Floral homeotic genes for manipulation of flowering in poplar and other plant species

Abstract

Four floral homeotic genes from Poplar are disclosed. The disclosed nucleic acid molecules are useful for producing transgenic plants having modified fertility characteristics, particularly sterility.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising at least 15 consecutive nucleotides of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of Seq. I.D. Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15.  
     
     
         2 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1  wherein the nucleic acid molecule includes at least 25 consecutive nucleotides of the specified nucleic acid sequence.  
     
     
         3 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1  wherein the nucleic acid molecule includes at least 50 consecutive nucleotides of the specified nucleic acid sequence.  
     
     
         4 . A recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprising a promoter sequence operably linked to a nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         5 . A recombinant nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 4  wherein the nucleic acid molecule is arranged in antisense orientation relative to the promoter.  
     
     
         6 . A cell transformed with a recombinant nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 4 .  
     
     
         7 . A cell transformed with a recombinant nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 5 .  
     
     
         8 . A transgenic plant comprising a recombinant nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 4 .  
     
     
         9 . A transgenic plant comprising a recombinant nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 5 .  
     
     
         10 . A transgenic plant according to  claim 8  wherein the activity of at least one endogenous gene in the plant is modified as a result of the presence of the recombinant nucleic acid molecule.  
     
     
         11 . A transgenic plant according to  claim 10  wherein the plant is a Populus species and the affected endogenous gene is selected from the group consisting of PTD, PTLF, PTAG-1 and PTAG-2.  
     
     
         12 . A transgenic plant according to  claim 10  wherein the plant has a modified phenotype relative to non-transgenic plants of the same species.  
     
     
         13 . A transgenic plant according to  claim 12  wherein the modified phenotype is a modified fertility phenotype.  
     
     
         14 . A transgenic plant comprising a recombinant nucleic acid molecule, wherein the recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprises a promoter sequence operably linked to a first nucleic acid sequence, and wherein the promoter sequence is a promoter sequence from PTD, PTLF, PTAG-1 or PTAG-2.  
     
     
         15 . A transgenic plant according to  claim 14  wherein the first nucleic acid sequence encodes a cytotoxic polypeptide.  
     
     
         16 . A transgenic plant according to  claim 14  wherein the plant is a Populus species.  
     
     
         17 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence of at least 50 nucleotides in length wherein said molecule shares at least 75% sequence identity with a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of Seq. I.D. Nos. 1,2, 3,5, 6, 7,9, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15.  
     
     
         18 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 17  wherein the molecule comprises a nucleotide sequence of at least 100 nucleotides in length and wherein said molecule shares at least 90% sequence identity with a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of Seq. I.D. Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15.  
     
     
         19 . A recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprising a promoter sequence operably linked to a nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 17 .  
     
     
         20 . A recombinant nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 19  wherein the nucleic acid molecule is arranged in antisense orientation relative to the promoter.  
     
     
         21 . A cell transformed with a recombinant nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 19 .  
     
     
         22 . A transgenic plant comprising a recombinant nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 19 .  
     
     
         23 . A purified protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) Seq. I.D. No. 4;    (b) Seq. I.D. No. 8;    (c) Seq. I.D. No. 12;    (d) Seq. I.D. No. 16; and    (e) sequences that differ from (a)-(d) by one or more conservative amino acid substitutions.    
     
     
         24 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein according to  claim 23 .  
     
     
         25 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 24  wherein the nucleic acid molecule comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of Seq. I.D. Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15.