ISOLATED POLYNUCLEOTIDES AND POLYPEPTIDES,

CONSTRUCT AND PLANTS COMPRISING SAME AND METHODS OF USING SAME FOR INCREASING NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY

OF PLANTS

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to isolated polypeptides and polynucleotides, nucleic acid constructs comprising same, transgenic cells comprising same, transgenic plants exogenously expressing same and more particularly, but not exclusively, to methods of using same for increasing fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., nitrogen use efficiency), yield (e.g., seed yield, oil yield), biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant.

A common approach to promote plant growth has been, and continues to be, the use of natural as well as synthetic nutrients (fertilizers). Thus, fertilizers are the fuel behind the "green revolution", directly responsible for the exceptional increase in crop yields during the last 40 years, and are considered the number one overhead expense in agriculture. For example, inorganic nitrogenous fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, or urea, typically accounts for 40 % of the costs associated with crops such as corn and wheat. Of the three macronutrients provided as main fertilizers [Nitrogen (N), Phosphate (P) and Potassium (K)], nitrogen is often the rate-limiting element in plant growth and all field crops have a fundamental dependence on inorganic nitrogenous fertilizer. Nitrogen is responsible for biosynthesis of amino and nucleic acids, prosthetic groups, plant hormones, plant chemical defenses, etc. and usually needs to be replenished every year, particularly for cereals, which comprise more than half of the cultivated areas worldwide. Thus, nitrogen is translocated to the shoot, where it is stored in the leaves and stalk during the rapid step of plant development and up until flowering. In corn for example, plants accumulate the bulk of their organic nitrogen during the period of grain germination, and until flowering. Once fertilization of the plant has occurred, grains begin to form and become the main sink of plant nitrogen. The stored nitrogen can be then redistributed from the leaves and stalk that served as storage compartments until grain formation. Since fertilizer is rapidly depleted from most soil types, it must be supplied to growing crops two or three times during the growing season. In addition, the low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of the main crops (e.g., in the range of only 30-70 %) negatively affects the input expenses for the farmer, due to the excess fertilizer applied. Moreover, the over and inefficient use of fertilizers are major factors responsible for environmental problems such as eu trophic ation of groundwater, lakes, rivers and seas, nitrate pollution in drinking water which can cause methemoglobinemia, phosphate pollution, atmospheric pollution and the like. However, in spite of the negative impact of fertilizers on the environment, and the limits on fertilizer use, which have been legislated in several countries, the use of fertilizers is expected to increase in order to support food and fiber production for rapid population growth on limited land resources. For example, it has been estimated that by 2050, more than 150 million tons of nitrogenous fertilizer will be used worldwide annually.

Increased use efficiency of nitrogen by plants should enable crops to be cultivated with lower fertilizer input, or alternatively to be cultivated on soils of poorer quality and would therefore have significant economic impact in both developed and developing agricultural systems.

Genetic improvement of fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) in plants can be generated either via traditional breeding or via genetic engineering.

Attempts to generate plants with increased FUE have been described in U.S. Pat.

Appl. Publication No. 20020046419 (U.S. Patent No. 7,262,055 to Choo, et al.); U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 20050108791 to Edgerton et al.; U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 20060179511 to Chomet et al.; Good, A, et al. 2007 (Engineering nitrogen use efficiency with alanine aminotransferase. Canadian Journal of Botany 85: 252-262); and Good AG et al. 2004 (Trends Plant Sci. 9:597-605).

Yanagisawa et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2004 101:7833-8) describe Dofl transgenic plants which exhibit improved growth under low-nitrogen conditions.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,084,153 to Good et al. discloses the use of a stress responsive promoter to control the expression of Alanine Amine Transferase (AlaAT) and transgenic canola plants with improved drought and nitrogen deficiency tolerance when compared to control plants. Yield is affected by various factors, such as, the number and size of the plant organs, plant architecture (for example, the number of branches), grains set length, number of filled grains, vigor (e.g. seedling), growth rate, root development, utilization of water, nutrients (e.g., nitrogen) and fertilizers, and stress tolerance.

Crops such as, corn, rice, wheat, canola and soybean account for over half of total human caloric intake, whether through direct consumption of the seeds themselves or through consumption of meat products raised on processed seeds or forage. Seeds are also a source of sugars, proteins and oils and metabolites used in industrial processes. The ability to increase plant yield, whether through increase dry matter accumulation rate, modifying cellulose or lignin composition, increase stalk strength, enlarge meristem size, change of plant branching pattern, erectness of leaves, increase in fertilization efficiency, enhanced seed dry matter accumulation rate, modification of seed development, enhanced seed filling or by increasing the content of oil, starch or protein in the seeds would have many applications in agricultural and non-agricultural uses such as in the biotechnological production of pharmaceuticals, antibodies or vaccines.

Vegetable or seed oils are the major source of energy and nutrition in human and animal diet. They are also used for the production of industrial products, such as paints, inks and lubricants. In addition, plant oils represent renewable sources of long-chain hydrocarbons which can be used as fuel. Since the currently used fossil fuels are finite resources and are gradually being depleted, fast growing biomass crops may be used as alternative fuels or for energy feedstocks and may reduce the dependence on fossil energy supplies. However, the major bottleneck for increasing consumption of plant oils as bio-fuel is the oil price, which is still higher than fossil fuel. In addition, the production rate of plant oil is limited by the availability of agricultural land and water. Thus, increasing plant oil yields from the same growing area can effectively overcome the shortage in production space and can decrease vegetable oil prices at the same time.

Studies aiming at increasing plant oil yields focus on the identification of genes involved in oil metabolism as well as in genes capable of increasing plant and seed yields in transgenic plants. Genes known to be involved in increasing plant oil yields include those participating in fatty acid synthesis or sequestering such as desaturase [e.g., DELTA6, DELTA12 or acyl-ACP (Ssi2; Arabidopsis Information Resource (TAIR; arabidopsis (dot) org/), TAIR No. AT2G43710)], OleosinA (TAIR No. AT3G01570) or FAD3 (TAIR No. AT2G29980), and various transcription factors and activators such as Lecl [TAIR No. AT1G21970, Lotan et al. 1998. Cell. 26;93(7): 1195- 205], Lec2 [TAIR No. AT1G28300, Santos Mendoza et al. 2005, FEBS Lett. 579(21):4666-70], Fus3 (TAIR No. AT3G26790), ABI3 [TAIR No. AT3G24650, Lara et al. 2003. J Biol Chem. 278(23): 21003-11] and Wril [TAIR No. AT3G54320, Cernac and Benning, 2004. Plant J. 40(4): 575-85].

Genetic engineering efforts aiming at increasing oil content in plants (e.g., in seeds) include upregulating endoplasmic reticulum (FAD3) and plastidal (FAD7) fatty acid desaturases in potato (Zabrouskov V., et al., 2002; Physiol Plant. 116: 172-185); over-expressing the GmDof4 and GmDofl l transcription factors (Wang HW et al., 2007; Plant J. 52:716-29); over-expressing a yeast glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase under the control of a seed-specific promoter (Vigeolas H, et al. 2007, Plant Biotechnol J. 5:431-41; U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 20060168684); using Arabidopsis FAE1 and yeast SLCl-1 genes for improvements in erucic acid and oil content in rapeseed (Katavic V, et al., 2000, Biochem Soc Trans. 28:935-7).

Various patent applications disclose genes and proteins which can increase oil content in plants. These include for example, U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 20080076179 (lipid metabolism protein); U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 20060206961 (the Yprl40w polypeptide); U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 20060174373 [triacylglycerols synthesis enhancing protein (TEP)]; U.S. Pat. Appl. Nos. 20070169219, 20070006345, 20070006346 and 20060195943 (disclose transgenic plants with improved nitrogen use efficiency which can be used for the conversion into fuel or chemical feedstocks); WO2008/122980 (polynucleotides for increasing oil content, growth rate, biomass, yield and/or vigor of a plant).

Abiotic stress (ABS; also referred to as "environmental stress") conditions such as salinity, drought, flood, suboptimal temperature and toxic chemical pollution, cause substantial damage to agricultural plants. Most plants have evolved strategies to protect themselves against these conditions. However, if the severity and duration of the stress conditions are too great, the effects on plant development, growth and yield of most crop plants are profound. Furthermore, most of the crop plants are highly susceptible to abiotic stress and thus necessitate optimal growth conditions for commercial crop yields. Continuous exposure to stress causes major alterations in the plant metabolism which ultimately leads to cell death and consequently yield losses.

Drought is a gradual phenomenon, which involves periods of abnormally dry weather that persists long enough to produce serious hydrologic imbalances such as crop damage, water supply shortage and increased susceptibility to various diseases. In severe cases, drought can last many years and results in devastating effects on agriculture and water supplies. Furthermore, drought is associated with increase susceptibility to various diseases.

For most crop plants, the land regions of the world are too arid. In addition, overuse of available water results in increased loss of agriculturally-usable land (desertification), and increase of salt accumulation in soils adds to the loss of available water in soils.

Salinity, high salt levels, affects one in five hectares of irrigated land. None of the top five food crops, i.e., wheat, corn, rice, potatoes, and soybean, can tolerate excessive salt. Detrimental effects of salt on plants result from both water deficit, which leads to osmotic stress (similar to drought stress), and the effect of excess sodium ions on critical biochemical processes. As with freezing and drought, high salt causes water deficit; and the presence of high salt makes it difficult for plant roots to extract water from their environment. Soil salinity is thus one of the more important variables that determine whether a plant may thrive. In many parts of the world, sizable land areas are uncultivable due to naturally high soil salinity. Thus, salination of soils that are used for agricultural production is a significant and increasing problem in regions that rely heavily on agriculture, and is worsen by over-utilization, over-fertilization and water shortage, typically caused by climatic change and the demands of increasing population. Salt tolerance is of particular importance early in a plant's lifecycle, since evaporation from the soil surface causes upward water movement, and salt accumulates in the upper soil layer where the seeds are placed. On the other hand, germination normally takes place at a salt concentration which is higher than the mean salt level in the whole soil profile.

Salt and drought stress signal transduction consist of ionic and osmotic homeostasis signaling pathways. The ionic aspect of salt stress is signaled via the SOS pathway where a calcium-responsive SOS3-SOS2 protein kinase complex controls the expression and activity of ion transporters such as SOS 1. The osmotic component of salt stress involves complex plant reactions that overlap with drought and/or cold stress responses.

Suboptimal temperatures affect plant growth and development through the whole plant life cycle. Thus, low temperatures reduce germination rate and high temperatures result in leaf necrosis. In addition, mature plants that are exposed to excess of heat may experience heat shock, which may arise in various organs, including leaves and particularly fruit, when transpiration is insufficient to overcome heat stress. Heat also damages cellular structures, including organelles and cytoskeleton, and impairs membrane function. Heat shock may produce a decrease in overall protein synthesis, accompanied by expression of heat shock proteins, e.g., chaperones, which are involved in refolding proteins denatured by heat. High-temperature damage to pollen almost always occurs in conjunction with drought stress, and rarely occurs under well-watered conditions. Combined stress can alter plant metabolism in novel ways. Excessive chilling conditions, e.g., low, but above freezing, temperatures affect crops of tropical origins, such as soybean, rice, maize, and cotton. Typical chilling damage includes wilting, necrosis, chlorosis or leakage of ions from cell membranes. The underlying mechanisms of chilling sensitivity are not completely understood yet, but probably involve the level of membrane saturation and other physiological deficiencies. Excessive light conditions, which occur under clear atmospheric conditions subsequent to cold late summer/autumn nights, can lead to photoinhibition of photosynthesis (disruption of photosynthesis). In addition, chilling may lead to yield losses and lower product quality through the delayed ripening of maize.

Common aspects of drought, cold and salt stress response [Reviewed in Xiong and Zhu (2002) Plant Cell Environ. 25: 131-139] include: (a) transient changes in the cytoplasmic calcium levels early in the signaling event; (b) signal transduction via mitogen-activated and/or calcium dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) and protein phosphatases; (c) increases in abscisic acid levels in response to stress triggering a subset of responses; (d) inositol phosphates as signal molecules (at least for a subset of the stress responsive transcriptional changes; (e) activation of phospholipases which in turn generates a diverse array of second messenger molecules, some of which might regulate the activity of stress responsive kinases; (f) induction of late embryo genesis abundant (LEA) type genes including the CRT/DRE responsive COR/RD genes; (g) increased levels of antioxidants and compatible osmolytes such as proline and soluble sugars; and (h) accumulation of reactive oxygen species such as superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radicals. Abscisic acid biosynthesis is regulated by osmotic stress at multiple steps. Both ABA-dependent and -independent osmotic stress signaling first modify constitutively expressed transcription factors, leading to the expression of early response transcriptional activators, which then activate downstream stress tolerance effector genes.

Several genes which increase tolerance to cold or salt stress can also improve drought stress protection, these include for example, the transcription factor AtCBF/DREB l, OsCDPK7 (Saijo et al. 2000, Plant J. 23: 319-327) or AVP1 (a vacuolar pyrophosphatase-proton pump, Gaxiola et al. 2001, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98: 11444-11449).

Studies have shown that plant adaptations to adverse environmental conditions are complex genetic traits with polygenic nature. Conventional means for crop and horticultural improvements utilize selective breeding techniques to identify plants having desirable characteristics. However, selective breeding is tedious, time consuming and has an unpredictable outcome. Furthermore, limited germplasm resources for yield improvement and incompatibility in crosses between distantly related plant species represent significant problems encountered in conventional breeding. Advances in genetic engineering have allowed mankind to modify the germplasm of plants by expression of genes-of-interest in plants. Such a technology has the capacity to generate crops or plants with improved economic, agronomic or horticultural traits.

Genetic engineering efforts, aimed at conferring abiotic stress tolerance to transgenic crops, have been described in various publications [Apse and Blumwald (Curr Opin Biotechnol. 13: 146-150, 2002), Quesada et al. (Plant Physiol. 130:951-963, 2002), Holmstrom et al. (Nature 379: 683-684, 1996), Xu et al. (Plant Physiol 110: 249- 257, 1996), Pilon-Smits and Ebskamp (Plant Physiol 107: 125-130, 1995) and Tarczynski et al. (Science 259: 508-510, 1993)].

Various patents and patent applications disclose genes and proteins which can be used for increasing tolerance of plants to abiotic stresses. These include for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,296,462 and 5,356,816 (for increasing tolerance to cold stress); U.S. Pat. No. 6,670,528 (for increasing ABST); U.S. Pat. No. 6,720,477 (for increasing ABST); U.S. Application Ser. Nos. 09/938842 and 10/342224 (for increasing ABST); U.S. Application Ser. No. 10/231035 (for increasing ABST); WO2004/104162 (for increasing ABST and biomass); WO2007/020638 (for increasing ABST, biomass, vigor and/or yield); WO2007/049275 (for increasing ABST, biomass, vigor and/or yield); WO2010/076756 (for increasing ABST, biomass and/or yield);. WO2009/083958 (for increasing water use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, biotic/abiotic stress tolerance, yield and/or biomass); WO2010/020941 (for increasing nitrogen use efficiency, abiotic stress tolerance, yield and/or biomass); WO2009/141824 (for increasing plant utility); WO2010/049897 (for increasing plant yield).

Nutrient deficiencies cause adaptations of the root architecture, particularly notably for example is the root proliferation within nutrient rich patches to increase nutrient uptake. Nutrient deficiencies cause also the activation of plant metabolic pathways which maximize the absorption, assimilation and distribution processes such as by activating architectural changes. Engineering the expression of the triggered genes may cause the plant to exhibit the architectural changes and enhanced metabolism also under other conditions.

In addition, it is widely known that the plants usually respond to water deficiency by creating a deeper root system that allows access to moisture located in deeper soil layers. Triggering this effect will allow the plants to access nutrients and water located in deeper soil horizons particularly those readily dissolved in water like nitrates.

Cotton and cotton by-products provide raw materials that are used to produce a wealth of consumer-based products in addition to textiles including cotton foodstuffs, livestock feed, fertilizer and paper. The production, marketing, consumption and trade of cotton-based products generate an excess of $100 billion annually in the U.S. alone, making cotton the number one value-added crop.

Even though 90 % of cotton's value as a crop resides in the fiber (lint), yield and fiber quality has declined due to general erosion in genetic diversity of cotton varieties, and an increased vulnerability of the crop to environmental conditions. There are many varieties of cotton plant, from which cotton fibers with a range of characteristics can be obtained and used for various applications. Cotton fibers may be characterized according to a variety of properties, some of which are considered highly desirable within the textile industry for the production of increasingly high quality products and optimal exploitation of modem spinning technologies. Commercially desirable properties include length, length uniformity, fineness, maturity ratio, decreased fuzz fiber production, micronaire, bundle strength, and single fiber strength. Much effort has been put into the improvement of the characteristics of cotton fibers mainly focusing on fiber length and fiber fineness. In particular, there is a great demand for cotton fibers of specific lengths.

A cotton fiber is composed of a single cell that has differentiated from an epidermal cell of the seed coat, developing through four stages, i.e., initiation, elongation, secondary cell wall thickening and maturation stages. More specifically, the elongation of a cotton fiber commences in the epidermal cell of the ovule immediately following flowering, after which the cotton fiber rapidly elongates for approximately 21 days. Fiber elongation is then terminated, and a secondary cell wall is formed and grown through maturation to become a mature cotton fiber.

Several candidate genes which are associated with the elongation, formation, quality and yield of cotton fibers were disclosed in various patent applications such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,880,100 and U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 08/580,545, 08/867,484 and 09/262,653 (describing genes involved in cotton fiber elongation stage); WO0245485 (improving fiber quality by modulating sucrose synthase); U.S. Pat. No. 6,472,588 and WO0117333 (increasing fiber quality by transformation with a DNA encoding sucrose phosphate synthase); WO9508914 (using a fiber- specific promoter and a coding sequence encoding cotton peroxidase); W09626639 (using an ovary specific promoter sequence to express plant growth modifying hormones in cotton ovule tissue, for altering fiber quality characteristics such as fiber dimension and strength); U.S. Pat. No. 5,981,834, U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,718, U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,882, U.S. Pat. No. 5,521,708 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,070 (coding sequences to alter the fiber characteristics of transgenic fiber producing plants); U.S. patent applications U.S. 2002049999 and U.S. 2003074697 (expressing a gene coding for endoxyloglucan transferase, catalase or peroxidase for improving cotton fiber characteristics); WO 01/40250 (improving cotton fiber quality by modulating transcription factor gene expression); WO 96/40924 (a cotton fiber transcriptional initiation regulatory region associated which is expressed in cotton fiber); EP0834566 (a gene which controls the fiber formation mechanism in cotton plant); WO2005/121364 (improving cotton fiber quality by modulating gene expression); WO2008/075364 (improving fiber quality, yield/biomass/vigor and/or abiotic stress tolerance of plants).

