Patent ID: 7446242
Filing Date: 2008-11-04
Classification: C07K,C12N

Abstract:
1. A method for producing plants with improved morphogenesis compared to plants of the same species lacking an exogenous spermidine synthase (SPDS) gene, comprising the steps of: (1) transforming cells of a plant lacking an exogenous SPDS gene with at least one expression vector containing an exogenous SPDS gene under the control of one or more promoters capable of functioning in plants, (2) regenerating plant bodies from the transformed cells, (3) cultivating the plant bodies under normal conditions, (4) evaluating the cultivated plants for improved morphogenesis, and (5) selecting plants having improved morphogenesis; wherein the improved morphogenesis is one or more traits selected from the group consisting of: (i) increased number of stems, main stems, side stems, flower stalks, trunks, or branches; (ii) increased number of leaves; (iii) increased number of flowers; (iv) extended flower blooming period; (v) increased number of ovaries, fruit, cotton balls, pods, ears, or capsules; (vi) increased development period from bearing to maturity of ovaries, fruit, pods, or capsules; (vii) increased number of seeds, grains, or ovules; and (viii) increased number of roots or tuberous roots; wherein the SPDS gene used to transform the cells comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding an amino acid sequence having at least 82% homology to SEQ ID NO: 2.