Methods and materials for recombinantly producing apocarotenoids from transgenic plants, and more particularly, tomato and potato plants, expressing heterologous genes from Crocus sativus, the saffron plant, under the control of specific promoters. Moreover, the genetic constructs including the heterologous genes are also related, and the use thereof for the expression in plants and to a method for obtaining transgenic plants which express the genetic construct mentioned above, and which have a high concentration of apocarotenoids products, in particular crocins and picrocrocins. Furthermore, the the food products obtained from such transgenic plants are also related, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical compositions including thereof and the use of such compositions as medicine, preferably for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

Provided are isolated polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence at least 80% homologous to SEQ ID NO:68, 51-66, 69-100, 379-656, 707-715, 720-723, 742-754, 764-771 or 772 with the proviso that the amino acid sequence is not as set forth by SEQ ID NO: 765 or 771, isolated polynucleotides comprising the nucleic acid sequence at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NOs:18, 1-16, 19-50, 101-378, 657-672, 674-706, 716-719, 724-741 and 755-763 with the proviso that the nucleic acid sequence is not as set forth by SEQ ID NO:756 or 762, and isolated polynucleotides selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:779-792 and methods of using same for increasing oil content, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, abiotic stress tolerance and/or nitrogen use efficiency of a plant.

Provided are isolated polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence at least 80% homologous to SEQ ID NO:68, 51-66, 69-100, 379-656, 707-715, 720-723, 742-754, 764-771 or 772 with the proviso that the amino acid sequence is not as set forth by SEQ ID NO: 765 or 771, isolated polynucleotides comprising the nucleic acid sequence at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NOs:18, 1-16, 19-50, 101-378, 657-672, 674-706, 716-719, 724-741 and 755-763 with the proviso that the nucleic acid sequence is not as set forth by SEQ ID NO:756 or 762, and isolated polynucleotides selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:779-792 and methods of using same for increasing oil content, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, abiotic stress tolerance and/or nitrogen use efficiency of a plant.

Isolated polynucleotides are provided. Each of the isolated polynucleotides comprise a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 80% homologous to SEQ ID NOs:130-258 and 536-791, wherein the polypeptide is capable of regulating cotton fiber development. Also provided are methods of using such polynucleotides for improving fiber quality and/or yield of a fiber producing plant, as well as methods of using such polynucleotides for producing plants having increased biomass/vigor/yield.

Isolated polynucleotides are provided. Each of the isolated polynucleotides comprise a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 80% homologous to SEQ ID NOs:130-258 and 536-791, wherein the polypeptide is capable of regulating cotton fiber development. Also provided are methods of using such polynucleotides for improving fiber quality and/or yield of a fiber producing plant, as well as methods of using such polynucleotides for producing plants having increased biomass/vigor/yield.