Transgenic plants with enhanced agronomic traits

Abstract

This invention provides recombinant DNA constructs, transgenic plant nuclei and cells with such recombinant DNA construct for expression of proteins that are useful for imparting enhanced agronomic trait(s) to transgenic crop plants. This invention also provides transgenic plants and progeny seed comprising the transgenic plant cells where the plants are selected for having an enhanced trait selected from the group of traits consisting of enhanced water use efficiency, enhanced cold tolerance, increased yield, enhanced nitrogen use efficiency, enhanced seed protein and enhanced seed oil. Also disclosed are methods for manufacturing transgenic seed and plants with enhanced traits.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A recombinant DNA construct comprising a promoter that is functional in a plant cell and that is operably linked to a DNA segment that encodes:
 a. at least one protein having an amino acid sequence comprising a Pfam domain module selected from the group consisting of zf-CCCH, PALP, GAF::HisKA::HATPase_c, TPR_2::TPR_1::TPR_2::TPR_1::TPR_4::TPR_2::TPR_1, efhand::efhand, Spermine_synth, ELFV_dehydrog_N::ELFV_dehydrog, PFK, PAS 3::PAS_3::Pkinase, S1, GDC-P, SWIM, B12-binding::Radical_SAM, S1, LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1, Chloroa_b-bind, LRRNT_2::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::Pkinase, WD40::WD40, YABBY, Ldh_1_N::Ldh_1_C, Sina, Na_H_antiport_1, ParBc, YABBY, Histone, Fe_bilin_red, Tryp alpha_amyl, Pyr_redox_2::Thioredoxin, E2F_TDP, CN_hydrolase, YDG_SRA::Pre-SET::SET, APC8::TPR 1::TPR 1::TPR_1, Ras, tRNA_anti::tRNA-synt_2, Auxin_inducible, PGI, S1, Chloroa_b-bind, Bac_globin, Glyco_hydro_17, MGS, Spermine_synth, LRRNT_2::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::Pkinase, Aa_trans, LRRNT_2::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::Pkinase_Tyr, Gln-synt_N::Gln-synt_C, SAP18, TPP_enzyme_N::TPP_enzyme_M::TPP_enzyme_C, zf-C3HC4, eIF-1a, RPE65, PBP, Pkinase, AA_permease, F-box::LRR_1::LRR_2, zf-CCCH::zf-CCCH, Lactamase_B::Flavodoxin_1::Flavin_Reduct, Bac_globin, DSPc, adh_short, Tim17, Oxidored_molyb::Mo.co_dimer::Cyt-b5::FAD_binding_6::NAD_binding_1, ubiquitin::ubiquitin::ubiquitin::ubiquitin, MBD, CXC::CXC, HSF_DNA-bind, Spermine_synth, AP2, Peptidase_S10, PALP, EIN3, Gln-synt_N::Gln-synt_C, 2OG-FelI_Oxy, Glyco_hydro_9, GDC-P, B3, PTPA, Acyltransferase, Isochorismatase, FMO-like, Molybdop_Fe4S4::Molybdopterin::Molydop_binding::Fer2_BFD, Lir1, Prismane, Fer2, DEAD::Helicase_C, Molybdop_Fe4S4::Molybdopterin::Molydop binding::Fer2_BFD, KNOX1::KNOX2::ELK, Glyoxalase, Sad1_UNC, Bac_globin, VPS28, PP2C, Pkinase::efhand::efhand::efhand, LEA_3, Peptidase_S10, Pkinase, CBFD_NFYB_HMF, Gln-synt_N::Gln-synt_C, Pyr_redox_2::Fer2_BFD::NIR_SIR_ferr::NIR_SIR, NUDIX::NUDIX, FAD_binding_3, GST_N::GST_C, SAM_decarbox, Acyltransferase, NTP_transferase, G-patch, 2OG-FelI_Oxy, Gln-synt_N::Gln-synt C, AAA::Vps4_C, Histone, Pkinase, TPR_1, F-box::Kelch_1::Kelch_1, Spermine_synth, Bac_globin, Bac_globin, zf-UBR, Homeobox::HALZ, Whirly, NAD_binding_1, PTR2, EIN3, 4HBT, adh_short, 