Compositions and methods for improving plant growth are provided herein. The maize RbcS7A promoter is provided which is a developmentally regulated promoter. Polynucleotides encoding ferredoxin-thioredoxin reductase proteins, polypeptides encompassing ferredoxin-thioredoxin reductase proteins, and expression constructs for expressing genes of interest whose expression may improve agronomic properties including but not limited to crop yield, biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, and early vigor, plants comprising the polynucleotides, polypeptides, and expression constructs, and methods of producing transgenic plants are also provided.

The present disclosure provides the identification of promoters that are preferentially active in tobacco axillary buds. Also provided are tobacco plants comprising reduced or no sucker growth. Also provided are methods and compositions for producing tobacco plants comprising reduced or no sucker growth.

A genetically engineered land plant that expresses a plant CCP1-like mitochondrial transporter protein is provided. The genetically engineered land plant comprises a modified gene for the plant CCP1-like mitochondrial transporter protein. The plant CCP1-like mitochondrial transporter protein is an ortholog of CCP1 of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii of SEQ ID NO: 1 derived from a source land plant. The plant CCP1-like mitochondrial transporter protein is localized to mitochondria of the genetically engineered land plant based on a mitochondrial targeting signal intrinsic to the plant CCP1-like mitochondrial transporter protein. The modified gene comprises (i) a promoter and (ii) a nucleic acid sequence encoding the plant CCP1-like mitochondrial transporter protein. The promoter is non-cognate with respect to the nucleic acid sequence. The modified gene is configured such that transcription of the nucleic acid sequence is initiated from the promoter and results in expression of the plant CCP1-like mitochondrial transporter protein.

Transgenic plants are provided comprising a plurality of transgenes comprised in a single locus. In certain aspects, 7 or more transgenes may be expressed from a first locus. Methods are provided for transformation of plant cells with a plurality of transgenes. Also provided are methods for expressing and enhancing the expression of one or more transgenes in a plant.

Methods and materials for modulating biomass levels in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding biomass-modulating polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased biomass levels and plant products produced from plants having increased biomass levels.

This disclosure provides transgenic plants having enhanced traits such as increased yield, enhanced nitrogen use efficiency and enhanced drought tolerance; propagules, progeny and field crops of such transgenic plants; and methods of making and using such transgenic plants. This disclosure also provides methods of producing hybrid seed from such transgenic plants, growing such seed and selecting progeny plants with enhanced traits. Also disclosed are transgenic plants with altered phenotypes which are useful for screening and selecting transgenic events for the desired enhanced trait.

Methods and materials for modulating low light and/or shade tolerance, and red light specific responses in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding low light and/or SD+EODFR-tolerance polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased low light and/or SD+EODFR tolerance. In addition, methods and materials involved in increasing UV-B tolerance in plants and methods and materials involved in modulating biomass levels in plants are provided.

Methods and materials for modulating low light and/or shade tolerance, and red light specific responses in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding low light and/or SD+EODFR-tolerance polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased low light and/or SD+EODFR tolerance. In addition, methods and materials involved in increasing UV-B tolerance in plants and methods and materials involved in modulating biomass levels in plants are provided.

This disclosure provides transgenic plants having enhanced traits such as increased yield, increased nitrogen use efficiency and enhanced drought tolerance; propagules, progeny and field crops of such transgenic plants; and methods of making and using such transgenic plants. This disclosure also provides methods of producing seed from such transgenic plants, growing such seed and selecting progeny plants with enhanced traits. Also disclosed are transgenic plants with altered phenotypes which are useful for screening and selecting transgenic events for the desired enhanced trait.

The invention relates to a method for producing a genetically modified plant or woody plant with improved growth properties (in terms of biomass and wood quality) as compared to a corresponding non-genetically modified wild type plant or woody plant, said method comprising altering the level of expression of a polypeptide in a plant cell or woody plant cell; a plant or woody plant; or a part thereof.