Compositions and methods for reducing the level of nornicotine and N-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) in tobacco plants and plant parts thereof are provided. The compositions comprise isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides for a root-specific nicotine demethylases, CYP82E10, and variants thereof, that are involved in the metabolic conversion of nicotine to nornicotine in these plants. Compositions of the invention also include tobacco plants, or plant parts thereof, comprising a mutation in a gene encoding a CYP82E10 nicotine demethylase, wherein the mutation results in reduced expression or function of the CYP82E10 nicotine demethylase. Seed of these tobacco plants, or progeny thereof, and tobacco products prepared from the tobacco plants of the invention, or from plant parts or progeny thereof, are also provided. Methods for reducing the level of nornicotine, or reducing the rate of conversion of nicotine to nornicotine, in a tobacco plant, or plant part thereof are also provided. The methods comprise introducing into the genome of a tobacco plant a mutation within at least one allele of each of at least three nicotine demethylase genes, wherein the mutation reduces expression of the nicotine demethylase gene, and wherein a first of these nicotine demethylase genes encodes a root-specific nicotine demethylase involved in the metabolic conversion of nicotine to nornicotine in a tobacco plant or a plant part thereof. The methods find use in the production of tobacco products that have reduced levels of nornicotine and its carcinogenic metabolite, NNN, and thus reduced carcinogenic potential for individuals consuming these tobacco products or exposed to secondary smoke derived from these products.

This disclosure concerns compositions and methods for promoting transcription of a nucleotide sequence in a plant or plant cell, employing a promoter from a GmCAB2 gene. Some embodiments relate to a promoter or a 5 UTR from a GmCAB2 gene that functions in plants to promote transcription of operably linked nucleotide sequences. Other embodiments relate to a 3 UTR or a terminator from a GmCAB2 gene that functions in plants to promote transcription of operably linked nucleotide sequences.

The present technology provides trichome specific promoters of cannabinoid biosynthesis enzyme genes from Cannabis, nucleotide sequences of the trichome specific promoters, and uses of the promoters for modulating the production of cannabinoids and other compounds in organisms. The present technology also provides chimeric genes, vectors, and transgenic cells and organisms, including plant cells and plants, comprising the trichome specific promoters. Also provided are methods for expressing nucleic acid sequences in cells and organisms using the trichome specific promoters.

This disclosure concerns compositions and methods for promoting transcription of a nucleotide sequence in a plant or plant cell, employing a promoter from a Zea mays PR1 gene. Some embodiments relate to a promoter or a 5 UTR from a Zea mays PR1 gene that functions in plants to promote transcription of operably linked nucleotide sequences. Other embodiments relate to a 3 UTR or a terminator from a Zea mays PR1 gene that functions in plants to promote transcription of operably linked nucleotide sequences.

This disclosure concerns the use of endogenous plant RNAi machinery to preferentially or specifically reduce transgene expression. In some embodiments, the disclosure concerns specific reduction of transgene expression in seed tissues of a dicot plant.

Compositions and methods for improving plant growth are provided herein. Compositions comprise promoter sequences that direct expression of an operably linked nucleotide in a developmentally regulated manner. Polynucleotides, polypeptides, 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 invention provides for a genetically modified plant cell or plant, comprising: (a) (i) one or more nucleic acids each encoding one or more transcription factors (or transcription activators) operatively linked to a first tissue-specific or inducible promoter, (ii) one or more nucleic acids each encoding one or more transcription repressors each operatively linked to a second tissue-specific or inducible promoter, or (iii) combinations thereof; and (b) one or more nucleic acids each encoding one or more independent genes of interest (GOI) each operatively linked to a promoter that is activated by the one or more transcription factors (or transcription activators), repressed by the one or more transcription repressors, or a combination of both.

Compositions and methods for reducing the level of nornicotine and N-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) in tobacco plants and plant parts thereof are provided. The compositions comprise isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides for a root-specific nicotine demethylases, CYP82E10, and variants thereof, that are involved in the metabolic conversion of nicotine to nornicotine in these plants. Compositions of the invention also include tobacco plants, or plant parts thereof, comprising a mutation in a gene encoding a CYP82E10 nicotine demethylase, wherein the mutation results in reduced expression or function of the CYP82E10 nicotine demethylase. Seed of these tobacco plants, or progeny thereof, and tobacco products prepared from the tobacco plants of the invention, or from plant parts or progeny thereof, are also provided. Methods for reducing the level of nornicotine, or reducing the rate of conversion of nicotine to nornicotine, in a tobacco plant, or plant part thereof are also provided. The methods comprise introducing into the genome of a tobacco plant a mutation within at least one allele of each of at least three nicotine demethylase genes, wherein the mutation reduces expression of the nicotine demethylase gene, and wherein a first of these nicotine demethylase genes encodes a root-specific nicotine demethylase involved in the metabolic conversion of nicotine to nornicotine in a tobacco plant or a plant part thereof. The methods find use in the production of tobacco products that have reduced levels of nornicotine and its carcinogenic metabolite, NNN, and thus reduced carcinogenic potential for individuals consuming these tobacco products or exposed to secondary smoke derived from these products.

The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods related to tissue-specific promoters and their uses in plants, including tobacco and Cannabis. The provided trichome-specific promoters enable the expression of heterologous polynucleotides in trichome tissues.

Provided herein are methods for using RNAi molecules targeting a proteasome beta 5 (PSMB5) gene for controlling Coleopteran insects, methods for producing RNAi molecules targeting PSMB5, and compositions comprising RNAi molecules targeting PSMB5.