Dna encoding a plant lipase, transgenic plants and a method for controlling senescence in plants

Abstract

Regulation of expression of senescence in plants is achieved by integration of a gene or gene fragment encoding senescence-induced lipase into the plant genome in antisense orientation. The carnation and Arabidopsis genes encoding senescence-induced lipase are identified and the nucleotide sequences are used to modify senescence in transgenic plants.

1 .- 53 . (canceled)  
     
     
         54 . A method for identifying a polynucleotide encoding a senescence-induced plant lipase in a plant comprising: 
 a) isolating RNA from a senescing plant tissue;    b) constructing a cDNA library from the RNA obtained from the senescing plant tissue;    c) screening the cDNA library with a known senescence-induced lipase polynucleotide; and,    d) identifying a senescence-induced plant lipase polynucleotide that has at least about 43% identity across the entire coding region of the lipase with that of one of the known senescence-induced lipase polynucleotides, and wherein the polynucleotide comprises a polynucleotide encoding a conserved plant lipase amino acid motif of GHSLG (SEQ ID NO:22) to identify a polynucleotide encoding a senescence-induced lipase in the plant.