Nucleic Acid Sequences Encoding Proteins Associated with Abiotic Stress Responses and Plant Cells with Increased Tolerance to Environmental Stress

Abstract

This invention relates generally to nucleic acid sequences encoding proteins that are associated with abiotic stress responses and abiotic stress tolerance in plants. This invention further relates to transformed plant cells with altered metabolic activity compared to a corresponding non transformed wild type plant cell, wherein the metabolic activity is altered by transformation with a Stress-Related Protein (SRP) coding nucleic acid and results in increased tolerance and/or resistance to an environmental stress as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell.

1 . A nucleic acid construct comprising a Stress-Related Protein (SRP) coding nucleic acid operably linked to at least one promoter which confers expression of said SRP coding nucleic acid in a plant or plant cell, and optionally one or more additional regulatory elements, wherein said SRP coding nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 261, 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, 277, 281, 283, 285, 287, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 330, 332, 334, 336, 338, 340, 342, 344, 346, 348, 350, 352, 354, 356, 358, 360, 362, 364, 366, 368, 370, 372, 374, 376, 378, 380, 382, 384, 386, 388, 390, 392, 394, 396, 398, 400, 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418, 420, 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434, 436, 438, 440, 442, 444, 446, 448, 450, 452, 454, 456, 458, 460, 462, 464, 466, 468, 470, 472, 474, 476, 478, 480, 482, 484, 486, 488, 490, 492, 494, 496, 498, 500, 502, 504, 506, 508, 510, 512, 514, 516, 518, 520, 522, 524, 525, 527, 529, 531, 533, 535, 537, 539, 541, 543, 545, 547, 549, 551, 553, or 555;   (b) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 313, 315, 317, 319, 321, 323, 325, 327, 329, 331, 333, 335, 337, 339, 341, 343, 345, 347, 349, 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, 361, 363, 365, 367, 369, 371, 373, 375, 377, 379, 381, 383, 385, 387, 389, 391, 393, 395, 397, 399, 401, 403, 405, 407, 409, 411, 413, 415, 417, 419, 421, 423, 425, 427, 429, 431, 433, 435, 437, 439, 441, 443, 445, 447, 449, 451, 453, 455, 457, 459, 461, 463, 465, 467, 469, 471, 473, 475, 477, 479, 481, 483, 485, 487, 489, 491, 493, 495, 497, 499, 501, 503, 505, 507, 509, 511, 513, 515, 517, 519, 521, 523, 526, 528, 530, 532, 534, 536, 538, 540, 542, 544, 546, 548, 550, 552, 554, or 556; and   (c) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 313, 315, 317, 319, 321, 323, 325, 327, 329, 331, 333, 335, 337, 339, 341, 343, 345, 347, 349, 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, 361, 363, 365, 367, 369, 371, 373, 375, 377, 379, 381, 383, 385, 387, 389, 391, 393, 395, 397, 399, 401, 403, 405, 407, 409, 411, 413, 415, 417, 419, 421, 423, 425, 427, 429, 431, 433, 435, 437, 439, 441, 443, 445, 447, 449, 451, 453, 455, 457, 459, 461, 463, 465, 467, 469, 471, 473, 475, 477, 479, 481, 483, 485, 487, 489, 491, 493, 495, 497, 499, 501, 503, 505, 507, 509, 511, 513, 515, 517, 519, 521, 523, 526, 528, 530, 532, 534, 536, 538, 540, 542, 544, 546, 548, 550, 552, 554, or 556, and conferring increased tolerance and/or resistance to the environmental stress in the transgenic plant or plant cell as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant or plant cell,   wherein expression of said SRP coding nucleic acid in a plant or plant cell confers increased tolerance and/or resistance to an environmental stress as compared to a corresponding wild type plant or plant cell, and wherein the environmental stress comprises drought stress.   
     
     
         2 . A transgenic plant or plant cell with increased tolerance and/or resistance to an environmental stress as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant or plant cell, wherein the transgenic plant or plant cell is transformed with the nucleic acid construct of  claim 1 , wherein expression of said SRP coding nucleic acid confers increased tolerance and/or resistance to the environmental stress in the transgenic plant or plant cell as compared to the corresponding non-transformed wild type plant or plant cell, and wherein the environmental stress comprises drought stress. 
     
     
         3 . The transgenic plant or plant cell of  claim 2 , wherein the transgenic plant is a monocotyledonous plant, a dicotyledonous plant, or a gymnosperm plant, or wherein the transgenic plant cell is obtained from a monocotyledonous plant, a dicotyledonous plant, or a gymnosperm plant. 
     
     
         4 . A transgenic plant generated from the transgenic plant cell of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         5 . A seed produced by the transgenic plant of  claim 2 , wherein the transgenic plant is a monocotyledonous plant, a dicotyledonous plant, or a gymnosperm plant, and wherein the transgenic plant is true breeding for increased tolerance and/or resistance to the environmental stress. 
     
