AU2013202535A1 - Transgenic plants with increased stress tolerance and yield - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract Polynucleotides are disclosed which are capable of enhancing a growth, yield under water limited conditions, and/or increased tolerance to an environmental stress of a plant transformed to contain such polynucleotides. Also provided are methods of using such polynucleotides and transgenic plants and agricultural products, including seeds, containing such polynucleotides as transgenes.

Description

TRANSGENIC PLANTS WITH INCREASED STRESS TOLERANCE AND YIELD This application claims priority benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Serial Number 60/959346, filed July 13, 2007, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 5 FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to transgenic plants which overexpress ni cleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides capable of conferring increased stress toler ance and consequently, increased plant growth and crop yield, under normal or abiotic 10 stress conditions. Additionally, the invention relates to novel isolated nucleic acid se quences encoding polypeptides that confer upon a plant increased tolerance under abiotic stress conditions, and/or increased plant growth and/or increased yield under normal or abiotic stress conditions. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 15 [0002] Abiotic environmental stresses, such as drought, salinity, heat, and cold, are major limiting factors of plant growth and crop yield. Crop yield is defined herein as the number of bushels of relevant agricultural product (such as grain, forage, or seed) har vested per acre. Crop losses and crop yield losses of major crops such as soybean, rice, maize (com), cotton, and wheat caused by these stresses represent a significant economic 20 and political factor and contribute to food shortages in many underdeveloped countries. [0003] Water availability is an important aspect of the abiotic stresses and their ef fects on plant growth. Continuous exposure to drought conditions causes major alterations in the plant metabolism which ultimately lead to cell death and consequently to yield losses. Because high salt content in some soils results in less water being available for cell intake, 25 high salt concentration has an effect on plants similar to the effect of drought on plants. Additionally, under freezing temperatures, plant cells lose water as a result of ice formation within the plant. Accordingly, crop damage from drought, heat, salinity, and cold stress, is predominantly due to dehydration. [0004] Because plants are typically exposed to conditions of reduced water availabil 30 ity during their life cycle, most plants have evolved protective mechanisms against desicca tion caused by abiotic stresses. However, if the severity and duration of desiccation condi tions are too great, the effects on development, growth, plant size, and yield of most crop plants are profound. Developing plants efficient in water use is therefore a strategy that has the potential to significantly improve human life on a worldwide scale. 35 [0005] Traditional plant breeding strategies are relatively slow and require abiotic stress-tolerant founder lines for crossing with other germplasm to develop new abiotic stress-resistant lines. Limited germplasm resources for such founder lines and incompati bility in crosses between distantly related plant species represent significant problems en countered in conventional breeding. Breeding for tolerance has been largely unsuccessful. 40 [0006] Many agricultural biotechnology companies have attempted to identify genes that could confer tolerance to abiotic stress responses, in an effort to develop transgenic abiotic stress-tolerant crop plants. Although some genes that are involved in stress re sponses or water use efficiency in plants have been characterized, the characterization and 2 cloning of plant genes that confer stress tolerance and/or water use efficiency remains largely incomplete and fragmented. To date, success at developing transgenic abiotic stress-tolerant crop plants has been limited, and no such plants have been commercialized. [0007] In order to develop transgenic abiotic stress-tolerant crop plants, it is neces 5 sary to assay a number of parameters in model plant systems, greenhouse studies of crop plants, and in field trials. For example, water use efficiency (WUE), is a parameter often correlated with drought tolerance. Studies of a plant's response to desiccation, osmotic shock, and temperature extremes are also employed to determine the plant's tolerance or resistance to abiotic stresses. When testing for the impact of the presence of a transgene 10 on a plant's stress tolerance, the ability to standardize soil properties, temperature, water and nutrient availability and light intensity is an intrinsic advantage of greenhouse or plant growth chamber environments compared to the field. [0008] WUE has been defined and measured in multiple ways. One approach is to calculate the ratio of whole plant dry weight, to the weight of water consumed by the plant 15 throughout its life. Another variation is to use a shorter time interval when biomass accu mulation and water use are measured. Yet another approach is to use measurements from restricted parts of the plant, for example, measuring only aerial growth and water use. WUE also has been defined as the ratio of C02 uptake to water vapor loss from a leaf or portion of a leaf, often measured over a very short time period (e.g. seconds/minutes). The 20 ratio of 13

C/

12 C fixed in plant tissue, and measured with an isotope ratio mass-spectrometer, also has been used to estimate WUE in plants using C 3 photosynthesis. [0009] An increase in WUE is informative about the relatively improved efficiency of growth and water consumption, but this information taken alone does not indicate whether one of these two processes has changed or both have changed. In selecting traits for im 25 proving crops, an increase in WUE due to a decrease in water use, without a change in growth would have particular merit in an irrigated agricultural system where the water input costs were high. An increase in WUE driven mainly by an increase in growth without a cor responding jump in water use would have applicability to all agricultural systems. In many agricultural systems where water supply is not limiting, an increase in growth, even if it 30 came at the expense of an increase in water use (i.e. no change in WUE), could also in crease yield. Therefore, new methods to increase both WUE and biomass accumulation are required to improve agricultural productivity. [0010] Concomitant with measurements of parameters that correlate with abiotic stress tolerance are measurements of parameters that indicate the potential impact of a 35 transgene on crop yield. For forage crops like alfalfa, silage corn, and hay, the plant bio mass correlates with the total yield. For grain crops, however, other parameters have been used to estimate yield, such as plant size, as measured by total plant dry weight, above ground dry weight, above-ground fresh weight, leaf area, stem volume, plant height, rosette diameter, leaf length, root length, root mass, tiller number, and leaf number. Plant size at 40 an early developmental stage will typically correlate with plant size later in development. A larger plant with a greater leaf area can typically absorb more light and carbon dioxide than a smaller plant and therefore will likely gain a greater weight during the same period. This 3 is in addition to the potential continuation of the micro-environmental or genetic advantage that the plant had to achieve the larger size initially. There is a strong genetic component to plant size and growth rate, and so for a range of diverse genotypes plant size under one environmental condition is likely to correlate with size under another. In this way a standard 5 environment is used to approximate the diverse and dynamic environments encountered at different locations and times by crops in the field. [0011] Harvest index, the ratio of seed yield to above-ground dry weight, is relatively stable under many environmental conditions and so a robust correlation between plant size and grain yield is possible. Plant size and grain yield are intrinsically linked, because the 10 majority of grain biomass is dependent on current or stored photosynthetic productivity by the leaves and stem of the plant. Therefore, selecting for plant size, even at early stages of development, has been used as to screen for for plants that may demonstrate increased yield when exposed to field testing. As with abiotic stress tolerance, measurements of plant size in early development, under standardized conditions in a growth chamber or green 15 house, are standard practices to measure potential yield advantages conferred by the pres ence of a transgene. [0012] There is a need, therefore, to identify additional genes expressed in stress tolerant plants and/or plants that are efficient in water use that have the capacity to confer stress tolerance and/or increased water use efficiency to the host plant and to other plant 20 species. Newly generated stress tolerant plants and/or plants with increased water use efficiency will have many advantages, such as an increased range in which the crop plants can be cultivated, by for example, decreasing the water requirements of a plant species. Other desirable advantages include increased resistance to lodging, the bending of shoots or stems in response to wind, rain, pests, or disease. 25 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0013] The present inventors have discovered that transforming a plant with certain polynucleotides results in enhancement of the plant's growth and response to environ mental stress, and accordingly the yield of the agricultural products of the plant is in 30 creased, when the polynucleotides are present in the plant as transgenes. The polynucleo tides capable of mediating such enhancements have been isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana, Capsicum annuum, Escherichia coli, Physcomitrella patens, Saccharomyces cere visiae, Triticum aestivum, Zea mays, Glycine max, Linum usitatissimum, Triticum aestivum, Oryza sativa, Helianthus annuus, and Brassica napus and the sequences thereof are set 35 forth in the Sequence Listing as indicated in Table 1.

4 Table I Polynucleotide Amino acid Gene Name Organism SEQ ID NO SEQ ID NO At2g20725 A. thaliana 1 2 At3g26085 A. thaliana 3 4 AtFACE-2 A. thaliana 5 6 ZM57353913 Z. mays 7 8 Z. mays 9 10 ZM59252659 CASAR82A C. annuum 11 12 b3358 E. coli 13 14 EST564 P. patens 15 16 BN49502266 B. napus 17 18 GM49788080 G. max 19 20 GM53049821 G. max 21 22 ZM58462719 Z. mays 23 24 ZM61092633 Z. mays 25 26 ZM62016485 Z. mays 27 28 ZM62051019 Z. mays 29 30 ZM65086957 Z. mays 31 32 ZM68587657 Z. mays 33 34 EST390 P. patens 35 36 BN51363030 B. napus 37 38 BN42986056 B.napus 39 40 BN49389066 B.napus 41 42 BN51339479 B.napus 43 44 ZM57651070 Z. mays 45 46 ZM62073276 Z. mays 47 48 EST257 P. patens 49 50 LU61665952 L. usitatissimum 51 52 TA56863186 T. aestivum 53 54 ZM62026837 Z. mays 55 56 ZM65457595 Z. mays 57 58 ZM67230154 Z. mays 59 60 EST465 P. patens 61 62 YBL109w S. cerevisiae 63 64 YBL100c S. cerevisiae 65 66 YKL184w S. cerevisiae 67 68 YPLQ91w S. cerevisiae 69 70 TA54587433 T. aestivum 71 72 5 Polynucleotide Amino acid Gene Name Organism SEQ ID NO SEQ ID NO ZM68532504 Z. mays 73 74 BN42856089 B.napus 75 76 BN43206527 B.napus 77 78 HA66872964 H.annuus 79 80 LU61662612 L. usitatissimum 81 82 OS32806943 0. sativa 83 84 OS34738749 0. sativa 85 86 ZM59400933 Z. mays 87 88 ZM62132060 Z. mays 89 90 ZM59202533 Z. mays 91 92 BN41901422 B.napus 93 94 BN47868329 B. napus 95 96 BN42671700 B.napus 97 98 ZM68416988 Z. mays 99 100 [0014] In one embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a CAAX amino terminal protease family protein. 5 [0015] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a prenyl dependent CAAX protease. [0016] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a SAR8.2 pro 10 tein precursor. [0017] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a putative membrane protein. [0018] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed 15 with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a protein phosphatase 2C protein. [0019] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a mitochondrial carrier protein. 20 [0020] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a protein kinase. [0021] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a peptidyl pro 25 lyl isomerase.

