Material and methods to increase plant growth and yield

Abstract

The present invention relates to materials and methods for modulating growth rates, yield, and/or resistance to drought conditions in plants. In one embodiment, a method of the invention comprises increasing expression of an hc1 gene (or a homolog thereof that provides for substantially the same activity), or increasing expression or activity of the protein encoded by an hc1 gene thereof, in a plant, wherein expression of the hc1 gene or expression or activity of the protein encoded by an hc1 gene results in increased growth rate, yield, and/or drought resistance in the plant.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method for modulating growth rate, yield, and/or resistance to drought conditions in a plant, comprising introducing into said plant a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3, or that encodes a polypeptide having at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein expression of the nucleotide sequence in said plant confers said modulating growth rate, yield, and/or resistance to drought conditions in the plant. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to claim  1 , wherein said nucleotide sequence encodes a polypeptide having at least 85% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to claim  1 , wherein said nucleotide sequence encodes a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to claim  1 , wherein the plant is of the genus  Abies, Acacia, Acer, Aesculus, Ailanthus, Alnus, Amelanchier, Arbutus, Arctostaphylos, Artemisia, Asiminia, Atriplex, Aucuba, Berberis, Betula, Buddleia, Buxus, Calocedrus, Camellia, Campsis, Carpinus, Carya, Castanea, Catalpa, Ceanothus, Cedrus, Celastrus, Celtis, Cephalanthus, Cercidium, Cercis, Chaenomeles, Chamaecyparis, Chilopsis, Chionanthus, Chrysothamnus, Cistus, Cladrastis, Clematis, Coleogynia, Cornus, Corylus, Cotinus, Cotoneaster, Cowania, Crataegus, Crataegus, Cupressus, Cytisus, Daphne, Deutzia, Diospyros, Elaeagnus, Ephedra, Escallonia, Eucalyptus, Euonymus, Fagus, Forsythia, Fraxinus, Gaultheria, Ginkgo, Gleditsia, Grevillea, Gymnocladus, Hamamelis, Hebe, Hibiscus, Hydrangea, Hypericum, Ilex, Juglans, Juniperus, Kalmia, Kerria, Koelreuteria, Lagerstroemia, Larix, Larrea, Libocedrus, Ligustrum, Liquidambar, Liriodendron, Lonicera, Maclura, Magnolia, Mahonia, Malus, Menispermum, Moms, Myrica, Nyssa, Osmanthus, Ostrya, Oxydendron, Parthenocissus, Philadelphus, Photinia, Physocarpus, Picea, Pinus, Pittosporum, Platanus, Populus, Prosopis, Prunus, Pseudotsuga, Ptelea, Purshia, Pyrus, Quercus, Rhamnus, Rhaphiolepis, Rhododendron, Rhus, Ribes, Robinia, Rosa, Rubus, Salix, Sambucus, Sassafras, Sequoia, Shepherdia, Smilax, Sophora, Sorbus, Spiraea, Staphylea, Stewartia, Symphoricarpos, Syringa, Taxodium, Taxus, Thuja, Tilia, Tsuga, Ulmus, Umbellularia, Vaccinium, Viburnum, Vitis, Zanthoxylum , or  Zelkova.    
     
     
         23 . The method according to claim  1 , wherein the plant is transformed with a polynucleotide that is stably incorporated into the genome of the plant, wherein expression of the polynucleotide up-regulates expression of an hc1 gene, and/or up-regulates expression and/or activity of the protein encoded by an hc1 gene. 
     
     
         24 . A transformed or transgenic plant, plant tissue, or plant cell having increased growth rate, yield, and/or resistance to drought conditions, wherein expression of an hc1 gene, and/or function and/or activity of a protein encoded by an hc1 gene is increased wherein said hc1 gene comprises a nucleotide sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3, or that encodes a polypeptide having at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         25 . The transformed or transgenic plant, plant tissue, or plant cell according to claim  6 , wherein expression of said hc1 gene and/or expression or activity of said protein encoded by an hc1 gene is up-regulated in the plant. 
     
