GENE TARGETS FOR NITROGEN FIXATION TARGETING FOR IMPROVING PLANT TRAITS

1 . A genetically engineered bacterium comprising a modification in a gene selected from the group consisting of: NAC, gltA, pga, ptsH, fimA1, fimA2, fimA3, fimA4, iscR, tonB, yusV1, yusV2, yusV3, yusV4, sbnA, fhuF, sodA, sodB, sodC, iaaA, sdiA, wzxE, bolA, FNR, arcA, arcB, rpoS, treA, treB, phoP, phoQ, yjjPB, ychM, dauA, actP, yieL1, yieL2, yieL3, yieL4, pgab, rafA, melA, uidA, manA, abfA, abnA, and lacZ.

2 .- 4 . (canceled)

5 . The genetically engineered bacterium of claim 1 , wherein said genetically engineered bacterium is a genetically engineered diazotrophic bacterium.

6 . (canceled)

7 . The genetically engineered bacterium of claim 1 , wherein said genetically engineered bacterium is non-intergeneric.

8 . The genetically engineered bacterium of claim 1 , wherein said genetically engineered bacterium is able to fix atmospheric nitrogen in the presence of exogenous nitrogen.

9 . The genetically engineered bacterium of claim 1 , wherein said genetically engineered bacterium further comprises a modification in a nitrogen fixation genetic network, a modification in a nitrogen fixation assimilation genetic network, or a modification in the nitrogen fixation network and the nitrogen fixation assimilation genetic network.

10 . The genetically engineered bacterium of claim 9 , wherein said modification in a nitrogen fixation genetic network comprises a modification in NifA, NifL, NifH, or any combination thereof, or a modification that results in increased expression of Nif cluster genes.

11 . The genetically engineered bacterium of claim 10 , wherein said modification in NifA results in increased expression of NifA, said modification in NifL results in decreased expression of NifL, or said modification in NifH results in increased expression of NifH.

12 .- 15 . (canceled)

16 . The genetically engineered bacterium of claim 9 , wherein said modification in a nitrogen assimilation genetic network comprises a modification that results in decreased activity of GlnE or results in a decreased activity of amtB.

17 .- 18 . (canceled)

19 . A method of increasing the amount of atmospheric derived nitrogen in a plant, the method comprising contacting said plant with a plurality of said genetically engineered bacteria of claim 1 .

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein contacting said plant with a plurality of said genetically engineered bacteria comprises applying said plurality of genetically engineered bacteria to a seed or seedling of said plant.

21 .- 24 . (canceled)

25 . The method of claim 19 , wherein contacting said plant with a plurality of said genetically engineered bacteria comprises applying said plurality of genetically engineered bacteria to said plant between about one month and about eight months after germination, between two months and eight months after germination, between about one month to about three month after germination, or between about three months to about six months after germination.

26 .- 28 . (canceled)

29 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said plant is a cereal plant.

30 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said plant is a corn plant.

31 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said plant is a rice plant.

32 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said plant is a wheat plant.

33 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said plant is a soy plant.

34 . A composition comprising a seed and a seed coating, wherein the seed coating comprises a plurality of said genetically engineered bacteria of claim 1 .

35 . The composition of claim 34 , wherein said seed is a cereal seed.

36 . (canceled)

37 . A composition comprising a plant and a plurality of said genetically engineered bacteria of claim 1 , wherein said plant optionally is a seedling.

38 . (canceled)

39 . The composition of claim 37 , wherein said plant is a cereal plant.

40 . (canceled)