Patent ID: 7049488

Claim:
A method of increasing endosperm development in a plant, the method comprising, introducing into a plurality of plants an expression cassette comprising a plant promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide that specifically hybridizes to SEQ ID NO: 6 in a buffer of 40% formamide, 1M NaCl, 1% SDS at 37° C., followed by one wash for 20 minutes in 0.2XSSC at a temperature of 50° C., thereby inhibiting expression of a FIE gene that hybridizes to SEQ ID NO: 6 in a buffer of 40% formamide, 1M NaCl, 1% SDS at 37° C., followed by one wash for 20 minutes in 0.2XSSC at a temperature of 50° C.; and selecting a plant with increased endosperm development compared to a plant lacking the expression cassette.