant cell, wherein the endogenous GA20 oxidase protein has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:

15.

18. 18. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 17, wherein the non-coding RNA molecule comprises a sequence having at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:13 or SEQ ID NO:

14.

19. 2. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 1, wherein the non-coding RNA molecule comprises a sequence having at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA3 oxidase protein of a monocotyledonous or cereal plant or plant cell, wherein the endogenous GA3 oxidase protein has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:30 or SEQ ID NO:

33.

20. 20. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 19, wherein the non-coding RNA molecule comprises a sequence having at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:31, or SEQ ID NO:

32.

21. 2. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 1, wherein the non-coding RNA molecule comprises a sequence having at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA20 oxidase protein of a monocotyledonous or cereal plant or plant cell, wherein the endogenous GA20 oxidase protein has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:

12.

22. 22. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 21, wherein the non-coding RNA molecule comprises a sequence having at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:10 or SEQ ID NO:

11.

23. the non-coding RNA molecule is at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 100%, at least 101%, at least 102%, at least 103%, at least 104%, at least 105%, at least 106%, at least 107%, at least 108%, at least 109%, at least 200%, at least 201%, at least 202%, at least 203%, at least 204%, at least 205%, at least 206%, at least 207%, at least 208%, at least 209%, at least 210%, at least 220%, at least 230%, at least 240%, at least 250%, at least 260%, or at least 270 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA oxidase protein of a monocotyledonous or cereal plant or plant cell.

2. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 1, comprising a sequence having 99.5%, or 100% complementarity, wherein the endogenous GA oxidase protein has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to one or more of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:30, and SEQ ID NO:

33.

24. 24. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 23, wherein the non-coding RNA molecule comprises a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 contiguous nucleotides of one or more of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:31, and SEQ ID NO:

32.

25. A transformation vector comprising the recombinant DNA construct of claim 1.

26. A transgenic cereal plant, transgenic plant part, or transgenic plant cell comprising the recombinant DNA construct of claim 1.

27. 27. The transgenic cereal plant of claim 26, wherein the transgenic plant has one or more of the following traits compared to a control plant: reduced plant height, increased stalk diameter / stalk diameter, improved lodging resistance, reduced stem breakage, deeper roots, increased leaf area, earlier canopy closure, increased stomatal conductance, reduced ear height, increased leaf water content, improved drought tolerance, improved nitrogen use efficiency, reduced anthocyanin content and area in leaves under normal conditions or nitrogen or water limiting stress conditions, increased ear weight, increased harvest index, increased yield, increased seed number, increased seed weight, and / or increased yield potential.

28. 27. The transgenic cereal plant of claim 26, wherein the transgenic plant has reduced plant height and / or improved lodging resistance.

29. 27. The transgenic cereal plant of claim 26, wherein the height of the transgenic plant is at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, or at least 40% reduced compared to a wild-type control plant.

30. 27. The transgenic cereal plant of claim 26, wherein the stalk diameter or stem diameter of one or more stem internodes of the transgenic plant is at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, or at least 40% larger than the stalk diameter or stem diameter of the same one or more internodes of a wild-type control plant.

31. 27. The transgenic cereal plant of any one of claims 26, wherein the transgenic cereal plant is a corn plant and the stalk diameter or stem diameter of one or more of the first internode, second internode, third internode, and / or fourth internode below the ear of the transgenic corn plant is at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, or at least 40% larger compared to the same internode of a wild-type control plant.

32. 27. The transgenic cereal plant of claim 26, wherein the level of one or more active GAs in at least one internode tissue of the stem or stalk of the transgenic plant is lower compared to the same internode tissue of a wild-type control plant.

33. 27. The transgenic cereal plant of claim 26, wherein the level of one or more active GAs in at least one internode tissue of the stem or stalk of the transgenic plant is at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, or at least 40% lower compared to the same internode tissue of a wild-type control plant.

34. 27. The transgenic cereal plant of any one of claims 26, wherein the transgenic plant has no significant dysmorphism in at least one female organ or ear.

35. A transgenic maize plant, transgenic plant part, or transgenic plant cell comprising the recombinant DNA construct of claim 1.

36. A method for producing a transgenic cereal plant, the method comprising: (a) transforming at least one cell of an explant with the recombinant DNA construct of claim 1; and (b) regenerating or developing the transgenic cereal plant from the transformed explant.