6 [0022] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a unknown protein 1. [0023] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed 5 with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a unknown protein 2. [0024] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a ornithine de carboxylase. 10 [0025] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a glutathione reductase. [0026] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a unknown 15 protein 3. [0027] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a protein phosphatase 2A protein. [0028] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed 20 with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a MEK1 pro tein kinase. [0029] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a AP2 domain containing transcription factor. 25 [0030] In a further embodiment, the invention concerns a seed produced by the transgenic plant of the invention, wherein the seed is true breeding for a transgene compris ing the polynucleotide described above. Plants derived from the seed of the invention demonstrate increased tolerance to an environmental stress, and/or increased plant growth, and/or increased yield, under normal or stress conditions as compared to a wild type variety 30 of the plant. [0031) In a still another aspect, the invention concerns products produced by or from the transgenic plants of the invention, their plant parts, or their seeds, such as a foodstuff, feedstuff, food supplement, feed supplement, cosmetic or pharmaceutical. [0032] The invention further provides certain isolated polynucleotides identified in 35 Table 1, and certain isolated polypeptides identified in Table 1. The invention is also em bodied in recombinant vector comprising an isolated polynucleotide of the invention. [0033] In yet another embodiment, the invention concerns a method of producing the aforesaid transgenic plant, wherein the method comprises transforming a plant cell with an expression vector comprising an isolated polynucleotide of the invention, and generating 40 from the plant cell a transgenic plant that expresses the polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide. Expression of the polypeptide in the plant results in increased tolerance to an environmental stress, and/or growth, and/or yield under normal and/or stress conditions 7 as compared to a wild type variety of the plant. [0034] In still another embodiment, the invention provides a method of increasing a plant's tolerance to an environmental stress, and/or growth, and/or yield. The method com prises the steps of transforming a plant cell with an expression cassette comprising an iso 5 lated polynucleotide of the invention, and generating a transgenic plant from the plant cell, wherein the transgenic plant comprises the polynucleotide. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0035] Figure 1 shows an alignment of the disclosed amino acid sequences At 10 FACE-2 (SEQ ID NO:6), ZM57353913 (SEQ ID NO:8), and ZM59252659 (SEQ ID NO:10). The alignment was generated using Align X of Vector NTI . [0036] Figure 2 shows an alignment of the disclosed amino acid sequences EST564 (SEQ ID NO:16), BN49502266 (SEQ ID NO:18), GM49788080 (SEQ ID NO:20), GM53049821 (SEQ ID NO:22), ZM58462719 (SEQ ID NO:24), ZM61092633 (SEQ ID 15 NO:26), ZM62016485 (SEQ ID NO:28), ZM62051019 (SEQ ID NO:30), ZM65086957 (SEQ ID NO:32), and ZM68587657 (SEQ ID NO:34). The alignment was generated using Align X of Vector NTI. [0037] Figure 3 shows an alignment of the disclosed amino acid sequences EST390 (SEQ ID NO:36), BN51363030 (SEQ ID NO:38), BN42986056 (SEQ ID NO:40), 20 BN49389066 (SEQ ID NO:42), BN51339479 (SEQ ID NO:44), ZM57651070 (SEQ ID NO:46), and ZM62073276 (SEQ ID NO:48). The alignment was generated using Align X of Vector NTI . [0038] Figure 4 shows an alignment of the disclosed amino acid sequences EST257 (SEQ ID NO:50), LU61665952 (SEQ ID NO:52), TA56863186 (SEQ ID NO:54), 25 ZM62026837 (SEQ ID NO:56), ZM65457595 (SEQ ID NO:58), ZM67230154 (SEQ ID NO:60). The alignment was generated using Align X of Vector NTi . [0039] Figure 5 shows an alignment of the disclosed amino acid sequences ZM68532504 (SEQ ID NO:74), BN42856089 (SEQ ID NO:76), BN43206527 (SEQ ID NO:78), HA66872964 (SEQ ID NO:80), LU61662612 (SEQ ID NO:82), OS32806943 (SEQ 30 ID NO:84), OS34738749 (SEQ ID NO:86), ZM59400933 (SEQ ID NO:88), and ZM62132060 (SEQ ID NO:90). The alignment was generated using Align X of Vector NTI . [0040] Figure 6 shows an alignment of the disclosed amino acid sequences ZM59202533 (SEQ ID NO:92), BN41901422 (SEQ ID NO:94), BN47868329 (SEQ ID NO:96), and ZM68416988 (SEQ ID NO:100). The alignment was generated using Align X 35 of Vector NTI . DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0041] Throughout this application, various publications are referenced. The disclo sures of all of these publications and those references cited within those publications in 40 their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this application in order to more fully describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and is not intended to be 8 limiting. As used herein, "a" or "an" can mean one or more, depending upon the context in which it is used. Thus, for example, reference to "a cell" can mean that at least one cell can be used. [0042] In one embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant that overex 5 presses an isolated polynucleotide identified in Table 1, or a homolog thereof. The trans genic plant of the invention demonstrates an increased tolerance to an environmental stress as compared to a wild type variety of the plant. The overexpression of such isolated nucleic acids in the plant may optionally result in an increase in plant growth or in yield of associ ated agricultural products, under normal or stress conditions, as compared to a wild type 10 variety of the plant. [0043] As defined herein, a "transgenic plant" is a plant that has been altered using recombinant DNA technology to contain an isolated nucleic acid which would otherwise not be present in the plant. As used herein, the term "plant" includes a whole plant, plant cells, and plant parts. Plant parts include, but are not limited to, stems, roots, ovules, stamens, 15 leaves, embryos, meristematic regions, callus tissue, gametophytes, sporophytes, pollen, microspores, and the like. The transgenic plant of the invention may be male sterile or male fertile, and may further include transgenes other than those that comprise the isolated polynucleotides described herein. [0044] As used herein, the term "variety" refers to a group of plants within a species 20 that share constant characteristics that separate them from the typical form and from other possible varieties within that species. While possessing at least one distinctive trait, a vari ety is also characterized by some variation between individuals within the variety, based primarily on the Mendelian segregation of traits among the progeny of succeeding genera tions. A variety is considered "true breeding" for a particular trait if it is genetically homozy 25 gous for that trait to the extent that, when the true-breeding variety is self-pollinated, a sig nificant amount of independent segregation of the trait among the progeny is not observed. In the present invention, the trait arises from the transgenic expression of one or more iso lated polynucleotides introduced into a plant variety. As also used herein, the term "wild type variety" refers to a group of plants that are analyzed for comparative purposes as a 30 control plant, wherein the wild type variety plant is identical to the transgenic plant (plant transformed with an isolated polynucleotide in accordance with the invention) with the ex ception that the wild type variety plant has not been transformed with an isolated polynu cleotide of the invention. [0045] As defined herein, the term "nucleic acid" and "polynucleotide" are inter 35 changeable and refer to RNA or DNA that is linear or branched, single or double stranded, or a hybrid thereof. The term also encompasses RNA/DNA hybrids. An "isolated" nucleic acid molecule is one that is substantially separated from other nucleic acid molecules which are present in the natural source of the nucleic acid (i.e., sequences encoding other poly peptides). For example, a cloned nucleic acid is considered isolated. A nucleic acid is also 40 considered isolated if it has been altered by human intervention, or placed in a locus or lo cation that is not its natural site, or if it is introduced into a cell by transformation. Moreover, an isolated nucleic acid molecule, such as a cDNA molecule, can be free from some of the 9 other cellular material with which it is naturally associated, or culture medium when pro duced by recombinant techniques, or chemical precursors or other chemicals when chemi cally synthesized. While it may optionally encompass untranslated sequence located at both the 3' and 5' ends of the coding region of a gene, it may be preferable to remove the 5 sequences which naturally flank the coding region in its naturally occurring replicon. [0046] As used herein, the term "environmental stress" refers to a sub-optimal condi tion associated with salinity, drought, nitrogen, temperature, metal, chemical, pathogenic, or oxidative stresses, or any combination thereof. The terms "water use efficiency" and "WUE" refer to the amount of organic matter produced by a plant divided by the amount of water 10 used by the plant in producing it, i.e., the dry weight of a plant in relation to the plant's water use. As used herein, the term "dry weight" refers to everything in the plant other than water, and includes, for example, carbohydrates, proteins, oils, and mineral nutrients. [0047] Any plant species may be transformed to create a transgenic plant in accor dance with the invention. The transgenic plant of the invention may be a dicotyledonous 15 plant or a monocotyledonous plant. For example and without limitation, transgenic plants of the invention may be derived from any of the following diclotyledonous plant families: Leguminosae, including plants such as pea, alfalfa and soybean; Umbelliferae, including plants such as carrot and celery; Solanaceae, including the plants such as tomato, potato, aubergine, tobacco, and pepper; Cruciferae, particularly the genus Brassica, which includes 20 plant such as oilseed rape, beet, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli); and A. thaliana; Coin positae, which includes plants such as lettuce; Malvaceae, which includes cotton; Fa baceae, which includes plants such as peanut, and the like. Transgenic plants of the inven tion may be derived from monocotyledonous plants, such as, for example, wheat, barley, sorghum, millet, rye, triticale, maize, rice, oats and sugarcane. Transgenic plants of the in 25 vention are also embodied as trees such as apple, pear, quince, plum, cherry, peach, nec tarine, apricot, papaya, mango, and other woody species including coniferous and decidu ous trees such as poplar, pine, sequoia, cedar, oak, and the like. Especially preferred are Arabidopsis thaliana, Nicotiana tabacum, oilseed rape, soybean, corn (maize), wheat, lin seed, potato and tagetes. 30 [0048] As shown in Table 1, one embodiment of the invention is a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a CAAX amino terminal protease family protein. The transgenic plant of this embodiment may comprise any polynucleotide encoding a CAAX amino terminal protease family protein. The transgenic plant of this embodiment comprises a polynucleotide encoding a CAAX 35 amino terminal protease family protein having a sequence comprising amino acids I to 301 of SEQ ID NO:2; and a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 293 of SEQ ID NO:4. [0049] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a prenyl 40 dependent CAAX protease. The transgenic plant of this embodiment may comprise any polynucleotide encoding a prenyl-dependent CAAX protease. The transgenic plant of this embodiment comprises a polynucleotide encoding a prenyl-dependent CAAX protease hav- 10 ot ing a sequence comprising amino acids I to 311 of SEQ ID NO:6; a protein having a se quence comprising amino acids 1 to 313 of SEQ ID NO:8; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 269 of SEQ ID NO:10. [0050] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed 5 with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a SAR8.2 pro tein precursor. The transgenic plant of this embodiment may comprise any polynucleotide encoding a SAR8.2 protein precursor. The transgenic plant of this embodiment comprises a polynucleotide encoding a SAR8.2 protein precursor having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 86 of SEQ ID NO:12. 