Transgenic host cells, vectors useful for making transgenic host cells, and kits useful for making transgenic host cells are described. Also described are transgenic plants. In some embodiments, transgenic host cells express a 4-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase (4HPAAS). In some embodiments, transgenic host cells express a tyrosol:UDP-glucose 8-O-glucosyltransferase (T8GT). The transgenic host cells are useful for biosynthesis of one or more of salidroside, icariside D2, tyrosol, and 4-hydroxypenylacetaldehyde.

The present disclosure provides guided microbial remodeling (GMR) methods for the rational improvement of plant-associated microbes to perform plant-beneficial functions. The GMR methods described herein allow for non-intergeneric genetic optimization of key regulatory networks within the microbes, which improve plant-beneficial functions over wild-type microbes but don't have the risks associated with transgenic approaches (e.g., unpredictable gene function, public and regulatory concerns, etc.). The present disclosure also provides remodeled microbes and compositions thereof. The utilization of remodeled microbes and compositions thereof will enable farmers to realize more productive and predictable crop yields without the nutrient degradation, leaching, or toxic runoff associated with traditional synthetically derived fertilizers.

The present invention relates to a process for the production of irisin, comprising the following steps: providing an expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for said irisin; inserting said expression vector into at least one first bacterium of the Agrobacterium genus, thus obtaining a first bacterium of the Agrobacterium genus comprising said expression vector; treating at least one plant material with said first bacterium comprising said expression vector, thus obtaining a treated plant material; cultivating said treated plant material, so that said treated plant material expresses said irisin; and extracting said irisin. The present invention further relates to irisin included in liposomes, its use as a medicament and its administration routes, a synthetic gene comprising a sequence coding for irisin and additional elements.

The present disclosure provides a series of mutant Agrobacterium strains generated by random mutagenesis of a wide-type or mutant VirD2 gene or VirD2 protein. The mutant Agrobacterium strains of the present disclosure transiently express T-DNA-encoded transgenes in a target plant but do not stably integrate these genes into the plant genome.

The invention provides three novel disarmed strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens bacteria useful for the transformation of plants. The invention provides three engineered A. tumefaciens Chry5 strains or bacterial cells thereof which comprise the Chry5 strain chromosomal background and a disarmed pTiChry5 vector, and methods of using said bacterial strains or cells for transformation of fungal or plant cells, in particular dicot or monocot plant cells, including soybean, maize, wheat, and sugarcane cells. The invention further relates to the transgenic plants created by these methods.

A PagPB gene regulating nitrogen absorption and utilization in a root system of a woody plant is provided. The nucleotide sequence of the PagPB gene is shown in SEQ ID NO: 1. By silencing the PagPB gene, efficiency of the nitrogen absorption and utilization of a root system of poplar can be improved. In contrast, by overexpressing the PagPB gene, the efficiency of the nitrogen absorption and utilization of the root system of the poplar is reduced. This provides significant genetic resources for identification of key regulatory genes involved in the nitrogen absorption and utilization in the woody plant and holds important application value in the fields of forest genetic engineering and clonal forestry.

Transgenic host cells, vectors useful for making transgenic host cells, and kits useful for making transgenic host cells are described. Also described are transgenic plants. In some embodiments, transgenic host cells express a 4-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase (4HPAAS). In some embodiments, transgenic host cells express a tyrosol:UDP-glucose 8-O-glucosyltransferase (T8GT). The transgenic host cells are useful for biosynthesis of one or more of salidroside, icariside D2, tyrosol, and 4-hydroxypenylacetaldehyde.