     
         6 . A progeny or a plant part of the transgenic plant of  claim 2 , wherein said progeny or said plant part comprises the SRP coding nucleic acid. 
     
     
         7 . The transgenic plant or plant cell of  claim 2 , wherein the SRP coding nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 255;   (b) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 256; and   (c) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 256 and conferring increased tolerance and/or resistance to the environmental stress in the transgenic plant cell as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell.   
     
     
         8 . A method of producing a transgenic plant with increased tolerance and/or resistance to an environmental stress as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant, comprising:
 (i) transforming a plant cell with the nucleic acid construct of  claim 1  or a vector comprising said nucleic acid construct,   (ii) generating from the plant cell a transgenic plant with increased tolerance and/or resistance to an environmental stress as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant,   wherein expression of said SRP coding nucleic acid confers increased tolerance and/or resistance to the environmental stress in the transgenic plant as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant,   and wherein the environmental stress comprises drought stress.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plant cell is obtained from a monocotyledonous plant, a dicotyledonous plant, or a gymnosperm plant. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the SRP coding nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 255;   (b) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 256; and   (c) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 256 and conferring increased tolerance and/or resistance to the environmental stress in the transgenic plant cell as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell.   
     
     
         11 . A method of increasing tolerance and/or resistance to an environmental stress in a plant, comprising increasing the level of expression of an SRP in a plant by introducing the nucleic acid construct of  claim 1  into said plant, wherein expression of the SRP coding nucleic acid confers increased tolerance and/or resistance to the environmental stress in the plant as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant, and wherein the environmental stress comprises drought stress. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plant is a monocotyledonous plant, a dicotyledonous plant, or a gymnosperm plant. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the SRP coding nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 255;   (b) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 256; and   (c) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 256 and conferring increased tolerance and/or resistance to the environmental stress in the transgenic plant cell as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell.   
     
     
         14 . A plant or plant cell comprising a nucleic acid construct conferring expression of an SRP coding nucleic acid in said plant or plant cell, wherein the nucleic acid construct comprises the SRP coding nucleic acid and one or more regulatory elements, wherein expression of the SRP coding nucleic acid in the plant or plant cell results in increased tolerance and/or resistance to an environmental stress as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant or plant cell, wherein the SRP coding nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 261, 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, 277, 281, 283, 285, 287, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 330, 332, 334, 336, 338, 340, 342, 344, 346, 348, 350, 352, 354, 356, 358, 360, 362, 364, 366, 368, 370, 372, 374, 376, 378, 380, 382, 384, 386, 388, 390, 392, 394, 396, 398, 400, 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418, 420, 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434, 436, 438, 440, 442, 444, 446, 448, 450, 452, 454, 456, 458, 460, 462, 464, 466, 468, 470, 472, 474, 476, 478, 480, 482, 484, 486, 488, 490, 492, 494, 496, 498, 500, 502, 504, 506, 508, 510, 512, 514, 516, 518, 520, 522, 524, 525, 527, 529, 531, 533, 535, 537, 539, 541, 543, 545, 547, 549, 551, 553, or 555;   (b) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 313, 315, 317, 319, 321, 323, 325, 327, 329, 331, 333, 335, 337, 339, 341, 343, 345, 347, 349, 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, 361, 363, 365, 367, 369, 371, 373, 375, 377, 379, 381, 383, 385, 387, 389, 391, 393, 395, 397, 399, 401, 403, 405, 407, 409, 411, 413, 415, 417, 419, 421, 423, 425, 427, 429, 431, 433, 435, 437, 439, 441, 443, 445, 447, 449, 451, 453, 455, 457, 459, 461, 463, 465, 467, 469, 471, 473, 475, 477, 479, 481, 483, 485, 487, 489, 491, 493, 495, 497, 499, 501, 503, 505, 507, 509, 511, 513, 515, 517, 519, 521, 523, 526, 528, 530, 532, 534, 536, 538, 540, 542, 544, 546, 548, 550, 552, 554, or 556; and   (c) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 313, 315, 317, 319, 321, 323, 325, 327, 329, 331, 333, 335, 337, 339, 341, 343, 345, 347, 349, 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, 361, 363, 365, 367, 369, 371, 373, 375, 377, 379, 381, 383, 385, 387, 389, 391, 393, 395, 397, 399, 401, 403, 405, 407, 409, 411, 413, 415, 417, 419, 421, 423, 425, 427, 429, 431, 433, 435, 437, 439, 441, 443, 445, 447, 449, 451, 453, 455, 457, 459, 461, 463, 465, 467, 469, 471, 473, 475, 477, 479, 481, 483, 485, 487, 489, 491, 493, 495, 497, 499, 501, 503, 505, 507, 509, 511, 513, 515, 517, 519, 521, 523, 526, 528, 530, 532, 534, 536, 538, 540, 542, 544, 546, 548, 550, 552, 554, or 556, and conferring increased tolerance and/or resistance to the environmental stress in the plant or plant cell as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant or plant cell,   and wherein the environmental stress comprises drought stress.   
     
