Plant having tolerance to environmental stress

Abstract

This invention provides a stress tolerant transgenic plant with the utilization of a signal transduction factor located upstream of the gene group associated with environmental responses. This invention provides a gene encoding the following protein (a) or (b) and a stress tolerant transgenic plant to which such gene has been introduced: (a) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the Sequence Listing; or (b) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence derived from the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the Sequence Listing by deletion. substitution, or addition of one or several amino acid residues and having activity of inducing expression of stress responsive transcription factors and activity of protein kinase.

1 - 10 . (canceled)  
     
     
         11 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide at least 95% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein said polypeptide has protein kinase activity; 
 or an isolated polynucleotide comprising a sequence which hybridizes to SEQ ID NO: 1 under stringent conditions, and which encodes a polypeptide having protein kinase activity;    wherein stringent conditions comprise hybridization in 600 mm sodium at a temperature of 65° C.    
     
     
         12 . The isolated polynucleotide of  claim 11  that encodes a polypeptide having at least 95% homology to SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         13 . The isolated polynucleotide of  claim 11 , which comprises a sequence which hybridizes to the complement of SEQ ID NO: 1 under stringent conditions, and which encodes a polypeptide having protein kinase activity; wherein stringent conditions comprise hybridization in 600 mm sodium at a temperature of 65° C.  
     
     
         14 . The isolated polynucleotide of  claim 11 , which comprises SEQ ID NO: 1.  
     
     
         15 . The isolated polynucleotide of  claim 11 , which encodes a polypeptide which induces the stress responsive transcription factor DREB/CBF.  
     
     
         16 . A recombinant vector comprising the isolated polynucleotide of  claim 11 .  
     
     
         17 . A host cell comprising the isolated polynucleotide of  claim 11 .  
     
     
         18 . A stress tolerant transgenic plant cell or tissue comprising the isolated polynucleotide of  claim 11 .  
     
     
         19 . The stress tolerant transgenic plant cell or tissue according to  claim 18 , which is a plant body, a plant organ, a plant tissue, or a cultured plant cell.  
     
     
         20 . The stress tolerant transgenic plant cell or tissue according to  claim 18 , wherein the type of stress is at least one type selected from the group consisting of dehydration, osmotic, and low temperature stresses.  
     
     
         21 . The stress tolerant transgenic plant cell or tissue according to  claim 18 , which belongs to any of the families selected from the group consisting of Gramineae, Liliaceae, Zingiberaceae, Brassicaceae, Solanaceae, Leguminosae, Cucurbitaceae, Umbelliferae, Asteraceae, Malvaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Myrtaceae, and Salicaceae.  
     
     
         22 . An isolated polypeptide that is at least 95% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 2 and which has protein kinase activity.  
     
     
         23 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 22  that comprises SEQ ID NO: 2.