10 [0051] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a putative membrane protein. The transgenic plant of this embodiment may comprise any polynucleo tide encoding a putative membrane protein. The transgenic plant of this embodiment com prises a polynucleotide encoding a putative membrane protein having a sequence compris 15 ing amino acids 1 to 696 of SEQ ID NO:14. [0052] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a protein phosphatase 2C protein. The transgenic plant of this embodiment may comprise any polynucleotide encoding a protein phosphatase 2C protein. The transgenic plant of this 20 embodiment comprises a polynucleotide encoding a protein phosphatase 2C protein having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 284 of SEQ ID NO:16; a protein having a se quence comprising amino acids 1 to 384 of SEQ ID NO:18; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 346 of SEQ ID NO:20; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids I to 375 of SEQ ID NO:22; a protein having a sequence comprising amino ac 25 ids 1 to 390 of SEQ ID NO:24; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 398 of SEQ ID NO:26; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 399 of SEQ ID NO:28; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 399 of SEQ ID NO:30; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids I to 399 of SEQ ID NO:32; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 276 of SEQ ID NO:34. 30 [0053] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a mitochondrial carrier protein. The transgenic plant of this embodiment may comprise any polynucleotide encoding a mitochondrial carrier protein. The transgenic plant of this embodiment com prises a polynucleotide encoding a mitochondrial carrier protein having a sequence com 35 prising amino acids 1 to 303 of SEQ ID NO:36; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids I to 315 of SEQ ID NO:38; a protein having a sequence comprising amino ac ids 1 to 289 of SEQ ID NO:40; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids I to 303 of SEQ ID NO:42; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 299 of SEQ ID NO:44; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids I to 299 of SEQ ID 40 NO:46; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 311 of SEQ ID NO:48. [0054] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a protein 11 kinase. The transgenic plant of this embodiment may comprise any polynucleotide encod ing a protein kinase. The transgenic plant of this embodiment comprises a polynucleotide encoding a protein kinase having a sequence comprising amino acids I to 356 of SEQ ID NO:50; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 364 of SEQ ID NO:52; a 5 protein having a sequence comprising amino acids I to 361 of SEQ ID NO:54; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 370 of SEQ ID NO:56; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 377 of SEQ ID NO:58; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids I to 382 of SEQ ID NO:60. [0055] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed 10 with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a peptidyl pro lyl isomerase. The transgenic plant of this embodiment may comprise any polynucleotide encoding a peptidyl prolyl isomerase. The transgenic plant of this-embodiment comprises a polynucleotide encoding a peptidyl prolyl isomerase having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 523 of SEQ ID NO:62. 15 [0056] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding an unknown protein 1. The transgenic plant of this embodiment may comprise any polynucleotide en coding an unknown protein 1. The transgenic plant of this embodiment comprises a polynucleotide encoding a unknown protein 1 having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 20 to 111 of SEQ ID NO:64. [0057] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding an unknown protein 2. The transgenic plant of this embodiment may comprise any polynucleotide en coding an unknown protein 2. The transgenic plant of this embodiment comprises a 25 polynucleotide encoding a unknown protein 2 having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 104 of SEQ ID NO:66. [00581 In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a ornithine de carboxylase. The transgenic plant of this embodiment may comprise any polynucleotide 30 encoding a ornithine decarboxylase. The transgenic plant of this embodiment comprises a polynucleotide encoding a ornithine decarboxylase having a sequence comprising amino acids I to 466 of SEQ ID NO:68. [0059] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a glutathione 35 reductase. The transgenic plant of this embodiment may comprise any polynucleotide en coding a glutathione reductase. The transgenic plant of this embodiment comprises a polynucleotide encoding a glutathione reductase having a sequence comprising amino ac ids I to 483 of SEQ ID NO:70. [0060] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed 40 with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding an unknown protein 3. The transgenic plant of this embodiment may comprise any polynucleotide en coding a unknown protein 3. The transgenic plant of this embodiment comprises a polynu- 12 cleotide encoding a unknown protein 3 having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 129 of SEQ ID NO:72. [0061] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a protein 5 phosphatase 2A protein. The transgenic plant of this embodiment may comprise any polynucleotide encoding a protein phosphatase 2A protein. The transgenic plant of this embodiment comprises a polynucleotide encoding a protein phosphatase 2A protein having a sequence comprising amino acids I to 306 of SEQ ID NO:74; a protein having a se quence comprising amino acids 1 to 306 of SEQ ID NO:76; a protein having a sequence 10 comprising amino acids 1 to 306 of SEQ ID NO:78; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 306 of SEQ ID NO:80; a protein having a sequence comprising amino ac ids I to 306 of SEQ ID NO:82; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 307 of SEQ ID NO:84; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 306 of SEQ ID NO:86; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 306 of SEQ ID 15 NO:88; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 306 of SEQ ID NO:90. [0062] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a MEK1 pro tein kinase. The transgenic plant of this embodiment may comprise any polynucleotide en coding a MEKI protein kinase. The transgenic plant of this embodiment comprises a 20 polynucleotide encoding a MEKI protein kinase having a sequence comprising amino acids I to 355 of SEQ ID NO:92; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 355 of SEQ ID NO:94; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 338 of SEQ ID NO:96; a protein having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 350 of SEQ ID NO:1 00. [0063] In another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic plant transformed 25 with an expression cassette comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding an AP2 domain containing transcription factor. The transgenic plant of this embodiment may comprise any polynucleotide encoding a AP2 domain containing transcription factor. The transgenic plant of this embodiment comprises a polynucleotide encoding a AP2 domain containing tran scription factor having a sequence comprising amino acids 1 to 197 of SEQ ID NO:98. 30 [0064] The invention further provides a seed produced by a transgenic plant ex pressing polynucleotide listed in Table 1, wherein the seed contains the polynucleotide, and wherein the plant is true breeding for increased growth and/or yield under normal or stress conditions and/or increased tolerance to an environmental stress as compared to a wild type variety of the plant. The invention also provides a product produced by or from the 35 transgenic plants expressing the polynucleotide, their plant parts, or their seeds. The prod uct can be obtained using various methods well known in the art. As used herein, the word "product" includes, but not limited to, a foodstuff, feedstuff, a food supplement, feed sup plement, cosmetic or pharmaceutical. Foodstuffs are regarded as compositions used for nutrition or for supplementing nutrition. Animal feedstuffs and animal feed supplements, in 40 particular, are regarded as foodstuffs. The invention further provides an agricultural product produced by any of the transgenic plants, plant parts, and plant seeds. Agricultural prod ucts include, but are not limited to, plant extracts, proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, 13 fats, oils, polymers, vitamins, and the like. [0065] In a preferred embodiment, an isolated polynucleotide of the invention com prises a polynucleotide having a sequence selected from the group consisting of the polynucleotide sequences listed in Table 1. These polynucleotides may comprise se 5 quences of the coding region, as well as 5' untranslated sequences and 3' untranslated sequences. [0066] A polynucleotide of the invention can be isolated using standard molecular biology techniques and the sequence information provided herein, for example, using an automated DNA synthesizer. 10 (0067] "Homologs" are defined herein as two nucleic acids or polypeptides that have similar, or substantially identical, nucleotide or amino acid sequences, respectively. Ho mologs include allelic variants, analogs, and orthologs, as defined below. As used herein, the term "analogs" refers to two nucleic acids that have the same or similar function, but that have evolved separately in unrelated organisms. As used herein, the term "orthologs" 15 refers to two nucleic acids from different species, but that have evolved from a common ancestral gene by speciation. The term homolog further encompasses nucleic acid mole cules that differ from one of the nucleotide sequences shown in Table 1 due to degeneracy of the genetic code and thus encode the same polypeptide. As used herein, a "naturally occurring" nucleic acid molecule refers to an RNA or DNA molecule having a nucleotide 20 sequence that occurs in nature (e.g., encodes a natural polypeptide). [0068] To determine the percent sequence identity of two amino acid sequences (e.g., one of the polypeptide sequences of Table 1 and a homolog thereof), the sequences are aligned for optimal comparison purposes (e.g., gaps can be introduced in the sequence of one polypeptide for optimal alignment with the other polypeptide or nucleic acid). The 25 amino acid residues at corresponding amino acid positions are then compared. When a position in one sequence is occupied by the same amino acid residue as the corresponding position in the other sequence then the molecules are identical at that position. The same type of comparison can be made between two nucleic acid sequences. [0069] Preferably, the isolated amino acid homologs, analogs, and orthologs of the 30 polypeptides of the present invention are at least about 50-60%, preferably at least about 60-70%, and more preferably at least about 70-75%, 75-80%, 80-85%, 85-90%, or 90-95%, and most preferably at least about 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or more identical to an entire amino acid sequence identified in Table 1. In another preferred embodiment, an isolated nucleic acid homolog of the invention comprises a nucleotide sequence which is at least 35 about 40-60%, preferably at least about 60-70%, more preferably at least about 70-75%, 75-80%, 80-85%, 85-90%, or 90-95%, and even more preferably at least about 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or more identical to a nucleotide sequence shown in Table 1. [0070] For the purposes of the invention, the percent sequence identity between two nucleic acid or polypeptide sequences is determined using the Vector NTI 9.0 (PC) software 40 package (Invitrogen, 1600 Faraday Ave., Carlsbad, CA92008). A gap opening penalty of 15 and a gap extension penalty of 6.66 are used for determining the percent identity of two nucleic acids. A gap opening penalty of 10 and a gap extension penalty of 0.1 are used for 14 determining the percent identity of two polypeptides. All other parameters are set at the default settings. For purposes of a multiple alignment (Clustal W algorithm), the gap open ing penalty is 10, and the gap extension penalty is 0.05 with blosum62 matrix. It is to be understood that for the purposes of determining sequence identity when comparing a DNA 5 sequence to an RNA sequence, a thymidine nucleotide is equivalent to a uracil nucleotide. [0071] Nucleic acid molecules corresponding to homologs, analogs, and orthologs of the polypeptides listed in Table 1 can be isolated based on their identity to said polypep tides, using the polynucleotides encoding the respective polypeptides or primers based thereon, as hybridization probes according to standard hybridization techniques under 10 stringent hybridization conditions. As used herein with regard to hybridization for DNA to a DNA blot, the term "stringent conditions" refers to hybridization overnight at 60*C in 1oX Denhart's solution, 6X SSC, 0.5% SDS, and 100 gg/mI denatured salmon sperm DNA. Blots are washed sequentially at 62*C for 30 minutes each time in 3X SSC/0.1% SDS, fol lowed by 1X SSC/0.1% SDS, and finally 0.1X SSC10.1% SDS. As also used herein, in a 15 preferred embodiment, the phrase "stringent conditions" refers to hybridization in a 6X SSC solution at 65*C. In another embodiment, "highly stringent conditions" refers to hybridiza tion overnight at 650C in 1OX Denhart's solution, 6X SSC, 0.5% SDS and 100 pg/ml dena tured salmon sperm DNA. Blots are washed sequentially at 65*C for 30 minutes each time in 3X SSC/0.1% SDS, followed by IX SSC/0.1% SDS, and finally 0.1X SSC10.1% SDS. 20 Methods for performing nucleic acid hybridizations are well known in the art. Preferably, an isolated nucleic acid molecule of the invention that hybridizes under stringent or highly stringent conditions to a nucleotide sequence listed in Table 1 corresponds to a naturally occurring nucleic acid molecule. [0072] There are a variety of methods that can be used to produce libraries of poten 25 tial homologs from a degenerate oligonucleotide sequence. Chemical synthesis of a de generate gene sequence can be performed in an automatic DNA synthesizer, and the syn thetic gene is then ligated into an appropriate expression vector. Use of a degenerate set of genes allows for the provision, in one mixture, of all of the sequences encoding the de sired set of potential sequences. Methods for synthesizing degenerate oligonucleotides are 30 known in the art. [0073] Additionally, optimized nucleic acids can be created. Preferably, an opti mized nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide that has a function similar to those of the poly peptides listed in Table I and/or modulates a plant's growth and/or yield under normal and/or water-limited conditions and/or tolerance to an environmental stress, and more pref 35 erably increases a plant's growth and/or yield under normal and/or water-limited conditions and/or tolerance to an environmental stress upon its overexpression in the plant. As used herein, "optimized" refers to a nucleic acid that is genetically engineered to increase its ex pression in a given plant or animal. To provide plant optimized nucleic acids, the DNA se quence of the gene can be modified to: 1) comprise codons preferred by highly expressed 40 plant genes; 2) comprise an A+T content in nucleotide base composition to that substan tially found in plants; 3) form a plant initiation sequence; 4) to eliminate sequences that cause destabilization, inappropriate polyadenylation, degradation and termination of RNA, 15 or that form secondary structure hairpins or RNA splice sites; or 5) elimination of antisense open reading frames. Increased expression of nucleic acids in plants can be achieved by utilizing the distribution frequency of codon usage in plants in general or in a particular plant. Methods for optimizing nucleic acid expression in plants can be found in EPA 5 0359472; EPA 0385962; PCT Application No. WO 91/16432; U.S. Patent No. 5,380,831; U.S. Patent No. 5,436,391; Perlack et al., 1991, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:3324-3328; and Murray et al., 1989, Nucleic Acids Res. 17:477-498. [0074] An isolated polynucleotide of the invention can be optimized such that its dis tribution frequency of codon usage deviates, preferably, no more than 25% from that of 10 highly expressed plant genes and, more preferably, no more than about 10%. In addition, consideration is given to the percentage G+C content of the degenerate third base (mono cotyledons appear to favor G+C in this position, whereas dicotyledons do not). It is also recognized that the XCG (where X is A, T, C, or G) nucleotide is the least preferred codon in dicots, whereas the XTA codon is avoided in both monocots and dicots. Optimized nu 15 cleic acids of this invention also preferably have CG and TA doublet avoidance indices closely approximating those of the chosen host plant. More preferably, these indices devi ate from that of the host by no more than about 10-15%. [0075] The invention further provides an isolated recombinant expression vector comprising a polynucleotide as described above, wherein expression of the vector in a host 20 cell results in the plant's increased growth and/or yield under normal or water-limited condi tions and/or increased tolerance to environmental stress as compared to a wild type variety of the host cell. The recombinant expression vectors of the invention comprise a nucleic acid of the invention in a form suitable for expression of the nucleic acid in a host cell, which means that the recombinant expression vectors include one or more regulatory sequences, 25 selected on the basis of the host cells to be used for expression, which is operatively linked to the nucleic acid sequence to be expressed. As used herein with respect to a recombi nant expression vector, "operatively linked" is intended to mean that the nucleotide se quence of interest is linked to the regulatory sequence(s) in a manner which allows for ex pression of the nucleotide sequence (e.g., in a bacterial or plant host cell when the vector is 30 introduced into the host cell). The term "regulatory sequence" is intended to include pro moters, enhancers, and other expression control elements (e.g., polyadenylation signals). Such regulatory sequences are well known in the art. Regulatory sequences include those that direct constitutive expression of a nucleotide sequence in many types of host cells and those that direct expression of the nucleotide sequence only in certain host cells or under 35 certain conditions. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the design of the expression vector can depend on such factors as the choice of the host cell to be trans formed, the level of expression of polypeptide desired, etc. The expression vectors of the invention can be introduced into host cells to thereby produce polypeptides encoded by nu cleic acids as described herein. 40 [0076] Plant gene expression should be operatively linked to an appropriate pro moter conferring gene expression in a timely, cell specific, or tissue specific manner. Pro moters useful in the expression cassettes of the invention include any promoter that is ca- 16 pable of initiating transcription in a plant cell. Such promoters include, but are not limited to, those that can be obtained from plants, plant viruses, and bacteria that contain genes that are expressed in plants, such as Agrobacterium and Rhizobium. [0077] The promoter may be constitutive, inducible, developmental stage-preferred, 5 cell type-preferred, tissue-preferred, or organ-preferred. Constitutive promoters are active under most conditions. Examples of constitutive promoters include the CaMV 19S and 35S promoters, the sX CaMV 35S promoter, the Sepi promoter, the rice actin promoter, the Arabidopsis actin promoter, the ubiquitan promoter, pEmu, the figwort mosaic virus 35S promoter, the Smas promoter, the super promoter (U.S. Patent No. 5, 955,646), the GRP1 10 8 promoter, the cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase promoter (U.S. Patent No. 5,683,439), promoters from the T-DNA of Agrobacterium, such as mannopine synthase, nopaline syn thase, and octopine synthase, the small subunit of ribulose biphosphate carboxylase (ssu RUBISCO) promoter, and the like. [0078] Inducible promoters are preferentially active under certain environmental 15 conditions, such as the presence or absence of a nutrient or metabolite, heat or cold, light, pathogen attack, anaerobic conditions, and the like. For example, the hsp80 promoter from Brassica is induced by heat shock; the PPDK promoter is induced by light; the PR-1 pro moters from tobacco, Arabidopsis, and maize are inducible by infection with a pathogen; and the Adhi promoter is induced by hypoxia and cold stress. Plant gene expression can 20 also be facilitated via an inducible promoter (For a review, see Gatz, 1997, Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 48:89-108). Chemically inducible promoters are especially suitable if gene expression is wanted to occur in a time specific manner. Examples of such promoters are a salicylic acid inducible promoter (PCT Application No. WO 95/19443), a tetracycline inducible promoter (Gatz et al., 1992, Plant J. 2: 397-404), and an ethanol in 25 ducible promoter (PCT Application No. WO 93/21334). [0079] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inducible promoter is a stress-inducible promoter. For the purposes of the invention, stress-inducible promot ers are preferentially active under one or more of the following stresses: sub-optimal condi tions associated with salinity, drought, nitrogen, temperature, metal, chemical, pathogenic, 30 and oxidative stresses. Stress inducible promoters include, but are not limited to, Cor78 (Chak et al., 2000, Planta 210:875-883; Hovath et al., 1993, Plant Physiol. 103:1047-1053), Cor15a (Artus et al., 1996, PNAS 93(23):13404-09), Rci2A (Medina et al., 2001, Plant Phy siol. 125:1655-66; Nylander et al., 2001, Plant Mol. Biol. 45:341-52; Navarre and Goffeau, 2000, EMBO J. 19:2515-24; Capel et al., 1997, Plant Physiol. 115:569-76), Rd22 (Xiong et 35 al., 2001, Plant Cell 13:2063-83; Abe et al., 1997, Plant Cell 9:1859-68; Iwasaki et al., 1995, Mol. Gen. Genet. 247:391-8), cDet6 (Lang and Palve, 1992, Plant Mol. Biol. 20:951-62), ADH1 (Hoeren et al., 1998, Genetics 149:479-90), KAT1 (Nakamura et al., 1995, Plant Physiol. 109:371-4), KST1 (MOller-R6ber et al., 1995, EMBO 14:2409-16), Rhal (Terryn et al., 1993, Plant Cell 5:1761-9; Terryn et al., 1992, FEBS Left. 299(3):287-90), ARSK1 (At 40 kinson et al., 1997, GenBank Accession # L22302, and PCT Application No. WO 97/20057), PtxA (Plesch et al., GenBank Accession # X67427), SbHRGP3 (Ahn et al., 1996, Plant Cell 8:1477-90), GH3 (Liu et al., 1994, Plant Cell 6:645-57), the pathogen indu- 17 cible PRPI-gene promoter (Ward et al., 1993, Plant. Mol. Biol. 22:361-366), the heat induc ible hsp80-promoter from tomato (U.S. Patent No. 5187267), cold inducible alpha-amylase promoter from potato (PCT Application No. WO 96112814), or the wound-inducible pini I promoter (European Patent No. 375091). For other examples of drought, cold, and salt 5 inducible promoters, such as the RD29A promoter, see Yamaguchi-Shinozalei et al., 1993, Mol. Gen. Genet. 236:331-340. [0080] Developmental stage-preferred promoters are preferentially expressed at certain stages of development. Tissue and organ preferred promoters include those that are preferentially expressed in certain tissues or organs, such as leaves, roots, seeds, or 10 xylem. Examples of tissue-preferred and organ-preferred promoters include, but are not limited to fruit-preferred, ovule-preferred, male tissue-preferred, seed-preferred, integument preferred, tuber-preferred, stalk-preferred, pericarp-preferred, leaf-preferred, stigma preferred, pollen-preferred, anther-preferred, petal-preferred, sepal-preferred, pedicel preferred, silique-preferred, stem-preferred, root-preferred promoters, and the like. Seed 15 preferred promoters are preferentially expressed during seed development and/or germina tion. For example, seed-preferred promoters can be embryo-preferred, endosperm preferred, and seed coat-preferred (See Thompson et al., 1989, BioEssays 10:108). Ex amples of seed-preferred promoters include, but are not limited to, cellulose synthase (celA), Cim1, gamma-zein, globulin-1, maize 19 kD zein (cZ19B1), and the like. 20 [0081] Other suitable tissue-preferred or organ-preferred promoters include the napin-gene promoter from rapeseed (U.S. Patent No. 5,608,152), the USP-promoter from Vicia faba (Baeumlein et al., 1991, Mol. Gen. Genet. 