WO publication No. 2004/104162 discloses methods of increasing abiotic stress tolerance and/or biomass in plants and plants generated thereby.

WO publication No. 2004/111183 discloses nucleotide sequences for regulating gene expression in plant trichomes and constructs and methods utilizing same.

WO publication No. 2004/081173 discloses novel plant derived regulatory sequences and constructs and methods of using such sequences for directing expression of exogenous polynucleotide sequences in plants.

WO publication No. 2005/121364 discloses polynucleotides and polypeptides involved in plant fiber development and methods of using same for improving fiber quality, yield and/or biomass of a fiber producing plant.

WO publication No. 2007/049275 discloses isolated polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding same, transgenic plants expressing same and methods of using same for increasing fertilizer use efficiency, plant abiotic stress tolerance and biomass.

WO publication No. 2007/020638 discloses methods of increasing abiotic stress tolerance and/or biomass in plants and plants generated thereby.

WO publication No. 2008/122980 discloses genes constructs and methods for increasing oil content, growth rate and biomass of plants.

WO publication No. 2008/075364 discloses polynucleotides involved in plant fiber development and methods of using same.

WO publication No. 2009/083958 discloses methods of increasing water use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, biotic/abiotic stress tolerance, yield and biomass in plant and plants generated thereby.

WO publication No. 2009/141824 discloses isolated polynucleotides and methods using same for increasing plant utility. WO publication No. 2009/013750 discloses genes, constructs and methods of increasing abiotic stress tolerance, biomass and/or yield in plants generated thereby.

WO publication No. 2010/020941 discloses methods of increasing nitrogen use efficiency, abiotic stress tolerance, yield and biomass in plants and plants generated thereby.

WO publication No. 2010/076756 discloses isolated polynucleotides for increasing abiotic stress tolerance, yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, and/or nitrogen use efficiency of a plant.

WO2010/100595 publication discloses isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides, and methods of using same for increasing plant yield and/or agricultural characteristics.

WO publication No. 2010/049897 discloses isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides and methods of using same for increasing plant yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, abiotic stress tolerance of plants and nitrogen use efficiency.

WO2010/143138 publication discloses isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides, and methods of using same for increasing nitrogen use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, yield, growth rate, vigor, biomass, oil content, abiotic stress tolerance and/or water use efficiency.

WO publication No. 2011/080674 discloses isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides and methods of using same for increasing plant yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, abiotic stress tolerance of plants and nitrogen use efficiency.

WO2011/015985 publication discloses polynucleotides and polypeptides for increasing desirable plant qualities.

WO2011/135527 publication discloses isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides for increasing plant yield and/or agricultural characteristics.

WO2012/028993 publication discloses isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides, and methods of using same for increasing nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, vigor, biomass, oil content, and/or abiotic stress tolerance.

WO2012/085862 publication discloses isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides, and methods of using same for improving plant properties. WO2012/150598 publication discloses isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides and methods of using same for increasing plant yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, abiotic stress tolerance of plants and nitrogen use efficiency.

WO2013/027223 publication discloses isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides, and methods of using same for increasing plant yield and/or agricultural characteristics.

WO2013/080203 publication discloses isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides, and methods of using same for increasing nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, vigor, biomass, oil content, and/or abiotic stress tolerance.

WO2013/098819 publication discloses isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides, and methods of using same for increasing yield of plants.

WO2013/128448 publication discloses isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides and methods of using same for increasing plant yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, abiotic stress tolerance of plants and nitrogen use efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of increasing nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant, comprising expressing within the plant an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide at least 80 % identical to SEQ ID NO: 496-794, 2898-3645, 3647-4854 or 4855, thereby increasing the nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of the plant.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of increasing nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant, comprising expressing within the plant an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, 2898-4854 and 4855, thereby increasing the nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of the plant.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of producing a crop comprising growing a crop plant transformed with an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide at least 80 % homologous to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, 2898-3645, 3647-4854 and 4855, wherein the crop plant is derived from plants selected for increased nitrogen use efficiency, increased yield, increased growth rate, increased biomass, increased vigor, increased oil content, increased seed yield, increased fiber yield, increased fiber quality, increased fiber length, increased photosynthetic capacity, and/or increased abiotic stress tolerance as compared to a wild type plant of the same species which is grown under the same growth conditions, and the crop plant having the increased nitrogen use efficiency, increased yield, increased growth rate, increased biomass, increased vigor, increased oil content, increased seed yield, increased fiber yield, increased fiber quality, increased fiber length, increased photosynthetic capacity, and/or increased abiotic stress tolerance, thereby producing the crop.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of increasing nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant, comprising expressing within the plant an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence at least 80 % identical to SEQ ID NO: 1-495, 795-2896 or 2897, thereby increasing the nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of the plant.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of increasing nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant, comprising expressing within the plant an exogenous polynucleotide comprising the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-495, 795-2896 and 2897, thereby increasing the nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of the plant.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of producing a crop comprising growing a crop plant transformed with an exogenous polynucleotide which comprises a nucleic acid sequence which is at least 80 % identical to the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-495, 795-2896 and 2897, wherein the crop plant is derived from plants (parent plants) selected for increased nitrogen use efficiency, increased yield, increased growth rate, increased biomass, increased vigor, increased oil content, increased seed yield, increased fiber yield, increased fiber quality, increased fiber length, increased photosynthetic capacity, and/or increased abiotic stress tolerance as compared to a wild type plant of the same species which is grown under the same growth conditions, and the crop plant having the increased nitrogen use efficiency, increased yield, increased growth rate, increased biomass, increased vigor, increased oil content, increased seed yield, increased fiber yield, increased fiber quality, increased fiber length, increased photosynthetic capacity, and/or increased abiotic stress tolerance, thereby producing the crop.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide which comprises an amino acid sequence at least 80 % homologous to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:496-794, 2898-3645, 3647-4854 or 4855, wherein the amino acid sequence is capable of increasing nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, 2898-4854 and 4855.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence at least 80 % identical to SEQ ID NO: 1-495, 795-2896 or 2897, wherein the nucleic acid sequence is capable of increasing nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photo synthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided an isolated polynucleotide comprising the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-495, 795-2896 and 2897.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a nucleic acid construct comprising the isolated polynucleotide of some embodiments of the invention, and a promoter for directing transcription of the nucleic acid sequence in a host cell.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 80% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 496-794, 2898-3645, 3647-4854 or 4855, wherein the amino acid sequence is capable of increasing nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided an isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, 2898-4854 and 4855.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a plant cell exogenously expressing the polynucleotide of some embodiments of the invention, or the nucleic acid construct of some embodiments of the invention.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a plant cell exogenously expressing the polypeptide of some embodiments of the invention.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a transgenic plant comprising the nucleic acid construct of some embodiments of the invention or the plant cell of some embodiments of the invention.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of growing a crop, the method comprising seeding seeds and/or planting plantlets of a plant transformed with the isolated polynucleotide of some embodiments of the invention, or with the nucleic acid construct of some embodiments of the invention, wherein the plant is derived from plants selected for at least one trait selected from the group consisting of: increased nitrogen use efficiency, increased abiotic stress tolerance, increased biomass, increased growth rate, increased vigor, increased yield and increased fiber yield, increased fiber quality, increased fiber length, increased photo synthetic capacity, and increased oil content as compared to a non- transformed plant, thereby growing the crop.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of selecting a transformed plant having increased nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance as compared to a wild type plant of the same species which is grown under the same growth conditions, the method comprising:

(a) providing plants transformed with an exogenous polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 80% homologous to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:496-794, 2898-3645, 3647-4854 and 4855,

(b) selecting from the plants a plant having nitrogen use efficiency, increased yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance,

thereby selecting the plant having increased nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance as compared to the wild type plant of the same species which is grown under the same growth conditions.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of selecting a transformed plant having increased nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance as compared to a wild type plant of the same species which is grown under the same growth conditions, the method comprising:

(a) providing plants transformed with an exogenous polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 80% identical to the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-495, 795-2896 and 2897, (b) selecting from the plants a plant having increased nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance,

thereby selecting the plant having increased nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance as compared to the wild type plant of the same species which is grown under the same growth conditions.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the nucleic acid sequence encodes an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, 2898-4854 and 4855.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the nucleic acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-495, 795-2896 and 2897.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the polynucleotide consists of the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-495, 795-2896 and 2897.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the nucleic acid sequence encodes the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, 2898-4854 and 4855.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the host cell is a plant cell. According to some embodiments of the invention, the plant cell forms part of a plant.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the method further comprising growing the plant expressing the exogenous polynucleotide under the abiotic stress.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the abiotic stress is selected from the group consisting of salinity, drought, osmotic stress, water deprivation, flood, etiolation, low temperature, high temperature, heavy metal toxicity, anaerobiosis, nutrient deficiency, nitrogen deficiency, nutrient excess, atmospheric pollution and UV irradiation.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the yield comprises seed yield or oil yield. According to some embodiments of the invention, the method further comprising growing the plant expressing the exogenous polynucleotide under nitrogen- limiting conditions.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the promoter is heterologous to the isolated polynucleotide and/or to the host cell.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the isolated polynucleotide is heterologous to the plant cell.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the non-transformed plant is a wild type plant of identical genetic background.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the non-transformed plant is a wild type plant of the same species.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the non-transformed plant is grown under identical growth conditions.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the method further comprising selecting a plant having an increased nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance as compared to the wild type plant of the same species which is grown under the same growth conditions.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and/or scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the invention, exemplary methods and/or materials are described below. In case of conflict, the patent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be necessarily limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of embodiments of the invention. In this regard, the description taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled in the art how embodiments of the invention may be practiced.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the modified pGI binary plasmid containing the new At6669 promoter (SEQ ID NO:4880) and the GUSintron (pQYN 6669) used for expressing the isolated polynucleotide sequences of the invention. RB - T-DNA right border; LB - T-DNA left border; MCS - Multiple cloning site; RE - any restriction enzyme; NOS pro = nopaline synthase promoter; NPT-II = neomycin phosphotransferase gene; NOS ter = nopaline synthase terminator; Poly-A signal (polyadenylation signal); GUSintron - the GUS reporter gene (coding sequence and intron). The isolated polynucleotide sequences of the invention were cloned into the vector while replacing the GUSintron reporter gene.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the modified pGI binary plasmid containing the new At6669 promoter (SEQ ID NO: 4880) (pQFN or pQFNc) used for expressing the isolated polynucleotide sequences of the invention. RB - T-DNA right border; LB - T-DNA left border; MCS - Multiple cloning site; RE - any restriction enzyme; NOS pro = nopaline synthase promoter; NPT-II = neomycin phosphotransferase gene; NOS ter = nopaline synthase terminator; Poly-A signal (polyadenylation signal); The isolated polynucleotide sequences of the invention were cloned into the MCS of the vector.

FIGs. 3A-F are images depicting visualization of root development of transgenic plants exogenously expressing the polynucleotide of some embodiments of the invention when grown in transparent agar plates under normal (Figures 3A-B), osmotic stress (15 % PEG; Figures 3C-D) or nitrogen-limiting (Figures 3E-F) conditions. The different transgenes were grown in transparent agar plates for 17 days (7 days nursery and 10 days after transplanting). The plates were photographed every 3-4 days starting at day 1 after transplanting. Figure 3A - An image of a photograph of plants taken following 10 after transplanting days on agar plates when grown under normal (standard) conditions. Figure 3B - An image of root analysis of the plants shown in Figure 3A in which the lengths of the roots measured are represented by arrows. Figure 3C - An image of a photograph of plants taken following 10 days after transplanting on agar plates, grown under high osmotic (PEG 15 %) conditions. Figure 3D - An image of root analysis of the plants shown in Figure 3C in which the lengths of the roots measured are represented by arrows. Figure 3E - An image of a photograph of plants taken following 10 days after transplanting on agar plates, grown under low nitrogen conditions. Figure 3F - An image of root analysis of the plants shown in Figure 3E in which the lengths of the roots measured are represented by arrows.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the modified pGI binary plasmid containing the Root Promoter (pQNa RP) used for expressing the isolated polynucleotide sequences of the invention. RB - T-DNA right border; LB - T-DNA left border; NOS pro = nopaline synthase promoter; NPT-II = neomycin phosphotransferase gene; NOS ter = nopaline synthase terminator; Poly- A signal (polyadenylation signal); The isolated polynucleotide sequences according to some embodiments of the invention were cloned into the MCS (Multiple cloning site) of the vector.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the pQYN plasmid.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the pQFN plasmid.

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of the pQFYN plasmid.

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of the modified pGI binary plasmid (pQXNc) used for expressing the isolated polynucleotide sequences of some embodiments of the invention. RB - T-DNA right border; LB - T-DNA left border; NOS pro = nopaline synthase promoter; NPT-II = neomycin phosphotransferase gene; NOS ter = nopaline synthase terminator; RE = any restriction enzyme; Poly-A signal (polyadenylation signal); 35S - the 35S promoter (pqfnc; SEQ ID NO: 4876). The isolated polynucleotide sequences of some embodiments of the invention were cloned into the MCS (Multiple cloning site) of the vector.

FIGs. 9A-B are schematic illustrations of the pEBbVNi tDNA (Figure 9 A) and the pEBbNi tDNA (Figure 9B) plasmids used in the Brachypodium experiments. pEBbVNi tDNA (Figure 9A) was used for expression of the isolated polynucleotide sequences of some embodiments of the invention in Brachypodium. pEBbNi tDNA (Figure 9B) was used for transformation into Brachypodium as a negative control. "RB" = right border; "2LBregion" = 2 repeats of left border; "35S" = 35S promoter (SEQ ID NO:4892); "NOS ter" = nopaline synthase terminator; "Bar ORF" - BAR open reading frame (GenBank Accession No. JQ293091.1; SEQ ID NO:5436); The isolated polynucleotide sequences of some embodiments of the invention were cloned into the Multiple cloning site of the vector using one or more of the indicated restriction enzyme sites.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present inventors have identified novel polypeptides and polynucleotides which can be used to generate nucleic acid constructs, transgenic plants and to increase nitrogen use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, yield, growth rate, vigor, biomass, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, abiotic stress tolerance and/or water use efficiency of a plant.

Thus, as shown in the Examples section which follows, the present inventors have utilized bioinformatics tools to identify polynucleotides which enhance/ increase fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., nitrogen use efficiency), yield (e.g., seed yield, oil yield, oil content), growth rate, biomass, vigor, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant. Genes which affect the trait-of-interest were identified (SEQ ID NOs: 496-794) for polypeptides; and SEQ ID NOs: 1-495 (for polynucleotides) based on expression profiles of genes of several Arabidopsis, Barley, Sorghum, Maize, tomato, and Foxtail millet ecotypes and accessions in various tissues and growth conditions, homology with genes known to affect the trait-of-interest and using digital expression profile in specific tissues and conditions (Tables 1, and 3-99, Examples 1 and 3-11 of the Examples section which follows). Homologous (e.g., orthologous) polypeptides and polynucleotides having the same function were also identified [SEQ ID NOs: 2898-4855 (for polypeptides), and SEQ ID NOs: 795-2897 (for polynucleotides); Table 2, Example 2 of the Examples section which follows]. The polynucleotides of some embodiments of the invention were cloned into binary vectors (Example 12, Table 100), and were further transformed into Arabidopsis and Brachypodium plants (Examples 13-15). Transgenic plants over- expressing the identified polynucleotides were found to exhibit increased biomass, growth rate, vigor and yield under normal growth conditions or under nitrogen limiting growth conditions (Tables 101-128; Examples 16-20), and increased tolerance to abiotic stress conditions (e.g., nutrient deficiency) as compared to control plants grown under the same growth conditions. Altogether, these results suggest the use of the novel polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 496-794 and 2898-4855 and SEQ ID NOs: 1-495 and 795-2897) for increasing nitrogen use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, yield (e.g., oil yield, seed yield and oil content), growth rate, biomass, vigor, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, water use efficiency and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant.

Thus, according to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided method of increasing fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., nitrogen use efficiency), oil content, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant, comprising expressing within the plant an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide at least about 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about 88 %, at least about 89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about 95 %, at least about 96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, or more say 100 % homologous to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, 2898-3645, 3647-4854 and 4855, thereby increasing the fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., nitrogen use efficiency), oil content, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of the plant.

As used herein the phrase "plant yield" refers to the amount (e.g., as determined by weight or size) or quantity (numbers) of tissues or organs produced per plant or per growing season. Hence increased yield could affect the economic benefit one can obtain from the plant in a certain growing area and/or growing time.

It should be noted that a plant yield can be affected by various parameters including, but not limited to, plant biomass; plant vigor; growth rate; seed yield; seed or grain quantity; seed or grain quality; oil yield; content of oil, starch and/or protein in harvested organs (e.g., seeds or vegetative parts of the plant); number of flowers (florets) per panicle (expressed as a ratio of number of filled seeds over number of primary panicles); harvest index; number of plants grown per area; number and size of harvested organs per plant and per area; number of plants per growing area (density); number of harvested organs in field; total leaf area; carbon assimilation and carbon partitioning (the distribution/allocation of carbon within the plant); resistance to shade; number of harvestable organs (e.g. seeds), seeds per pod, weight per seed; and modified architecture [such as increase stalk diameter, thickness or improvement of physical properties (e.g. elasticity)].

As used herein the phrase "seed yield" refers to the number or weight of the seeds per plant, seeds per pod, or per growing area or to the weight of a single seed, or to the oil extracted per seed. Hence seed yield can be affected by seed dimensions (e.g., length, width, perimeter, area and/or volume), number of (filled) seeds and seed filling rate and by seed oil content. Hence increase seed yield per plant could affect the economic benefit one can obtain from the plant in a certain growing area and/or growing time; and increase seed yield per growing area could be achieved by increasing seed yield per plant, and/or by increasing number of plants grown on the same given area.

The term "seed" (also referred to as "grain" or "kernel") as used herein refers to a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat (usually with some stored food), the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant.