2OG-FelI_Oxy, P-II, Myb_DNA-binding::Myb_DNA-binding, DAGK_cat, AP2, MFS_1, Chloroa_b-bind, DUF716, zf-Dof, CCT, Homeobox::HALZ, Histone, 2OG-FelI_Oxy, Globin, Pyr_redox_2::Fer2_BFD::NIR_SIR_ferr::NIR_SIR, Whirly, PsbP, bZIP_1, LRRNT_2::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::Pkinase_Tyr, Phi_1, BURP, Sterol_desat, DSPc, SNF5, Acyltransferase, GATase_2::Asn_synthase, adh_short, Homeobox::START, Pkinase, ParBc, SOUL, DNA_photolyase::FAD_binding_7, Pkinase_Tyr, NAD_Gly3P_dh_N::NAD_Gly3P_dh_C, Na_H_Exchanger, peroxidase, Oxidored_molyb::Mo-co_dimer::Cyt-b5::FAD_binding_6::NAD_binding_1, Hexokinase_1::Hexokinase_2, DUF716, S10_plectin, Thi4, p450, CCT, adh_short, PSI_PSAK, DUF640, Thioredoxin, Globin, Ank::Pkinase, DAGAT, RPE65, Ank::Pkinase, GSHPx, Gln-synt_N::Gln-synt_C, MtN3 slv::MtN3 slv, Allene ox cyc, IGPD, MBD, CorA, Response_reg, Histone, AAA, Ribosomal_L10e, Pkinase, DUF26::DUF26::Pkinase, p450, mTERF, AA_kinase, PBP, GUN4, Lactamase_B::Flavodoxin_1::Rubredoxin, C2, RRM_1::RRM_1, Histone, Alpha-amylase, HLH, Thioredoxin, Histone_HNS, Myb_DNA binding::Myb_DNA-binding, Cytochrom_C552, AP2::AP2, MtN3_slv::MtN3_slv, SHMT, ParBc, Mit_rib_S27, Ribosomal_S2, KNOX1::KNOX2::ELK, MFS_1, Glyco_transf_5::Glycos_transf_1, Cellulase, Ribosomal_L10e, Spermine_synth, Glyco_hydro_2_N::Glyco_hydro_2::Glyco_hydro_2_C, TP_methylase, AP2::AP2, Histone, Response_reg::CCT, Histone HNS, DUF1716, p450, GATA, Pkinase, Sugar_tr, Aa_trans, Pribosyltran, Ribosomal_L10e, HLH, PMSR, DnaJ::DnaJ_CXXCXGXG::DnaJ_C, DUF1005, Glyco_transf_5::Glycos_transf_1, Spermine_synth, S1::EIF_2_alpha, RGS, Na_sulph_symp, S1, MtN3_slv::MtN3_slv, Lactamase_B::Flavin_Reduct, LRRNT_2::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::LRR_1::Pkinase, Chloroa_b-bind, PTR2, Agglutinin, PLATZ, NPH3, Auxin_inducible, PTR2, GAT::HisKA::Response_reg, PsbQ, GSH_synth_ATP, GATase_2::Asn_synthase, PHP, FtsJ, DUF6::TPT, Proteasome, PsbW_2, Glyco_hydro_9, NAD_binding_2::6PGD, S1::EIF_2_alpha, Homeobox::START::MEKHLA, S1, Isoamylase_N::Alpha-amylase, E2F_TDP, and Rieske::PaO;   b. a protein comprising an amino acid sequence with at least 90% identity to a consensus amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 30526 through 30550;   c. a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 352, 493, 533 and 544, and homologs thereof listed in Table 8;   d. a protein having an amino acid sequence having at least 70% identity to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 320 and 383; or   e. a protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 299 through SEQ ID NO: 30468;   and wherein said recombinant DNA construct is stably integrated into a chromosome in a plant cell nucleus which is selected by screening a population of transgenic plants that have said recombinant DNA construct and an enhanced trait as compared to control plants that do not have said recombinant DNA construct in their nuclei; and wherein said enhanced trait is selected from group of enhanced traits consisting of enhanced water use efficiency, enhanced cold tolerance, enhanced heat tolerance, enhanced high salinity tolerance, enhanced shade tolerance, increased yield, enhanced nitrogen use efficiency, enhanced seed protein and enhanced seed oil.   
     
