Maize Cellulose Synthases and Uses Thereof

Abstract

The invention provides isolated cellulose synthase nucleic acids and their encoded proteins. The present invention provides methods and compositions relating to altering cellulose synthase levels in plants. The invention further provides recombinant expression cassettes, host cells, and transgenic plants comprising said nucleic acids.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cellulose synthase product derived from the method of processing of plant tissues expressing an isolated polynucleotide encoding a functional cellulose synthase, the method comprising:
 a) transforming a plant cell with a recombinant expression cassette comprising a polynucleotide having at least 90% sequence identity to the full length sequence of a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 13, 17, 21, 25, 27, 29, 45 and 49, operably linked to a promoter; and   b) culturing the transformed plant cell under plant cell growing conditions; wherein the level of cellulose synthase in said transformed plant cell is modulated;   c) growing the plant cell under plant-forming conditions to express the polynucleotide in the plant tissue; and   d) processing the plant tissue to obtain a cellulose synthase product.   
     
     
         2 . A cellulose synthase product according to  claim 1 , wherein the polynucleotide further encodes a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 14, 18, 22, 26, 28, 30, 46 and 50. 
     
     
         3 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein the plant is a monocot. 
     
     
         4 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of: maize, soybean, sunflower, sorghum, canola, wheat, alfalfa, cotton, rice, barley and millet. 
     
     
         5 . A cellulose synthase product according to  claim 1 , which improves stalk strength of a plant by overexpression of the polynucleotide. 
     
     
         6 . A cellulose synthase product according to  claim 1 , which reduces green snap by improving nodal strength. 
     
     
         7 . A cellulose synthase product according to  claim 1 , which is a constituent of ethanol.