225(3): 459-67), the oleosin-promoter from Arabidopsis (PCT Application No. WO 98/45461), the phaseolin-promoter from Phaseolus vulgaris (U.S. Patent No. 5,504,200), the Bce4-promoter from Brassica (PCT 25 Application No. WO 91/13980), or the legumin B4 promoter (LeB4; Baeumlein et al., 1992, Plant Journal, 2(2): 233-9), as well as promoters conferring seed specific expression in monocot plants like maize, barley, wheat, rye, rice, etc. Suitable promoters to note are the lpt2 or pt1 -gene promoter from barley (PCT Application No. WO 95/15389 and PCT Appli cation No. WO 95/23230) or those described in PCT Application No. WO 99/16890 (pro 30 meters from the barley hordein-gene, rice glutelin gene, rice oryzin gene, rice prolamin gene, wheat gliadin gene, wheat glutelin gene, oat glutelin gene, Sorghum kasirin-gene, and rye secalin gene). [0082] Other promoters useful in the expression cassettes of the invention include, but are not limited to, the major chlorophyll a/b binding protein promoter, histone promoters, 35 the Ap3 promoter, the P-conglycin promoter, the napin promoter, the soybean lectin pro moter, the maize 15kD zein promoter, the 22kD zein promoter, the 27kD zein promoter, the g-zein promoter, the waxy, shrunken 1, shrunken 2, and bronze promoters, the Zml3 pro moter (U.S. Patent No. 5,086,169), the maize polygalacturonase promoters (PG) (U.S. Pat ent Nos. 5,412,085 and 5,545,546), and the SGB6 promoter (U.S. Patent No. 5,470,359), 40 as well as synthetic or other natural promoters. [0083] Additional flexibility in controlling heterologous gene expression in plants may be obtained by using DNA binding domains and response elements from heterologous 1, 18 sources (i.e., DNA binding domains from non-plant sources). An example of such a het erologous DNA binding domain is the LexA DNA binding domain (Brent and Ptashne, 1985, Cell 43:729-736). [0084] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the polynucleotides listed 5 in Table 1 are expressed in plant cells from higher plants (e.g., the spermatophytes, such as crop plants). A polynucleotide may be "introduced" into a plant cell by any means, in cluding transfection, transformation or transduction, electroporation, particle bombardment, agroinfection, and the like. Suitable methods for transforming or transfecting plant cells are disclosed, for example, using particle bombardment as set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 10 4,945,050; 5,036,006; 5,100,792; 5,302,523; 5,464,765; 5,120,657; 6,084,154; and the like. More preferably, the transgenic corn seed of the invention may be made using Agrobacte rium transformation, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,591,616; 5,731,179; 5,981,840; 5,990,387; 6,162,965; 6,420,630, U.S. patent application publication number 2002/0104132, and the like. Transformation of soybean can be performed using for exam 15 ple a technique described in European Patent No. EP 0424047, U.S. Patent No. 5,322,783, European Patent No.EP 0397 687, U.S. Patent No. 5,376,543, or U.S. Patent No. 5,169,770. A specific example of wheat transformation can be found in PCT Application No. WO 93/07256. Cotton may be transformed using methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,004,863; 5,159,135; 5,846,797, and the like. Rice may be transformed using methods 20 disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,666,844; 5,350,688; 6,153,813; 6,333,449; 6,288,312; 6,365,807; 6,329,571, and the like. Other plant transformation methods are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,932,782; 6,153,811; 6,140,553; 5,969,213; 6,020,539, and the like. Any plant transformation method suitable for inserting a transgene into a particular plant may be used in accordance with the invention. 25 [0085] According to the present invention, the introduced polynucleotide may be maintained in the plant cell stably if it is incorporated into a non-chromosomal autonomous replicon or integrated into the plant chromosomes. Alternatively, the introduced polynucleo tide may be present on an extra-chromosomal non-replicating vector and may be transiently expressed or transiently active. 30 [0086] Another aspect of the invention pertains to an isolated polypeptide having a sequence selected from the group consisting of the polypeptide sequences listed in Table 1. An "isolated" or "purified" polypeptide is free of some of the cellular material when pro duced by recombinant DNA techniques, or chemical precursors or other chemicals when chemically synthesized. The language "substantially free of cellular material" includes 35 preparations of a polypeptide in which the polypeptide is separated from some of the cellu lar components of the cells in which it is naturally or recombinantly produced. In one em bodiment, the language "substantially free of cellular material" includes preparations of a polypeptide of the invention having less than about 30% (by dry weight) of contaminating polypeptides, more preferably less than about 20% of contaminating polypeptides, still more 40 preferably less than about 10% of contaminating polypeptides, and most preferably less than about 5% contaminating polypeptides. [0087] The determination of activities and kinetic parameters of enzymes is well es- 19 tablished in the art. Experiments to determine the activity of any given altered enzyme must be tailored to the specific activity of the wild-type enzyme, which is well within the ability of one skilled in the art. Overviews about enzymes in general, as well as specific details con cerning structure, kinetics, principles, methods, applications and examples for the determi 5 nation of many enzyme activities are abundant and well known to one skilled in the art. [0088} The invention is also embodied in a method of producing a transgenic plant comprising at least one polynucleotide listed in Table 1, wherein expression of the polynu cleotide in the plant results in the plant's increased growth and/or yield under normal or wa ter-limited conditions and/or increased tolerance to an environmental stress as compared to 10 a wild type variety of the plant comprising the steps of: (a) introducing into a plant cell an expression vector comprising at least one polynucleotide listed in Table 1, and (b) generat ing from the plant cell a transgenic plant that expresses the polynucleotide, wherein expres sion of the polynucleotide in the transgenic plant results in the plant's increased growth and/or yield under normal or water-limited conditions and/or increased tolerance to envi 15 ronmental stress as compared to a wild type variety of the plant. The plant cell may be, but is not limited to, a protoplast, gamete producing cell, and a cell that regenerates into a whole plant. As used herein, the term "transgenic" refers to any plant, plant cell, callus, plant tissue, or plant part, that contains at least one recombinant polynucleotide listed in Table 1. In many cases, the recombinant polynucleotide is stably integrated into a chromo 20 some or stable extra-chromosomal element, so that it is passed on to successive genera tions. [0089] The present invention also provides a method of increasing a plant's growth and/or yield under normal or water-limited conditions and/or increasing a plant's tolerance to an environmental stress comprising the steps of increasing the expression of at least one 25 polynucleotide listed in Table I in the plant. Expression of a protein can be increased by any method known to those of skill in the art. [0090] The effect of the genetic modification on plant growth and/or yield and/or stress tolerance can be assessed by growing the modified plant under normal and.or less than suitable conditions and then analyzing the growth characteristics and/or metabolism of 30 the plant. Such analysis techniques are well known to one skilled in the art, and include dry weight, wet weight, polypeptide synthesis, carbohydrate synthesis, lipid synthesis, evapotranspiration rates, general plant and/or crop yield, flowering, reproduction, seed set ting, root growth, respiration rates, photosynthesis rates, metabolite composition, etc., using methods known to those of skill in biotechnology. 35 [0091] The invention is further illustrated by the following examples, which are not to be construed in any way as imposing limitations upon the scope thereof. EXAMPLE 1 Cloning of cDNAs 40 [0092] cDNAs were isolated from proprietary libraries of the respective plant species using known methods. Sequences were processed and annotated using bioinformatics analyses. The degrees of amino acid identity and similarity of the isolated sequences to the 20 respective closest known public sequences are indicated in Tables 2 through 18 (Pairwise Comparison was used: gap penalty: 10; gap extension penalty: 0.1; score matrix: blo sum62). 5 Table 2 Comparison of At2g20725 (SEQ ID NO: 2) to known CAAX amino terminal protease pro teins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) NP_565483 A. thaliana 99.70% ABE87113 Medicago truncatula 27.00% NP_563943 A. thaliana 25.60% AAU90306 Solanum tuberosum 25.20% AAM65055 A. thaliana 25.00% 10 Table 3 Comparison of At3g26085 (SEQ ID NO: 4) to known CAAX amino terminal protease pro teins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) NP_566788 A. thaliana 100.00% BAC43478 A. thaliana 99.70% AAM63917 A. thaliana 99.30% NP_001078210 A. thaliana 91.00% BABO1072 A. thaliana 65.30% 15 21 Table 4 Comparison of AtFACE-2 (SEQ ID NO: 6) to known prenyl-dependent CAAX proteases Public Database Acces- Species Sequence sion # Identity (%) NP_850262 A. thaliana 100.00% BAC43705 A. thaliana 99.70% CAN61196 Vitis vinifera 36.70% XP_695285 Danio rerio 32.70% XP_001342272 D. rerio 32.70% 5 Table 5 Comparison of CASAR82A (SEQ ID NO: 12) to known SAR8.2 protein precursors Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) AAF18935 C. annuum 100.00% AAL56986 C. annuum 97.70% AAL16783 C. annuum 93.00% AAL16782 C. annuum 91.90% AAR97871 C. annuum 52.30% Table 6 10 Comparison of b3358 (SEQ ID NO: 14) to known putative membrane proteins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # identity (%) YP_312284 Shigella sonnei 99.90% ZP_00715046 E. coli 99.90% ZP_00725390 E. coli 99.60% AP_004431 E. coil 99.40% YP 858957 E. coli 99.40% 22 Table 7 Comparison of EST564 (SEQ ID NO: 16) to known protein phosphatase 2C proteins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # identity (%) ABF93864 0. sativa 56.40% NP_974411 A. thaliana 51.60% AAC35951 Mesembryanthe- 51.10% mum crystallinum EAZ25504 0. sativa 45.70% EAZ02383 0. sativa 43.40% 5 Table 8 Comparison of EST390 (SEQ ID NO:36) to known mitochondrial carrier proteins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) NP_172866 A. thaliana 63.50% AAT66766 Solanum de- 60.80% missum CAH67091 0. sativa 60.00% CAE01569 0. sativa 59.70% CAN75338 V. vinifera 59.50% Table 9 10 Comparison of EST257 (SEQ ID NO: 50) to known protein kinases Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) NP_001043682 0. sativa 62.20% CAN82019 V. vinifera 62.10% AAR01726 0. sativa 61.10% NP_001056408 0. sativa 61.10% CAN64754 V. vinifera 60.90% 23 Table 10 Comparison of EST465 (SEQ ID NO: 62) to known peptidyl prolyl isomerases Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) AAC39445 A. thaliana 54.30% ABE85899 M. truncatula 54.20% CAB88363 A. thaliana 54.10% NP_566993 A. thaliana 53.80% NP 001050182 0. sativa 53.00% 5 Table 11 Comparison of YBL109w (SEQ ID NO: 64) to unknown protein I Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) CAA84936 S. cerevisiae 49.50% P38898 S. cerevisiae 43.10% Table 12 10 Comparison of YBL100c (SEQ ID NO: 66) to unknown protein 2 Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) P38168 S. cerevisiae 100.00% Table 13 Comparison of YKL184w (SEQ ID NO: 68) to known ornithine decarboxylases 15 Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) NP_012737 S. cerevisiae 100.00% XP_445434 Candida glabrata 70.90% XP_451651 Kluyveromyces lactis 60.30% NP_984947 Ashbya gossypii 57.40% XP_001385782 P. stipitis 49.80% 24 Table 14 Comparison of YPL091w (SEQ ID NO: 70) to known glutathione reductases Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) NP_015234 S. cerevisiae 100.00% AAA92575 S. cerevisiae 96.70% BAA07109 S. cerevisiae 95.70% XP_447042 C. glabrata 79.90% XP_455036 K. lactis 73.30% 5 Table 15 Comparison of TA54587433 (SEQ ID NO: 72) to unknown protein 3 Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) EAY88696 0. sativa 22.80% EAZ25723 0. sativa 21.90% NP_001049087 0. sativa 21.20% Table 16 10 Comparison of ZM68532504 (SEQ ID NO: 74) to known protein phosphatase 2A proteins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) AAC72838 0. sativa 95.40% AAA91806 0. sativa 94.10% BAA92697 Vicia faba 93.10% AAQ67226 Lycopersicon 92.80% esculentum BAD17175 0. sativa 92.80% Table 17 Comparison of ZM59202533 (SEQ ID NO: 92) to known MEKI protein kinases Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) AAC83393 Z. mays 100.00% ABG45894 0. sativa 92.70% NP_001043164 0. sativa 85.90% BAB32405 Nicotiana tabacurm 77.80% CAC24705 N. tabacum 77.20% 25 Table 18 Comparison of BN42671700 (SEQ ID NO: 98) to known AP2 domain containing transcrip tion factors 5 Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) NP_177631 A. thaliana 58.60% NP_173355 A. thaliana 56.70% AAF82238 A. thaliana 54.80% [0093] The full-length DNA sequence of the AtFACE-2 (SEQ ID NO: 5) was blasted against proprietary databases of canola, soybean, rice, maize, linseed, sunflower, and wheat cDNAs at an e value of e- 10 (Altschul et al., 1997, Nucleic Acids Res. 25: 3389-3402). 