Increased seed size and seed number through transgenic over expression of revoluta protein during early embryo development

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and compositions for increasing the seed size and/or seed number in plants. In particular, the methods and compositions provide for the over expression of a plant growth and/or development related or associated gene during embryo development. Transgenic plants transformed with genetic constructs having the plant growth and/or development associated gene under the control of an early phase-specific embryo promoter provides mature plants in the field that produce larger and/or more seeds. Methods for selection growth and development associated genes that provide transgenic plants with a higher yield phenotype are also provided.

1 .- 67 . (canceled) 
     
     
         68 . A genetic construct comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a REVOLUTA (REV) gene operatively linked to one or more control sequences wherein the one or more control sequences are capable of promoting expression of the REV gene during embryo development. 
     
     
         69 . The genetic construct according to  claim 68 , wherein the control sequence is an early phase-specific embryo promoter. 
     
     
         70 . The genetic construct according to  claim 69 , wherein the early phase-specific embryo promoter is the promoter associated with an amino acid permease gene (AAP1), an oleate 12-hydroxylase:desaturase gene, an 2S2 albumin gene (2S2), a fatty acid elongase gene (FAE1), or a leafy cotyledon gene (LEC2). 
     
     
         71 . The genetic construct according to  claim 68 , wherein the REV gene is derived from  Arabidopsis thaliana, Brassica napus, Oryza sativa, Glycine max  or  Zea mays.    
     
     
         72 . The genetic construct according to  claim 68 , wherein the construct further comprises a polyA sequence. 
     
     
         73 . A method for increasing seed size in a plant and/or increasing the number of seeds obtainable from a plant comprising introducing into a plant or into a plant cell, a genetic construct according to  claim 68 . 
     
     
         74 . The method according to  claim 73 , wherein the control sequences are heterologous or homologous to the plant. 
     
     
         75 . The method according to  claim 73 , wherein the plant is a monocot or a dicot. 
     
     
         76 . The method according to  claim 75 , wherein the plant is a member of the Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) Gramineae, Malvaceae, or Leguminosae-Papilionoideae families. 
     
     
         77 . The method according to  claim 76 , wherein the plant is canola, corn, camelina, cotton, alfalfa, soybean, wheat, rice, oat or barley. 
     
     
         78 . A method for the production of a transgenic plant having increased seed size and/or increased seed number, the method comprising: (a) introducing into a plant or into a plant cell, a genetic construct according to  claim 68 ; and (b) cultivating the plant or plant cell comprising the genetic construct under conditions promoting regeneration and mature plant growth. 
     
     
         79 . The method according to  claim 78 , wherein the plant or plant cell is derived from a plant which is a monocot or a dicot. 
     
     
         80 . The method according to  claim 79 , wherein the plant is a member of the Brassicaceae (Cruciferae), Gramineae, Malvaceae, or Leguminosae-Papilionoideae families. 
     
     
         81 . The method according to  claim 80 , wherein the plant is canola, corn, camelina, cotton, alfalfa, soybean, wheat, rice, oat or barley. 
     
     
         82 . A transgenic plant comprising the genetic construct according to  claim 68  and having increased seed size when compared to the corresponding wildtype plant, having increased seed number when compared to the corresponding wildtype plant, or having increased seed size and seed number when compared to the corresponding wild-type plant. 
     
     
         83 . The transgenic plant according to  claim 82 , wherein the plant is derived from a plant which is a monocot or a dicot. 
     
     
         84 . The transgenic plant according to  claim 83 , wherein the plant is a member of the Brassicaceae (Cruciferae), Gramineae, Malvaceae, or Leguminosae-Papilionoideae families. 
     
     
         85 . The transgenic plant according to  claim 84 , wherein the plant is canola, corn, camelina, cotton, alfalfa, soybean, wheat, rice, oat or barley. 
     
     
         86 . The transgenic plant according to  claim 82 , wherein the plant is a whole plant, a plant organ, a plant seed, a plant cell, or progeny thereof. 
     
     
         87 . The transgenic plant according to  claim 86 , wherein the plant organ is a leaf, a stem, a flower, or a root, and wherein the plant cell is a tissue culture cell.