The present disclosure provides use of a soybean protein kinase gene GmSTK_IRAK and belongs to the technical field of plant genetic engineering. PCR is used to clone the soybean GmSTK_IRAK gene, a transgene and gene editing technology is used to obtain GmSTK_IRAK-over-expressing transgenic plants and GmSTK_IRAK gene-silenced transgenic plants. GmSTK_IRAK-over-expressing soybeans can greatly improve phosphorus absorption and utilization efficiency, biomass and yield, while GmSTK_IRAK gene-silenced soybeans can reduce phosphorus absorption and utilization efficiency, biomass and yield. The soybean protein kinase gene GmSTK_IRAK can be used as a target gene to be introduced into plants to regulate the balance of phosphorus metabolism in transgenic plants, and is of great significance for cultivating new soybean varieties with high phosphorus efficiency.

The present disclosure provides modified, transgenic, or genome edited/mutated corn plants that are semi-dwarf and have one or more improved ear traits relative to a control plant, such as increase in ear area, increased single kernel weight, increased ear fresh weight, increased number of florets, and mitigated flowering delay. The modified, transgenic, or genome edited/mutated corn plants comprise a transgene encoding one or more CONSTANS (CO) or CONSTANS-like (COL) polypeptide and have a reduced expression of one or more GA20 or GA3 oxidase genes. Also provided are methods for producing the modified, transgenic, or genome edited/mutated corn plants.

A method of producing a stably transformed corn plant in a single container is demonstrated. This method allows for the automation of the transformation process and reduces labor, material, and ergonomic costs associated with traditional plant tissue culture systems.

This disclosure describes, in one aspect, a cell that includes a biocontainment system. Generally, the biocontainment system includes a coding region whose overexpression decreases growth of the cell, a transcription regulatory region that includes a silent mutation and is operably linked upstream of the coding region, and a polynucleotide that encodes a programmable transcription activator engineered to bind to the transcription regulatory region in the absence of the silent mutation. Thus, in the absence of the silent mutation, the programmable transcription activator induces overexpression of the coding region; in the presence of the silent mutation, the programmable transcription activator does not initiate overexpression of the coding region.

The present invention relates to excision of explant material comprising meristematic tissue from seeds, and storage of such material prior to subsequent use in plant tissue culture and genetic transformation. Methods for tissue preparation, storage, and transformation are disclosed, as is transformable meristem tissue produced by such methods, and apparati for tissue preparation.

A method of producing a stably transformed corn plant in a single container is demonstrated. This method allows for the automation of the transformation process and reduces labor, material, and ergonomic costs associated with traditional plant tissue culture systems.

The present invention relates to excision of explant material comprising meristematic tissue from seeds, and storage of such material prior to subsequent use in plant tissue culture and genetic transformation. Methods for tissue preparation, storage, and transformation are disclosed, as is transformable meristem tissue produced by such methods, and apparati for tissue preparation.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for transforming soybean, corn, cotton, or canola explants using spectinomycin as a selective agent for transformation of the explants. The method may further comprise treatment of the explants with cytokinin during the transformation and regeneration process.

The present invention relates to excision of explant material comprising meristematic tissue from seeds, and storage of such material prior to subsequent use in plant tissue culture and genetic transformation. Methods for tissue preparation, storage, and transformation are disclosed, as is transformable meristem tissue produced by such methods, and apparati for tissue preparation.

The present invention provides means for inhibiting the bolting and flowering of a Beta vulgaris plant, including an isolated nucleic acid, which can be used to produce a transgenic Beta vulgaris plant, where bolting and flowering is inhibited after vernalization. Furthermore, the invention discloses vectors, transgenic and non-transgenic, non-bolting plants and parts thereof, and methods for producing such plants.