     
         15 . The plant or plant cell of  claim 14 , wherein the plant is a monocotyledonous plant, a dicotyledonous plant, or a gymnosperm plant, or wherein the transgenic plant cell is obtained from a monocotyledonous plant, a dicotyledonous plant, or a gymnosperm plant. 
     
     
         16 . A seed produced by the plant of  claim 14 , or a progeny or a plant part of said plant, wherein said seed, said progeny, or said plant part comprises the SRP coding nucleic acid. 
     
     
         17 . The plant or plant cell of  claim 14 , wherein the SRP coding nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 255;   (b) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 256; and   (c) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 256 and conferring increased tolerance and/or resistance to the environmental stress in the transgenic plant cell as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell.   
     
     
         18 . A method of producing a transgenic plant with increased tolerance and/or resistance to an environmental stress as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant, comprising:
 (i) transforming a plant or a plant cell with a SRP coding nucleic acid or a vector comprising said SRP coding nucleic acid;   (ii) optionally generating from the plant cell a transgenic plant; and   (iii) selecting a transgenic plant with increased tolerance and/or resistance to an environmental stress as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant,   wherein the SRP coding nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of:   (a) a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 261, 263, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 275, 277, 281, 283, 285, 287, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 330, 332, 334, 336, 338, 340, 342, 344, 346, 348, 350, 352, 354, 356, 358, 360, 362, 364, 366, 368, 370, 372, 374, 376, 378, 380, 382, 384, 386, 388, 390, 392, 394, 396, 398, 400, 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418, 420, 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434, 436, 438, 440, 442, 444, 446, 448, 450, 452, 454, 456, 458, 460, 462, 464, 466, 468, 470, 472, 474, 476, 478, 480, 482, 484, 486, 488, 490, 492, 494, 496, 498, 500, 502, 504, 506, 508, 510, 512, 514, 516, 518, 520, 522, 524, 525, 527, 529, 531, 533, 535, 537, 539, 541, 543, 545, 547, 549, 551, 553, or 555;   (b) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 313, 315, 317, 319, 321, 323, 325, 327, 329, 331, 333, 335, 337, 339, 341, 343, 345, 347, 349, 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, 361, 363, 365, 367, 369, 371, 373, 375, 377, 379, 381, 383, 385, 387, 389, 391, 393, 395, 397, 399, 401, 403, 405, 407, 409, 411, 413, 415, 417, 419, 421, 423, 425, 427, 429, 431, 433, 435, 437, 439, 441, 443, 445, 447, 449, 451, 453, 455, 457, 459, 461, 463, 465, 467, 469, 471, 473, 475, 477, 479, 481, 483, 485, 487, 489, 491, 493, 495, 497, 499, 501, 503, 505, 507, 509, 511, 513, 515, 517, 519, 521, 523, 526, 528, 530, 532, 534, 536, 538, 540, 542, 544, 546, 548, 550, 552, 554, or 556; and   (c) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 313, 315, 317, 319, 321, 323, 325, 327, 329, 331, 333, 335, 337, 339, 341, 343, 345, 347, 349, 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, 361, 363, 365, 367, 369, 371, 373, 375, 377, 379, 381, 383, 385, 387, 389, 391, 393, 395, 397, 399, 401, 403, 405, 407, 409, 411, 413, 415, 417, 419, 421, 423, 425, 427, 429, 431, 433, 435, 437, 439, 441, 443, 445, 447, 449, 451, 453, 455, 457, 459, 461, 463, 465, 467, 469, 471, 473, 475, 477, 479, 481, 483, 485, 487, 489, 491, 493, 495, 497, 499, 501, 503, 505, 507, 509, 511, 513, 515, 517, 519, 521, 523, 526, 528, 530, 532, 534, 536, 538, 540, 542, 544, 546, 548, 550, 552, 554, or 556, and conferring increased tolerance and/or resistance to drought stress in the transgenic plant as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant,   and wherein the environmental stress comprises drought stress.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the plant is a monocotyledonous plant, a dicotyledonous plant, or a gymnosperm plant, or wherein the plant cell is obtained from a monocotyledonous plant, a dicotyledonous plant, or a gymnosperm plant. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the SRP coding nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 255;   (b) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 256; and   (c) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 256 and conferring increased tolerance and/or resistance to the environmental stress in the transgenic plant cell as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell.