Methods for improving the efficiency and productivity of hybrid corn seed production are provided herein. Various methods to improve the transfer of pollen from male corn plants to female corn plants, and thus increase yield, are provided herein. Without being limiting, these methods include varying the height of male and female corn plants in a field, as well as varying the number, arrangement, and ratio of male-to-female rows in a field.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to systems and methods for enhancing plant performance by identifying and manipulating the expression of plant genes involved in UV-B mediated improvements to hardiness and growth. Some aspects of the disclosure relate to systems and methods for identifying plant novel genes responsive to light stimulation. Some aspects of the disclosure relate to systems and methods for identifying transgenic plants improved so as to present desired agronomic traits associated with UV-B light stimulation. Some aspects of the disclosure relate to systems and methods for modulating plant sensitivity to light for enhancing plant performance or a desired agronomic trait. Some aspects of the disclosure relate to systems and methods for generating stable transgenic plants that exhibit a desired agronomic trait.

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

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 diameter, single kernel weight, ear fresh weight, ear area, ear volume, ear length, number of kernels per ear, and yield. The modified, transgenic, or genome edited/mutated corn plants comprise a transgene encoding one or more MADS-box polypeptides 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.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for altering gibberellin (GA) content in corn or other cereal plants. Methods and compositions are also provided for altering the expression of genes related to gibberellin biosynthesis through suppression, mutagenesis and/or editing of specific subtypes of GA20 or GA3 oxidase genes. Modified plant cells and plants having a suppression element or mutation reducing the expression or activity of a GA oxidase gene are further provided comprising reduced gibberellin levels and improved characteristics, such as reduced plant height and increased lodging resistance, but without off-types.

Disclosed herein are artificially synthesized nucleic acid constructs to guide an epigenetic modification for at least partially silencing or activating a target gene in an organism such as a plant or seed, and formulations thereof. Also disclosed are methods of applying such nucleic acid constructs to the plant or to the seed. Also disclosed are engineered seeds and plants obtained by the epigenetic modification.

Methods of, and compositions for, assembling one or more transcription units in a genome without a linked selectable marker or other unwanted transcription unit are provided. Also provided methods of, and compositions for, assembling one or more transcription units in a genome with a reduced frequency of vector backbone.

Methods of, and compositions for, assembling one or more transcription units in a genome without a linked selectable marker or other unwanted transcription unit are provided. Also provided methods of, and compositions for, assembling one or more transcription units in a genome with a reduced frequency of vector backbone.

Disclosed herein are artificially synthesized nucleic acid constructs to guide an epigenetic modification for at least partially silencing or activating a target gene in an organism such as a plant or seed, and formulations thereof. Also disclosed are methods of applying such nucleic acid constructs to the plant or to the seed. Also disclosed are engineered seeds and plants obtained by the epigenetic modification.

Genetically modified lodging resistant Eragrostis plants and methods of producing lodging resistance in an Eragrostis plant, part thereof, or plant cell thereof are disclosed. Methods of improving the yield of an Eragrostis plant are also disclosed.