10 All the contig hits were analyzed for the putative full length sequences, and the longest clones representing the putative full length contigs were fully sequenced. Two homologs from maize were identified. The degree of amino acid identity of these sequences to the closest known public sequences is indicated in Tables 19 and 20 (Pairwise Comparison was used: gap penalty: 10; gap extension penalty: 0.1; score matrix: blosum62). 15 Table 19 Comparison of ZM57353913 (SEQ ID NO: 8) to known prenyl-dependent CAAX proteases Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) NP_850262 A. thaliana 52.20% BAC43705 A. thaliana 52.20% NP_001055298 0. sativa 42.10% EAZ33973 0. sativa 36.60% XP_001353747 Drosophila pseu- 33.50% doobscura Table 20 20 Comparison of ZM59252659 (SEQ ID NO: 10) to known prenyl-dependent CAAX proteases Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) NP_850262 A. thaliana 47.00% BAC43705 A. thaliana 47.00% EAZ33973 O. sativa 41.10% NP_001055298 0. sativa 38.30% CAN61196 V. vinifera 31.90% 26 [0094] The full-length DNA sequence of EST564 (SEQ ID NO: 15) was blasted against proprietary databases of canola, soybean, rice, maize, linseed, sunflower, and wheat cDNAs at an e value of e- 1 ) (Altschul et al., 1997, Nucleic Acids Res. 25: 3389-3402). All the contig hits were analyzed for the putative full length sequences, and the longest clones representing the 5 putative full length contigs were fully sequenced. Six homologs from maize, two homologs from soybean, and one homolog from canola were identified. The degree of amino acid identity of these sequences to the closest known public sequences is indicated in Tables 21-29 (Pairwise Comparison was used: gap penalty: 10; gap extension penalty: 0.1; score matrix: blosum62). 10 Table 21 Comparison of BN49502266 (SEQ ID NO: 18) to known protein phosphatase 2C proteins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) NP_195118 A. thaliana 91.10% NP_001067133 0. sativa 63.20% EAY83661 0. sativa 60.80% EAZ21008 0. sativa 60.50% CAN76780 V. vinifera 57.60% Table 22 15 Comparison of GM49788080 (SEQ ID NO: 20) to known protein phosphatase 2C proteins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) EAZ02383 0. sativa 75.60% EAZ38299 0. sativa 75.30% CAB90634 Fagus sylvatica 73.80% EAZ25504 0. sativa 73.00% AAC35951 M. crystallinum 72.80% Table 23 Comparison of GM53049821 (SEQ ID NO: 22) to known protein phosphatase 2C proteins 20 Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) CAN72598 V. vinifera 82.40% NP_566566 A. thaliana 73.50% AAM61747 A. thaliana 73.50% BAA94987 A. thaliana 73.00% NP_001051801 0. sativa 60.20% 27 Table 24 Comparison of ZM58462719 (SEQ ID NO: 24) to known protein phosphatase 2C proteins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) NP_001058597 O. sativa 91.10% EAZ02383 0. sativa 81.20% EAZ38299 0. sativa 81.00% AAD11430 M. crystallinum 75.70% CAB90634 F. sylvatica 74.20% 5 Table 25 Comparison of ZM61092633 (SEQ ID NO: 26) to known protein phosphatase 2C proteins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) NP_001065203 0. sativa 87.00% AAK20060 0. sativa 86.00% NP_001048899 0. sativa 80.70% EAY88457 0. sativa 79.90% ABE77197 Sorghum bicolor 77.20% Table 26 10 Comparison of ZM62016485 (SEQ ID NO: 28) to known protein phosphatase 2C proteins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) ABE77197 S. bicolor 90.70% NP_001048899 0. sativa 86.20% EAY88457 0. sativa 85.20% NP_001065203 0. sativa 78.50% AAK20060 0. sativa 77.80% Table 27 Comparison of ZM62051019 (SEQ ID NO: 30) to known protein phosphatase 2C proteins 15 Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) ABE77197 S. bicolor 92.50% NP_001048899 0. sativa 88.00% EAY88457 0. sativa 87.00% NP_001065203 0. sativa 79.50% AAK20060 0. sativa 78.80% 28 Table 28 Comparison of ZM65086957 (SEQ ID NO: 32) to known protein phosphatase 2C proteins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) ABE77197 S. bicolor 91.00% NP_001048899 0. sativa 86.50% EAY88457 0. sativa 85.50% NP_001065203 0. sativa 78.80% AAK20060 0. sativa 78.00% 5 Table 29 Comparison of ZM68587657 (SEQ ID NO: 34) to known protein phosphatase 2C proteins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) EAZ02383 0. sativa 70.60% EAZ38299 0. sativa 70.60% AAC35951 M. crystallinum 69.80% ABF93864 0. sativa 68.50% NP 974411 A. thaliana 65.00% [00951 The full-length DNA sequence of the EST390 (SEQ ID NO: 35) was blasted 10 against proprietary databases of canola, soybean, rice, maize, linseed, sunflower, and wheat cDNAs at an e value of e- 10 (Altschul et al., 1997, Nucleic Acids Res. 25: 3389-3402). All the contig hits were analyzed for the putative full length sequences, and the longest clones representing the putative full length contigs were fully sequenced. Four homologs from canola and two homologs from maize were identified. The degree of amino acid iden 15 tity of these sequences to the closest known public sequences is indicated in Tables 30-35 (Pairwise Comparison was used: gap penalty: 10; gap extension penalty: 0.1; score matrix: blosum62). Table 30 20 Comparison of BN51363030 (SEQ ID NO: 38) to known mitochondrial carrier proteins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) CAN77545 V. vinifera 71.90% BAE71294 Trifolium pratense 71.90% NP_194188 A. thaliana 70.70% AAU11466 Saccharum officina- 70.60% rum AAU11465 S. officinarum 69.90% 29 Table 31 Comparison of BN42986056 (SEQ ID NO: 40) to known mitochondrial carrier proteins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) NP_179836 A. thaliana 74.80% AAK44155 A. thaliana 74.50% AAM63236 A. thaliana 74.20% CAN77545 V. vinifera 67.70% BAE71294 Trifolium pratense 65.50% 5 Table 32 Comparison of BN49389066 (SEQ ID NO: 42) to known mitochondrial carrier proteins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # identity (%) AAY97866 L. esculentum 73.50% CAA68164 Solanum tuberosum 73.50% CAC84547 N. tabacum 73.30% AAR06239 Citrus junos 73.00% CAC84545 N. tabacum 73.00% Table 33 10 Comparison of BN51339479 (SEQ ID NO: 44) to known mitochondrial carrier proteins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) CAC84545 N. tabacum 85.60% CAC84547 N. tabacum 85.30% AAR06239 C. junos 85.30% CAA68164 S. tuberosum 85.30% CAC12820 N. tabacum 85.30% Table 34 Comparison of ZM57651070 (SEQ ID NO: 46) to known mitochondrial carrier proteins 15 Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) NP_001066927 O. sativa 57.00% NP_680566 A. thaliana 53.80% BAF00711 A. thaliana 51.70% CAN71674 V. vinifera 43.20% CAN71674 V. vinifera 43.20% 30 Table 35 Comparison of ZM62073276 (SEQ ID NO: 48) to known mitochondrial carrier proteins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) AAU11471 S.officinarum 94.90% NP_001054904 0. sativa 92.30% BAA08105 Panicum miliaceum 86.20% BAA08103 P. miliaceum 85.50% EAY80779 0. sativa 82.90% 5 [0096] The full-length DNA sequence of the EST257 (SEQ ID NO: 49) was blasted against proprietary databases of canola, soybean, rice, maize, linseed, sunflower, and wheat cDNAs at an e value of e 10 (Altschul et al., 1997, Nucleic Acids Res. 25: 3389-3402). All the contig hits were analyzed for the putative full length sequences, and the longest clones representing the putative full length contigs were fully sequenced. Three homologs 10 from maize, one homolog from linseed, and one sequence from wheat were identified. The degree of amino acid identity of these sequences to the closest known public sequences is indicated in Tables 36-40 (Pairwise Comparison was used: gap penalty: 10; gap extension penalty: 0.1; score matrix: blosum62). 15 Table 36 Comparison of LU61665952 (SEQ ID NO: 52) to known protein kinases Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) NP_566716 A. thaliana 75.10% CAN82019 V. vinifera 74.50% NP_193214 A. thaliana 74.50% ABK06452 synthetic construct 73.00% ABK06453 synthetic construct 72.30% Table 37 20 Comparison of TA56863186 (SEQ ID NO: 54) to known protein kinases Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) AA072550 0. sativa 87.30% NP_001046047 0. sativa 79.80% EAZO1 979 0. sativa 73.80% NP_001058291 0. sativa 73.60% AA048744 0. sativa 73.40% Table 38 Comparison of ZM62026837 (SEQ ID NO:56) to known protein kinases Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) AAR01726 0. sativa 83.40% NP001050732 0. sativa 77.00% EAY91142 0. sativa 76.30% EAZ27891 0. sativa 76.00% CAN82019 V. vinifera 73.30% 5 Table 39 Comparison of ZM65457595 (SEQ ID NO: 58) to known protein kinases Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) NP_001056408 0. sativa 89.60% AA072572 0. sativa 87.20% NP_001043682 0. sativa 81.50% CAN64754 V. vinifera 79.80% NP,199811 A. thaliana 77.20% 10 Table 40 Comparison of ZM67230154 (SEQ ID NO: 60) to known protein kinases Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) NP_001043682 0. sativa 87.10% NP 001056408 0. sativa 82.80% AA072572 0. sativa 80.80% EAZ12861 0. sativa 79.20% CAN64754 V. vinifera 77.50% [0097] The full-length DNA sequence of the ZM68532504 (SEQ ID NO: 73) was 15 blasted against proprietary databases of canola, soybean, rice, maize, linseed, sunflower, and wheat cDNAs at an e value of e-1 0 (Altschul et al., 1997, Nucleic Acids Res. 25: 3389 3402). All the contig hits were analyzed for the putative full length sequences, and the longest clones representing the putative full length contigs were fully sequenced. Two ho mologs from canola, two homologs from maize, one homolog from linseed, two sequences 20 from rice and one sequence from sunflower were identified. The degree of amino acid 32 identity of these sequences to the closest known public sequences is indicated in Tables 41-48 (Pairwise Comparison was used: gap penalty: 10; gap extension penalty: 0.1; score matrix: blosum62). 