Methods and compositions for altering plant biomass
View Patent ↗The invention provides coding and promoter sequences for an STF gene, which affects lamina expansion in plants. Vectors, transgenic plants, seeds, and host cells comprising a heterologous STF gene are also provided. Additionally provided are methods of altering biomass in a plant using the STF gene.
1. A recombinant vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
(a) a sequence encoding a polypeptide at least 85% identical to SEQ ID NO:2;
(b) a sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:1;
(c) a sequence comprising at least 85% sequence identity over the full length of SEQ ID NO:1; and
(d) a sequence fully complementary to (a), (b), or (c),
wherein the sequence of (a), (b), or (c) confers altered biomass in a plant transformed therewith, and wherein the nucleic acid is operably linked to a heterologous promoter functional in plants.
2. The recombinant vector of claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional sequence chosen from the group consisting of: a regulatory sequence, a selectable marker, a leader sequence and a terminator.
3. The recombinant vector of claim 2 , wherein the additional sequence is a heterologous sequence.
4. The recombinant vector of claim 1 , wherein the promoter is a tissue-specific promoter.
5. The recombinant vector of claim 1 , wherein the promoter directs expression in leaf primordia.
6. The recombinant vector of claim 1 , defined as an isolated expression cassette.
7. A transgenic plant transformed with the recombinant vector of claim 1 .
8. The transgenic plant of claim 7 , further defined as a dicotyledonous plant.
9. The transgenic plant of claim 7 , further defined as a poplar, a willow, a eucalyptus, a hemp, a Medicago sp., a Lotus sp., a Trifolium sp., a Melilotus sp., a Vinca sp., a Glycine sp., a Nicotiana sp., a Vitis sp., or a Ricinus sp.
10. The transgenic plant of claim 7 , further defined as an R 0 transgenic plant.
11. The transgenic plant of claim 7 , further defined as a progeny plant of any generation of an R 0 transgenic plant, wherein the transgenic progeny plant has the nucleic acid molecule from the R 0 transgenic plant comprising the recombinant vector of claim 5 .
12. A seed of the transgenic plant of claim 7 , wherein the seed comprises the nucleic acid molecule.
13. A plant or bacterial host cell transformed with the recombinant vector of claim 1 .
14. The host cell of claim 13 , wherein said host cell is a plant cell.
15. A method of altering biomass in a plant, the method comprising expressing in the plant the recombinant vector according to claim 1 , wherein the expression of the nucleic acid molecule alters the biomass of the plant when compared to a plant of the same genotype that lacks the nucleic acid molecule.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the plant is an R 0 transgenic plant.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the plant is a progeny plant of any generation of an R 0 transgenic plant, wherein the transgenic plant has the nucleic acid molecule from the R 0 transgenic plant.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the altered biomass is increased biomass.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the plant has altered morphology when compared to a plant of the same genotype that lacks the nucleic acid molecule.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the altered morphology is altered leaf morphology.
21. A method of producing plant biomass, the method comprising:
(a) obtaining the plant of claim 7 ;
(b) growing said plant under plant growth conditions to produce plant tissue from the plant; and
(c) preparing biomass from said plant tissue.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein preparing biomass comprises harvesting said plant tissue.
23. The method of claim 21 , further comprising using the biomass for biofuel.
24. The recombinant vector of claim 1 , comprising SEQ ID NO:1.