Methods of affecting nitrogen assimilation in plants

Abstract

Provided herein are compositions and methods for producing transgenic plants. In specific embodiments, transgenic plants comprise a construct comprising a polynucleotide encoding CCA1, GLK1 or bZIP1, operably linked to a plant-specific promote, wherein the CCA1, GLK1 or bZIP1 is ectopically overexpressed in the transgenic plants, and wherein the promoter is optionally a constitutive or inducible promoter. In other embodiments, transgenic plants in which express a lower level of CCA1, GLK1 or bZIP1 are provided. Also provided herein are commercial products (e.g., pulp, paper, paper products, or lumber) derived from the transgenic plants (e.g., transgenic trees) produced using the methods provided herein.

1 . A transgenic plant that ectopically expresses one or more nitrogen-responsive master regulatory genes and exhibits increased nitrogen-assimilation capacity. 
     
     
         2 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more nitrogen-responsive master regulatory genes comprises a polynucleotide that encodes myb family transcription factor (At1g74840). 
     
     
         3 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more nitrogen-responsive master regulatory genes comprises a polynucleotide that encodes CCA1 (At2g46830). 
     
     
         4 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more nitrogen-responsive master regulatory genes comprises a polynucleotide that encodes GLK1 (At2g20570). 
     
     
         5 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more nitrogen-responsive master regulatory genes comprises a polynucleotide that encodes MYB73 (At4g37260). 
     
     
         6 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more nitrogen-responsive master regulatory genes comprises a polynucleotide that encodes bZIP9 transcription factor family protein (At5g24800). 
     
     
         7 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more nitrogen-responsive master regulatory genes comprises a polynucleotide that encodes bZIP1 family transcription factor (At5g49450). 
     
     
         8 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more nitrogen-responsive master regulatory genes comprises a polynucleotide that encodes proline-rich family protein (At5g14540). 
     
     
         9 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more nitrogen-responsive master regulatory genes comprises a polynucleotide that encodes zinc finger (C3HC4-type RING finger) family protein (At5g48655). 
     
     
         10 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more nitrogen-responsive master regulatory genes comprises a polynucleotide that encodes TGA3 (At1g22070). 
     
     
         11 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more nitrogen-responsive master regulatory genes comprises a polynucleotide that encodes proline-rich family protein (At3g01560). 
     
     
         12 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more nitrogen-responsive master regulatory genes comprises a polynucleotide that encodes HB-6 (At2g22430). 
     
     
         13 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more nitrogen-responsive master regulatory genes comprises a polynucleotide that encodes GLK2 (At5g44190). 
     
     
         14 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more nitrogen-responsive master regulatory genes comprises a polynucleotide that encodes RAP2.6 (At1g43160). 
     
     
         15 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more nitrogen-responsive master regulatory genes comprises a polynucleotide that encodes HB-12 (At3g61890). 
     
     
         16 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more nitrogen-responsive master regulatory genes comprises a polynucleotide that encodes AP2 domain-containing transcription factor family protein similar to RAP2.6 (At5g61890). 
     
     
         17 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more nitrogen-responsive master regulatory genes comprises a polynucleotide that encodes homeobox-leucine zipper family protein (At3g61150). 
     
     
         18 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more nitrogen-responsive master regulatory genes comprises a polynucleotide that encodes WRKY family transcription factor (At2g38470). 
     
     
         19 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more nitrogen-responsive master regulatory genes comprises a polynucleotide that encodes ERF1 (At4g17500). 
     
     
         20 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more nitrogen-responsive master regulatory genes comprises a polynucleotide that encodes WRKY family transcription factor (At2g25000). 
     
     
         21 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein the plant is species of woody, ornamental, decorative, crop, cereal, fruit, or vegetable. 
     
     
         22 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein said plant is a species of one of the following genuses: Acorus, Aegilops,  Allium, Amborella, Antirrhinum, Apium, Arabidopsis, Arachis, Beta, Betula, Brassica, Capsicum, Ceratopteris, Citrus, Cryptomeria, Cycas, Descurainia, Eschscholzia, Eucalyptus, Glycine, Gossypium, Hedyotis, Helianthus, Hordeum, Ipomoea, Lactuca, Linum, Liriodendron, Lotus, Lupinus, Lycopersicon, Medicago, Mesembryanthemum, Nicotiana, Nuphar, Pennisetum, Persea, Phaseolus, Physcomitrella, Picea, Pinus, Poncirus, Populus, Prunus, Robinia, Rosa, Saccharum, Schedonorus, Secale, Sesamum, Solanum, Sorghum, Stevia, Thellungiella, Theobroma, Triphysaria,    Triticum, Vitis, Zea , or  Zinnia.    
     
     
         23 . A transgenic plant-derived commercial product, which is derived from a transgenic plant according to  claim 1 , wherein said product comprises said construct. 
     
     
         24 . The transgenic plant-derived commercial product of  claim 23 , wherein said transgenic plant is a tree, and said commercial product is pulp, paper, a paper product, or lumber. 
     
     
         25 . The transgenic plant-derived commercial product of  claim 23 , wherein said transgenic plant is tobacco, and said commercial product is a cigarette, cigar, or chewing tobacco. 
     
     
         26 . The transgenic plant-derived commercial product of  claim 23 , wherein said transgenic plant is a crop, and said commercial product is a fruit or vegetable. 
     
     
         27 . The transgenic plant-derived commercial product of  claim 23 , wherein said transgenic plant is a grain, and said commercial product is bread, flour, cereal, oat meal, or rice. 
     
     
         28 . The transgenic plant-derived commercial product of  claim 23 , wherein said commercial product is a biofuel or plant oil.