37. 37. The method of claim 36, wherein the cereal plant is transformed via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation or biolistic transformation.

38. 1. A recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule, wherein the non-coding RNA molecule comprises a first targeting sequence and a second targeting sequence, wherein the first targeting sequence and the second targeting sequence each align at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 100%, at least 101%, at least 102%, at least 103%, at least 104%, at least 105%, at least 106%, at least 107%, at least 108%, at least 109%, at least 110%, at least 111%, at least 112%, at least 113%, at least 114%, at least 115%, at least 116%, at least 117%, at least 118%, at least 119%, at least 120%, at least 121%, at least 122%, at least 123%, at least 124%, at least 125%, at least 126, or at least 127 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous GA oxidase protein of a monocotyledonous or cereal plant or plant cell.

2. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 1, wherein the endogenous GA oxidase protein has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to one or more of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:30, and SEQ ID NO:

33.

39. 39. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 38, wherein the first targeting sequence and the second targeting sequence of the non-coding RNA molecule have at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 contiguous nucleotides of one or more of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:31, and SEQ ID NO:32, respectively.

40. 1. A recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule, wherein the non-coding RNA molecule aligns with at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 1% of the total length of at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding an endogenous protein of a monocotyledonous or cereal plant or plant cell. 100%, 110%, 120%, 130%, 140%, 150%, 160%, 170%, 180%, 190%, 200%, 210%, 220%, 230%, 240%, 250%, 260%, 270%, 280%, 290%, 300%, 310%, 320%, 330%, 340%, 350%, 360%, 370%, 380%, 390%, 400%, 410%, 420%, 430%, 440%, 450%, 460%, 470%, 480%, 490%, 510%, 520%, 530%, 540%, 550%, 560%, 570%, 580%, 590%, 610%, 620%, 630%, 640%, 650%, 660%, 670%, 680%, 690%, 700%, 710%, 720%, 730%, 740%, 750%, 760%, 770%, 780%, 790%, 800%, 810%, 820%, 830%, 840%, 850%, 860%, 870%, 880%, 890%, 900%, 910%, 920%, 930%, 940%, 950%, 960%, 970%, 980%, 990%, 99.5%, or 1000% identity to SEQ ID NO:86, SEQ ID NO:90, SEQ ID NO:94, SEQ ID NO:97, SEQ ID NO:101, SEQ ID NO:104, SEQ ID NO:1

41. The non-coding RNA molecule is SEQ ID NO:84, SEQ ID NO:85, SEQ ID NO:87, SEQ ID NO:88, SEQ ID NO:89, SEQ ID NO:91, SEQ ID NO:92, SEQ ID NO:93, SEQ ID NO:95, SEQ ID NO:96, SEQ ID NO:98, SEQ ID NO:99, SEQ ID NO:100, SEQ ID NO:102, SEQ ID NO:103, SEQ ID NO:105, SEQ ID NO:106, SEQ ID NO:107, SEQ ID NO:109, SEQ ID NO:110, SEQ ID NO:111, SEQ ID NO:113, SEQ ID NO:114, SEQ ID NO:115, SEQ ID NO:119, SEQ ID NO:120, SEQ ID NO:122, SEQ ID NO:123, SEQ ID NO:124, SEQ ID NO:126, SEQ ID NO:127, SEQ ID NO:128, SEQ ID NO:130, SEQ ID NO:131, SEQ ID NO:

40. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 39, comprising a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:132, SEQ ID NO:134, SEQ ID NO:135, or SEQ ID NO:

137.

42. A corn plant or cereal plant containing a mutation introduced by mutagenesis techniques into or near an endogenous GA oxidase gene, wherein the expression level of the endogenous GA oxidase gene is reduced or eliminated in the corn plant or cereal plant, and the corn plant or cereal plant has a reduced plant height compared to a wild-type control plant.

43. 43. The corn or cereal plant of claim 42, wherein the corn or cereal plant containing the mutation has one or more of the following additional traits compared to the control plant: increased stalk diameter / stalk diameter, improved lodging resistance, reduced stalk breakage, deeper roots, increased leaf area, earlier canopy closure, increased stomatal conductance, reduced ear height, increased leaf water content, improved drought tolerance, improved nitrogen use efficiency, reduced anthocyanin content and area in leaves under normal conditions or nitrogen or water limiting stress conditions, increased ear weight, increased harvest index, increased yield, increased seed number, increased seed weight, and increased yield potential.