The phrase "oil content" as used herein refers to the amount of lipids in a given plant organ, either the seeds (seed oil content) or the vegetative portion of the plant (vegetative oil content) and is typically expressed as percentage of dry weight (10 % humidity of seeds) or wet weight (for vegetative portion).

It should be noted that oil content is affected by intrinsic oil production of a tissue (e.g., seed, vegetative portion), as well as the mass or size of the oil-producing tissue per plant or per growth period.

In one embodiment, increase in oil content of the plant can be achieved by increasing the size/mass of a plant's tissue(s) which comprise oil per growth period. Thus, increased oil content of a plant can be achieved by increasing the yield, growth rate, biomass and vigor of the plant.

As used herein the phrase "plant biomass" refers to the amount (e.g., measured in grams of air-dry tissue) of a tissue produced from the plant in a growing season, which could also determine or affect the plant yield or the yield per growing area. An increase in plant biomass can be in the whole plant or in parts thereof such as aboveground (harvestable) parts, vegetative biomass, roots and seeds. As used herein the phrase "growth rate" refers to the increase in plant organ/tissue size per time (can be measured in cm per day or cm/day).

As used herein the phrase "photosynthetic capacity" (also known as "A _max ") is a measure of the maximum rate at which leaves are able to fix carbon during photosynthesis. It is typically measured as the amount of carbon dioxide that is fixed per square meter per second, for example as μιηοΐ m ^" sec ^" . Plants are able to increase their photosynthetic capacity by several modes of action, such as by increasing the total leaves area (e.g., by increase of leaves area, increase in the number of leaves, and increase in plant's vigor, e.g., the ability of the plant to grow new leaves along time course) as well as by increasing the ability of the plant to efficiently execute carbon fixation in the leaves. Hence, the increase in total leaves area can be used as a reliable measurement parameter for photosynthetic capacity increment.

As used herein the phrase "plant vigor" refers to the amount (measured by weight) of tissue produced by the plant in a given time. Hence increased vigor could determine or affect the plant yield or the yield per growing time or growing area. In addition, early vigor (seed and/or seedling) results in improved field stand.

Improving early vigor is an important objective of modern rice breeding programs in both temperate and tropical rice cultivars. Long roots are important for proper soil anchorage in water-seeded rice. Where rice is sown directly into flooded fields, and where plants must emerge rapidly through water, longer shoots are associated with vigour. Where drill-seeding is practiced, longer mesocotyls and coleoptiles are important for good seedling emergence. The ability to engineer early vigor into plants would be of great importance in agriculture. For example, poor early vigor has been a limitation to the introduction of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids based on Corn Belt germplasm in the European Atlantic.

It should be noted that a plant yield can be determined under stress (e.g., abiotic stress, nitrogen-limiting conditions) and/or non-stress (normal) conditions.

As used herein, the phrase "non-stress conditions" refers to the growth conditions (e.g., water, temperature, light-dark cycles, humidity, salt concentration, fertilizer concentration in soil, nutrient supply such as nitrogen, phosphorous and/or potassium), that do not significantly go beyond the everyday climatic and other abiotic conditions that plants may encounter, and which allow optimal growth, metabolism, reproduction and/or viability of a plant at any stage in its life cycle (e.g., in a crop plant from seed to a mature plant and back to seed again). Persons skilled in the art are aware of normal soil conditions and climatic conditions for a given plant in a given geographic location. It should be noted that while the non-stress conditions may include some mild variations from the optimal conditions (which vary from one type/species of a plant to another), such variations do not cause the plant to cease growing without the capacity to resume growth.

The phrase "abiotic stress" as used herein refers to any adverse effect on metabolism, growth, reproduction and/or viability of a plant. Accordingly, abiotic stress can be induced by suboptimal environmental growth conditions such as, for example, salinity, osmotic stress, water deprivation, drought, flooding, freezing, low or high temperature, heavy metal toxicity, anaerobiosis, nutrient deficiency (e.g., nitrogen deficiency or limited nitrogen), atmospheric pollution or UV irradiation. The implications of abiotic stress are discussed in the Background section.

The phrase "abiotic stress tolerance" as used herein refers to the ability of a plant to endure an abiotic stress without suffering a substantial alteration in metabolism, growth, productivity and/or viability.

Plants are subject to a range of environmental challenges. Several of these, including salt stress, general osmotic stress, drought stress and freezing stress, have the ability to impact whole plant and cellular water availability. Not surprisingly, then, plant responses to this collection of stresses are related. Zhu (2002) Ann. Rev. Plant Biol. 53: 247-273 et al. note that "most studies on water stress signaling have focused on salt stress primarily because plant responses to salt and drought are closely related and the mechanisms overlap". Many examples of similar responses and pathways to this set of stresses have been documented. For example, the CBF transcription factors have been shown to condition resistance to salt, freezing and drought (Kasuga et al. (1999) Nature Biotech. 17: 287-291). The Arabidopsis rd29B gene is induced in response to both salt and dehydration stress, a process that is mediated largely through an ABA signal transduction process (Uno et al. (2000) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97: 11632-11637), resulting in altered activity of transcription factors that bind to an upstream element within the rd29B promoter. In Mesembryanthemum crystallinum (ice plant), Patharker and Cushman have shown that a calcium-dependent protein kinase (McCDPKl) is induced by exposure to both drought and salt stresses (Patharker and Cushman (2000) Plant J. 24: 679-691). The stress-induced kinase was also shown to phosphorylate a transcription factor, presumably altering its activity, although transcript levels of the target transcription factor are not altered in response to salt or drought stress. Similarly, Saijo et al. demonstrated that a rice salt/drought-induced calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (OsCDPK7) conferred increased salt and drought tolerance to rice when overexpressed (Saijo et al. (2000) Plant J. 23: 319-327).

Exposure to dehydration invokes similar survival strategies in plants as does freezing stress (see, for example, Yelenosky (1989) Plant Physiol 89: 444-451) and drought stress induces freezing tolerance (see, for example, Siminovitch et al. (1982) Plant Physiol 69: 250-255; and Guy et al. (1992) Planta 188: 265-270). In addition to the induction of cold-acclimation proteins, strategies that allow plants to survive in low water conditions may include, for example, reduced surface area, or surface oil or wax production. In another example increased solute content of the plant prevents evaporation and water loss due to heat, drought, salinity, osmoticum, and the like therefore providing a better plant tolerance to the above stresses.

It will be appreciated that some pathways involved in resistance to one stress (as described above), will also be involved in resistance to other stresses, regulated by the same or homologous genes. Of course, the overall resistance pathways are related, not identical, and therefore not all genes controlling resistance to one stress will control resistance to the other stresses. Nonetheless, if a gene conditions resistance to one of these stresses, it would be apparent to one skilled in the art to test for resistance to these related stresses. Methods of assessing stress resistance are further provided in the Examples section which follows.

As used herein the phrase "water use efficiency (WUE)" refers to the level of organic matter produced per unit of water consumed by the plant, i.e., the dry weight of a plant in relation to the plant's water use, e.g., the biomass produced per unit transpiration.

As used herein the phrase "fertilizer use efficiency" refers to the metabolic process(es) which lead to an increase in the plant's yield, biomass, vigor, and growth rate per fertilizer unit applied. The metabolic process can be the uptake, spread, absorbent, accumulation, relocation (within the plant) and use of one or more of the minerals and organic moieties absorbed by the plant, such as nitrogen, phosphates and/or potassium.

As used herein the phrase "fertilizer-limiting conditions" refers to growth conditions which include a level (e.g., concentration) of a fertilizer applied which is below the level needed for normal plant metabolism, growth, reproduction and/or viability.

As used herein the phrase "nitrogen use efficiency (NUE)" refers to the metabolic process(es) which lead to an increase in the plant's yield, biomass, vigor, and growth rate per nitrogen unit applied. The metabolic process can be the uptake, spread, absorbent, accumulation, relocation (within the plant) and use of nitrogen absorbed by the plant.

As used herein the phrase "nitrogen-limiting conditions" refers to growth conditions which include a level (e.g., concentration) of nitrogen (e.g., ammonium or nitrate) applied which is below the level needed for normal plant metabolism, growth, reproduction and/or viability.

Improved plant NUE and FUE is translated in the field into either harvesting similar quantities of yield, while implementing less fertilizers, or increased yields gained by implementing the same levels of fertilizers. Thus, improved NUE or FUE has a direct effect on plant yield in the field. Thus, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of some embodiments of the invention positively affect plant yield, seed yield, and plant biomass. In addition, the benefit of improved plant NUE will certainly improve crop quality and biochemical constituents of the seed such as protein yield and oil yield.

It should be noted that improved ABST will confer plants with improved vigor also under non-stress conditions, resulting in crops having improved biomass and/or yield e.g., elongated fibers for the cotton industry, higher oil content.

The term "fiber" is usually inclusive of thick-walled conducting cells such as vessels and tracheids and to fibrillar aggregates of many individual fiber cells. Hence, the term "fiber" refers to (a) thick-walled conducting and non-conducting cells of the xylem; (b) fibers of extraxylary origin, including those from phloem, bark, ground tissue, and epidermis; and (c) fibers from stems, leaves, roots, seeds, and flowers or inflorescences (such as those of Sorghum vulgare used in the manufacture of brushes and brooms). Example of fiber producing plants, include, but are not limited to, agricultural crops such as cotton, silk cotton tree (Kapok, Ceiba pentandra), desert willow, creosote bush, winterfat, balsa, kenaf, roselle, jute, sisal abaca, flax, corn, sugar cane, hemp, ramie, kapok, coir, bamboo, Spanish moss and Agave spp. (e.g. sisal).

As used herein the phrase "fiber quality" refers to at least one fiber parameter which is agriculturally desired, or required in the fiber industry (further described hereinbelow). Examples of such parameters, include but are not limited to, fiber length, fiber strength, fiber fitness, fiber weight per unit length, maturity ratio and uniformity (further described hereinbelow).

Cotton fiber (lint) quality is typically measured according to fiber length, strength and fineness. Accordingly, the lint quality is considered higher when the fiber is longer, stronger and finer.

As used herein the phrase "fiber yield" refers to the amount or quantity of fibers produced from the fiber producing plant.

As used herein the term "increasing" refers to at least about 2 %, at least about 3

%, at least about 4 %, at least about 5 %, at least about 10 %, at least about 15 %, at least about 20 %, at least about 30 %, at least about 40 %, at least about 50 %, at least about 60 %, at least about 70 %, at least about 80 %, increase in fertilizer use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, yield, seed yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant as compared to a native plant or a wild type plant [i.e., a plant not modified with the biomolecules (polynucleotide or polypeptides) of the invention, e.g., a non- transformed plant of the same species which is grown under the same (e.g., identical) growth conditions].

The phrase "expressing within the plant an exogenous polynucleotide" as used herein refers to upregulating the expression level of an exogenous polynucleotide within the plant by introducing the exogenous polynucleotide into a plant cell or plant and expressing by recombinant means, as further described herein below.

As used herein "expressing" refers to expression at the mRNA and optionally polypeptide level.

As used herein, the phrase "exogenous polynucleotide" refers to a heterologous nucleic acid sequence which may not be naturally expressed within the plant (e.g., a nucleic acid sequence from a different species) or which overexpression in the plant is desired. The exogenous polynucleotide may be introduced into the plant in a stable or transient manner, so as to produce a ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecule and/or a polypeptide molecule. It should be noted that the exogenous polynucleotide may comprise a nucleic acid sequence which is identical or partially homologous to an endogenous nucleic acid sequence of the plant.

The term "endogenous" as used herein refers to any polynucleotide or polypeptide which is present and/or naturally expressed within a plant or a cell thereof.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the exogenous polynucleotide of the invention comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least about 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about 88 %, at least about 89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about 95 %, at least about 96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, or more say 100 % homologous to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, 2898-3645, 3647-4854 and 4855.

Homologous sequences include both orthologous and paralogous sequences. The term "paralogous" relates to gene-duplications within the genome of a species leading to paralogous genes. The term "orthologous" relates to homologous genes in different organisms due to ancestral relationship. Thus, orthologs are evolutionary counterparts derived from a single ancestral gene in the last common ancestor of given two species (Koonin EV and Galperin MY (Sequence - Evolution - Function: Computational Approaches in Comparative Genomics. Boston: Kluwer Academic; 2003. Chapter 2, Evolutionary Concept in Genetics and Genomics. Available from: ncbi (dot) nlm (dot) nih (dot) gov/books/NB 20255) and therefore have great likelihood of having the same function.

One option to identify orthologues in monocot plant species is by performing a reciprocal blast search. This may be done by a first blast involving blasting the sequence-of-interest against any sequence database, such as the publicly available NCBI database which may be found at: ncbi (dot) nlm (dot) nih (dot) gov. If orthologues in rice were sought, the sequence-of-interest would be blasted against, for example, the 28,469 full-length cDNA clones from Oryza sativa Nipponbare available at NCBI. The blast results may be filtered. The full-length sequences of either the filtered results or the non-filtered results are then blasted back (second blast) against the sequences of the organism from which the sequence-of-interest is derived. The results of the first and second blasts are then compared. An orthologue is identified when the sequence resulting in the highest score (best hit) in the first blast identifies in the second blast the query sequence (the original sequence-of-interest) as the best hit. Using the same rational a paralogue (homolog to a gene in the same organism) is found. In case of large sequence families, the ClustalW program may be used [ebi (dot) ac (dot) uk/Tools/clustalw2/index (dot) html], followed by a neighbor-joining tree (wikipedia (dot) org/wiki/Neighbor-joining) which helps visualizing the clustering.

Homology (e.g., percent homology, sequence identity + sequence similarity) can be determined using any homology comparison software computing a pairwise sequence alignment.

As used herein, "sequence identity" or "identity" in the context of two nucleic acid or polypeptide sequences includes reference to the residues in the two sequences which are the same when aligned. When percentage of sequence identity is used in reference to proteins it is recognized that residue positions which are not identical often differ by conservative amino acid substitutions, where amino acid residues are substituted for other amino acid residues with similar chemical properties (e.g. charge or hydrophobicity) and therefore do not change the functional properties of the molecule. Where sequences differ in conservative substitutions, the percent sequence identity may be adjusted upwards to correct for the conservative nature of the substitution. Sequences which differ by such conservative substitutions are said to have "sequence similarity" or "similarity". Means for making this adjustment are well-known to those of skill in the art. Typically this involves scoring a conservative substitution as a partial rather than a full mismatch, thereby increasing the percentage sequence identity. Thus, for example, where an identical amino acid is given a score of 1 and a non-conservative substitution is given a score of zero, a conservative substitution is given a score between zero and 1. The scoring of conservative substitutions is calculated, e.g., according to the algorithm of Henikoff S and Henikoff JG. [Amino acid substitution matrices from protein blocks. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 1992, 89(22): 10915-9].

Identity (e.g., percent homology) can be determined using any homology comparison software, including for example, the BlastN software of the National Center of Biotechnology Information (NCBI) such as by using default parameters.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the identity is a global identity, i.e., an identity over the entire amino acid or nucleic acid sequences of the invention and not over portions thereof.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the term "homology" or "homologous" refers to identity of two or more nucleic acid sequences; or identity of two or more amino acid sequences; or the identity of an amino acid sequence to one or more nucleic acid sequence.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the homology is a global homology, i.e., an homology over the entire amino acid or nucleic acid sequences of the invention and not over portions thereof.

The degree of homology or identity between two or more sequences can be determined using various known sequence comparison tools. Following is a non- limiting description of such tools which can be used along with some embodiments of the invention.

Pairwise global alignment was defined by S. B. Needleman and C D. Wunsch,

"A general method applicable to the search of similarities in the amino acid sequence of two proteins" Journal of Molecular Biology, 1970, pages 443-53, volume 48).

For example, when starting from a polypeptide sequence and comparing to other polypeptide sequences, the EMBOSS-6.0.1 Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (available from emboss(dot)sourceforge(dot)net/apps/cvs/emboss/apps/needle(d ot)html) can be used to find the optimum alignment (including gaps) of two sequences along their entire length - a "Global alignment". Default parameters for Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (EMBOSS-6.0.1) include: gapopen=10; gapextend=0.5; datafile= EBLOSUM62; brief=YES.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the parameters used with the

EMBOSS-6.0.1 tool (for protein-protein comparison) include: gapopen=8; gapextend=2; datafile= EBLOSUM62; brief = YES. According to some embodiments of the invention, the threshold used to determine homology using the EMBOSS-6.0.1 Needleman-Wunsch algorithm is 80%, 81%, 82 %, 83 %, 84 %, 85 %, 86 %, 87 %, 88 %, 89 %, 90 %, 91 %, 92 %, 93 %, 94 %, 95 %, 96 %, 97 %, 98 %, 99 %, or 100 %.

When starting from a polypeptide sequence and comparing to polynucleotide sequences, the OneModel FramePlus algorithm [Halperin, E., Faigler, S. and Gill-More, R. (1999) - FramePlus: aligning DNA to protein sequences. Bioinformatics, 15, 867- 873) (available from biocceleration(dot)com/Products(dot)html] can be used with following default parameters: model=frame+_p2n. model mode=local.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the parameters used with the

OneModel FramePlus algorithm are model=frame+_p2n.model, mode=qglobal.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the threshold used to determine homology using the OneModel FramePlus algorithm is 80%, 81%, 82 %, 83 %, 84 %, 85 %, 86 %, 87 %, 88 %, 89 %, 90 %, 91 %, 92 %, 93 %, 94 %, 95 %, 96 %, 97 %, 98 %, 99 %, or 100 %.

When starting with a polynucleotide sequence and comparing to other polynucleotide sequences the EMBOSS-6.0.1 Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (available from emboss(dot)sourceforge(dot)net/apps/cvs/emboss/apps/needle(d ot)html) can be used with the following default parameters: (EMBOSS-6.0.1) gapopen=10; gapextend=0.5; datafile= EDNAFULL; brief = YES.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the parameters used with the EMBOSS-6.0.1 Needleman-Wunsch algorithm are gapopen=10; gapextend=0.2; datafile= EDNAFULL; brief=YES.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the threshold used to determine homology using the EMBOSS-6.0.1 Needleman-Wunsch algorithm for comparison of polynucleotides with polynucleotides is 80%, 81%, 82 %, 83 %, 84 %, 85 %, 86 %, 87 %, 88 %, 89 %, 90 %, 91 %, 92 %, 93 %, 94 %, 95 %, 96 %, 97 %, 98 %, 99 %, or 100 %.