     
         26 . The transformed or transgenic plant, plant tissue, or plant cell according to claim  7 , wherein said hc1 gene comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having at least 85% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         27 . The transformed or transgenic plant, plant tissue, or plant cell according to claim  7 , wherein said hc1 gene comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         28 . The transformed or transgenic plant, plant tissue, or plant cell according to claim  6 , wherein the plant is of the genus  Abies, Acacia, Acer, Aesculus, Ailanthus, Alnus, Amelanchier, Arbutus, Arctostaphylos, Artemisia, Asiminia, Atriplex, Aucuba, Berberis, Betula, Buddleia, Buxus, Calocedrus, Camellia, Campsis, Carpinus, Carya, Castanea, Catalpa, Ceanothus, Cedrus, Celastrus, Celtis, Cephalanthus, Cercidium, Cercis, Chaenomeles, Chamaecyparis, Chilopsis, Chionanthus, Chrysothamnus, Cistus, Cladrastis, Clematis, Coleogynia, Corms, Corylus, Cotinus, Cotoneaster, Cowania, Crataegus, Crataegus, Cupressus, Cytisus, Daphne, Deutzia, Diospyros, Elaeagnus, Ephedra, Escallonia, Eucalyptus, Euonymus, Fagus, Forsythia, Fraxinus, Gaultheria, Ginkgo, Gleditsia, Grevillea, Gymnocladus, Hamamelis, Hebe, Hibiscus, Hydrangea, Hypericum, Ilex, Juglans, Juniperus, Kalmia, Kerria, Koelreuteria, Lagerstroemia, Larix, Larrea, Libocedrus, Ligustrum, Liquidambar, Liriodendron, Lonicera, Maclura, Magnolia, Mahonia, Malus, Menispemum, Morus, Myrica, Nyssa, Osmanthus, Ostrya, Oxydendron, Parthenocissus, Philadelphus, Photinia, Physocarpus, Picea, Pinus, Pittosporum, Platanus, Populus, Prosopis, Prunus, Pseudotsuga, Ptelea, Purshia, Pyrus, Quercus, Rhamnus, Rhaphiolepis, Rhododendron, Rhus, Ribes, Robinia, Rosa, Rubus, Salix, Sambucus, Sassafras, Sequoia, Shepherdia, Smilax, Sophora, Sorbus, Spiraea, Staphylea, Stewartia, Symphoricarpos, Syringa, Taxodium, Taxus, Thuja, Tilia, Tsuga, Ulmus, Umbellularia, Vaccinium, Viburnum, Vitis, Zanthoxylum , or  Zelkova.    
     
     
         29 . The transformed or transgenic plant, plant tissue, or plant cell according to claim  6 , wherein the plant is transformed with a polynucleotide that is stably incorporated into the genome of the plant, wherein expression of the polynucleotide up-regulates expression of the hc1 gene, and/or up-regulates expression and/or activity of the protein encoded by the hc1 gene. 
     
     
         30 . A method for preparing a transformed or transgenic plant, plant tissue, or plant cell having increased growth rate, yield, and/or resistance to drought conditions comprising incorporating a polynucleotide in a cell of the plant, wherein said polynucleotide comprises a nucleotide sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3, or that encodes a polypeptide having at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein expression of said polynucleotide increases expression of an hc1 gene, and/or increases the function and/or activity of a protein encoded by an hc1 gene in the plant. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to claim  12 , wherein expression of said polynucleotide and/or expression or activity of a protein encoded by said polynucleotide is up-regulated. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to claim  12 , wherein the plant is of the genus  Abies, Acacia, Acer, Aesculus, Ailanthus, Alnus, Amelanchier, Arbutus, Arctostaphylos, Artemisia, Asiminia, Atriplex, Aucuba, Berberis, Betula, Buddleia, Buxus, Calocedrus, Camellia, Campsis, Carpinus, Carya, Castanea, Catalpa, Ceanothus, Cedrus, Celastrus, Celtis, Cephalanthus, Cercidium, Cercis, Chaenomeles, Chamaecyparis, Chilopsis, Chionanthus, Chrysothamnus, Cistus, Cladrastis, Clematis, Coleogynia, Cornus, Corylus, Cotinus, Cotoneaster, Cowania, Crataegus, Crataegus, Cupressus, Cytisus, Daphne, Deutzia, Diospyros, Elaeagnus, Ephedra, Escallonia, Eucalyptus, Euonymus, Fagus, Forsythia, Fraxinus, Gaultheria, Ginkgo, Gleditsia, Grevillea, Gymnocladus, Hamamelis, Hebe, Hibiscus, Hydrangea, Hypericum, Ilex, Juglans, Juniperus, Kalmia, Kerria, Koelreuteria, Lagerstroemia, Larix, Larrea, Libocedrus, Ligustrum, Liquidambar, Liriodendron, Lonicera, Maclura, Magnolia, Mahonia, Malus, Menispermum, Morus, Myrica, Nyssa, Osmanthus, Ostrya, Oxydendron, Parthenocissus, Philadelphus, Photinia, Physocarpus, Picea, Pinus, Pittosporum, Platanus, Populus, Prosopis, Prunus, Pseudotsuga, Ptelea, Purshia, Pyrus, Quercus, Rhamnus, Rhaphiolepis, Rhododendron, Rhus, Ribes, Robinia, Rosa, Rubus, Salix, Sambucus, Sassafras, Sequoia, Shepherdia, Smilax, Sophora, Sorbus, Spiraea, Staphylea, Stewartia, Symphoricarpos, Syringa, Taxodium, Taxus, Thuja, Tilia, Tsuga, Ulmus, Umbellularia, Vaccinium, Viburnum, Vitis, Zanthoxylum , or  Zelkova.    
     
     
         33 . The method according to claim  12 , wherein said polynucleotide is stably incorporated into the genome of the plant, wherein expression of the polynucleotide up-regulates expression of an hc1 gene, and/or up-regulates expression and/or activity of the protein encoded by an hc1 gene.