Modulation of plant cell number

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of the ANG4 gene, or a variant thereof, to modulate the cell number of a plant organ. The modulation can be used to increase the plant biomass, or to adapt the plant architecture.

1 .- 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A method of modulating cell number in a plant organ or part thereof, said method comprising:
 transforming the plant organ or part thereof with a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein comprising a variant of SEQ ID NO:2 that modulates cell number in a plant organ or part thereof, wherein the nucleic acid molecule is operably lined to a promoter; and   expression said protein so as to modulate cell number in the plant organ or part thereof.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the variant is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 49-54. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the protein consists of a variant of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule is overexpressed. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising modulate leaf morphology with the variant. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein said plant organ comprises a leaf palisade cell. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein said plant organ is a plant leaf or a plant root. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said plant organ comprises a leaf palisade cell. 
     
     
         15 . A method of increasing plant biomass, said method comprising:
 transforming the plant with a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein comprising a variant of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein said protein, when expressed, modulates plant biomass, wherein the nucleic acid molecule is operably lined to a promoter; and   expressing the protein so as to modulate plant biomass.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the nucleic acid is overexpressed. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the variant is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 49-54. 
     
     
         18 . A method of modulating cell number in a plant organ or part thereof, said method comprising:
 providing the plant organ or part thereof;   transforming the plant organ or part thereof with a means for modulating cell number in the plant organ or part thereof; and   expressing the means for modulating cell number in the plant organ or part thereof so as to modulate cell number in the plant organ or part thereof.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the means comprises a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 49-54. 
     
     
         20 . A method of increasing plant biomass, said method comprising:
 providing a plant;   transforming the plant with a means for increasing plant biomass; and   expressing the means for increasing plant biomass so as increase the biomass of the plant.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the means comprises a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 49-54.