According to some embodiment, determination of the degree of homology further requires employing the Smith- Waterman algorithm (for protein-protein comparison or nucleotide-nucleotide comparison).

Default parameters for GenCore 6.0 Smith-Waterman algorithm include: model =sw.model.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the threshold used to determine homology using the Smith-Waterman algorithm is 80%, 81%, 82 %, 83 %, 84 %, 85 %, 86 %, 87 %, 88 %, 89 %, 90 %, 91 %, 92 %, 93 %, 94 %, 95 %, 96 %, 97 %, 98 %, 99 %, or 100 %.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the global homology is performed on sequences which are pre- selected by local homology to the polypeptide or polynucleotide of interest (e.g., 60% identity over 60% of the sequence length), prior to performing the global homology to the polypeptide or polynucleotide of interest (e.g., 80% global homology on the entire sequence). For example, homologous sequences are selected using the BLAST software with the Blastp and tBlastn algorithms as filters for the first stage, and the needle (EMBOSS package) or Frame+ algorithm alignment for the second stage. Local identity (Blast alignments) is defined with a very permissive cutoff - 60% Identity on a span of 60% of the sequences lengths because it is used only as a filter for the global alignment stage. In this specific embodiment (when the local identity is used), the default filtering of the Blast package is not utilized (by setting the parameter "-F F").

In the second stage, homologs are defined based on a global identity of at least 80% to the core gene polypeptide sequence.

According to some embodiments of the invention, two distinct forms for finding the optimal global alignment for protein or nucleotide sequences are used:

/. Between two proteins (following the blastp filter):

EMBOSS-6.0.1 Needleman-Wunsch algorithm with the following modified parameters: gapopen=8 gapextend=2. The rest of the parameters are unchanged from the default options listed here:

Standard (Mandatory) qualifiers:

[-asequence] sequence Sequence filename and optional format, or reference

(input USA)

[-bsequence] seqall Sequence(s) filename and optional format, or reference (input USA)

-gapopen float [10.0 for any sequence]. The gap open penalty is the score taken away when a gap is created. The best value depends on the choice of comparison matrix. The default value assumes you are using the EBLOSUM62 matrix for protein sequences, and the EDNAFULL matrix for nucleotide sequences. (Floating point number from 1.0 to 100.0)

-gapextend float [0.5 for any sequence]. The gap extension, penalty is added to the standard gap penalty for each base or residue in the gap. This is how long gaps are penalized. Usually you will expect a few long gaps rather than many short gaps, so the gap extension penalty should be lower than the gap penalty. An exception is where one or both sequences are single reads with possible sequencing errors in which case you would expect many single base gaps. You can get this result by setting the gap open penalty to zero (or very low) and using the gap extension penalty to control gap scoring. (Floating point number from 0.0 to 10.0)

[-outfile] align [*. needle] Output alignment file name

Additional (Optional) qualifiers:

-datafile matrixf [EBLOSUM62 for protein, EDNAFULL for DNA]. This is the scoring matrix file used when comparing sequences. By default it is the file 'EBLOSUM62' (for proteins) or the file 'EDNAFULL' (for nucleic sequences). These files are found in the 'data' directory of the EMBOSS installation.

Advanced (Unprompted) qualifiers:

-[no]brief boolean [Y] Brief identity and similarity

Associated qualifiers:

"-asequence" associated qualifiers

-sbeginl integer Start of the sequence to be used

-sendl integer End of the sequence to be used

-sreversel boolean Reverse (if DNA)

-saskl boolean Ask for begin/end/reverse

-snucleotidel boolean Sequence is nucleotide

-sproteinl boolean Sequence is protein

-slowerl boolean Make lower case

-supperl boolean Make upper case

-sformatl string Input sequence format

-sdbnamel string Database name

-sidl string Entryname -ufol string UFO features

-fformatl string Features format

-fopenfilel string Features file name

"-bsequence" associated qualifiers

-sbegin2 integer Start of each sequence to be used

-send2 integer End of each sequence to be used

-sreverse2 boolean Reverse (if DNA)

-sask2 boolean Ask for begin/end/reverse

-snucleotide2 boolean Sequence is nucleotide

-sprotein2 boolean Sequence is protein

-slower2 boolean Make lower case

-supper2 boolean Make upper case

-sformat2 string Input sequence format

-sdbname2 string Database name

-sid2 string Entryname

-ufo2 string UFO features

-fformat2 string Features format

-fopenfile2 string Features file name

"-outfile" associated qualifiers

-aformat3 string Alignment format

-aextension3 string File name extension

-adirectory3 string Output directory

-aname3 string Base file name

-awidth3 integer Alignment width

-aaccshow3 boolean Show accession number in the header

-adesshow3 boolean Show description in the header

-ausashow3 boolean Show the full USA in the alignment

-aglobal3 boolean Show the full sequence in alignment

General qualifiers:

-auto boolean Turn off prompts

-stdout boolean Write first file to standard output

-filter boolean Read first file from standard input, write first file to standard output

-options boolean Prompt for standard and additional values

-debug boolean Write debug output to program.dbg

-verbose boolean Report some/full command line options

-help boolean Report command line options. More information on associated and general qualifiers can be found with -help -verbose

-warning boolean Report warnings

-error boolean Report errors

-fatal boolean Report fatal errors

-die boolean Report dying program messages

2. Between a protein sequence and a nucleotide sequence (following the tblastn filter): GenCore 6.0 OneModel application utilizing the Frame+ algorithm with the following parameters: model=frame+_p2n.model mode=qglobal - q=protein. sequence -db= nucleotide. sequence. The rest of the parameters are unchanged from the default options:

Usage:

om -model=<model_fname> [-q=] query [-db=] database [options]

-model=<model_fname> Specifies the model that you want to run. All models supplied by Compugen are located in the directory $CGNROOT/models/.

Valid command line parameters:

-dev=<dev_name> Selects the device to be used by the application.

Valid devices are:

bic - Bioccelerator (valid for SW, XSW, FRAME_N2P,

and FRAME_P2N models),

xlg - BioXL/G (valid for all models except XSW).

xlp - BioXL/P (valid for SW, FRAME+_N2P, and

FRAME_P2N models),

xlh - BioXL/H (valid for SW, FRAME+_N2P, and

FRAME_P2N models),

soft - Software device (for all models).

-q=<query> Defines the query set. The query can be a sequence file or a database reference. You can specify a query by its name or by accession number. The format is detected automatically. However, you may specify a format using the -qfmt parameter. If you do not specify a query, the program prompts for one. If the query set is a database reference, an output file is produced for each sequence in the query.

-db=<database name> Chooses the database set. The database set can be a sequence file or a database reference. The database format is detected automatically. However, you may specify a format using -dfmt parameter.

-qacc Add this parameter to the command line if you specify query using accession numbers.

-dace Add this parameter to the command line if you specify a database using accession numbers.

-dfmt/-qfmt=<format_type> Chooses the database/query format type. Possible formats are:

fasta - fasta with seq type auto-detected.

fastap - fasta protein seq.

fastan - fasta nucleic seq.

gcg - gcg format, type is auto-detected.

gcg9seq - gcg9 format, type is auto-detected.

gcg9seqp - gcg9 format protein seq.

gcg9seqn - gcg9 format nucleic seq.

nbrf - nbrf seq, type is auto-detected.

nbrfp - nbrf protein seq.

nbrfn - nbrf nucleic seq.

embl - embl and swissprot format.

genbank - genbank format (nucleic).

blast - blast format.

nbrf_gcg - nbrf-gcg seq, type is auto-detected.

nbrf_gcgp - nbrf-gcg protein seq.

nbrf_gcgn - nbrf-gcg nucleic seq.

raw - raw ascii sequence, type is auto-detected.

rawp - raw ascii protein sequence.

rawn - raw ascii nucleic sequence.

pir - pir codata format, type is auto-detected. profile - gcg profile (valid only for -qfmt

in SW, XSW, FRAME_P2N, and FRAME+_P2N).

-out=<out_fname> The name of the output file.

-suffix=<name> The output file name suffix.

-gapop=<n> Gap open penalty. This parameter is not valid for FRAME+. For FrameSearch the default is 12.0. For other searches the default is 10.0.

-gapext=<n> Gap extend penalty. This parameter is not valid for FRAME+. For FrameSearch the default is 4.0. For other models: the default for protein searches is 0.05, and the default for nucleic searches is 1.0.

-qgapop=<n> The penalty for opening a gap in the query sequence. The default is 10.0. Valid for XSW.

-qgapext=<n> The penalty for extending a gap in the query sequence. The default is 0.05. Valid for XSW.

-start=<n> The position in the query sequence to begin the search.

-end=<n> The position in the query sequence to stop the search.

-qtrans Performs a translated search, relevant for a nucleic query against a protein database. The nucleic query is translated to six reading frames and a result is given for each frame.

Valid for SW and XSW.

-dtrans Performs a translated search, relevant for a protein query against a DNA database. Each database entry is translated to six reading frames and a result is given for each frame.

Valid for SW and XSW.

Note: "-qtrans" and "-dtrans" options are mutually exclusive.

-matrix=<matrix_file> Specifies the comparison matrix to be used in the search. The matrix must be in the BLAST format. If the matrix file is not located in $CGNROOT/tables/matrix, specify the full path as the value of the -matrix parameter. -trans=<transtab_name> Translation table. The default location for the table is $CGNROOT/tables/trans .

-onestrand Restricts the search to just the top strand of the query/database nucleic sequence.

-list=<n> The maximum size of the output hit list. The default is 50. -docalign=<n> The number of documentation lines preceding each alignment. The default is 10.

-thr_score=<score_name> The score that places limits on the display of results. Scores that are smaller than -thr_min value or larger than -thr_max value are not shown. Valid options are: quality.

z score.

escore.

-thr_max=<n> The score upper threshold. Results that are larger than -thr_max value are not shown.

-thr_min=<n> The score lower threshold. Results that are lower than -thr_min value are not shown.

-align=<n> The number of alignments reported in the output file,

-noalign Do not display alignment.

Note: "-align" and "-noalign" parameters are mutually exclusive.

-outfmt=<format_name> Specifies the output format type. The default format is PFS. Possible values are:

PFS - PFS text format

FASTA - FASTA text format

BLAST - BLAST text format

-nonorm Do not perform score normalization.

-norm=<norm_name> Specifies the normalization method. Valid options are:

log - logarithm normalization,

std - standard normalization,

stat - Pearson statistical method.

Note: "-nonorm" and "-norm" parameters cannot be used together.

Note: Parameters -xgapop, -xgapext, -fgapop, -fgapext, -ygapop, -ygapext, -delop, and -delext apply only to FRAME+.

-xgapop=<n> The penalty for opening a gap when inserting a codon (triplet). The default is 12.0.

-xgapext=<n> The penalty for extending a gap when inserting a codon (triplet). The default is 4.0. -ygapop=<n> The penalty for opening a gap when deleting an amino acid. The default is 12.0.

-ygapext=<n> The penalty for extending a gap when deleting an amino acid. The default is 4.0.

-fgapop=<n> The penalty for opening a gap when inserting a DNA base. The default is 6.0.

-fgapext=<n> The penalty for extending a gap when inserting a DNA base. The default is 7.0.

-delop=<n> The penalty for opening a gap when deleting a DNA base. The default is 6.0.

-delext=<n> The penalty for extending a gap when deleting a DNA base. The default is 7.0.

-silent No screen output is produced.

-host=<host_name> The name of the host on which the server runs. By default, the application uses the host specified in the file $CGNROOT/cgnhosts.

-wait Do not go to the background when the device is busy. This option is not relevant for the Parseq or Soft pseudo device.

-batch Run the job in the background. When this option is specified, the file

"$CGNROOT/defaults/batch. defaults" is used for choosing the batch command. If this file does not exist, the command "at now" is used to run the job.

Note: "-batch" and "-wait" parameters are mutually exclusive.

-version Prints the software version number.

-help Displays this help message. To get more specific help type:

"om -model=<model_fname> -help".

According to some embodiments the homology is a local homology or a local identity.

Local alignments tools include, but are not limited to the BlastP, BlastN, BlastX or TBLASTN software of the National Center of Biotechnology Information (NCBI), FASTA, and the Smith-Waterman algorithm.

A tblastn search allows the comparison between a protein sequence to the six- frame translations of a nucleotide database. It can be a very productive way of finding homologous protein coding regions in unannotated nucleotide sequences such as expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and draft genome records (HTG), located in the BLAST databases est and htgs, respectively.

Default parameters for blastp include: Max target sequences: 100; Expected threshold: e ^"5 ; Word size: 3; Max matches in a query range: 0; Scoring parameters: Matrix - BLOSUM62; filters and masking: Filter - low complexity regions.

Local alignments tools, which can be used include, but are not limited to, the tBLASTX algorithm, which compares the six-frame conceptual translation products of a nucleotide query sequence (both strands) against a protein sequence database. Default parameters include: Max target sequences: 100; Expected threshold: 10; Word size: 3; Max matches in a query range: 0; Scoring parameters: Matrix - BLOSUM62; filters and masking: Filter - low complexity regions.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the exogenous polynucleotide of the invention encodes a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least about 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about 88 %, at least about 89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about 95 %, at least about 96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, or more say 100 % identical to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:496-794, 2898-3645, 3647-4854 and 4855.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the exogenous polynucleotide of the invention encodes a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, 2898-4854 and 4855.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the method of increasing fertilizer use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant, is effected by expressing within the plant an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide at least at least about 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about 88 %, at least about 89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about 95 %, at least about 96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, or more say 100 % identical to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:496-794, 2898- 3645, 3647-4854 and 4855, thereby increasing the fertilizer use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity and/or abiotic stress tolerance of the plant.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the exogenous polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth by SEQ ID NO:496-794, 2898-4854 or 4855.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, the method of increasing fertilizer use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant is effected by expressing within the plant an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:496-794, 2898-4854 and 4855, thereby increasing the fertilizer use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of the plant.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a method of increasing fertilizer use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant, comprising expressing within the plant an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, 2898-4854 and 4855, thereby increasing the fertilizer use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of the plant.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the exogenous polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth by SEQ ID NO: 496-794, 2898-4854 or 4855.

According to some embodiments of the invention the exogenous polynucleotide comprises a nucleic acid sequence which is at least about 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about 88 %, at least about 89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about 95 %, at least about 96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, e.g., 100 % identical to the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-495, 795-2896 and 2897.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a method of increasing fertilizer use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant, comprising expressing within the plant an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence at least about 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about 88 %, at least about 89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about 95 %, at least about 96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, e.g., 100 % identical to the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-495, 795- 2896 and 2897, thereby increasing the fertilizer use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of the plant.

According to some embodiments of the invention the exogenous polynucleotide is at least about 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about 88 %, at least about 89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about 95 %, at least about 96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, e.g., 100 % identical to the polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-495, 795-2896 and 2897.

According to some embodiments of the invention the exogenous polynucleotide is set forth by SEQ ID NO: 1-495, 795-2896 or 2897.

According to some embodiments of the invention the method of increasing fertilizer use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant further comprising selecting a plant having an increased fertilizer use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance as compared to the wild type plant of the same species which is grown under the same growth conditions.

It should be noted that selecting a transformed plant having an increased trait as compared to a native (or non-transformed) plant grown under the same growth conditions is performed by selecting for the trait, e.g., validating the ability of the transformed plant to exhibit the increased trait using well known assays (e.g., seedling analyses, greenhouse assays) as is further described herein below.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a method of selecting a transformed plant having increased fertilizer use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance as compared to a wild type plant of the same species which is grown under the same growth conditions, the method comprising:

(a) providing plants transformed with an exogenous polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least about 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about 88 %, at least about 89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about 95 %, at least about 96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, e.g., 100 % homologous (e.g., having sequence similarity or sequence identity) to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, 2898-3645, 3647-4854 and 4855,

(b) selecting from said plants a plant having increased fertilizer use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance, thereby selecting the plant having increased fertilizer use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance as compared to the wild type plant of the same species which is grown under the same growth conditions.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a method of selecting a transformed plant having increased fertilizer use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance as compared to a wild type plant of the same species which is grown under the same growth conditions, the method comprising:

(a) providing plants transformed with an exogenous polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least about 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about 88 %, at least about 89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about 95 %, at least about 96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, e.g., 100 % identical to the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-495, 795-2896 and 2897,

(b) selecting from said plants a plant having increased fertilizer use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance, thereby selecting the plant having increased fertilizer use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance as compared to the wild type plant of the same species which is grown under the same growth conditions.

As used herein the term "polynucleotide" refers to a single or double stranded nucleic acid sequence which is isolated and provided in the form of an RNA sequence, a complementary polynucleotide sequence (cDNA), a genomic polynucleotide sequence and/or a composite polynucleotide sequences (e.g., a combination of the above).

The term "isolated" refers to at least partially separated from the natural environment e.g., from a plant cell.

As used herein the phrase "complementary polynucleotide sequence" refers to a sequence, which results from reverse transcription of messenger RNA using a reverse transcriptase or any other RNA dependent DNA polymerase. Such a sequence can be subsequently amplified in vivo or in vitro using a DNA dependent DNA polymerase.

As used herein the phrase "genomic polynucleotide sequence" refers to a sequence derived (isolated) from a chromosome and thus it represents a contiguous portion of a chromosome.

As used herein the phrase "composite polynucleotide sequence" refers to a sequence, which is at least partially complementary and at least partially genomic. A composite sequence can include some exonal sequences required to encode the polypeptide of the present invention, as well as some intronic sequences interposing therebetween. The intronic sequences can be of any source, including of other genes, and typically will include conserved splicing signal sequences. Such intronic sequences may further include cis acting expression regulatory elements.

Nucleic acid sequences encoding the polypeptides of the present invention may be optimized for expression. Examples of such sequence modifications include, but are not limited to, an altered G/C content to more closely approach that typically found in the plant species of interest, and the removal of codons atypically found in the plant species commonly referred to as codon optimization.