44. 43. The corn or cereal plant of claim 42, wherein the height of the corn or cereal plant is at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, or at least 40% reduced compared to the control plant.

45. 43. The corn or cereal plant of claim 42, wherein the stalk diameter or stem diameter of one or more stem internodes of the corn or cereal plant is at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, or at least 40% greater than that of the control plant.

46. 43. The corn or cereal plant of claim 42, wherein the level of one or more active GAs in at least one internode tissue of the stem or stalk of the corn or cereal plant is lower compared to the same internode tissue of the control plant.

47. 1. A corn or cereal plant comprising a genome edit introduced via targeted genome editing techniques at or near the locus of an endogenous GA oxidase gene, wherein the expression level of the endogenous GA oxidase gene is reduced or eliminated in the corn or cereal plant compared to a control plant, and wherein the edited corn or cereal plant has a reduced plant height compared to the control plant.

48. 150. The edited corn or cereal plant of claim 149, wherein the edited plant has one or more of the following additional traits compared to the control plant: increased stalk diameter / stalk diameter, improved lodging resistance, reduced stalk breakage, deeper roots, increased leaf area, earlier canopy closure, increased stomatal conductance, reduced ear height, increased leaf water content, improved drought tolerance, improved nitrogen use efficiency, reduced anthocyanin content and area in leaves under normal conditions or nitrogen or water limiting stress conditions, increased ear weight, increased harvest index, increased yield, increased seed number, increased seed weight, and increased yield potential.

49. 150. The edited corn or cereal plant of claim 149, wherein the height of the edited plant is at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, or at least 40% reduced compared to the control plant.

50. 150. The edited corn or cereal plant of claim 149, wherein the stalk diameter or stem diameter of one or more stem internodes of the edited plant is at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, or at least 40% greater compared to the control plant.

51. 150. The edited corn or cereal plant of claim 149, wherein the level of one or more active GAs in at least one internode tissue of a stem or stalk of the edited plant is lower compared to the same internode tissue of the control plant.

52. 150. The edited corn or cereal plant of claim 149, wherein the level of one or more active GAs in at least one internodal tissue of a stem or stalk of the edited plant is at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, or at least 40% lower compared to the same internodal tissue of the control plant.

53. 150. The edited corn or cereal plant of claim 149, wherein the genome edit is introduced using a meganuclease, a zinc finger nuclease (ZFN), an RNA-guided endonuclease, a TALE-endonuclease (TALEN), a recombinase, or a transposase.

54. 1. A composition comprising a guide RNA, wherein the guide RNA comprises a guide sequence having at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% identity or complementarity to at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, or at least 25 consecutive nucleotides of a target DNA sequence located at or near the genomic locus of an endogenous GA oxidase gene of a cereal plant.

55. 55. The composition of Claim 54, wherein the guide RNA molecule comprises a guide sequence having at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% complementarity to at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, or at least 25 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:35, or SEQ ID NO:38, or a sequence complementary thereto.

56. 55. The composition of Claim 54, wherein the guide RNA molecule comprises a guide sequence having at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% complementarity to at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, or at least 25 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:87, SEQ ID NO:91, SEQ ID NO:95, SEQ ID NO:98, SEQ ID NO:105, SEQ ID NO:109, SEQ ID NO:113, SEQ ID NO:117, SEQ ID NO:122, SEQ ID NO:126, SEQ ID NO:130, or SEQ ID NO:137, or a sequence complementary thereto.

57. 55. The composition of claim 54, further comprising an RNA-guided endonuclease.

58. 58. The composition of claim 57, wherein the RNA-guided endonuclease generates a double-stranded break or nick at or near a target DNA sequence in the genome of the cereal plant in the presence of the guide RNA molecule.