5 Table 41 Comparison of BN42856089 (SEQ ID NO: 76) to known protein phosphatase 2A proteins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) NP_172514 A. thaliana 97.10% AAM65099 A. thaliana 95.80% AAQ67226 L. esculentum 95.40% BAA92697 Vicia faba 95.10% CACI 1129 Fagus sylvatica 94.40% Table 42 Comparison of BN43206527 (SEQ ID NO: 78) to known protein phosphatase 2A proteins 10 Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) NP_172514 A. thaliana 97.40% AAM65099 A. thaliana 96.10% AAQ67226 L. esculentum 95.10% BAA92697 V. faba 94.10% AAQ67225 L. esculentum 94.10% Table 43 Comparison of HA66872964 (SEQ ID NO: 80) to known protein phosphatase 2A proteins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) P48579 H. annuus 99.30% BAA92697 V. faba 93.50% CAC11129 F. sylvatica 93.10% BAA92698 V. faba 92.80% Q9ZSE4 Hevea brasiliensis 92.80% 15 33 Table 44 Comparison of LU61662612 (SEQ ID NO: 82) to known protein phosphatase 2A proteins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) AAQ67226 L. esculentum 94.10% BAA92697 V. faba 94.10% BAA92698 V. faba 94.10% CAN74947 V. vinifera 93.50% CAC11129 F. sylvatica 93.10% 5 Table 45 Comparison of OS32806943 (SEQ ID NO: 84) to known protein phosphatase 2A proteins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) AAC72838 0. sativa 96.10% BAD17175 0. sativa 95.80% AAA91806 0. sativa 94.80% AAQ67226 L. esculentum 93.20% BAA92697 V. faba 93.20% 10 Table 46 Comparison of OS34738749 (SEQ ID NO: 86) to known protein phosphatase 2A proteins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) AAQ67226 L. esculentum 97.70% BAA92697 V. faba 97.10% CAC1 1129 F. sylvatica 96.70% BAA92698 V. faba 96.10% AAQ67225 L. esculentum 96.10% 34 Table 47 Comparison of ZM59400933 (SEQ iD NO: 88) to known protein phosphatase 2A proteins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) AAC72838 0. sativa 95.80% AAA91806 0. sativa 94.40% BAA92697 V. faba 92.80% AAQ67226 L. esculentum 92.80% AAQ67225 L. esculentum 92.80% 5 Table 48 Comparison of ZM62132060 (SEQ ID NO: 90) to known protein phosphatase 2A proteins Public Database Species Sequence Accession # Identity (%) AAC72838 0. sativa 95.10% AAA91806 0. sativa 93.80% BAA92697 V. faba 92.80% AAQ67226 L. esculentum 92.50% BAD17175 O. sativa 92.50% [0098] The full-length DNA sequence of the ZM59202533 (SEQ ID NO: 91) was blasted 10 against proprietary databases of canola, soybean, rice, maize, linseed, sunflower, and wheat cDNAs at an e value of e- 10 (Altschul et al., 1997, Nucleic Acids Res. 25: 3389-3402). All the contig hits were analyzed for the putative full length sequences, and the longest clones repre senting the putative full length contigs were fully sequenced. Two homologs from canola and one homolog from maize were identified. The degree of amino acid identity of these se 15 quences to the closest known public sequences is indicated in Tables 49-51 (Pairwise Com parison was used: gap penalty: 10; gap extension penalty: 0.1; score matrix: blosum62). Table 49 Comparison of BN41901422 (SEQ ID NO: 94) to known MEKI protein kinases 20 Public Data- Species Sequence base Accession Identity (%) ABF55661 synthetic construct 79.80% NP_849446 A. thaliana 76.30% AAQ96337 Vitis aestivalis 66.00% AAL62336 G. max 64.10% AAS21304 Petroselinum crispum 63.60% 35 Table 50 Comparison of BN47868329 (SEQ ID NO: 96) to known MEK1 protein kinases Public Data- Species Sequence base Acces- Identity (%) sion # NP_188759 A. thaliana 72.30% CAA68958 A. thaliana 72.00% ABF55664 synthetic construct 70.90% AAL91161 A. thaliana 70.10% AAU04434 L. esculentum 66.40% 5 Table 51 Comparison of ZM68416988 (SEQ ID NO: 100) to known MEKI protein kinases Public Data- Species Sequence base Acces- Identity (%) sion if AB193775 Oryza minuta 80.00% NP_001056806 0. sativa 79.70% ABP88102 0. sativa 78.90% CAD45180 0. sativa 75.20% ABi93776 0. minute 72.40% EXAMPLE 2 10 Well-watered Arabidopsis plants The polynucleotides of Table I are ligated into a binary vector containing a selectable marker. The resulting recombinant vector contains the corresponding gene in the sense orientation under a constitutive promoter. The recombinant vectors are trans formed into an Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain according to standard conditions. A. 15 thaliana ecotype Col-0 or C24 are grown and transformed according to standard conditions. T1 and T2 plants are screened for resistance to the selection agent conferred by the select able marker gene. T3 seeds are used in greenhouse or growth chamber experiments. Approximately 3-5 days prior to planting, seeds are refrigerated for stratifica tion. Seeds are then planted, fertilizer is applied and humidity is maintained using transpar 20 ent domes. Plants are grown in a greenhouse at 22*C with photoperiod of 16 hours light/8 hours dark. Plants are watered twice a week. At 19 and 22 days, plant area, leaf area, biomass, color distribution, color intensity, and growth rate for each plant are measured using using a commercially available imaging system. Biomass is calculated as the total plant leaf area at the last measuring 25 time point. Growth rate is calculated as the plant leaf area at the last measuring time point 36 minus the plant leaf area at the first measuring time point divided by the plant leaf area at the first measuring time point. Health index is calculated as the dark green leaf area di vided by the total plant leaf area. 5 EXAMPLE Nitrogen stress tolerant Arabidopsis plants The polynucleotides of Table I are ligated into a binary vector containing a selectable marker. The resulting recombinant vector contains the corresponding gene in the sense orientation under a constitutive promoter. The recombinant vectors are trans 10 formed into an A. tumefaciens strain according to standard conditions. A. thaliana ecotype Col-0 or C24 are grown and transformed according to standard conditions. T1 and T2 plants are screened for resistance to the selection agent conferred by the selectable marker gene. Plants are grown in flats using a substrate that contains no organic compo 15 nents. Each flat is wet with water before seedlings resistant to the selection agent are transplanted onto substrate. Plants are grown in a growth chamber set to 220C with a 55% relative humidity with photoperiod set at 16h light/ 8h dark. A controlled low or high nitrogen nutrient solution is added to waterings on Days 12, 15, 22 and 29. Watering without nutri ent solution occurs on Days 18, 25, and 32. Images of all plants in a tray are taken on days 20 26, 30, and 33 using a commercially available imaging system. At each imaging time point, biomass and plant phenotypes for each plant are measured including plant area, leaf area, biomass, color distribution, color intensity, and growth rate. EXAMPLE 4 25 Stress-tolerant Rapeseed/Canola plants [0099] Canola cotyledonary petioles of 4 day-old young seedlings are used as ex plants for tissue culture and transformed according to EP1566443. The commercial cultivar Westar (Agriculture Canada) is the standard variety used for transformation, but other varie ties can be used. A. tumefaciens GV3101:pMP90RK containing a binary vector is used for 30 canola transformation. The standard binary vector used for transformation is pSUN (WO02/00900), but many different binary vector systems have been described for plant transformation (e.g. An, G. in Agrobacterium Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology vol 44, pp 47-62, Gartland KMA and MR Davey eds. Humana Press, Totowa, New Jersey). A plant gene expression cassette comprising a selection marker gene, a plant promoter, and 35 a polynucleotide of Table I is employed. Various selection marker genes can be used in cluding the mutated acetohydroxy acid synthase (AHAS) gene disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 5,767,366 and 6,225,105. A suitable promoter is used to regulate the trait gene to provide constitutive, developmental, tissue or environmental regulation of gene transcription. [00100] Canola seeds are surface-sterilized in 70% ethanol for 2 min, incubated for 40 15 min in 55CC warm tap water and then in 1.5% sodium hypochlorite for 10 minutes, fol lowed by three rinses with sterilized distilled water. Seeds are then placed on MS medium without hormones, containing Gamborg B5 vitamins, 3% sucrose, and 0.8% Oxoidagar.

37 Seeds are germinated at 24*C for 4 days in low light (< 50 pMol/m 2 s, 16 hours light). The cotyledon petiole explants with the cotyledon attached are excised from the in vitro seed lings, and inoculated with Agrobacterium by dipping the cut end of the petiole explant into the bacterial suspension. The explants are then cultured for 3 days on MS medium includ 5 ing vitamins containing 3.75 mg/I BAP, 3% sucrose, 0.5 g/l MES, pH 5.2, 0.5 mg/I GA3, 0.8% Oxoidagar at 24"C, 16 hours of light. After three days of co-cultivation with Agrobac terium, the petiole explants are transferred to regeneration medium containing 3.75 mg/I BAP, 0.5 mg/I GA3, 0.5 g/I MES, pH 5.2, 300 mg/I timentin and selection agent until shoot regeneration. As soon as explants start to develop shoots, they are transferred to shoot 10 elongation medium (A6, containing full strength MS medium including vitamins, 2% su crose, 0.5% Oxoidagar, 100 mg/I myo-inositol, 40 mg/l adenine sulfate, 0.5 g/l MES, pH 5.8, 0.0025 mg/l BAP, 0.1 mg/I IBA, 300 mg/ timentin and selection agent). [00101] Samples from both in vitro and greenhouse material of the primary transgenic plants (TO) are analyzed by qPCR using TaqMan probes to confirm the presence of T-DNA 15 and to determine the number of T-DNA integrations. [00102] Seed is produced from the primary transgenic plants by self-pollination. The second-generation plants are grown in greenhouse conditions and self-pollinated. The plants are analyzed by qPCR using TaqMan probes to confirm the presence of T-DNA and to determine the number of T-DNA integrations. Homozygous transgenic, heterozygous 20 transgenic and azygous (null transgenic) plants are compared for their stress tolerance, for example, in the assays described in Examples 2 and 3, and for yield, both in the green house and in field studies. EXAMPLE 5 25 Screening for stress-tolerant rice plants [00103] Transgenic rice plants comprising a polynucleotide of Table 1 are generated using known methods. Approximately 15 to 20 independent transformants (TO) are gener ated. The primary transformants are transferred from tissue culture chambers to a green house for growing and harvest of T1 seeds. Five events of the T1 progeny segregated 3:1 30 for presence/absence of the transgene are retained. For each of these events, 10 T1 seed lings containing the transgene (hetero- and homozygotes), and 10 TI seedlings lacking the transgene (nullizygotes) are selected by visual marker screening. The selected T1 plants are transferred to a greenhouse. Each plant receives a unique barcode label to link unam biguously the phenotyping data to the corresponding plant. The selected T1 plants are 35 grown on soil in 10 cm diameter pots under the following environmental settings: photope riod = 11.5 h, daylight intensity = 30,000 lux or more, daytime temperature = 28*C or higher, night time temperature = 22*C, relative humidity = 60-70%. Transgenic plants and the cor responding nullizygotes are grown side-by-side at random positions. From the stage of sowing until the stage of maturity, the plants are passed several times through a digital im 40 aging cabinet. At each time point digital, images (2048x1 536 pixels, 16 million colours) of each plant are taken from at least 6 different angles. [00104] The data obtained in the first experiment with T1 plants are confirmed in a 38 second experiment with T2 plants. Lines that have the correct expression pattern are se lected for further analysis. Seed batches from the positive plants (both hetero- and homo zygotes) in T1 are screened by monitoring marker expression. For each chosen event, the heterozygote seed batches are then retained for T2 evaluation. Within each seed batch, an 5 equal number of positive and negative plants are grown in the greenhouse for evaluation. [00105] Transgenic plants are screened for their improved growth and/or yield and/or stress tolerance, for example, using the assays described in Examples 2 and 3, and for yield, both in the greenhouse and in field studies. 10 EXAMPLE 6 Stress-tolerant soybean plants [00106] The polynucleotides of Table I are transformed into soybean using the meth ods described in commonly owned copending international application number WO 2005/121345, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 15 [00107] The transgenic plants generated are then screened for their improved growth under water-limited conditions and/or drought, salt, and/or cold tolerance, for example, us ing the assays described in Examples 2 and 3, and for yield, both in the greenhouse and in field studies. 20 EXAMPLE 7 Stress-tolerant wheat plants [00108] The polynucleotides of Table I are transformed into wheat using the method described by Ishida et al., 1996, Nature Biotech. 14745-50. Immature embryos are co cultivated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens that carry "super binary" vectors, and transgenic 25 plants are recovered through organogenesis. This procedure provides a transformation effi ciency between 2.5% and 20%. The transgenic plants are then screened for their improved growth and/or yield under water-limited conditions and/or stress tolerance, for example, is the assays described in Examples 2 and 3, and for yield, both in the greenhouse and in field studies. 30 EXAMPLE 8 Stress-tolerant corn plants [00109] The polynucleotides of Table 1 are transformed into immature embryos of corn using Agrobacterium. After imbibition, embryos are transferred to medium without se 35 lection agent. Seven to ten days later, embryos are transferred to medium containing se lection agent and grown for 4 weeks (two 2-week transfers) to obtain transformed callus cells. Plant regeneration is initiated by transferring resistant calli to medium supplemented with selection agent and grown under light at 25-27C for two to three weeks. Regenerated shoots are then transferred to rooting box with medium containing selection agent. Plant 40 lets with roots are transferred to potting mixture in small pots in the greenhouse and after acclimatization are then transplanted to larger pots and maintained in greenhouse till matur ity.