The phrase "codon optimization" refers to the selection of appropriate DNA nucleotides for use within a structural gene or fragment thereof that approaches codon usage within the plant of interest. Therefore, an optimized gene or nucleic acid sequence refers to a gene in which the nucleotide sequence of a native or naturally occurring gene has been modified in order to utilize statistically-preferred or statistically-favored codons within the plant. The nucleotide sequence typically is examined at the DNA level and the coding region optimized for expression in the plant species determined using any suitable procedure, for example as described in Sardana et al. (1996, Plant Cell Reports 15:677-681). In this method, the standard deviation of codon usage, a measure of codon usage bias, may be calculated by first finding the squared proportional deviation of usage of each codon of the native gene relative to that of highly expressed plant genes, followed by a calculation of the average squared deviation. The formula used is: 1 SDCU = n = 1 N [ ( Xn - Yn ) / Yn ] 2 / N, where Xn refers to the frequency of usage of codon n in highly expressed plant genes, where Yn to the frequency of usage of codon n in the gene of interest and N refers to the total number of codons in the gene of interest. A Table of codon usage from highly expressed genes of dicotyledonous plants is compiled using the data of Murray et al. (1989, Nuc Acids Res. 17:477-498).

One method of optimizing the nucleic acid sequence in accordance with the preferred codon usage for a particular plant cell type is based on the direct use, without performing any extra statistical calculations, of codon optimization Tables such as those provided on-line at the Codon Usage Database through the NIAS (National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences) DNA bank in Japan (kazusa (dot) or (dot) jp/codon/). The Codon Usage Database contains codon usage tables for a number of different species, with each codon usage Table having been statistically determined based on the data present in Genbank.

By using the above Tables to determine the most preferred or most favored codons for each amino acid in a particular species (for example, rice), a naturally- occurring nucleotide sequence encoding a protein of interest can be codon optimized for that particular plant species. This is effected by replacing codons that may have a low statistical incidence in the particular species genome with corresponding codons, in regard to an amino acid, that are statistically more favored. However, one or more less- favored codons may be selected to delete existing restriction sites, to create new ones at potentially useful junctions (5' and 3' ends to add signal peptide or termination cassettes, internal sites that might be used to cut and splice segments together to produce a correct full-length sequence), or to eliminate nucleotide sequences that may negatively effect mRNA stability or expression.

The naturally-occurring encoding nucleotide sequence may already, in advance of any modification, contain a number of codons that correspond to a statistically- favored codon in a particular plant species. Therefore, codon optimization of the native nucleotide sequence may comprise determining which codons, within the native nucleotide sequence, are not statistically-favored with regards to a particular plant, and modifying these codons in accordance with a codon usage table of the particular plant to produce a codon optimized derivative. A modified nucleotide sequence may be fully or partially optimized for plant codon usage provided that the protein encoded by the modified nucleotide sequence is produced at a level higher than the protein encoded by the corresponding naturally occurring or native gene. Construction of synthetic genes by altering the codon usage is described in for example PCT Patent Application 93/07278.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the exogenous polynucleotide is a non-coding RNA.

As used herein the phrase 'non-coding RNA" refers to an RNA molecule which does not encode an amino acid sequence (a polypeptide). Examples of such non-coding RNA molecules include, but are not limited to, an antisense RNA, a pre-miRNA (precursor of a microRNA), or a precursor of a Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA).

Non-limiting examples of non-coding RNA polynucleotides are provided in SEQ ID NOs: 217, 218, 219, 287, 288, 495, 997, 1003, 1543 and 1703.

Thus, the invention encompasses nucleic acid sequences described hereinabove; fragments thereof, sequences hybridizable therewith, sequences homologous thereto, sequences encoding similar polypeptides with different codon usage, altered sequences characterized by mutations, such as deletion, insertion or substitution of one or more nucleotides, either naturally occurring or man induced, either randomly or in a targeted fashion.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the exogenous polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least about 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about 88 %, at least about 89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about 95 %, at least about 96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, e.g., 100 % identical to the amino acid sequence of a naturally occurring plant orthologue of the polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, and 2898-4855.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least about 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about 88 %, at least about 89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about 95 %, at least about 96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, e.g., 100 % identical to the amino acid sequence of a naturally occurring plant orthologue of the polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, and 2898-4855.

The invention provides an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence at least about 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about 88 %, at least about 89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about

95 %, at least about 96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, e.g., 100 % identical to the polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-495, 795-2896 and 2897.

According to some embodiments of the invention the nucleic acid sequence is capable of increasing nitrogen use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, yield, growth rate, vigor, biomass, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, abiotic stress tolerance and/or water use efficiency of a plant.

According to some embodiments of the invention the isolated polynucleotide comprising the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-495, 795-2896 and 2897.

According to some embodiments of the invention the isolated polynucleotide is set forth by SEQ ID NO: 1-495, 795-2896 or 2897.

The invention provides an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide which comprises an amino acid sequence at least about 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about 88 %, at least about 89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about 95 %, at least about

96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, or more say 100 % homologous to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, 2898-3645, 3647-4854 and 4855.

According to some embodiments of the invention the amino acid sequence is capable of increasing nitrogen use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, yield, growth rate, vigor, biomass, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, abiotic stress tolerance and/or water use efficiency of a plant. The invention provides an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:496-794, 2898-4854 and 4855.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a nucleic acid construct comprising the isolated polynucleotide of the invention, and a promoter for directing transcription of the nucleic acid sequence in a host cell.

The invention provides an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least about 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about 88 %, at least about 89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about 95 %, at least about 96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, or more say 100 % homologous to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, 2898-3645, 3647-4854 and 4855.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:496-794, 2898-4854 and 4855.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the polypeptide is set forth by SEQ ID NO: 496-794, 2898-4854 or 4855.

The invention also encompasses fragments of the above described polypeptides and polypeptides having mutations, such as deletions, insertions or substitutions of one or more amino acids, either naturally occurring or man induced, either randomly or in a targeted fashion.

The term '"plant" as used herein encompasses a whole plant, a grafted plant, ancestor(s) and progeny of the plants and plant parts, including seeds, shoots, stems, roots (including tubers), rootstock, scion, and plant cells, tissues and organs. The plant may be in any form including suspension cultures, embryos, meristematic regions, callus tissue, leaves, gametophytes, sporophytes, pollen, and microspores. Plants that are particularly useful in the methods of the invention include all plants which belong to the superfamily Viridiplantae, in particular monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants including a fodder or forage legume, ornamental plant, food crop, tree, or shrub selected from the list comprising Acacia spp., Acer spp., Actinidia spp., Aesculus spp., Agathis australis, Albizia amara, Alsophila tricolor, Andropogon spp., Arachis spp, Areca catechu, Astelia fragrans, Astragalus cicer, Baikiaea plurijuga, Betula spp., Brassica spp., Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Burkea africana, Butea frondosa, Cadaba farinosa, Calliandra spp, Camellia sinensis, Canna indica, Capsicum spp., Cassia spp., Centroema pubescens, Chacoomeles spp., Cinnamomum cassia, Coffea arabica, Colophospermum mopane, Coronillia varia, Cotoneaster serotina, Crataegus spp., Cucumis spp., Cupressus spp., Cyathea dealbata, Cydonia oblonga, Cryptomeria japonica, Cymbopogon spp., Cynthea dealbata, Cydonia oblonga, Dalbergia monetaria, Davallia divaricata, Desmodium spp., Dicksonia squarosa, Dibeteropogon amplectens, Dioclea spp, Dolichos spp., Dorycnium rectum, Echinochloa pyramidalis, Ehraffia spp., Eleusine coracana, Eragrestis spp., Erythrina spp., Eucalypfus spp., Euclea schimperi, Eulalia vi/losa, Pagopyrum spp., Feijoa sellowlana, Fragaria spp., Flemingia spp, Freycinetia banksli, Geranium thunbergii, GinAgo biloba, Glycine javanica, Gliricidia spp, Gossypium hirsutum, Grevillea spp., Guibourtia coleosperma, Hedysarum spp., Hemaffhia altissima, Heteropogon contoffus, Hordeum vulgare, Hyparrhenia rufa, Hypericum erectum, Hypeffhelia dissolute, Indigo incamata, Iris spp., Leptarrhena pyrolifolia, Lespediza spp., Lettuca spp., Leucaena leucocephala, Loudetia simplex, Lotonus bainesli, Lotus spp., Macrotyloma axillare, Malus spp., Manihot esculenta, Medicago saliva, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Musa sapientum, Nicotianum spp., Onobrychis spp., Ornithopus spp., Oryza spp., Peltophorum africanum, Pennisetum spp., Persea gratissima, Petunia spp., Phaseolus spp., Phoenix canadensis, Phormium cookianum, Photinia spp., Picea glauca, Pinus spp., Pisum sativam, Podocarpus totara, Pogonarthria lleckii, Pogonaffhria squarrosa, Populus spp., Prosopis cineraria, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pterolobium stellatum, Pyrus communis, Quercus spp., Rhaphiolepsis umbellata, Rhopalostylis sapida, Rhus natalensis, Ribes grossularia, Ribes spp., Robinia pseudoacacia, Rosa spp., Rubus spp., Salix spp., Schyzachyrium sanguineum, Sciadopitys vefficillata, Sequoia sempervirens, Sequoiadendron giganteum, Sorghum bicolor, Spinacia spp., Sporobolus fimbriatus, Stiburus alopecuroides, Stylosanthos humilis, Tadehagi spp, Taxodium distichum, Themeda triandra, Trifolium spp., Triticum spp., Tsuga heterophylla, Vaccinium spp., Vicia spp., Vitis vinifera, Watsonia pyramidata, Zantedeschia aethiopica, Zea mays, amaranth, artichoke, asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, canola, carrot, cauliflower, celery, collard greens, flax, kale, lentil, oilseed rape, okra, onion, potato, rice, soybean, straw, sugar beet, sugar cane, sunflower, tomato, squash tea, maize, wheat, barley, rye, oat, peanut, pea, lentil and alfalfa, cotton, rapeseed, canola, pepper, sunflower, tobacco, eggplant, eucalyptus, a tree, an ornamental plant, a perennial grass and a forage crop. Alternatively algae and other non-Viridiplantae can be used for the methods of the present invention.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the plant used by the method of the invention is a crop plant such as rice, maize, wheat, barley, peanut, potato, sesame, olive tree, palm oil, banana, soybean, sunflower, canola, sugarcane, alfalfa, millet, leguminosae (bean, pea), flax, lupinus, rapeseed, tobacco, poplar and cotton.

According to some embodiments of the invention the plant is a dicotyledonous plant.

According to some embodiments of the invention the plant is a monocotyledonous plant.

According to some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a plant cell exogenously expressing the polynucleotide of some embodiments of the invention, the nucleic acid construct of some embodiments of the invention and/or the polypeptide of some embodiments of the invention.

According to some embodiments of the invention, expressing the exogenous polynucleotide of the invention within the plant is effected by transforming one or more cells of the plant with the exogenous polynucleotide, followed by generating a mature plant from the transformed cells and cultivating the mature plant under conditions suitable for expressing the exogenous polynucleotide within the mature plant.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the transformation is effected by introducing to the plant cell a nucleic acid construct which includes the exogenous polynucleotide of some embodiments of the invention and at least one promoter for directing transcription of the exogenous polynucleotide in a host cell (a plant cell). Further details of suitable transformation approaches are provided hereinbelow.

As mentioned, the nucleic acid construct according to some embodiments of the invention comprises a promoter sequence and the isolated polynucleotide of some embodiments of the invention. According to some embodiments of the invention, the isolated polynucleotide is operably linked to the promoter sequence.

A coding nucleic acid sequence is "operably linked" to a regulatory sequence (e.g., promoter) if the regulatory sequence is capable of exerting a regulatory effect on the coding sequence linked thereto.

As used herein, the term "promoter" refers to a region of DNA which lies upstream of the transcriptional initiation site of a gene to which RNA polymerase binds to initiate transcription of RNA. The promoter controls where (e.g., which portion of a plant) and/or when (e.g., at which stage or condition in the lifetime of an organism) the gene is expressed.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the promoter is heterologous to the isolated polynucleotide and/or to the host cell.

As used herein the phrase "heterologous promoter" refers to a promoter from a different species or from the same species but from a different gene locus as of the isolated polynucleotide sequence.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the isolated polynucleotide is heterologous to the plant cell.

Any suitable promoter sequence can be used by the nucleic acid construct of the present invention. Preferably the promoter is a constitutive promoter, a tissue-specific, or an abiotic stress-inducible promoter.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the promoter is a plant promoter, which is suitable for expression of the exogenous polynucleotide in a plant cell.

Suitable promoters for expression in wheat include, but are not limited to, Wheat SPA promoter (SEQ ID NO: 4856; Albanietal, Plant Cell, 9: 171- 184, 1997, which is fully incorporated herein by reference), wheat LMW (SEQ ID NO: 4857 (longer LMW promoter), and SEQ ID NO: 4858 (LMW promoter) and HMW glutenin-1 (SEQ ID NO: 4859 (Wheat HMW glutenin-1 longer promoter); and SEQ ID NO: 4860 (Wheat HMW glutenin-1 Promoter); Thomas and Flavell, The Plant Cell 2: 1171-1180; Furtado et al., 2009 Plant Biotechnology Journal 7:240-253, each of which is fully incorporated herein by reference), wheat alpha, beta and gamma gliadins [e.g., SEQ ID NO: 4861 (wheat alpha gliadin, B genome, promoter); SEQ ID NO: 4862 (wheat gamma gliadin promoter); EMBO 3: 1409-15, 1984, which is fully incorporated herein by reference], wheat TdPR60 [SEQ ID NO: 4863 (wheat TdPR60 longer promoter) or SEQ ID NO:4864 (wheat TdPR60 promoter); Kovalchuk et al., Plant Mol Biol 71:81-98, 2009, which is fully incorporated herein by reference], maize Ubl Promoter [cultivar Nongda 105 (SEQ ID NO: 4865); GenBank: DQ141598.1; Taylor et al., Plant Cell Rep 1993 12: 491-495, which is fully incorporated herein by reference; and cultivar B73 (SEQ ID NO:4866); Christensen, AH, et al. Plant Mol. Biol. 18 (4), 675-689 (1992), which is fully incorporated herein by reference]; rice actin 1 (SEQ ID NO: 4867; Mc Elroy et al. 1990, The Plant Cell, Vol. 2, 163-171, which is fully incorporated herein by reference), rice GOS2 [SEQ ID NO: 4868 (rice GOS2 longer promoter) and SEQ ID NO: 4869 (rice GOS2 Promoter); De Pater et al. Plant J. 1992; 2: 837-44, which is fully incorporated herein by reference], arabidopsis Phol [SEQ ID NO: 4870 (arabidopsis Phol Promoter); Hamburger et al., Plant Cell. 2002; 14: 889-902, which is fully incorporated herein by reference], ExpansinB promoters, e.g., rice ExpB5 [SEQ ID NO:4871 (rice ExpB5 longer promoter) and SEQ ID NO: 4872 (rice ExpB5 promoter)] and Barley ExpB l [SEQ ID NO: 4873 (barley ExpB l Promoter), Won et al. Mol Cells. 2010; 30:369-76, which is fully incorporated herein by reference], barley SS2 (sucrose synthase 2) [(SEQ ID NO: 4874), Guerin and Carbonero, Plant Physiology May 1997 vol. 114 no. 1 55-62, which is fully incorporated herein by reference], and rice PG5a [SEQ ID NO:4875, US 7,700,835, Nakase et al., Plant Mol Biol. 32:621-30, 1996, each of which is fully incorporated herein by reference] .

Suitable constitutive promoters include, for example, CaMV 35S promoter [SEQ ID NO: 4876 (CaMV 35S (QFNC) Promoter); SEQ ID NO: 4877 (PJJ 35S from Brachypodium); SEQ ID NO: 4878 (CaMV 35S (OLD) Promoter) (Odell et al., Nature 313:810-812, 1985)], Arabidopsis At6669 promoter (SEQ ID NO: 4879 (Arabidopsis At6669 (OLD) Promoter); see PCT Publication No. WO04081173A2 or the new At6669 promoter (SEQ ID NO: 4880 (Arabidopsis At6669 (NEW) Promoter)); maize Ubl Promoter [cultivar Nongda 105 (SEQ ID NO:4865); GenBank: DQ141598.1; Taylor et al., Plant Cell Rep 1993 12: 491-495, which is fully incorporated herein by reference; and cultivar B73 (SEQ ID NO:4866); Christensen, AH, et al. Plant Mol. Biol. 18 (4), 675-689 (1992), which is fully incorporated herein by reference]; rice actin 1 (SEQ ID NO: 4867, McElroy et al., Plant Cell 2: 163-171, 1990); pEMU (Last et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. 81 :581-588, 1991); CaMV 19S (Nilsson et al., Physiol. Plant 100:456-462, 1997); rice GOS2 [SEQ ID NO: 4868 (rice GOS2 longer Promoter) and SEQ ID NO: 4869 (rice GOS2 Promoter), de Pater et al, Plant J Nov;2(6):837-44, 1992]; RBCS promoter (SEQ ID NO: 4881); Rice cyclophilin (Bucholz et al, Plant Mol Biol. 25(5):837-43, 1994); Maize H3 histone (Lepetit et al, Mol. Gen. Genet. 231: 276- 285, 1992); Actin 2 (An et al, Plant J. 10(1);107-121, 1996) and Synthetic Super MAS (Ni et al., The Plant Journal 7: 661-76, 1995). Other constitutive promoters include those in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,659,026, 5,608,149; 5.608,144; 5,604,121; 5.569,597: 5.466,785; 5,399,680; 5,268,463; and 5,608,142.