59. 55. The composition of claim 54, further comprising a recombinant DNA donor template comprising at least one homologous sequence or homology arm, wherein the at least one homologous sequence or homology arm has at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% complementarity to at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50, at least 60, at least 70, at least 80, at least 90, at least 100, at least 150, at least 200, at least 250, at least 500, at least 1000, at least 2500, or at least 5000 contiguous nucleotides of a target DNA sequence, wherein the target DNA sequence is a genomic sequence located at or near the genomic locus of the endogenous GA oxidase gene of a corn plant or cereal plant.

60. 1. A recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding guide RNA molecule, wherein the guide RNA molecule comprises a guide sequence having at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% complementarity to at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, or at least 25 consecutive nucleotides of a target DNA sequence located at or near the genomic locus of an endogenous GA oxidase gene of a corn plant or cereal plant.

61. 61. The recombinant DNA construct of Claim 60, wherein the guide RNA comprises a guide sequence having at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% complementarity to at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, or at least 25 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:35, or SEQ ID NO:38, or a sequence complementary thereto.

62. 61. The recombinant DNA construct of Claim 60, wherein the guide RNA molecule comprises a guide sequence having at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% complementarity to at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, or at least 25 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:87, SEQ ID NO:91, SEQ ID NO:95, SEQ ID NO:98, SEQ ID NO:105, SEQ ID NO:109, SEQ ID NO:113, SEQ ID NO:117, SEQ ID NO:122, SEQ ID NO:126, SEQ ID NO:130, or SEQ ID NO:137, or a sequence complementary thereto.

63. 61. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 60, wherein the transcribable DNA sequence is operably linked to a plant-expressible promoter.

64. 61. The recombinant DNA construct of Claim 60, wherein the guide RNA molecule is a CRISPR RNA (crRNA) or a single-stranded guide RNA (sgRNA).

65. 61. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 60, wherein the guide RNA comprises a sequence complementary to a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) sequence present in the genome of the cereal plant, the PAM sequence being located immediately adjacent to the target DNA sequence located at or near the genomic locus of the endogenous GA oxidase gene.

66. 61. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 60, wherein the endogenous GA oxidase gene encodes a protein having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:12, or SEQ ID NO:

15.

67. 61. A DNA molecule or vector comprising the recombinant DNA construct of claim 60.

68. 61. A bacterial cell or host cell comprising the recombinant DNA construct of claim 60.

69. 61. A corn or cereal plant, plant part, or plant cell comprising the recombinant DNA construct of claim 60.

70. 61. A composition comprising the recombinant DNA construct of claim 60, wherein the composition further comprises an RNA-guided endonuclease.

71. 61. A composition comprising the recombinant DNA construct of claim 60, wherein the composition further comprises a second recombinant DNA construct comprising a second transcribable DNA sequence encoding an RNA-guided endonuclease.

72. 72. The composition of claim 71, comprising a DNA molecule or vector comprising said recombinant DNA construct and said second recombinant DNA construct.

73. A composition comprising a first DNA molecule or vector and a second DNA molecule or vector, wherein the first DNA molecule or vector comprises a recombinant DNA construct encoding a guide RNA molecule that targets an endogenous GA oxidase gene of a corn plant or a cereal plant, and the second DNA molecule or vector comprises a second recombinant DNA construct encoding an RNA-guided endonuclease.

74. 71. The composition of claim 70, further comprising a recombinant DNA donor template comprising at least one homologous sequence or homology arm, wherein the at least one homologous sequence or homology arm has at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% complementarity to at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50, at least 60, at least 70, at least 80, at least 90, at least 100, at least 150, at least 200, at least 250, at least 500, at least 1000, at least 2500, or at least 5000 contiguous nucleotides of a target DNA sequence, wherein the target DNA sequence is a genomic sequence located at or near the genomic locus of an endogenous GA oxidase gene of a corn plant or cereal plant.

75. 1. A recombinant DNA donor template comprising at least one homologous sequence, wherein the at least one homologous sequence has at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% complementarity to at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50, at least 60, at least 70, at least 80, at least 90, at least 100, at least 150, at least 200, at least 250, at least 500, at least 1000, at least 2500, or at least 5000 consecutive nucleotides of a target DNA sequence, wherein the target DNA sequence is a genomic sequence located at or near the genomic locus of an endogenous GA oxidase gene of a corn plant or cereal plant.

