The present invention relates to compositions and methods for modulating the juvenile to adult developmental growth transition in plants, such as grasses (e.g. maize). In particular, the invention provides methods for enhancing agronomic properties in plants by modulating expression of GRMZM2G362718, GRMZM2G096016, or homologs thereof. Modulation of expression of one or more additional genes which affect juvenile to adult developmental growth transition such as Glossy15 or Cg1, in conjunction with such modulation of expression is also contemplated. Nucleic acid constructs for down-regulation of GRMZM2G362718 and/or GRMZM2G096016 are also contemplated, as are transgenic plants and products produced there from, that demonstrate altered, such as extended juvenile growth, and display associated phenotypes such as enhanced yield, improved digestibility, and increased disease resistance. Plants described herein may be used, for example, as improved forage or feed crops or in biofuel production.

Polynucleotides encoding polypeptides that increase the light sensitivity of plants were identified. Introduction of the polynucleotides into plants produces plants having altered characteristics, such as decreased height, decreased diameter, decreased petiole length, decreased internode length, decreased hypocotyl length, increased hyponasty or enhanced germination.

Methods are described for the identification of genes useful for conferring tolerance in plants to abiotic stress. Transgenic plants and seeds comprising the stress tolerant genes are also described. Methods to monitor the growth rate of the transgenic plants under stressed or non-stressed conditions are also described.

This disclosure concerns compositions and methods for targeting peptides, polypeptides, and proteins to plastids of plastid-containing cells. In some embodiments, the disclosure concerns chloroplast transit peptides that may direct a polypeptide to a plastid, and nucleic acid molecules encoding the same. In some embodiments, the disclosure concerns methods for producing a transgenic plant material (e.g., a transgenic plant) comprising a chloroplast transit peptide, as well as plant materials produced by such methods, and plant commodity products produced therefrom.