Suitable tissue- specific promoters include, but not limited to, leaf-specific promoters [e.g., AT5G06690 (Thioredoxin) (high expression, SEQ ID NO: 4882), AT5G61520 (AtSTP3) (low expression, SEQ ID NO: 4883) described in Buttner et al 2000 Plant, Cell and Environment 23, 175-184, or the promoters described in Yamamoto et al., Plant J. 12:255-265, 1997; Kwon et al., Plant Physiol. 105:357-67, 1994; Yamamoto et al., Plant Cell Physiol. 35:773-778, 1994; Gotor et al., Plant J. 3:509-18, 1993; Orozco et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 23: 1129-1138, 1993; and Matsuoka et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:9586-9590, 1993; as well as Arabidopsis STP3 (AT5G61520) promoter (Buttner et al., Plant, Cell and Environment 23: 175-184, 2000)], seed-preferred promoters [e.g., Napin (originated from Brassica napus which is characterized by a seed specific promoter activity; Stuitje A. R. et. al. Plant Biotechnology Journal 1 (4): 301-309; SEQ ID NO: 4884 (Brassica napus NAPIN Promoter) from seed specific genes (Simon, et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 5. 191, 1985; Scofield, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262: 12202, 1987; Baszczynski, et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 14: 633, 1990), rice PG5a (SEQ ID NO: 4875; US 7,700,835), early seed development Arabidopsis BAN (AT1G61720) (SEQ ID NO: 4885, US 2009/0031450 Al), late seed development Arabidopsis ABI3 (AT3G24650) (SEQ ID NO: 4886 (Arabidopsis ABI3 (AT3G24650) longer Promoter) or 4887 (Arabidopsis ABI3 (AT3G24650) Promoter)) (Ng et al., Plant Molecular Biology 54: 25-38, 2004), Brazil Nut albumin (Pearson' et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 18: 235- 245, 1992), legumin (Ellis, et al. Plant Mol. Biol. 10: 203- 214, 1988), Glutelin (rice) (Takaiwa, et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 208: 15-22, 1986; Takaiwa, et al., FEBS Letts. 221: 43-47, 1987), Zein (Matzke et al Plant Mol Biol, 143).323-32 1990), napA (Stalberg, et al, Planta 199: 515-519, 1996), Wheat SPA (SEQ ID NO:4856; Albanietal, Plant Cell, 9: 171- 184, 1997), sunflower oleosin (Cummins, et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 19: 873- 876, 1992)], endosperm specific promoters [e.g., wheat LMW (SEQ ID NO: 4857 (Wheat LMW Longer Promoter), and SEQ ID NO: 4858 (Wheat LMW Promoter) and HMW glutenin-1 [(SEQ ID NO: 4859 (Wheat HMW glutenin-1 longer Promoter)); and SEQ ID NO: 4860 (Wheat HMW glutenin-1 Promoter), Thomas and Flavell, The Plant Cell 2: 1171-1180, 1990; Mol Gen Genet 216:81-90, 1989; NAR 17:461-2), wheat alpha, beta and gamma gliadins (SEQ ID NO: 4861 (wheat alpha gliadin (B genome) promoter); SEQ ID NO: 4862 (wheat gamma gliadin promoter); EMBO 3: 1409-15, 1984), Barley ltrl promoter, barley B l, C, D hordein (Theor Appl Gen 98: 1253-62, 1999; Plant J 4:343-55, 1993; Mol Gen Genet 250:750- 60, 1996), Barley DOF (Mena et al, The Plant Journal, 116(1): 53- 62, 1998), Biz2 (EP99106056.7), Barley SS2 (SEQ ID NO: 4874 (Barley SS2 Promoter); Guerin and Carbonero Plant Physiology 114: 1 55-62, 1997), wheat Tarp60 (Kovalchuk et al., Plant Mol Biol 71:81-98, 2009), barley D-hordein (D-Hor) and B-hordein (B-Hor) (Agnelo Furtado, Robert J. Henry and Alessandro Pellegrineschi (2009)], Synthetic promoter (Vicente-Carbajosa et al., Plant J. 13: 629-640, 1998), rice prolamin NRP33, rice -globulin Glb-1 (Wu et al, Plant Cell Physiology 39(8) 885- 889, 1998), rice alpha- globulin REB/OHP-1 (Nakase et al. Plant Mol. Biol. 33: 513-S22, 1997), rice ADP- glucose PP (Trans Res 6: 157-68, 1997), maize ESR gene family (Plant J 12:235-46, 1997), sorgum gamma- kafirin (PMB 32: 1029-35, 1996)], embryo specific promoters [e.g., rice OSH1 (Sato et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 93: 8117-8122), KNOX (Postma-Haarsma et al, Plant Mol. Biol. 39:257-71, 1999), rice oleosin (Wu et at, J. Biochem., 123:386, 1998)], and flower- specific promoters [e.g., AtPRP4, chalene synthase (chsA) (Van der Meer, et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 15, 95-109, 1990), LAT52 (Twell et al Mol. Gen Genet. 217:240-245; 1989), Arabidopsis apetala- 3 (Tilly et al., Development. 125: 1647-57, 1998), Arabidopsis APETALA 1 (AT1G69120, API) (SEQ ID NO: 4888 (Arabidopsis (AT1G69120) APETALA 1)) (Hempel et al., Development 124:3845-3853, 1997)], and root promoters [e.g., the ROOTP promoter [SEQ ID NO: 4889]; rice ExpB5 (SEQ ID NO:4872 (rice ExpB5 Promoter); or SEQ ID NO: 4871 (rice ExpB5 longer Promoter)) and barley ExpB l promoters (SEQ ID NO:4873) (Won et al. Mol. Cells 30: 369-376, 2010); arabidopsis ATTPS-CIN (AT3G25820) promoter (SEQ ID NO: 4890; Chen et al., Plant Phys 135: 1956-66, 2004); arabidopsis Phol promoter (SEQ ID NO: 4870, Hamburger et al., Plant Cell. 14:

889-902, 2002), which is also slightly induced by stress].

Suitable abiotic stress-inducible promoters include, but not limited to, salt- inducible promoters such as RD29A (Yamaguchi-Shinozalei et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 236:331-340, 1993); drought-inducible promoters such as maize rabl7 gene promoter

(Pla et. al., Plant Mol. Biol. 21:259-266, 1993), maize rab28 gene promoter (Busk et. al., Plant J. 11: 1285-1295, 1997) and maize Ivr2 gene promoter (Pelleschi et. al., Plant

Mol. Biol. 39:373-380, 1999); heat-inducible promoters such as heat tomato hsp80- promoter from tomato (U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,267).

The nucleic acid construct of some embodiments of the invention can further include an appropriate selectable marker and/or an origin of replication. According to some embodiments of the invention, the nucleic acid construct utilized is a shuttle vector, which can propagate both in E. coli (wherein the construct comprises an appropriate selectable marker and origin of replication) and be compatible with propagation in cells. The construct according to the present invention can be, for example, a plasmid, a bacmid, a phagemid, a cosmid, a phage, a virus or an artificial chromosome.

The nucleic acid construct of some embodiments of the invention can be utilized to stably or transiently transform plant cells. In stable transformation, the exogenous polynucleotide is integrated into the plant genome and as such it represents a stable and inherited trait. In transient transformation, the exogenous polynucleotide is expressed by the cell transformed but it is not integrated into the genome and as such it represents a transient trait.

There are various methods of introducing foreign genes into both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants (Potrykus, I., Annu. Rev. Plant. Physiol., Plant. Mol. Biol. (1991) 42:205-225; Shimamoto et al., Nature (1989) 338:274-276).

The principle methods of causing stable integration of exogenous DNA into plant genomic DNA include two main approaches:

(i) Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer: Klee et al. (1987) Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. 38:467-486; Klee and Rogers in Cell Culture and Somatic Cell Genetics of Plants, Vol. 6, Molecular Biology of Plant Nuclear Genes, eds. Schell, J., and Vasil, L. K., Academic Publishers, San Diego, Calif. (1989) p. 2-25; Gatenby, in Plant Biotechnology, eds. Kung, S. and Arntzen, C. J., Butterworth Publishers, Boston, Mass. (1989) p. 93-112.

(ii) Direct DNA uptake: Paszkowski et al., in Cell Culture and Somatic Cell Genetics of Plants, Vol. 6, Molecular Biology of Plant Nuclear Genes eds. Schell, J., and Vasil, L. K., Academic Publishers, San Diego, Calif. (1989) p. 52-68; including methods for direct uptake of DNA into protoplasts, Toriyama, K. et al. (1988) Bio/Technology 6: 1072-1074. DNA uptake induced by brief electric shock of plant cells: Zhang et al. Plant Cell Rep. (1988) 7:379-384. Fromm et al. Nature (1986) 319:791-793. DNA injection into plant cells or tissues by particle bombardment, Klein et al. Bio/Technology (1988) 6:559-563; McCabe et al. Bio/Technology (1988) 6:923- 926; Sanford, Physiol. Plant. (1990) 79:206-209; by the use of micropipette systems: Neuhaus et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. (1987) 75:30-36; Neuhaus and Spangenberg, Physiol. Plant. (1990) 79:213-217; glass fibers or silicon carbide whisker transformation of cell cultures, embryos or callus tissue, U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,765 or by the direct incubation of DNA with germinating pollen, DeWet et al. in Experimental Manipulation of Ovule Tissue, eds. Chapman, G. P. and Mantell, S. H. and Daniels, W. Longman, London, (1985) p. 197-209; and Ohta, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1986) 83:715- 719.

The Agrobacterium system includes the use of plasmid vectors that contain defined DNA segments that integrate into the plant genomic DNA. Methods of inoculation of the plant tissue vary depending upon the plant species and the Agrobacterium delivery system. A widely used approach is the leaf disc procedure which can be performed with any tissue explant that provides a good source for initiation of whole plant differentiation. See, e.g., Horsch et al. in Plant Molecular Biology Manual A5, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht (1988) p. 1-9. A supplementary approach employs the Agrobacterium delivery system in combination with vacuum infiltration. The Agrobacterium system is especially viable in the creation of transgenic dicotyledonous plants.

There are various methods of direct DNA transfer into plant cells. In electroporation, the protoplasts are briefly exposed to a strong electric field. In microinjection, the DNA is mechanically injected directly into the cells using very small micropipettes. In microparticle bombardment, the DNA is adsorbed on microprojectiles such as magnesium sulfate crystals or tungsten particles, and the microprojectiles are physically accelerated into cells or plant tissues.

Following stable transformation plant propagation is exercised. The most common method of plant propagation is by seed. Regeneration by seed propagation, however, has the deficiency that due to heterozygosity there is a lack of uniformity in the crop, since seeds are produced by plants according to the genetic variances governed by Mendelian rules. Basically, each seed is genetically different and each will grow with its own specific traits. Therefore, it is preferred that the transformed plant be produced such that the regenerated plant has the identical traits and characteristics of the parent transgenic plant. Therefore, it is preferred that the transformed plant be regenerated by micropropagation which provides a rapid, consistent reproduction of the transformed plants.

Micropropagation is a process of growing new generation plants from a single piece of tissue that has been excised from a selected parent plant or cultivar. This process permits the mass reproduction of plants having the preferred tissue expressing the fusion protein. The new generation plants which are produced are genetically identical to, and have all of the characteristics of, the original plant. Micropropagation allows mass production of quality plant material in a short period of time and offers a rapid multiplication of selected cultivars in the preservation of the characteristics of the original transgenic or transformed plant. The advantages of cloning plants are the speed of plant multiplication and the quality and uniformity of plants produced.

Micropropagation is a multi-stage procedure that requires alteration of culture medium or growth conditions between stages. Thus, the micropropagation process involves four basic stages: Stage one, initial tissue culturing; stage two, tissue culture multiplication; stage three, differentiation and plant formation; and stage four, greenhouse culturing and hardening. During stage one, initial tissue culturing, the tissue culture is established and certified contaminant-free. During stage two, the initial tissue culture is multiplied until a sufficient number of tissue samples are produced from the seedlings to meet production goals. During stage three, the tissue samples grown in stage two are divided and grown into individual plantlets. At stage four, the transformed plantlets are transferred to a greenhouse for hardening where the plants' tolerance to light is gradually increased so that it can be grown in the natural environment.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the transgenic plants are generated by transient transformation of leaf cells, meristematic cells or the whole plant.

Transient transformation can be effected by any of the direct DNA transfer methods described above or by viral infection using modified plant viruses.

Viruses that have been shown to be useful for the transformation of plant hosts include CaMV, Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), brome mosaic virus (BMV) and Bean Common Mosaic Virus (BV or BCMV). Transformation of plants using plant viruses is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,237 (bean golden mosaic virus; BGV), EP-A 67,553 (TMV), Japanese Published Application No. 63-14693 (TMV), EPA 194,809 (BV), EPA 278,667 (BV); and Gluzman, Y. et al., Communications in Molecular Biology: Viral Vectors, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, pp. 172-189 (1988). Pseudovirus particles for use in expressing foreign DNA in many hosts, including plants are described in WO 87/06261.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the virus used for transient transformations is avirulent and thus is incapable of causing severe symptoms such as reduced growth rate, mosaic, ring spots, leaf roll, yellowing, streaking, pox formation, tumor formation and pitting. A suitable avirulent virus may be a naturally occurring avirulent virus or an artificially attenuated virus. Virus attenuation may be effected by using methods well known in the art including, but not limited to, sub-lethal heating, chemical treatment or by directed mutagenesis techniques such as described, for example, by Kurihara and Watanabe (Molecular Plant Pathology 4:259-269, 2003), Galon et al. (1992), Atreya et al. (1992) and Huet et al. (1994).

Suitable virus strains can be obtained from available sources such as, for example, the American Type culture Collection (ATCC) or by isolation from infected plants. Isolation of viruses from infected plant tissues can be effected by techniques well known in the art such as described, for example by Foster and Taylor, Eds. "Plant Virology Protocols: From Virus Isolation to Transgenic Resistance (Methods in Molecular Biology (Humana Pr), Vol 81)", Humana Press, 1998. Briefly, tissues of an infected plant believed to contain a high concentration of a suitable virus, preferably young leaves and flower petals, are ground in a buffer solution (e.g., phosphate buffer solution) to produce a virus infected sap which can be used in subsequent inoculations.

Construction of plant RNA viruses for the introduction and expression of non- viral exogenous polynucleotide sequences in plants is demonstrated by the above references as well as by Dawson, W. O. et al., Virology (1989) 172:285-292; Takamatsu et al. EMBO J. (1987) 6:307-311; French et al. Science (1986) 231: 1294- 1297; Takamatsu et al. FEBS Letters (1990) 269:73-76; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,931.

When the virus is a DNA virus, suitable modifications can be made to the virus itself. Alternatively, the virus can first be cloned into a bacterial plasmid for ease of constructing the desired viral vector with the foreign DNA. The virus can then be excised from the plasmid. If the virus is a DNA virus, a bacterial origin of replication can be attached to the viral DNA, which is then replicated by the bacteria. Transcription and translation of this DNA will produce the coat protein which will encapsidate the viral DNA. If the virus is an RNA virus, the virus is generally cloned as a cDNA and inserted into a plasmid. The plasmid is then used to make all of the constructions. The RNA virus is then produced by transcribing the viral sequence of the plasmid and translation of the viral genes to produce the coat protein(s) which encapsidate the viral RNA.

In one embodiment, a plant viral polynucleotide is provided in which the native coat protein coding sequence has been deleted from a viral polynucleotide, a non-native plant viral coat protein coding sequence and a non-native promoter, preferably the subgenomic promoter of the non-native coat protein coding sequence, capable of expression in the plant host, packaging of the recombinant plant viral polynucleotide, and ensuring a systemic infection of the host by the recombinant plant viral polynucleotide, has been inserted. Alternatively, the coat protein gene may be inactivated by insertion of the non-native polynucleotide sequence within it, such that a protein is produced. The recombinant plant viral polynucleotide may contain one or more additional non-native subgenomic promoters. Each non-native subgenomic promoter is capable of transcribing or expressing adjacent genes or polynucleotide sequences in the plant host and incapable of recombination with each other and with native subgenomic promoters. Non-native (foreign) polynucleotide sequences may be inserted adjacent the native plant viral subgenomic promoter or the native and a non- native plant viral subgenomic promoters if more than one polynucleotide sequence is included. The non-native polynucleotide sequences are transcribed or expressed in the host plant under control of the subgenomic promoter to produce the desired products.

In a second embodiment, a recombinant plant viral polynucleotide is provided as in the first embodiment except that the native coat protein coding sequence is placed adjacent one of the non-native coat protein subgenomic promoters instead of a non- native coat protein coding sequence.

In a third embodiment, a recombinant plant viral polynucleotide is provided in which the native coat protein gene is adjacent its subgenomic promoter and one or more non-native subgenomic promoters have been inserted into the viral polynucleotide. The inserted non-native subgenomic promoters are capable of transcribing or expressing adjacent genes in a plant host and are incapable of recombination with each other and with native subgenomic promoters. Non-native polynucleotide sequences may be inserted adjacent the non-native subgenomic plant viral promoters such that the sequences are transcribed or expressed in the host plant under control of the subgenomic promoters to produce the desired product.

In a fourth embodiment, a recombinant plant viral polynucleotide is provided as in the third embodiment except that the native coat protein coding sequence is replaced by a non-native coat protein coding sequence.

The viral vectors are encapsidated by the coat proteins encoded by the recombinant plant viral polynucleotide to produce a recombinant plant virus. The recombinant plant viral polynucleotide or recombinant plant virus is used to infect appropriate host plants. The recombinant plant viral polynucleotide is capable of replication in the host, systemic spread in the host, and transcription or expression of foreign gene(s) (exogenous polynucleotide) in the host to produce the desired protein.

Techniques for inoculation of viruses to plants may be found in Foster and Taylor, eds. "Plant Virology Protocols: From Virus Isolation to Transgenic Resistance (Methods in Molecular Biology (Humana Pr), Vol 81)", Humana Press, 1998; Maramorosh and Koprowski, eds. "Methods in Virology" 7 vols, Academic Press, New York 1967-1984; Hill, S.A. "Methods in Plant Virology", Blackwell, Oxford, 1984; Walkey, D.G.A. "Applied Plant Virology", Wiley, New York, 1985; and Kado and Agrawa, eds. "Principles and Techniques in Plant Virology", Van Nostrand-Reinhold, New York.

In addition to the above, the polynucleotide of the present invention can also be introduced into a chloroplast genome thereby enabling chloroplast expression.

A technique for introducing exogenous polynucleotide sequences to the genome of the chloroplasts is known. This technique involves the following procedures. First, plant cells are chemically treated so as to reduce the number of chloroplasts per cell to about one. Then, the exogenous polynucleotide is introduced via particle bombardment into the cells with the aim of introducing at least one exogenous polynucleotide molecule into the chloroplasts. The exogenous polynucleotides selected such that it is integratable into the chloroplast's genome via homologous recombination which is readily effected by enzymes inherent to the chloroplast. To this end, the exogenous polynucleotide includes, in addition to a gene of interest, at least one polynucleotide stretch which is derived from the chloroplast's genome. In addition, the exogenous polynucleotide includes a selectable marker, which serves by sequential selection procedures to ascertain that all or substantially all of the copies of the chloroplast genomes following such selection will include the exogenous polynucleotide. Further details relating to this technique are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,945,050; and 5,693,507 which are incorporated herein by reference. A polypeptide can thus be produced by the protein expression system of the chloroplast and become integrated into the chloroplast's inner membrane.

