Stress-related polynucleotides and polypeptides in plants

Abstract

The invention relates to plant transcription factor polypeptides, polynucleotides that encode them, homologs from a variety of plant species, and methods of using the polynucleotides and polypeptides to produce transgenic plants having advantageous properties compared to a reference plant. Sequence information related to these polynucleotides and polypeptides can also be used in bioinformatic search methods and is also disclosed.

1 . A transgenic plant comprising a recombinant polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having a percentage identity with any of SEQ ID NOs: 2n, where n=1 to 140, or to a conserved domain of SEQ ID NOs: 2n, where n=1 to 140;
 (a) wherein the percentage identity is selected from the group consisting of at least 50%, at least 51%, at least 52%, at least 53%, at least 54%, at least 55%, at least 56%, at least 57%, at least 58%, at least 59%, at least 60%, at least 61%, at least 62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at least 65%, at least 66%, at least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%, at least 70%, at least 71%, at least 72%, at least 73%, at least 74%, at least 75%, at least 76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at least 79%, at least 80%, at least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%, at least 84%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, and about 100%;   wherein the conserved domain is required for a function by the polypeptide of regulating transcription, and the polypeptide confers to the transgenic plant an altered trait as compared to a control plant.   
     
     
         2 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein the transgenic plant comprises a recombinant polynucleotide encoding an At-hook transcription factor polypeptide having a percentage identity with SEQ ID NO: 4, or to a conserved domain of amino acids 162-206 of SEQ ID NO: 84;
 (a) wherein the percentage identity is selected from the group consisting of at least 50%, at least 51%, at least 52%, at least 53%, at least 54%, at least 55%, at least 56%, at least 57%, at least 58%, at least 59%, at least 60%, at least 61%, at least 62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at least 65%, at least 66%, at least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%, at least 70%, at least 71%, at least 72%, at least 73%, at least 74%, at least 75%, at least 76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at least 79%, at least 80%, at least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%, at least 84%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, and about 100%;   wherein the conserved domain is required for a function by the polypeptide of regulating transcription, and the polypeptide confers to the transgenic plant the altered trait; and   the altered trait is selected from the group consisting of more delayed flowering, enlarged lateral organs, greater biomass, greater tolerance to hyperosmotic tolerance, greater tolerance to sucrose, greater tolerance to water deficit, greater tolerance to drought, greater tolerance to salt, decreased sensitivity to abscisic acid, and greater tolerance to cold.   
     
     
         3 . The transgenic plant of  claim 2 , wherein the transgenic plant is more tolerant to 150 mM NaCl than the control plant. 
     
     
         4 . The transgenic plant of  claim 2 , wherein the transgenic plant is more tolerant to 9.4% sucrose than the control plant. 
     
     
         5 . The transgenic plant of  claim 2 , wherein the transgenic plant is more tolerant to 8° C. than the control plant. 
     
     
         6 . The transgenic plant of  claim 2 , wherein expression of the polypeptide is regulated by a constitutive, inducible, or tissue-specific promoter. 
     
     
         7 . A host cell produced from the transgenic plant of  claim 2 , wherein the host cell comprises the recombinant polynucleotide. 
     
     
         8 . A transgenic seed produced from the transgenic plant of  claim 2 , wherein the transgenic seed comprises the recombinant polynucleotide. 
     
     
         9 . The transgenic plant of  claim 2 , wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of: canola, soybean, wheat, corn, potato, cotton, rice, oilseed rape, sunflower, alfalfa, sugarcane, turf, banana, blackberry, blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, cantaloupe, carrot, cauliflower, coffee, cucumber, eggplant, grapes, honeydew, lettuce, mango, melon, onion, papaya, peas, peppers, pineapple, pumpkin, spinach, squash, sweet corn, tobacco, tomato, watermelon, mint and other labiates, rosaceous fruits, and vegetable brassicas. 
     
     
         10 . A method of altering a trait in a plant, the method steps comprising:
 introducing into a target plant a recombinant polynucleotide encoding an At-hook transcription factor polypeptide having a percentage identity with SEQ ID NO: 4, or to a conserved domain of amino acids 162-206 of SEQ ID NO: 84;   (a) wherein the percentage identity is selected from the group consisting of at least 50%, at least 51%, at least 52%, at least 53%, at least 54%, at least 55%, at least 56%, at least 57%, at least 58%, at least 59%, at least 60%, at least 61%, at least 62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at least 65%, at least 66%, at least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%, at least 70%, at least 71%, at least 72%, at least 73%, at least 74%, at least 75%, at least 76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at least 79%, at least 80%, at least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%, at least 84%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, and about 100%;   wherein the conserved domain is required for a function by the polypeptide of regulating transcription, and the polypeptide confers to the transgenic plant the altered trait; and   the altered trait is selected from the group consisting of more delayed flowering, enlarged lateral organs, greater biomass, greater tolerance to hyperosmotic tolerance, greater tolerance to sucrose, greater tolerance to water deficit, greater tolerance to drought, greater tolerance to salt, decreased sensitivity to abscisic acid, and greater tolerance to cold.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the transgenic plant produces transgenic seed, and a progeny plant grown from the transgenic seed comprises the recombinant polynucleotide and has the altered trait relative to the control plant. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the transgenic plant is crossed with another plant, transgenic seed is selected, and a progeny plant grown from the transgenic seed comprises the recombinant polynucleotide and has the altered trait relative to the control plant. 
     
     
         13 . A method of imparting an altered trait to a crop plant by crossing a first transgenic crop plant with a second crop plant, wherein said first transgenic crop plant contains recombinant DNA which expresses a transcription factor having at least 50% identity to SEQ ID NO: 84 or to a conserved domain of amino acids 162-206 of SEQ ID NO: 84, wherein said method further comprises a screening process for identification of the altered trait;
 wherein the altered trait is selected from the group consisting of more delayed flowering, enlarged lateral organs, greater biomass, greater tolerance to hyperosmotic tolerance, greater tolerance to sucrose, greater tolerance to water deficit, greater tolerance to drought, greater tolerance to salt, decreased sensitivity to abscisic acid, and greater tolerance to cold.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said transcription factor has at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 84 or to a conserved domain of amino acids 162-206 of SEQ ID NO: 84. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said transcription factor has at least 85% identity to SEQ ID NO: 84 or to a conserved domain of amino acids 162-206 of SEQ ID NO: 84. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said transcription factor has at least 90% identity to SEQ ID NO: 84 or to a conserved domain of amino acids 162-206 of SEQ ID NO: 84. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said transcription factor has at least 95% identity to SEQ ID NO: 84 or to a conserved domain of amino acids 162-206 of SEQ ID NO: 84. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said transcription factor has 100% identity to SEQ ID NO: 84 or to a conserved domain of amino acids 162-206 of SEQ ID NO: 84.