Improved methods and means are provided to modify in a targeted manner the genome of a plant cell or plant at a predefined site via bacterial transformation.

Provided are isolated polynucleotides which comprise a nucleic acid sequence at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NO: 321, 1-320, 322-480, 793-2945 or 2946; isolated polypeptides which comprise an amino acid sequence at least 80% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 517, 481-516, 518-792, 2947-4662 or 4663, nucleic acid constructs comprising same, transgenic cells and plants expressing same and methods of using same for increasing yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, abiotic stress tolerance, and/or nitrogen use efficiency of a plant.

The invention provides methods of engineering plants having lignin deposition or xylan deposition that is substantially localized to the vessels of xylem tissue in the plant. The invention also provides methods of engineering plants to increase production of a desired biosynthetic product, e.g., to have increased secondary cell wall deposition or increased wax/cutin accumulation. The engineered plants of the present invention have use in bioenergy production, e.g., by improving the density and the digestibility of biomass derived from the plant and to improve water usage requirements.

Provided are isolated polypeptides which are at least 80% homologous to SEQ ID NOs: 529, 475-528, 530-770, 6179-9796, 9798-10421, isolated polynucleotides which are at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NOs: 314, 1-313, 315-474, 771-6178, nucleic acid constructs comprising same, transgenic cells expressing same, transgenic plants expressing same and method of using same for increasing abiotic stress tolerance, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, photosynthetic capacity, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, and/or nitrogen use efficiency of a plant.

Polynucleotides and isolated polypeptides, nucleic acid constructs comprising the isolated polynucleotides, transgenic plants expressing same and methods of using same for increasing abiotic stress tolerance, yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, and/or nitrogen use efficiency of a plant are disclosed.

Materials and methods for creating plants (e.g., alfalfa lines) with reduced lignin content and composition are provided herein, as are plants, plant parts, and plant cells generated by the methods provided herein.

The present disclosure provides genetically modified plants, plant cells and plant tissues that show reduced lignin content as compared to a control plant which was not genetically modified. In addition, the disclosure provides methods of regulating lignin content in a plant. The disclosure also provides methods of producing bioproducts using the genetically modified plants of the instant disclosure.

This disclosure provides genetically modified plants, plant cells and plant tissues that show modified lignin content and/or sugar release as compared to a wild type control plant which was not genetically modified. In addition, the disclosure provides methods of regulating lignin content and sugar release in a plant. The disclosure also provides methods of producing bioproducts using the genetically modified plants of the instant disclosure.

Provided are isolated polypeptides which are at least 80% homologous to SEQ ID NOs: 529, 475-528, 530-770, 6179-9796, 9798-10421, isolated polynucleotides which are at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NOs: 314, 1-313, 315-474, 771-6178, nucleic acid constructs comprising same, transgenic cells expressing same, transgenic plants expressing same and method of using same for increasing abiotic stress tolerance, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, photosynthetic capacity, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, and/or nitrogen use efficiency of a plant.

Provided are isolated polypeptides which are at least 80% homologous to SEQ ID NOs: 529, 475-528, 530-770, 6179-9796, 9798-10421, isolated polynucleotides which are at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NOs: 314, 1-313, 315-474, 771-6178, nucleic acid constructs comprising same, transgenic cells expressing same, transgenic plants expressing same and method of using same for increasing abiotic stress tolerance, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, photosynthetic capacity, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, and/or nitrogen use efficiency of a plant.