According to some embodiments, there is provided a method of improving nitrogen use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photo synthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a grafted plant, the method comprising providing a scion that does not transgenically express a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide at least 80% homologous to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, and 2898-4855 and a plant rootstock that transgenically expresses a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide at least about 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about 88 %, at least about 89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about 95 %, at least about 96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, e.g., 100 % homologous (or identical) to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, 2898-3645, 3647-4854 and 4855 (e.g., in a constitutive or an abiotic stress responsive manner), thereby improving the nitrogen use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of the grafted plant.

In some embodiments, the plant scion is non-transgenic.

Several embodiments relate to a grafted plant exhibiting improved nitrogen use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, and/or abiotic stress tolerance, comprising a scion that does not transgenically express a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide at least 80% homologous to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794 and 2898-4855 and a plant rootstock that transgenically expresses a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide at least at least about 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about 88 %, at least about 89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about 95 %, at least about 96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, e.g., 100 % homologous (or identical) to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, 2898-3645, 3647-4854 and 4855.

In some embodiments, the plant root stock transgenically expresses a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide at least at least about 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about 88 %, at least about 89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about 95 %, at least about 96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, e.g., 100 % homologous (or identical) to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, 2898-3645, 3647-4854 and 4855 in a stress responsive manner. According to some embodiments of the invention, the plant root stock transgenically expresses a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, 2898-4854 and 4855.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the plant root stock transgenically expresses a polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence at least about 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about 88 %, at least about 89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about 95 %, at least about 96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, e.g., 100 % identical to the polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-495, and 795-2897.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the plant root stock transgenically expresses a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-495, and 795-2897.

Since processes which increase nitrogen use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, oil content, yield, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, growth rate, biomass, vigor and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant can involve multiple genes acting additively or in synergy (see, for example, in Quesda et al., Plant Physiol. 130:951-063, 2002), the present invention also envisages expressing a plurality of exogenous polynucleotides in a single host plant to thereby achieve superior effect on nitrogen use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, oil content, yield, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, growth rate, biomass, vigor and/or abiotic stress tolerance.

Expressing a plurality of exogenous polynucleotides in a single host plant can be effected by co-introducing multiple nucleic acid constructs, each including a different exogenous polynucleotide, into a single plant cell. The transformed cell can then be regenerated into a mature plant using the methods described hereinabove.

Alternatively, expressing a plurality of exogenous polynucleotides in a single host plant can be effected by co-introducing into a single plant-cell a single nucleic-acid construct including a plurality of different exogenous polynucleotides. Such a construct can be designed with a single promoter sequence which can transcribe a polycistronic messenger RNA including all the different exogenous polynucleotide sequences. To enable co-translation of the different polypeptides encoded by the polycistronic messenger RNA, the polynucleotide sequences can be inter-linked via an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) sequence which facilitates translation of polynucleotide sequences positioned downstream of the IRES sequence. In this case, a transcribed polycistronic RNA molecule encoding the different polypeptides described above will be translated from both the capped 5' end and the two internal IRES sequences of the polycistronic RNA molecule to thereby produce in the cell all different polypeptides. Alternatively, the construct can include several promoter sequences each linked to a different exogenous polynucleotide sequence.

The plant cell transformed with the construct including a plurality of different exogenous polynucleotides, can be regenerated into a mature plant, using the methods described hereinabove.

Alternatively, expressing a plurality of exogenous polynucleotides in a single host plant can be effected by introducing different nucleic acid constructs, including different exogenous polynucleotides, into a plurality of plants. The regenerated transformed plants can then be cross-bred and resultant progeny selected for superior abiotic stress tolerance, water use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, growth, biomass, yield and/or vigor traits, using conventional plant breeding techniques.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the method further comprising growing the plant expressing the exogenous polynucleotide under the abiotic stress.

Non-limiting examples of abiotic stress conditions include, salinity, osmotic stress, drought, water deprivation, excess of water (e.g., flood, waterlogging), etiolation, low temperature (e.g., cold stress), high temperature, heavy metal toxicity, anaerobiosis, nutrient deficiency (e.g., nitrogen deficiency or nitrogen limitation), nutrient excess, atmospheric pollution and UV irradiation.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the method further comprising growing the plant expressing the exogenous polynucleotide under fertilizer limiting conditions (e.g., nitrogen-limiting conditions). Non-limiting examples include growing the plant on soils with low nitrogen content (40-50% Nitrogen of the content present under normal or optimal conditions), or even under sever nitrogen deficiency (0- 10% Nitrogen of the content present under normal or optimal conditions).

Thus, the invention encompasses plants exogenously expressing the polynucleotide(s), the nucleic acid constructs and/or polypeptide(s) of the invention.

Once expressed within the plant cell or the entire plant, the level of the polypeptide encoded by the exogenous polynucleotide can be determined by methods well known in the art such as, activity assays, Western blots using antibodies capable of specifically binding the polypeptide, Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA), radio-immuno-assays (RIA), immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, immunofluorescence and the like.

Methods of determining the level in the plant of the RNA transcribed from the exogenous polynucleotide are well known in the art and include, for example, Northern blot analysis, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis (including quantitative, semi-quantitative or real-time RT-PCR) and RNA-m situ hybridization.

The sequence information and annotations uncovered by the present teachings can be harnessed in favor of classical breeding. Thus, sub-sequence data of those polynucleotides described above, can be used as markers for marker assisted selection (MAS), in which a marker is used for indirect selection of a genetic determinant or determinants of a trait of interest (e.g., biomass, growth rate, oil content, yield, abiotic stress tolerance, water use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency and/or fertilizer use efficiency). Nucleic acid data of the present teachings (DNA or RNA sequence) may contain or be linked to polymorphic sites or genetic markers on the genome such as restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), DNA fingerprinting (DFP), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), expression level polymorphism, polymorphism of the encoded polypeptide and any other polymorphism at the DNA or RNA sequence.

Examples of marker assisted selections include, but are not limited to, selection for a morphological trait (e.g., a gene that affects form, coloration, male sterility or resistance such as the presence or absence of awn, leaf sheath coloration, height, grain color, aroma of rice); selection for a biochemical trait (e.g., a gene that encodes a protein that can be extracted and observed; for example, isozymes and storage proteins); selection for a biological trait (e.g., pathogen races or insect biotypes based on host pathogen or host parasite interaction can be used as a marker since the genetic constitution of an organism can affect its susceptibility to pathogens or parasites).

The polynucleotides and polypeptides described hereinabove can be used in a wide range of economical plants, in a safe and cost effective manner.

Plant lines exogenously expressing the polynucleotide or the polypeptide of the invention are screened to identify those that show the greatest increase of the desired plant trait.

Thus, according to an additional embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of evaluating a trait of a plant, the method comprising: (a) expressing in a plant or a portion thereof the nucleic acid construct of some embodiments of the invention; and (b) evaluating a trait of a plant as compared to a wild type plant of the same type (e.g., a plant not transformed with the claimed biomolecules); thereby evaluating the trait of the plant.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention there is provided a method of producing a crop comprising growing a crop of a plant expressing an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide at least about 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about 88 %, at least about 89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about 95 %, at least about 96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, or more say 100 % homologous (e.g., identical) to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, 2898-3645, 3647-4854 and 4855, wherein said plant is derived from a plant selected for increased fertilizer use efficiency, increased nitrogen use efficiency, increased abiotic stress tolerance, increased water use efficiency, increased growth rate, increased vigor, increased biomass, increased oil content, increased yield, increased seed yield, increased fiber yield, increased fiber quality, increased fiber length, and/or increased photosynthetic capacity as compared to a control plant, thereby producing the crop.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of producing a crop comprising growing a crop plant transformed with an exogenous polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide at least 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about 88 %, at least about 89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about 95 %, at least about 96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, or more say 100 % homologous (e.g., identical) to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, 2898-3645, 3647-4854 and 4855, wherein the crop plant is derived from plants selected for increased abiotic stress tolerance, increased water use efficiency, increased growth rate, increased vigor, increased biomass, increased oil content, increased yield, increased seed yield, increased fiber yield, increased fiber quality, increased fiber length, increased photosynthetic capacity, and/or increased fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., increased nitrogen use efficiency) as compared to a wild type plant of the same species which is grown under the same growth conditions, and the crop plant having the increased abiotic stress tolerance, increased water use efficiency, increased growth rate, increased vigor, increased biomass, increased oil content, increased yield, increased seed yield, increased fiber yield, increased fiber quality, increased fiber length, increased photosynthetic capacity, and/or increased fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., increased nitrogen use efficiency), thereby producing the crop.

According to some embodiments of the invention the polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, 2898-4854 and 4855.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention there is provided a method of producing a crop comprising growing a crop of a plant expressing an exogenous polynucleotide which comprises a nucleic acid sequence which is at least about 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about 88 %, at least about 89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about 95 %, at least about 96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, e.g., 100 % identical to the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-495, 795-2896 and 2897, wherein said plant is derived from a plant (parent plant) that has been transformed to express the exogenous polynucleotide and that has been selected for increased abiotic stress tolerance, increased water use efficiency, increased growth rate, increased vigor, increased biomass, increased oil content, increased yield, increased seed yield, increased fiber yield, increased fiber quality, increased fiber length, increased photo synthetic capacity, and/or increased fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., increased nitrogen use efficiency) as compared to a control plant, thereby producing the crop.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of producing a crop comprising growing a crop plant transformed with an exogenous polynucleotide at least 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about 88 %, at least about 89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about 95 %, at least about 96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, or more say 100 % identical to the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-495, 795-2896 and 2897, wherein the crop plant is derived from plants selected for increased abiotic stress tolerance, increased water use efficiency, increased growth rate, increased vigor, increased biomass, increased oil content, increased yield, increased seed yield, increased fiber yield, increased fiber quality, increased fiber length, increased photosynthetic capacity, and/or increased fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., increased nitrogen use efficiency) as compared to a wild type plant of the same species which is grown under the same growth conditions, and the crop plant having the increased abiotic stress tolerance, increased water use efficiency, increased growth rate, increased vigor, increased biomass, increased oil content, increased yield, increased seed yield, increased fiber yield, increased fiber quality, increased fiber length, increased photosynthetic capacity, and/or increased fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., increased nitrogen use efficiency), thereby producing the crop.

According to some embodiments of the invention the exogenous polynucleotide is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-495, 795-2896 and 2897.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention there is provided a method of growing a crop comprising seeding seeds and/or planting plantlets of a plant transformed with the exogenous polynucleotide of the invention, e.g., the polynucleotide which encodes the polypeptide of some embodiments of the invention, wherein the plant is derived from plants selected for at least one trait selected from the group consisting of increased abiotic stress tolerance, increased water use efficiency, increased growth rate, increased vigor, increased biomass, increased oil content, increased yield, increased seed yield, increased fiber yield, increased fiber quality, increased fiber length, increased photosynthetic capacity, and/or increased fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., increased nitrogen use efficiency) as compared to a non-transformed plant.

According to some embodiments of the invention the method of growing a crop comprising seeding seeds and/or planting plantlets of a plant transformed with an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide at least about 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about

88 %, at least about 89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about 95 %, at least about 96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, e.g., 100 % identical to SEQ ID NO: 496-794, 2898-3645, 3647-4854 or 4855, wherein the plant is derived from plants selected for at least one trait selected from the group consisting of increased abiotic stress tolerance, increased water use efficiency, increased growth rate, increased vigor, increased biomass, increased oil content, increased yield, increased seed yield, increased fiber yield, increased fiber quality, increased fiber length, increased photosynthetic capacity, and/or increased fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., increased nitrogen use efficiency) as compared to a non-transformed plant, thereby growing the crop.

According to some embodiments of the invention the polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 496-794, 2898-4854 and 4855.

According to some embodiments of the invention the method of growing a crop comprising seeding seeds and/or planting plantlets of a plant transformed with an exogenous polynucleotide comprising the nucleic acid sequence at least about 80 %, at least about 81 %, at least about 82 %, at least about 83 %, at least about 84 %, at least about 85 %, at least about 86 %, at least about 87 %, at least about 88 %, at least about

89 %, at least about 90 %, at least about 91 %, at least about 92 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 93 %, at least about 94 %, at least about 95 %, at least about 96 %, at least about 97 %, at least about 98 %, at least about 99 %, e.g., 100 % identical to SEQ ID NO: 1-495, 795-2896 or 2897, wherein the plant is derived from plants selected for at least one trait selected from the group consisting of increased abiotic stress tolerance, increased water use efficiency, increased growth rate, increased vigor, increased biomass, increased oil content, increased yield, increased seed yield, increased fiber yield, increased fiber quality, increased fiber length, increased photo synthetic capacity, and/or increased fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., increased nitrogen use efficiency) as compared to a non-transformed plant, thereby growing the crop.

According to some embodiments of the invention the exogenous polynucleotide is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-495, 795-2896 and 2897.

The effect of the transgene (the exogenous polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide) on abiotic stress tolerance can be determined using known methods such as detailed below and in the Examples section which follows.

Abiotic stress tolerance - Transformed (i.e., expressing the transgene) and non- transformed (wild type) plants are exposed to an abiotic stress condition, such as water deprivation, suboptimal temperature (low temperature, high temperature), nutrient deficiency, nutrient excess, a salt stress condition, osmotic stress, heavy metal toxicity, anaerobiosis, atmospheric pollution and UV irradiation.

Salinity tolerance assay - Transgenic plants with tolerance to high salt concentrations are expected to exhibit better germination, seedling vigor or growth in high salt. Salt stress can be effected in many ways such as, for example, by irrigating the plants with a hyperosmotic solution, by cultivating the plants hydroponically in a hyperosmotic growth solution (e.g., Hoagland solution), or by culturing the plants in a hyperosmotic growth medium [e.g., 50 % Murashige-Skoog medium (MS medium)]. Since different plants vary considerably in their tolerance to salinity, the salt concentration in the irrigation water, growth solution, or growth medium can be adjusted according to the specific characteristics of the specific plant cultivar or variety, so as to inflict a mild or moderate effect on the physiology and/or morphology of the plants (for guidelines as to appropriate concentration see, Bernstein and Kafkafi, Root Growth Under Salinity Stress In: Plant Roots, The Hidden Half 3rd ed. Waisel Y, Eshel A and Kafkafi U. (editors) Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, 2002, and reference therein). For example, a salinity tolerance test can be performed by irrigating plants at different developmental stages with increasing concentrations of sodium chloride (for example 50 mM, 100 mM, 200 mM, 400 mM NaCl) applied from the bottom and from above to ensure even dispersal of salt. Following exposure to the stress condition the plants are frequently monitored until substantial physiological and/or morphological effects appear in wild type plants. Thus, the external phenotypic appearance, degree of wilting and overall success to reach maturity and yield progeny are compared between control and transgenic plants.

Quantitative parameters of tolerance measured include, but are not limited to, the average wet and dry weight, growth rate, leaf size, leaf coverage (overall leaf area), the weight of the seeds yielded, the average seed size and the number of seeds produced per plant. Transformed plants not exhibiting substantial physiological and/or morphological effects, or exhibiting higher biomass than wild-type plants, are identified as abiotic stress tolerant plants.

Osmotic tolerance test - Osmotic stress assays (including sodium chloride and mannitol assays) are conducted to determine if an osmotic stress phenotype was sodium chloride- specific or if it was a general osmotic stress related phenotype. Plants which are tolerant to osmotic stress may have more tolerance to drought and/or freezing. For salt and osmotic stress germination experiments, the medium is supplemented for example with 50 mM, 100 mM, 200 mM NaCl or 100 mM, 200 mM NaCl, 400 mM mannitol.

Drought tolerance assay/ Osm oticu m assay - Tolerance to drought is performed to identify the genes conferring better plant survival after acute water deprivation. To analyze whether the transgenic plants are more tolerant to drought, an osmotic stress produced by the non-ionic osmolyte sorbitol in the medium can be performed. Control and transgenic plants are germinated and grown in plant-agar plates for 4 days, after which they are transferred to plates containing 500 mM sorbitol. The treatment causes growth retardation, then both control and transgenic plants are compared, by measuring plant weight (wet and dry), yield, and by growth rates measured as time to flowering.

Conversely, soil-based drought screens are performed with plants overexpressing the polynucleotides detailed above. Seeds from control Arabidopsis plants, or other transgenic plants overexpressing the polypeptide of the invention are germinated and transferred to pots. Drought stress is obtained after irrigation is ceased accompanied by placing the pots on absorbent paper to enhance the soil-drying rate. Transgenic and control plants are compared to each other when the majority of the control plants develop severe wilting. Plants are re-watered after obtaining a significant fraction of the control plants displaying a severe wilting. Plants are ranked comparing to controls for each of two criteria: tolerance to the drought conditions and recovery (survival) following re-watering.

Cold stress tolerance - To analyze cold stress, mature (25 day old) plants are transferred to 4 °C chambers for 1 or 2 weeks, with constitutive light. Later on plants are moved back to greenhouse. Two weeks later damages from chilling period, resulting in growth retardation and other phenotypes, are compared between both control and transgenic plants, by measuring plant weight (wet and dry), and by comparing growth rates measured as time to flowering, plant size, yield, and the like.

Heat stress tolerance - Heat stress tolerance is achieved by exposing the plants to temperatures above 34 °C for a certain period. Plant tolerance is examined after transferring the plants back to 22 °C for recovery and evaluation after 5 days relative to internal controls (non-transgenic plants) or plants not exposed to neither cold or heat stress.

Water use efficiency - can be determined as the biomass produced per unit transpiration. To analyze WUE, leaf relative water content can be measured in control and transgenic plants. Fresh weight (FW) is immediately recorded; then leaves are soaked for 8 hours in distilled water at room temperature in the dark, and the turgid weight (TW) is recorded. Total dry weight (DW) is recorded after drying the leaves at 60 °C to a constant weight. Relative water content (RWC) is calculated according to the following Formula I:

Formula I

RWC = [(FW - DW) / (TW - DW)] x 100

Fertilizer use efficiency - To analyze whether the transgenic plants are more responsive to fertilizers, plants are grown in agar plates or pots with a limited amount of fertilizer, as described, for example, in Examples 15-17 hereinbelow and in Yanagisawa et al (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004; 101:7833-8). The plants are analyzed for their overall size, time to flowering, yield, protein content of shoot and/or grain. The parameters checked are the overall size of the mature plant, its wet and dry weight, the weight of the seeds yielded, the average seed size and the number of seeds produced per plant. Other parameters that may be tested are: the chlorophyll content of leaves (as nitrogen plant status and the degree of leaf verdure is highly correlated), amino acid and the total protein content of the seeds or other plant parts such as leaves or shoots, oil content, etc. Similarly, instead of providing nitrogen at limiting amounts, phosphate or potassium can be added at increasing concentrations. Again, the same parameters measured are the same as listed above. In this way, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), phosphate use efficiency (PUE) and potassium use efficiency (KUE) are assessed, checking the ability of the transgenic plants to thrive under nutrient restraining conditions.

