Described herein are methods, compositions, and systems for production of saline tolerant plants. In some cases, such plants are produced by genome editing.

The invention provides methods and materials for increasing at least one of root biomass and above-ground biomass and in a Poaceae plant by expressing a PEAPOD protein, or fragment thereof, in the Poaceae plant. The invention also provides methods and materials producing a Poaceae plant with at least one of increased root biomass and increased above-ground biomass, by expressing a PEAPOD protein, or fragment thereof, in the Poaceae plant.

The present invention includes an expression cassette containing a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide; and a host cell, transgenic plant (e.g., a dicot or monocot), transformed seed, and transgenic rootstock containing said expression cassette. Methods for desensitizing a plant to endogenous cytokinin; increasing seed, embryo or cotyledon size or weight; increasing the seed yield of a plant; and/or increasing the size of the root or root meristem or formation of lateral or adventitious roots are provided. In some embodiments, expression of the polypeptide is under control of a seed-preferred, embryo-preferred or root-preferred promoter.

This disclosure concerns compositions and methods for promoting transcription of a nucleotide sequence in a plant or plant cell, employing a Zea mays GRMZM2G144030 promoter. Some embodiments relate to a Zea mays GRMZM2G144030 promoter that functions in plants to promote transcription of operably linked nucleotide sequences. Other embodiments relate to a Zea mays GRMZM2G144030 3′UTR that functions in plants to terminate transcription of operably linked nucleotide sequences.

Provided are constructs and methods for expressing a transgene in plant cells and/or plant tissues using Zea mays metallothionein-like gene regulatory elements.

The invention relates to methods of producing a desired phenotype in a plant by manipulation of gene expression within the plant. The method relates to means which inhibit the level of PK220 gene expression or activity, wherein a desired phenotype such as increased water use efficiency relative to a wild type control plant. The invention also relates to nucleic acid sequences and constructs useful such methods and methods of generating and isolating plants having decreased PK220 expression or activity.

The present invention relates to genetically modified plants comprising a heterologous nucleic acid construct comprising a promoter sequence operably linked to a coding sequence encoding a gene product. The invention further relates to methods for producing such plants.

The invention provides recombinant DNA molecules and constructs, as well as their nucleotide sequences, useful for modulating gene expression in plants. The invention also provides transgenic plants, plant cells, plant parts, and seeds comprising the recombinant DNA molecules operably linked to heterologous transcribable DNA molecules, as are methods of their use.

The present invention is directed to promoter sequences and promoter control elements, polynucleotide constructs comprising the promoters and control elements, and methods of identifying the promoters, control elements, or fragments thereof. The invention further relates to the use of the present promoters or promoter control elements to modulate transcript levels.

The invention relates to methods of producing a desired phenotype in a plant by manipulation of gene expression within the plant. The method relates to means which inhibit the level of PK220 gene expression or activity, wherein a desired phenotype such as increased water use efficiency relative to a wild type control plant. The invention also relates to nucleic acid sequences and constructs useful such methods and methods of generating and isolating plants having decreased PK220 expression or activity.