A key DNA sequence for regulating a maize leaf angle and a mutant thereof are provided, which have polynucleotide sequences shown in SEQ ID No. 1 and SEQ ID No. 2, respectively. The DNA sequence for regulating a maize leaf angle and the mutant thereof provided by present disclosure can regulate the expression of ZmNAC16 gene in a maize pulvinus, and thus can be used for the improvement of maize leaf angle and plant type and further for the cultivation of new maize varieties. The present disclosure further provides specific detection primers for detecting mutations of the DNA key sequence and the mutant, and detection primers for detecting an expression level of ZmNAC16 gene in maize. These detection primers can be used to directionally improve a maize leaf angle and also shows application potential for breeding of dense-planting-tolerant and high-yield maize.

A watermelon plant that produces fruit having (i) ultra-firm flesh and/or liquid-retaining flesh and (ii) soluble solids of at least about 6 brix.

A method to improve the agronomic characteristics of plants by genetically transforming the plant with a nucleic acid sequence encoding RAMOSA1 transcription factor, where the plant is selected from the group consisting of gramineous monocotyledons of the BOP clade, monocotyledons-non-grasses and dicotyledons. In addition, sequences of DNA, cDNA, protein, cells, uses, genetic transformation method of plants and transformed plants are described.

A watermelon plant that produces fruit having (i) ultra-firm flesh and/or liquid-retaining flesh and (ii) soluble solids of at least about 6 brix.

Monocot plants heterozygous for centromeric histone 3 (CenH3) and optionally expressing gene editing constructs, for use in inducing haploids of a monocot target plant and optionally pass-through gene editing are provided. The monocot haploid inducer plants are typically composed of diploid plant cells having only one allele encoding a functional CENH3 protein. The diploid plant cells can also include, for example, one CenH3 allele encoding non-functional CENH3 protein. In some embodiments, the allele encoding non-functional CENH3 protein is a frameshift mutation, protein null allele, an RNA null allele, or a combination thereof. The monocot haploid inducer plant can also include gene editing machinery, such as a site-directed nuclease and optionally a guide RNA stably expressed by cells of the monocot plant. Methods of inducing formation of a target haploid monocot plant while optionally simultaneously modifying the target monocot plant’s genome are also provided.

A method of expressing an agronomically or non-agronomically beneficial trait in a plant plastid comprising expressing an exogenous nucleic acid in the plant to produce non-photosynthetic mutant plants, and using callus grown from the mutant plants as recipients for introduction of a construct having a functional copy of the mutated gene and a gene conferring an agronomically or non-agronomically beneficial trait. Embodiments provide for mutations in chloroplast-encoded genes, as well as mutations in nuclear-encoded genes targeted to the chloroplast that are required for photosynthesis, plants and plant parts produced from such methods, as well as kits for performing the methods as described.

A light source module for plant cultivation and a light source device including the same. The light source module changes a phytochemical content in a plant through UV treatment of the plant. The light source module may include: a first light source emitting a first type of light changing the content of at least one of multiple phytochemicals; and a second light source emitting a second type of light changing the content of at least one of the multiple phytochemicals. The at least one phytochemical changed in content by the first type of light may be a different kind of phytochemical from the at least one phytochemical changed in content by the second type of light. The first light source and the second light source may be individually operated. In addition, the first type of light and the second type of light may be UV light having different peak wavelengths.

A watermelon plant that produces fruit having (i) ultra-firm flesh and/or liquid-retaining flesh and (ii) soluble solids of at least about 6 brix.

A cotton molecular breeding method includes (1) obtaining a chr.7 single QTL segment substitution line with high fiber strength, and (2) using the obtained chr.7 single QTL segment substitution line as a non-recurrent parent () to cross with a recurrent parent () to obtain an F1 generation. Then (3) the F.sub.1 generation is back-crossed with the recurrent parent to obtain a BC.sub.1F.sub.1 generation, and (4) plants of the BC.sub.1F.sub.1 generation are screened for plants carrying the chr.7 single QTL segment, and then the screened plants are back-crossed with the recurrent parent for 2-4 times to obtain a BC.sub.nF.sub.1 generation. The method also includes (5) screening plants of the BC.sub.nF.sub.1 generation for plants carrying the chr.7 single QTL segment, and selfing the screened plants for 1-3 times to obtain a bred line BC.sub.nF.sub.m having the high cotton fiber strength.

This disclosure provides methods and compositions for increasing genome editing and site-directed integration events utilizing guided endonucleases and floral cell-preferred or floral tissue-preferred promoters.