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 to transforming a plant includes coating a microparticle having a diameter of 0.3 to 0.9 μm with at least one type of nucleic acid, bombarding a shoot apex of the plant with the coated microparticle using a gene gun, growing the shoot apex bombarded with the coated microparticle to obtain a plant body, and selecting a transformed plant body from the plant body. The shoot apex is selected from the group consisting of a shoot apex of an embryo of a fully mature seed, a shoot apex of a young bud of a tuber, and a shoot apex of a terminal bud or a lateral bud.

A method for editing a plant genome includes coating a microparticle with at least one type of nucleic acid and/or at least one type of protein, introducing a deletion, insertion, or substitution into a target site in the genome of a plant by bombarding a shoot apex of the plant with the coated microparticle using a gene gun, growing the shoot apex bombarded with the coated microparticle to obtain a plant body, and selecting a genome-edited plant body from the plant body. The shoot apex of the plant is selected from the group consisting of a shoot apex of an embryo of a fully mature seed, a shoot apex of a young bud of a tuber, and a shoot apex of a terminal bud or a lateral bud.

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

The present disclosure provides metabolic signatures and genetic markers for tracking enhanced nitrogen utilization efficiency phenotypes in tobacco plants and for introgressing enhanced nitrogen utilization efficiency phenotypes into tobacco plants. The disclosure also provides tobacco plants comprising enhanced nitrogen utilization efficiency and methods to the creation of tobacco plants comprising enhanced nitrogen utilization efficiency. The disclosure also provides recombinant polynucleotides and polypeptides for enhancing nitrogen utilization efficiency in modified tobacco plants and tobacco plants comprising the provided recombinant polynucleotides and polypeptides.

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

The present invention is directed to promoter sequences and promoter control elements, polynucleotide constructs comprising the promoters and control elements, and methods of identifying the promoters, control elements, or fragments thereof. The invention further relates to the use of the present promoters or promoter control elements to modulate transcript levels.

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.

The invention relates to methods of producing a desired phenotype in a plant by manipulation of gene expression within the plant. The method relates to means which inhibit the level of PK220 gene expression or activity, wherein a desired phenotype such as increased water use efficiency relative to a wild type control plant. The invention also relates to nucleic acid sequences and constructs useful such methods and methods of generating and isolating plants having decreased PK220 expression or activity.

The invention provides promoter sequences that regulate specific expression of operably linked sequences in developing xylem cells and/or in developing xylem tissue. The developing xylem-specific sequences are exemplified by the DX5, DX8, DX11, and DX15 promoters, portions thereof, and homologs thereof. The invention further provides expression vectors, cells, tissues and plants that contain the invention's sequences. The compositions of the invention and methods of using them are useful in, for example, improving the quantity (biomass) and/or the quality (wood density, lignin content, sugar content etc.) of expressed biomass feedstock products that may be used for bioenergy, biorefinary, and generating wood products such as pulp, paper, and solid wood.