Maize genes for controlling plant growth and organ size and their use in improving crop plants

Abstract

The present invention provides polynucleotides and related polypeptides of the ZmARGOS gene family. The invention provides genomic sequence for the ZmARGOS genes. ZmARGOS is responsible for controlling plant growth, organ size and yield in crop plants.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An isolated polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of:
 a. a polynucleotide having at least 70% sequence identity, as determined by the GAP algorithm under default parameters, to the full length sequence of a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 3, 5 and 40-71; wherein the polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide that functions as a modifier of organ size;   b. a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4 and 6-37; and   c. a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 3, 5 and 40-71; and   d. A polynucleotide which is complementary to the polynucleotide of (a), (b) or (c).   
     
     
         2 . A recombinant expression cassette, comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein the polynucleotide is operably linked, in sense or anti-sense orientation, to a promoter. 
     
     
         3 . A host cell comprising the expression cassette of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         4 . A transgenic plant comprising the recombinant expression cassette of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         5 . The transgenic plant of  claim 4 , wherein said plant is a monocot. 
     
     
         6 . The transgenic plant of  claim 4 , wherein said plant is a dicot. 
     
     
         7 . The transgenic plant of  claim 4 , wherein said plant is selected from the group consisting of: maize, soybean, sunflower,  sorghum , canola, wheat, alfalfa, cotton, rice, barley, millet, peanut and cocoa. 
     
     
         8 . A transgenic seed from the transgenic plant of  claim 4 . 
     
     
         9 . A method of modulating organ size in plants, comprising:
 a. introducing into a plant cell a recombinant expression cassette comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 1  operably linked to a promoter; and   b. culturing the plant under plant cell growing conditions; wherein the organ size in said plant cell is modulated.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plant cell is from a plant selected from the group consisting of: maize, soybean, sunflower,  sorghum , canola, wheat, alfalfa, cotton, rice, barley, millet, peanut and cocoa. 
     
     
         11 . A method of modulating the whole plant or organ size in a plant, comprising:
 a. introducing into a plant cell a recombinant expression cassette comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 1  operably linked to a promoter;   b. culturing the plant cell under plant cell growing conditions; and   c. regenerating a plant form said plant cell; wherein the organ size in said plant is modulated.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of: maize, soybean,  sorghum , canola, wheat, alfalfa, cotton, rice, barley, millet, peanut and cocoa. 
     
     
         13 . A product derived from the method of processing of transgenic plant tissues expressing an isolated polynucleotide encoding an ARGOS gene, the method comprising:
 a. transforming a plant cell with a recombinant expression cassette comprising a polynucleotide having at least 90% sequence identity to the full length sequence of a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5 and 40-71, operably linked to a promoter; and   b. culturing the transformed plant cell under plant cell growing conditions; wherein the growth in said transformed plant cell is modulated;   c. growing the plant cell under plant-forming conditions to express the polynucleotide in the plant tissue; and   d. processing the plant tissue to obtain a product.   
     
     
         14 . A product according to  claim 13 , wherein the polynucleotide further encodes a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 and 6-37. 
     
     
         15 . The transgenic plant of  claim 13 , wherein the plant is a monocot. 
     
     
         16 . The transgenic plant of  claim 13 , wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of: maize, soybean, sunflower,  sorghum , canola, wheat, alfalfa, cotton, rice, barley and millet. 
     
     
         17 . A product according to  claim 13 , which improves stalk strength of a plant by overexpression of the polynucleotide. 
     
     
         18 . A product according to  claim 13 , which increases yield by increasing biomass. 
     
     
         19 . A product according to  claim 13 , which is a constituent of ethanol.