Woody plants having improved growth characteristics and method for making the same using transcription factors

Abstract

An extensive analytical platform for selecting genes with a possible commercial phenotype from a large group of candidate genes identified using tools in bioinformatics, data from EST sequencing and DNA array is disclosed. Methods are disclosed for producing a transgenic plant having an increased growth compared to its wild type by altering in the plant the level of a gene product of at least one gene specifically expressed during different phases of wood formation. This may be done with transgenic methods or by specific crossing methods. Plant cells or plant progeny and wood having modulated gene expression are also disclosed. A DNA construct with a nucleotide sequence for a gene producing a transgenic plant having an increased growth compared to its wild type and a plant cell or plant progeny having the DNA construct are also disclosed.

1 . A method of producing a tree having a modulated growth and/or biomass compared to its wild type, said method comprising transforming said tree with a nucleic acid comprising a promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding a functional gene product comprising a polypeptide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 14-23, 25, 26, and 116-134, and variants thereof comprising a conservative substitution, wherein an increased level of the functional gene product results in a modulated growth and/or biomass in said tree. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 (i) providing an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid that encodes a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 14-23, 25, 26, and 116-134 and at least one regulatory element operably linked to the nucleotide sequence;   (ii) introducing the expression vector into at least one plant; and   (iii) selecting at least one transgenic plant that has a modulated growth and/or biomass compared to its wild type.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising
 (i) selecting plant species with high expression of the polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 14-23, 25, 26, and 116-134;   (ii) crossing a plant species selected in (i) with the same or another plant species selected in (i),   (iii) selecting plants with increased expression of the polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 14-23, 25, 26, and 116-134 compared to the plant species selected under (i);   (iv) backcrossing one or more times the plants obtained in (iii) and selecting plants with increased expression of the polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 14-23, 25, 26, and 116-134 compared to any of the plant species used in (i) and/or plants obtained in (iii).   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide comprising a conservatively substituted variant selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 14-23, 25, 26, and 116-134. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid which encodes the polypeptide shown as a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 14-23, 25, 26, and 116-134 comprises a silent substitution. 
     
     
         6 . A tree having a modulated growth and/or biomass compared to its wild type, said tree being transformed with a nucleic acid comprising a promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding a functional gene product comprising a polypeptide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 14-23, 25, 26, and 116-134, and variants thereof comprising a conservative substitution, wherein said increased level of the functional gene product results in a modulated in growth and/or biomass in said tree 
     
     
         7 . The tree according to  claim 6 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a conservatively substituted variant of a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 14-23, 25, 26, and 116-134. 
     
     
         8 . The tree according to  claim 6 , wherein the nucleic acid comprises a silent substitution. 
     
     
         9 . A tree cell or plant progeny of the tree according to  claim 6 , wherein said tree cell or said plant progeny of the tree comprises said functional gene product. 
     
     
         10 . Wood produced by the tree according to  claim 6 .