76. 76. The recombinant DNA donor template of Claim 75, wherein the at least one homologous sequence comprises at least one mutation compared to the complementary strand of the target DNA sequence located at or near the genomic locus of the endogenous GA oxidase gene.

77. 76. The recombinant DNA donor template of claim 75, wherein the at least one homologous sequence has at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% identity or complementarity to at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50, at least 60, at least 70, at least 80, at least 90, at least 100, at least 150, at least 200, at least 250, at least 500, at least 1000, at least 2500, or at least 5000 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:35, or SEQ ID NO:38, or a sequence complementary thereto.

78. 76. The recombinant DNA donor template of claim 75, wherein the at least one homologous sequence has at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% identity or complementarity to at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50, at least 60, at least 70, at least 80, at least 90, at least 100, at least 150, at least 200, at least 250, at least 500, at least 1000, at least 2500, or at least 5000 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:87, SEQ ID NO:91, SEQ ID NO:95, SEQ ID NO:98, SEQ ID NO:105, SEQ ID NO:109, SEQ ID NO:113, SEQ ID NO:117, SEQ ID NO:122, SEQ ID NO:126, SEQ ID NO:130, or SEQ ID NO:137, or a sequence complementary thereto.

79. A recombinant DNA donor template comprising two homology arms, including a first homology arm and a second homology arm, wherein the first homology arm comprises a sequence having at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% complementarity to at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50, at least 60, at least 70, at least 80, at least 90, at least 100, at least 150, at least 200, at least 250, at least 500, at least 1000, at least 2500, or at least 5000 consecutive nucleotides of a first flanking DNA sequence; and the second homology arm comprises a sequence having at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% complementarity to at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50, at least 60, at least 70, at least 80, at least 90, at least 100, at least 150, at least 200, at least 250, at least 500, at least 1000, at least 2500, or at least 5000 consecutive nucleotides of a first flanking DNA sequence. 100%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% complementary to at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50, at least 60, at least 70, at least 80, at least 90, at least 100, at least 150, at least 200, at least 250, at least 500, at least 1000, at least 2500, or at least 5000 contiguous nucleotides of sequence A, wherein the first flanking DNA sequence and the second flanking DNA sequence are genomic sequences located at or near the genomic locus of an endogenous GA oxidase gene of a corn plant or cereal plant.

80. 80. The recombinant DNA donor template of claim 79, further comprising an insertion sequence located between the first homology arm and the second homology arm.

81. 80. The recombinant DNA donor template of claim 79, wherein each homology arm has at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% identity or complementarity to at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50, at least 60, at least 70, at least 80, at least 90, at least 100, at least 150, at least 200, at least 250, at least 500, at least 1000, at least 2500, or at least 5000 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:35, or SEQ ID NO:38, or a sequence complementary thereto.

82. 80. The recombinant DNA donor template of claim 79, wherein each homology arm has at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% identity or complementarity to at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50, at least 60, at least 70, at least 80, at least 90, at least 100, at least 150, at least 200, at least 250, at least 500, at least 1000, at least 2500, or at least 5000 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:87, SEQ ID NO:91, SEQ ID NO:95, SEQ ID NO:98, SEQ ID NO:105, SEQ ID NO:109, SEQ ID NO:113, SEQ ID NO:117, SEQ ID NO:122, SEQ ID NO:126, SEQ ID NO:130, or SEQ ID NO:137, or a sequence complementary thereto.

83. 80. A corn or cereal plant, plant part, or plant cell comprising the recombinant DNA construct of claim 79.

84. An engineered site-specific nuclease that binds to a target site located at or near the genomic locus of an endogenous GA oxidase gene in a corn or cereal plant and generates a double-stranded break or nick at said target site.

85. 85. The engineered site-specific nuclease of Claim 84, wherein said site-specific nuclease is a meganuclease or a homing endonuclease.

86. 85. The engineered site-specific nuclease of Claim 84, wherein the site-specific nuclease is a zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) comprising a DNA binding domain and a cleavage domain.

87. 85. The engineered site-specific nuclease of Claim 84, wherein the site-specific nuclease is a transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN) comprising a DNA binding domain and a cleavage domain.

88. 85. The engineered site-specific nuclease of Claim 84, wherein the target site to which the site-specific nuclease binds has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% identity or complementarity to at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50, at least 60, at least 70, at least 80, at least 90, at least 100, at least 150, at least 200, at least 250, at least 500, at least 1000, at least 2500, or at least 5000 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:35, or SEQ ID NO:38, or a sequence complementary thereto.