     
         2 . A transgenic plant cell nucleus comprising a recombinant DNA construct of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         3 . A transgenic plant cell having a plant cell nucleus of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The transgenic plant cell of  claim 3  wherein said transgenic plant cell is homozygous for said recombinant DNA construct. 
     
     
         5 . The transgenic plant cell of  claim 3  further comprising DNA expressing a protein that provides tolerance from exposure to an herbicide applied at levels that are lethal to a wild type of said plant cell. 
     
     
         6 . The transgenic plant cell of  claim 4  wherein said herbicide is a glyphosate, dicamba, or glufosinate compound. 
     
     
         7 . A transgenic plant comprising a plurality of plant cells of  claim 3 . 
     
     
         8 . The transgenic plant of  claim 7  wherein said transgenic plant is homozygous for said recombinant DNA construct. 
     
     
         9 . A transgenic seed comprising a recombinant DNA construct of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . The transgenic seed of  claim 9  from a corn, soybean, cotton, canola, alfalfa, wheat or rice plant. 
     
     
         11 . A transgenic pollen grain comprising a recombinant DNA construct of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A method for manufacturing transgenic seeds that can be used to produce a crop of transgenic plants with an enhanced trait resulting from expression of a DNA segment in a plant cell nucleus comprising a recombinant DNA construct of  claim 1 , wherein said method comprises:
 (a) screening a population of plants for said enhanced trait and said recombinant DNA construct, wherein individual plants in said population can exhibit said trait at a level less than, essentially the same as or greater than the level that said trait is exhibited in control plants which do not contain said recombinant DNA construct, wherein said enhanced trait is selected from the group of enhanced traits consisting of enhanced water use efficiency, enhanced cold tolerance, enhanced heat tolerance, enhanced high salinity tolerance, enhanced shade tolerance, increased yield, enhanced nitrogen use efficiency, enhanced seed protein and enhanced seed oil;   (b) selecting from said population one or more plants that exhibit said trait at a level greater than the level that said trait is exhibited in control plants; and   (c) collecting seeds from selected plant selected from step b.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said method further comprises:
 (a) verifying that said recombinant DNA construct is stably integrated in said selected plants; and   (b) analyzing tissue of said selected plant to determine the expression of a protein having the function of a protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of one of SEQ ID NO: 299 through SEQ ID NO: 30468.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said seed is corn, soybean, cotton, alfalfa, canola wheat or rice seed. 
     
     
         15 . A method of producing hybrid corn seed comprising:
 (a) acquiring hybrid corn seed from a herbicide tolerant corn plant which also has a stably-integrated, recombinant DNA construct of  claim 1 ;   (b) producing corn plants from said hybrid corn seed, wherein a fraction of the plants produced from said hybrid corn seed is homozygous for said recombinant DNA construct, a fraction of the plants produced from said hybrid corn seed is hemizygous for said recombinant DNA construct, and a fraction of the plants produced from said hybrid corn seed has none of said recombinant DNA construct;   (c) selecting corn plants which are homozygous or hemizygous for said recombinant DNA construct by treating with an herbicide;   (d) collecting seeds from herbicide-treated-surviving corn plants and planting said seed to produce further progeny corn plants;   (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) at least once to produce an inbred corn line; and   (f) crossing said inbred corn line with a second corn line to produce hybrid corn seed.