39 [00110] Using assays such as the assay described in Examples 2 and 3, each of these plants is uniquely labeled, sampled and analyzed for transgene copy number. Trans gene positive and negative plants are marked and paired with similar sizes for transplanting together to large pots. This provides a uniform and competitive environment for the trans 5 gene positive and negative plants. The large pots are watered to a certain percentage of the field water capacity of the soil depending the severity of water-stress desired. The soil water level is maintained by watering every other day. Plant growth and physiology traits such as height, stem diameter, leaf rolling, plant wilting, leaf extension rate, leaf water status, chlorophyll content and photosynthesis rate are measured during the growth period. 10 After a period of growth, the above ground portion of the plants is harvested, and the fresh weight and dry weight of each plant are taken. A comparison of the drought tolerance phenotype between the transgene positive and negative plants is then made. [00111] Using assays such as the assay described in Example 2 and 3, the pots are covered with caps that permit the seedlings to grow through but minimize water loss. Each 15 pot is weighed periodically and water added to maintain the initial water content. At the end of the experiment, the fresh and dry weight of each plant is measured, the water consumed by each plant is calculated and WUE of each plant is computed. Plant growth and physiol ogy traits such as WUE, height, stem diameter, leaf rolling, plant wilting, leaf extension rate, leaf water status, chlorophyll content and photosynthesis rate are measured during the ex 20 periment. A comparison of WUE phenotype between the transgene positive and negative plants is then made. [00112] Using assays such as the assay described in Example 2 and 3, these pots are kept in an area in the greenhouse that has uniform environmental conditions, and culti vated optimally. Each of these plants is uniquely labeled, sampled and analyzed for trans 25 gene copy number. The plants are allowed to grow under theses conditions until they reach a predefined growth stage. Water is then withheld. Plant growth and physiology traits such as height, stem diameter, leaf rolling, plant wilting, leaf extension rate, leaf water status, chlorophyll content and photosynthesis rate are measured as stress intensity increases. A comparison of the dessication tolerance phenotype between transgene positive and nega 30 tive plants is then made. [00113] Segregating transgenic corn seeds for a transformation event are planted in small pots for testing in a cycling drought assay. These pots are kept in an area in the greenhouse that has uniform environmental conditions, and cultivated optimally. Each of these plants is uniquely labeled, sampled and analyzed for transgene copy number. The 35 plants are allowed to grow under theses conditions until they reach a predefined growth stage. Plants are then repeatedly watered to saturation at a fixed interval of time. This wa ter/drought cycle is repeated for the duration of the experiment. Plant growth and physiol ogy traits such as height, stem diameter, leaf rolling, leaf extension rate, leaf water status, chlorophyll content and photosynthesis rate are measured during the growth period. At the 40 end of the experiment, the plants are harvested for above-ground fresh and dry weight. A comparison of the cycling drought tolerance phenotype between transgene positive and negative plants is then made.

40 [00114] In order to test segregating transgenic corn for drought tolerance under rain free conditions, managed-drought stress at a single location or multiple locations is used. Crop water availability is controlled by drip tape or overhead irrigation at a location which has less than 10cm rainfall and minimum temperatures greater than 50C expected during an 5 average 5 month season, or a location with expected in-season precipitation intercepted by an automated "rain-out shelter" which retracts to provide open field conditions when not required. Standard agronomic practices in the area are followed for soil preparation, plant ing, fertilization and pest control. Each plot is sown with seed segregating for the presence of a single transgenic insertion event. A Taqman transgene copy number assay is used on 10 leaf samples to differentiate the transgenics from null-segregant control plants. Plants that have been genotyped in this manner are also scored for a range of phenotypes related to drought-tolerance, growth and yield. These phenotypes include plant height, grain weight per plant, grain number per plant, ear number per plant, above ground dry-weight, leaf con ductance to water vapor, leaf C02 uptake, leaf chlorophyll content, photosynthesis-related 15 chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, water use efficiency, leaf water potential, leaf relative water content, stem sap flow rate, stem hydraulic conductivity, leaf temperature, leaf reflec tance, leaf light absorptance, leaf area, days to flowering, anthesis-silking interval, duration of grain fill, osmotic potential, osmotic adjustment, root size, leaf extension rate, leaf angle, leaf rolling and survival. All measurements are made with commercially available instru 20 mentation for field physiology, using the standard protocols provided by the manufacturers. Individual plants are used as the replicate unit per event. [00115] In order to test non-segregating transgenic corn for drought tolerance under rain-free conditions, managed-drought stress at a single location or multiple locations is used. Crop water availability is controlled by drip tape or overhead irrigation at a location 25 which has less than 10cm rainfall and minimum temperatures greater than 50C expected during an average 5 month season, or a location with expected in-season precipitation in tercepted by an automated "rain-out shelter" which retracts to provide open field conditions when not required. Standard agronomic practices in the area are followed for soil prepara tion, planting, fertilization and pest control. Trial layout is designed to pair a plot containing 30 a non-segregating transgenic event with an adjacent plot of null-segregant controls. A null segregant is progeny (or lines derived from the progeny) of a transgenic plant that does not contain the transgene due to Mendelian segregation. Additional replicated paired plots for a particular event are distributed around the trial. A range of phenotypes related to drought tolerance, growth and yield are scored in the paired plots and estimated at the plot level. 35 When the measurement technique could only be applied to individual plants, these are se lected at random each time from within the plot. These phenotypes include plant height, grain weight per plant, grain number per plant, ear number per plant, above ground dry weight, leaf conductance to water vapor, leaf C02 uptake, leaf chlorophyll content, photo synthesis-related chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, water use efficiency, leaf water po 40 tential, leaf relative water content, stem sap flow rate, stem hydraulic conductivity, leaf tem perature, leaf reflectance, leaf light absorptance, leaf area, days to flowering, anthesis silking interval, duration of grain fill, osmotic potential, osmotic adjustment, root size, leaf 41 extension rate, leaf angle, leaf rolling and survival. All measurements are made with com mercially available instrumentation for field physiology, using the standard protocols pro vided by the manufacturers. Individual plots are used as the replicate unit per event. {00116] To perform multi-location testing of transgenic corn for drought tolerance and 5 yield, five to twenty locations encompassing major corn growing regions are selected. These are widely distributed to provide a range of expected crop water availabilities based on average temperature, humidity, precipitation and soil type. Crop water availability is not modified beyond standard agronomic practices. Trial layout is designed to pair a plot con taining a non-segregating transgenic event with an adjacent plot of null-segregant controls. 10 A range of phenotypes related to drought-tolerance, growth and yield are scored in the paired plots and estimated at the plot level. When the measurement technique could only be applied to individual plants, these are selected at random each time from within the plot. These phenotypes included plant height, grain weight per plant, grain number per plant, ear number per plant, above ground dry-weight, leaf conductance to water vapor, leaf CO 2 up 15 take, leaf chlorophyll content, photosynthesis-related chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, water use efficiency, leaf water potential, leaf relative water content, stem sap flow rate, stem hydraulic conductivity, leaf temperature, leaf reflectance, leaf light absorptance, leaf area, days to flowering, anthesis-silking interval, duration of grain fill, osmotic potential, os motic adjustment, root size, leaf extension rate, leaf angle, leaf rolling and survival. All 20 measurements are made with commercially available instrumentation for field physiology, using the standard protocols provided by the manufacturers. Individual plots are used as the replicate unit per event.

Claims (3)

1. 2. An isolated polynucleotide having a sequence selected from the group consisting of 10 the polynucleotide sequences set forth in Table 1.
2. 3. An isolated polypeptide having a sequence selected from the group consisting of the polypeptide sequences set forth in Table 1. 15 4. A method of producing a transgenic plant comprising at least one polynudeotide listed in Table 1, wherein expression of the polynucleotide in the plant results in the plant's increased growth and/or yield under normal or water-limited conditions and/or increased tolerance to en environmental stress as compared to a wild type va iety of the plant comprising the steps of: 20 (a) introducing into a plant cell an expression vector composing at least one polynu cleotide listed in Table 1, and (b) generating from the plant cell a transgenic plant that expresses the polynucleo tide, wherein expression of the polynucleotide in the transgenic plant results in the plant's 25 increased growth and/or yield under normal or water-limited conditions and/or in creased tolerance to environmental stress as compared to a wild type variety of the plant.
3. 5. A method of increasing a plant's growth and/or yield under normal or water-limited 30 conditions and/or increasing a plant's tolerance to an environmental stress comprising the steps of increasing the expression of at least one polynucleotide listed in Table i in the plant.