89. 85. The engineered site-specific nuclease of Claim 84, wherein the target site to which the site-specific nuclease binds has at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% identity or complementarity to at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50, at least 60, at least 70, at least 80, at least 90, at least 100, at least 150, at least 200, at least 250, at least 500, at least 1000, at least 2500, or at least 5000 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:87, SEQ ID NO:91, SEQ ID NO:95, SEQ ID NO:98, SEQ ID NO:105, SEQ ID NO:109, SEQ ID NO:113, SEQ ID NO:117, SEQ ID NO:122, SEQ ID NO:126, SEQ ID NO:130, or SEQ ID NO:137, or a sequence complementary thereto.

90. A recombinant DNA construct comprising an introduced gene encoding a site-specific nuclease, wherein the site-specific nuclease binds to a target site located at or near the genomic locus of an endogenous GA oxidase gene of a monocotyledonous plant or a cereal plant and generates a double-stranded break or nick at the target site.

91. 91. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 90, wherein the transgene is operably linked to a plant-expressible promoter.

92. 91. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 90, wherein the site-specific nuclease is a meganuclease or homing endonuclease, a zinc finger nuclease, or a transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN).

93. 91. A corn or cereal plant, plant part, or plant cell comprising the recombinant DNA construct of claim 90.

94. a recombinant DNA donor template comprising at least one homology arm and an insertion sequence, wherein the at least one homology arm is at least 70% homologous to at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50, at least 60, at least 70, at least 80, at least 90, at least 100, at least 150, at least 200, at least 250, at least 500, at least 1000, at least 2500, or at least 5000 consecutive nucleotides of a genomic DNA sequence of a corn plant or cereal plant; The recombinant DNA donor template has at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% complementarity, wherein the insert sequence comprises a recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule, wherein the non-coding RNA molecule targets one or more endogenous GA20 oxidase or GA3 oxidase genes in a monocotyledonous or cereal plant or plant cell for repression, and wherein the transcribable DNA sequence is operably linked to a plant-expressible promoter.

95. the at least one homology arm comprises two homology arms comprising a first homology arm and a second homology arm, and the first homology arm comprises a sequence having at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% complementarity to at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50, at least 60, at least 70, at least 80, at least 90, at least 100, at least 150, at least 200, at least 250, at least 500, at least 1000, at least 2500, or at least 5000 consecutive nucleotides of a first contiguous DNA sequence; the second homology arm comprises a sequence having at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% complementarity to at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50, at least 60, at least 70, at least 80, at least 90, at least 100, at least 150, at least 200, at least 250, at least 500, at least 1000, at least 2500, or at least 5000 consecutive nucleotides of a second contiguous DNA sequence; 95. The recombinant DNA donor template of claim 94, wherein the first flanking DNA sequence and the second flanking DNA sequence are genomic sequences located at or near the same genomic locus of a monocotyledonous plant or a cereal plant, and the insertion sequence is located between the first homology arm and the second homology arm and comprises a recombinant DNA construct comprising a transcribable DNA sequence encoding a non-coding RNA molecule.

96. 95. The recombinant DNA donor template of claim 94, wherein the transcribable DNA sequence is operably linked to a plant-expressible promoter.

97. 95. The recombinant DNA donor template of Claim 94, wherein the non-coding RNA molecule comprises a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 contiguous nucleotides of an mRNA molecule encoding a GA oxidase protein having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:30, or SEQ ID NO:

33.

98. The non-coding RNA molecule encodes a GA oxidase protein having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:86, SEQ ID NO:90, SEQ ID NO:94, SEQ ID NO:97, SEQ ID NO:101, SEQ ID NO:104, SEQ ID NO:108, SEQ ID NO:112, SEQ ID NO:116, SEQ ID NO:118, SEQ ID NO:121, SEQ ID NO:125, SEQ ID NO:129, SEQ ID NO:133, or SEQ ID NO:

136.

95. The recombinant DNA donor template of claim 94, comprising a sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99.5%, or 100% complementarity to at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, or at least 27 consecutive nucleotides of the RNA molecule.

