The present invention discloses a method for selective crop management in real time. The method comprises steps of: (a) producing a biosensor plant, said biosensor plant comprises a visual biomarker, said biomarker is encoded by at least one modified genetic locus comprising (i) preselected reporter gene allele having a phenotype detectable by a sensor, and (ii) a regulatory region of a preselected gene allele responsive to at least one parameter or condition of said plant or its environment, said regulatory region is operably linked to said reporter gene, such that the expression of said reporter gene phenotype is correlated with the status of said at least one parameter or condition of said biosensor plant or its environment; (b) acquiring image data of a target area comprising a plurality of said biosensor plants via said sensor and processing said data to generate a signal indicative of the phenotypic expression of said reporter gene allele of said biosensor plant; and (c) communicating said signal to an execution unit communicably linked to the sensor, said execution unit is capable of exerting in real time a selective monitoring and/or treatment of said target area or a portion thereof comprising said biosensor plants, said treatment is being responsive to said status of said parameter or condition of the biosensor plant or its environment. The present invention further discloses systems and plants related to the aforementioned method.

Compositions and methods are provided for regulated expression of a guide RNA/Cas endonuclease system in a plant cell, plant and seed. Compositions and methods are also provided for genome modification of a target sequence in the genome of a plant or plant cell. The methods and compositions employ a regulated guide RNA/Cas endonuclease system to provide an effective system for modifying or altering target sites within the genome of a plant, plant cell or seed.

Genetically modified plants and methods of detecting diseases by a relevant color change in the genetically modified plant compared to a non-genetically modified plant are provided. Also disclosed is a system for remote detection of pathogens on crops and a methods for treating crops under a pathogenic attack.

Recombinant DNA molecules and constructs including sequences derived from Tripsacum dactyloides are provided, which are useful for modulating gene expression in plants. Transgenic plants, plant cells, plant parts, and seeds are also provided, comprising a recombinant DNA molecule operably linked to a heterologous transcribable DNA molecule, as well as methods of their use.

A method for increasing the efficiency of homologous recombination-based gene editing in a plant according to an embodiment of the present invention includes optimizing temperature and photoperiod conditions during tissue culture of plant cells, expressing factors required for homology-directed DNA repair (HDR) and factors for increasing the HDR efficiency by using a multiple replicon, or regulating the HDR pathway or non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway.

Conventional gene transformation requires tissue culture, and some elite lines have very low transformation efficiency in tissue culture. The disclosure relates to methods of in planta transformation. In some aspects, an axillary meristem of a plant is wounded and contacted with a transformation agent. The wounded axillary meristem is then regenerated and treated with a selection step, resulting in transformed tissue that can produce transgenic seeds.

Compositions and methods are provided for the use of pollen-inhibitor genes and/or color marker genes in accelerated trait introgression. Compositions and methods are also provided for introducing a pollen-inhibitor gene and/or a color marker gene in close proximity to a trait locus of interest. Breeding methods and methods for selecting plants comprising a trait locus of interest in close proximity to at least one pollen-inhibitor gene and/or color marker gene are also disclosed. The methods and compositions employ at least one pollen-inhibitor gene and/or color marker gene to provide an effective system for accelerated trait introgression in the genome of a plant.

The invention provides methods and compositions for identifying transgenic seed that contain a transgene of interest, but lack a marker gene. Use of an identification sequence that results in a detectable phenotype increases the efficiency of screening for seed and plants in which transgene sequences not linked to a gene of interest have segregated from the sequence encoding a gene of interest.

The invention provides recombinant DNA molecules and constructs, and their nucleotide sequences, useful for modulating gene expression in plants. The invention also provides transgenic plants, plant cells, plant parts, and seeds comprising a recombinant DNA molecule comprising a DNA molecule operably linked to a heterologous transcribable DNA molecule, as well as methods of their use.

Genetically modified plants and methods of detecting diseases by a relevant color change in the genetically modified plant compared to a non-genetically modified plant are provided. Also disclosed is a system for remote detection of pathogens on crops and a methods for treating crops under a pathogenic attack.