NOR gene compositions and methods for use thereof

Abstract

The current invention provides nucleic acid sequences encoding the NOR gene. Compositions comprising this sequence are described, as are plants transformed with such compositions. Further provided are methods for the expression of the NOR gene. The methods of the invention include the direct creation of transgenic plants with the NOR gene by genetic transformation, as well as by plant breeding methods. The sequences of the invention represent a valuable new tool for the creation of transgenic plants, preferably having one or more added beneficial characteristics.

1 - 64 . (canceled)  
     
     
         65 . An isolated nucleic acid sequence comprising an antisense oligonucleotide complementary to a NOR gene mRNA encoded by SEQ ID NO:7.  
     
     
         66 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 65 , further comprising a promoter operably linked to said antisense oligonucleotide.  
     
     
         67 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 65 , further comprising an enhancer.  
     
     
         68 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 67 , wherein said enhancer comprises an intron.  
     
     
         69 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 65 , comprising a transcriptional terminator.  
     
     
         70 . An expression vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid sequence of  claim 65 .  
     
     
         71 . The expression vector of  claim 70 , further defined as a linear nucleic acid segment.  
     
     
         72 . The expression vector of  claim 70 , further defined as a plasmid vector.  
     
     
         73 . A plant transformed with the isolated nucleic acid sequence of  claim 65 .  
     
     
         74 . The transgenic plant of  claim 73 , further defined as a fertile R 0  transgenic plant.  
     
     
         75 . The transgenic plant of  claim 73 , further defined as a progeny plant of any generation of a fertile R 0  transgenic plant, wherein the progeny plant comprises the isolated nucleic acid sequence.  
     
     
         76 . A seed of the plant of  claim 73 , wherein the seed comprises the isolated nucleic acid sequence.  
     
     
         77 . A cell of the plant of  claim 73 .  
     
     
         78 . The plant of  claim 73 , further defined as strawberry.  
     
     
         79 . A method of manipulating the fruit ripening of a plant comprising introducing the expression vector of  claim 70  into the plant.  
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the expression vector is introduced by a method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) obtaining the expression vector of  claim 70;     (b) transforming a recipient plant cell with said expression vector; and    (c) regenerating a transgenic plant from said recipient plant cell, wherein the fruit ripening phenotype of said plant is altered based on the expression of the antisense oligonucleotide.    
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the expression vector is introduced by a method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) obtaining a transgenic plant comprising the expression vector of  claim 70;  and    (b) crossing the transgenic plant with itself or a second plant to introduce the expression vector into a progeny plant.    
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the plant is strawberry.