99. 95. A transgenic corn or cereal plant, transgenic plant part, or transgenic plant cell comprising the insert sequence of the recombinant DNA donor template of claim 94.

100. 95. A method for producing a transgenic corn plant or a transgenic cereal plant, comprising: (a) transforming at least one cell of an explant with the recombinant DNA donor template of claim 94; and (b) regenerating or developing the transgenic corn plant or transgenic cereal plant from the transformed explant, wherein the transgenic corn plant or transgenic cereal plant comprises the insertion sequence of the recombinant DNA donor template.

101. 1. A method for producing a corn or cereal plant having a genome edit at or near an endogenous GA oxidase gene, the method comprising: (a) introducing into at least one cell of an explant of the corn plant or cereal plant a site-specific nuclease, or a recombinant DNA molecule comprising a transgene encoding the site-specific nuclease, wherein the site-specific nuclease binds to a target site located at or near the genomic locus of the endogenous GA oxidase gene and creates a double-stranded break or nick at the target site; and (b) regenerating or developing an edited corn or cereal plant from the at least one explant cell comprising the genome edit at or near the endogenous GA oxidase gene of the edited monocotyledonous or cereal plant.

102. 102. The method of claim 101, wherein the introducing step (a) further comprises introducing a DNA donor template comprising at least one homologous sequence or homology arm, wherein the at least one homologous sequence or homology arm has at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 99%, or 100% complementarity to at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50, at least 60, at least 70, at least 80, at least 90, at least 100, at least 150, at least 200, at least 250, at least 500, at least 1000, at least 2500, or at least 5000 contiguous nucleotides of a target DNA sequence, and wherein the target DNA sequence is a genomic sequence located at or near the genomic locus of the endogenous GA oxidase gene of the monocotyledonous plant or cereal plant.

103. 102. The method of claim 101, further comprising (c) selecting the edited corn or cereal plant.

104. 104. The method of Claim 103, wherein said selecting step (c) comprises determining whether the endogenous GA oxidase gene locus has been edited using a molecular assay.

105. 104. The method of Claim 103, wherein said selecting step (c) comprises determining whether the endogenous GA oxidase gene has been edited by observing a plant phenotype.

106. Less than 2000mm, less than 1950mm, less than 1900mm, less than 1850mm, less than 1800mm, less than 1750mm, less than 1700mm, less than 1650mm, less than 1600mm, less than 1550mm, less than 1500mm, less than 1450mm, less than 1400mm, less than 1350mm, less than 1300mm, less than 1250mm, less than 1200mm, less than 1150mm, less than 1100mm, less than 1050mm, or less than 1000 mm in plant height, and either (i) an average stem or stalk diameter of greater than 18 mm, greater than 18.5 mm, greater than 19 mm, greater than 19.5 mm, greater than 20 mm, greater than 20.5 mm, greater than 21 mm, greater than 21.5 mm, or greater than 22 mm, (ii) improved lodging resistance compared to a wild-type control plant, or (iii) improved drought tolerance compared to a wild-type control plant.

107. 107. The modified corn plant of claim 106, wherein the corn plant has one or more of the following traits compared to a wild-type control plant: increased stalk diameter / stalk diameter, improved lodging resistance, reduced stalk breakage, deeper roots, increased leaf area, earlier canopy closure, increased stomatal conductance, reduced ear height, increased leaf water content, improved drought tolerance, improved nitrogen use efficiency, reduced anthocyanin content and area in leaves under normal conditions or nitrogen- or water-limiting stress conditions, increased ear weight, increased harvest index, increased yield, increased seed number, increased seed weight, and / or increased yield potential.

108. 107. The modified corn plant of claim 106, wherein the level of one or more active GAs in at least one internode tissue of the stem or stalk of the corn plant is lower compared to the same internode tissue of a wild-type control plant.

109. A modified cereal plant having a reduced plant height compared to a wild-type control plant and (i) a stem or stalk with an increased diameter compared to a wild-type control plant, (ii) improved lodging resistance compared to a wild-type control plant, or (iii) improved drought tolerance compared to a wild-type control plant.

110. 110. The modified cereal plant of claim 109, wherein the level of one or more active GAs in the stem or stalk of the cereal plant is reduced compared to a wild-type control plant.

Images