Nitrogen use efficiency - To analyze whether the transgenic plants (e.g., Arabidopsis plants) are more responsive to nitrogen, plant are grown in 0.75-3 mM (nitrogen deficient conditions) or 6-10 mM (optimal nitrogen concentration). Plants are allowed to grow for additional 25 days or until seed production. The plants are then analyzed for their overall size, time to flowering, yield, protein content of shoot and/or grain/ seed production. The parameters checked can be the overall size of the plant, wet and dry weight, the weight of the seeds yielded, the average seed size and the number of seeds produced per plant. Other parameters that may be tested are: the chlorophyll content of leaves (as nitrogen plant status and the degree of leaf greenness is highly correlated), amino acid and the total protein content of the seeds or other plant parts such as leaves or shoots and oil content. Transformed plants not exhibiting substantial physiological and/or morphological effects, or exhibiting higher measured parameters levels than wild-type plants, are identified as nitrogen use efficient plants.

Nitrogen Use efficiency assay using plantlets - The assay is done according to

Yanagisawa-S. et al. with minor modifications ("Metabolic engineering with Dofl transcription factor in plants: Improved nitrogen assimilation and growth under low- nitrogen conditions" Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101, 7833-7838). Briefly, transgenic plants which are grown for 7-10 days in 0.5 x MS [Murashige-Skoog] supplemented with a selection agent are transferred to two nitrogen-limiting conditions: MS media in which the combined nitrogen concentration (NH ₄ N0 ₃ and KN0 ₃ ) was 0.75 mM (nitrogen deficient conditions) or 6-15 mM (optimal nitrogen concentration). Plants are allowed to grow for additional 30-40 days and then photographed, individually removed from the Agar (the shoot without the roots) and immediately weighed (fresh weight) for later statistical analysis. Constructs for which only Tl seeds are available are sown on selective media and at least 20 seedlings (each one representing an independent transformation event) are carefully transferred to the nitrogen-limiting media. For constructs for which T2 seeds are available, different transformation events are analyzed. Usually, 20 randomly selected plants from each event are transferred to the nitrogen-limiting media allowed to grow for 3-4 additional weeks and individually weighed at the end of that period. Transgenic plants are compared to control plants grown in parallel under the same conditions. Mock- transgenic plants expressing the uidA reporter gene (GUS) under the same promoter or transgenic plants carrying the same promoter but lacking a reporter gene are used as control.

Nitrogen determination - The procedure for N (nitrogen) concentration determination in the structural parts of the plants involves the potassium persulfate digestion method to convert organic N to N0 ₃ ^~ (Purcell and King 1996 Argon. J. 88: 111-113, the modified Cd ^" mediated reduction of N0 ₃ ^" to N0 ₂ ^~ (Vodovotz 1996 Biotechniques 20:390-394) and the measurement of nitrite by the Griess assay (Vodovotz 1996, supra). The absorbance values are measured at 550 nm against a standard curve of NaN0 ₂ . The procedure is described in details in Samonte et al. 2006 Agron. J. 98: 168-176.

Germination tests - Germination tests compare the percentage of seeds from transgenic plants that could complete the germination process to the percentage of seeds from control plants that are treated in the same manner. Normal conditions are considered for example, incubations at 22 °C under 22-hour light 2-hour dark daily cycles. Evaluation of germination and seedling vigor is conducted between 4 and 14 days after planting. The basal media is 50 % MS medium (Murashige and Skoog, 1962 Plant Physiology 15, 473-497).

Germination is checked also at unfavorable conditions such as cold (incubating at temperatures lower than 10 °C instead of 22 °C) or using seed inhibition solutions that contain high concentrations of an osmolyte such as sorbitol (at concentrations of 50 mM, 100 mM, 200 mM, 300 mM, 500 mM, and up to 1000 mM) or applying increasing concentrations of salt (of 50 mM, 100 mM, 200 mM, 300 mM, 500 mM NaCl). The effect of the transgene on plant's vigor, growth rate, biomass, yield and/or oil content can be determined using known methods.

Plant vigor - The plant vigor can be calculated by the increase in growth parameters such as leaf area, fiber length, rosette diameter, plant fresh weight and the like per time.

Growth rate - The growth rate can be measured using digital analysis of growing plants. For example, images of plants growing in greenhouse on plot basis can be captured every 3 days and the rosette area can be calculated by digital analysis. Rosette area growth is calculated using the difference of rosette area between days of sampling divided by the difference in days between samples.

Evaluation of growth rate can be done by measuring plant biomass produced, rosette area, leaf size or root length per time (can be measured in cm per day of leaf area).

Relative growth area can be calculated using Formula II.

Formula II:

Relative growth rate area = Regression coefficient of area along time course Thus, the relative growth area rate is in units of area units (e.g., mm /day or cm /day) and the relative length growth rate is in units of length units (e.g., cm/day or mm/day).

For example, RGR can be determined for plant height (Formula III), SPAD

(Formula IV), Number of tillers (Formula V), root length (Formula VI), vegetative growth (Formula VII), leaf number (Formula VIII), rosette area (Formula IX), rosette diameter (Formula X), plot coverage (Formula XI), leaf blade area (Formula XII), and leaf area (Formula XIII).

Formula III: Relative growth rate of Plant height = Regression coefficient of

Plant height along time course (measured in cm/day).

Formula IV: Relative growth rate of SPAD = Regression coefficient of SPAD measurements along time course.

Formula V: Relative growth rate of Number of tillers = Regression coefficient of Number of tillers along time course (measured in units of "number of tillers/day").

Formula VI: Relative growth rate of root length = Regression coefficient of root length along time course (measured in cm per day). Vegetative growth rate analysis - was calculated according to Formula VII below.

Formula VII: Relative growth rate of vegetative growth = Regression coefficient of vegetative weight along time course (measured in grams per day).

Formula VIII: Relative growth rate of leaf number = Regression coefficient of leaf number along time course (measured in number per day).

Formula IX: Relative growth rate of rosette area = Regression coefficient of rosette area along time course (measured in cm per day).

Formula X: Relative growth rate of rosette diameter = Regression coefficient of rosette diameter along time course (measured in cm per day).

Formula XI: Relative growth rate of plot coverage = Regression coefficient of plot (measured in cm per day).

Formula XII: Relative growth rate of leaf blade area = Regression coefficient of leaf area along time course (measured in cm per day).

Formula XIII: Relative growth rate of leaf area = Regression coefficient of leaf area along time course (measured in cm per day).

Formula XIV: 1000 Seed Weight = number of seed in sample/ sample weight X 1000

The Harvest Index can be calculated using Formulas XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII and XXXVII below.

Formula XV: Harvest Index (seed) = Average seed yield per plant/ Average dry weight.

Formula XVI: Harvest Index (Sorghum) = Average grain dry weight per Head / (Average vegetative dry weight per Head + Average Head dry weight)

Formula XVII: Harvest Index (Maize) = Average grain weight per plant/

(Average vegetative dry weight per plant plus Average grain weight per plant)

Harvest Index (for barley) - The harvest index is calculated using Formula

XVIII.

Formula XVIII: Harvest Index (for barley and wheat) = Average spike dry weight per plant/ (Average vegetative dry weight per plant + Average spike dry weight per plant). Following is a non-limited list of additional parameters which can be detected in order to show the effect of the transgene on the desired plant's traits:

Formula XIX: Grain circularity = 4 x 3.14 (grain area/perimeter )

Formula XX: internode volume = 3.14 x (d/2) x l

Formula XXI: Normalized ear weight per plant + vegetative dry weight.

Formula XXII: Root/Shoot Ratio = total weight of the root at harvest/ total weight of the vegetative portion above ground at harvest. (=RBiH/BiH)

Formula XXIII: Ratio of the number of pods per node on main stem at pod set = Total number of pods on main stem /Total number of nodes on main stem.

Formula XXIV: Ratio of total number of seeds in main stem to number of seeds on lateral branches = Total number of seeds on main stem at pod set/ Total number of seeds on lateral branches at pod set.

Formula XXV: Petiole Relative Area = (Petiole area)/Rosette area (measured in

%).

Formula XXVI: % reproductive tiller percentage = Number of Reproductive tillers/number of tillers) X 100.

Formula XXVII: Spikes Index = Average Spikes weight per plant/ (Average vegetative dry weight per plant plus Average Spikes weight per plant).

Formula XXVIII:

Relative growth rate of root coverage = Regression coefficient of root coverage along time course.

Formula XXIX:

Seed Oil yield = Seed yield per plant (gr.) * Oil % in seed.

Formula XXX: shoot/root Ratio = total weight of the vegetative portion above ground at harvest/ total weight of the root at harvest.

Formula XXXI: Spikelets Index = Average Spikelets weight per plant/ (Average vegetative dry weight per plant plus Average Spikelets weight per plant).

Formula XXXII: % Canopy coverage = (l-(PAR_DOWN/PAR_UP))xl00. Formula XXXIII: leaf mass fraction = Leaf area / shoot FW.

Formula XXXIV: Relative growth rate based on dry weight = Regression coefficient of dry weight along time course. Formula XXXV: Total dry matter (for Maize) = Normalized ear weight plant + vegetative dry weight.

Formula XXXVI:

Agronomical NUE =

r . /i i X Nitrogen Fertilization . /i 0% Nitrogen Fertilization

Yield per plant (Kg. ) - Yield per plant (Kg. )

Fertilizer ^x

Formula XXXVII: Harvest Index (brachypodium) = Average grain weight/average dry (vegetative + spikelet) weight per plant.

Formula XXXVIII: Harvest Index for Sorghum* (* when the plants were not dried) = FW (fresh weight) Heads/(FW Heads + FW Plants)

Grain fill rate [mg/day] - Rate of dry matter accumulation in grain. The grain fill rate is calculated using Formula XXXIX

Formula XXXIX: Grain fill rate [mg/day] = [Grain weight*ear-l x 1000]/[Grain number*ear -1] x Grain filling duration].

Grain protein concentration - Grain protein content (g grain protein m ^" ) is estimated as the product of the mass of grain N (g grain N m ^" ) multiplied by the N/protein conversion ratio of k-5.13 (Mosse 1990, supra). The grain protein concentration is estimated as the ratio of grain protein content per unit mass of the grain (g grain protein kg ^"1 grain).

Fiber length - Fiber length can be measured using fibrograph. The fibrograph system was used to compute length in terms of "Upper Half Mean" length. The upper half mean (UHM) is the average length of longer half of the fiber distribution. The fibrograph measures length in span lengths at a given percentage point (cottoninc (dot) com/ClassificationofCotton/?Pg=4#Length).

According to some embodiments of the invention, increased yield of corn may be manifested as one or more of the following: increase in the number of plants per growing area, increase in the number of ears per plant, increase in the number of rows per ear, number of kernels per ear row, kernel weight, thousand kernel weight (1000- weight), ear length/diameter, increase oil content per kernel and increase starch content per kernel. As mentioned, the increase of plant yield can be determined by various parameters. For example, increased yield of rice may be manifested by an increase in one or more of the following: number of plants per growing area, number of panicles per plant, number of spikelets per panicle, number of flowers per panicle, increase in the seed filling rate, increase in thousand kernel weight (1000- weight), increase oil content per seed, increase starch content per seed, among others. An increase in yield may also result in modified architecture, or may occur because of modified architecture.

Similarly, increased yield of soybean may be manifested by an increase in one or more of the following: number of plants per growing area, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, increase in the seed filling rate, increase in thousand seed weight (1000-weight), reduce pod shattering, increase oil content per seed, increase protein content per seed, among others. An increase in yield may also result in modified architecture, or may occur because of modified architecture.

Increased yield of canola may be manifested by an increase in one or more of the following: number of plants per growing area, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, increase in the seed filling rate, increase in thousand seed weight (1000- weight), reduce pod shattering, increase oil content per seed, among others. An increase in yield may also result in modified architecture, or may occur because of modified architecture.

Increased yield of cotton may be manifested by an increase in one or more of the following: number of plants per growing area, number of bolls per plant, number of seeds per boll, increase in the seed filling rate, increase in thousand seed weight (1000- weight), increase oil content per seed, improve fiber length, fiber strength, among others. An increase in yield may also result in modified architecture, or may occur because of modified architecture.

Oil content - The oil content of a plant can be determined by extraction of the oil from the seed or the vegetative portion of the plant. Briefly, lipids (oil) can be removed from the plant (e.g., seed) by grinding the plant tissue in the presence of specific solvents (e.g., hexane or petroleum ether) and extracting the oil in a continuous extractor. Indirect oil content analysis can be carried out using various known methods such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy, which measures the resonance energy absorbed by hydrogen atoms in the liquid state of the sample [See for example, Conway TF. and Earle FR., 1963, Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society; Springer Berlin / Heidelberg, ISSN: 0003-021X (Print) 1558-9331 (Online)]; the Near Infrared (NI) Spectroscopy, which utilizes the absorption of near infrared energy (1100- 2500 nm) by the sample; and a method described in WO/2001/023884, which is based on extracting oil a solvent, evaporating the solvent in a gas stream which forms oil particles, and directing a light into the gas stream and oil particles which forms a detectable reflected light.

Thus, the present invention is of high agricultural value for promoting the yield of commercially desired crops (e.g., biomass of vegetative organ such as poplar wood, or reproductive organ such as number of seeds or seed biomass).

Any of the transgenic plants described hereinabove or parts thereof may be processed to produce a feed, meal, protein or oil preparation, such as for ruminant animals.

The transgenic plants described hereinabove, which exhibit an increased oil content can be used to produce plant oil (by extracting the oil from the plant).

The plant oil (including the seed oil and/or the vegetative portion oil) produced according to the method of the invention may be combined with a variety of other ingredients. The specific ingredients included in a product are determined according to the intended use. Exemplary products include animal feed, raw material for chemical modification, biodegradable plastic, blended food product, edible oil, biofuel, cooking oil, lubricant, biodiesel, snack food, cosmetics, and fermentation process raw material. Exemplary products to be incorporated to the plant oil include animal feeds, human food products such as extruded snack foods, breads, as a food binding agent, aquaculture feeds, fermentable mixtures, food supplements, sport drinks, nutritional food bars, multi-vitamin supplements, diet drinks, and cereal foods.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the oil comprises a seed oil.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the oil comprises a vegetative portion oil (oil of the vegetative portion of the plant).

According to some embodiments of the invention, the plant cell forms a part of a plant.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a food or feed comprising the plants or a portion thereof of the present invention. As used herein the term "about" refers to ± 10 %.

The terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes", "including", "having" and their conjugates mean "including but not limited to".

The term "consisting of means "including and limited to".

The term "consisting essentially of" means that the composition, method or structure may include additional ingredients, steps and/or parts, but only if the additional ingredients, steps and/or parts do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition, method or structure.

As used herein, the singular form "a", "an" and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term "a compound" or "at least one compound" may include a plurality of compounds, including mixtures thereof.

Throughout this application, various embodiments of this invention may be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.

Whenever a numerical range is indicated herein, it is meant to include any cited numeral (fractional or integral) within the indicated range. The phrases "ranging/ranges between" a first indicate number and a second indicate number and "ranging/ranges from" a first indicate number "to" a second indicate number are used herein interchangeably and are meant to include the first and second indicated numbers and all the fractional and integral numerals therebetween.

As used herein the term "method" refers to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the chemical, pharmacological, biological, biochemical and medical arts.

When reference is made to particular sequence listings, such reference is to be understood to also encompass sequences that substantially correspond to its complementary sequence as including minor sequence variations, resulting from, e.g., sequencing errors, cloning errors, or other alterations resulting in base substitution, base deletion or base addition, provided that the frequency of such variations is less than 1 in 50 nucleotides, alternatively, less than 1 in 100 nucleotides, alternatively, less than 1 in 200 nucleotides, alternatively, less than 1 in 500 nucleotides, alternatively, less than 1 in 1000 nucleotides, alternatively, less than 1 in 5,000 nucleotides, alternatively, less than 1 in 10,000 nucleotides.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.

Various embodiments and aspects of the present invention as delineated hereinabove and as claimed in the claims section below find experimental support in the following examples.

EXAMPLES

Reference is now made to the following examples, which together with the above descriptions illustrate some embodiments of the invention in a non limiting fashion.

Generally, the nomenclature used herein and the laboratory procedures utilized in the present invention include molecular, biochemical, microbiological and recombinant DNA techniques. Such techniques are thoroughly explained in the literature. See, for example, "Molecular Cloning: A laboratory Manual" Sambrook et al., (1989); "Current Protocols in Molecular Biology" Volumes I-III Ausubel, R. M., ed. (1994); Ausubel et al., "Current Protocols in Molecular Biology", John Wiley and Sons, Baltimore, Maryland (1989); Perbal, "A Practical Guide to Molecular Cloning", John Wiley & Sons, New York (1988); Watson et al., "Recombinant DNA", Scientific American Books, New York; Birren et al. (eds) "Genome Analysis: A Laboratory Manual Series", Vols. 1-4, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York (1998); methodologies as set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,666,828; 4,683,202; 4,801,531; 5,192,659 and 5,272,057; "Cell Biology: A Laboratory Handbook", Volumes I-III Cellis, J. E., ed. (1994); "Current Protocols in Immunology" Volumes I-III Coligan J. E., ed. (1994); Stites et al. (eds), "Basic and Clinical Immunology" (8th Edition), Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT (1994); Mishell and Shiigi (eds), "Selected Methods in Cellular Immunology", W. H. Freeman and Co., New York (1980); available immunoassays are extensively described in the patent and scientific literature, see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,791,932; 3,839,153; 3,850,752; 3,850,578; 3,853,987; 3,867,517; 3,879,262; 3,901,654; 3,935,074; 3,984,533; 3,996,345; 4,034,074; 4,098,876; 4,879,219; 5,011,771 and 5,281,521 ; "Oligonucleotide Synthesis" Gait, M. J., ed. (1984); "Nucleic Acid Hybridization" Hames, B. D., and Higgins S. J., eds. (1985); "Transcription and Translation" Hames, B. D., and Higgins S. J., Eds. (1984); "Animal Cell Culture" Freshney, R. I., ed. (1986); "Immobilized Cells and Enzymes" IRL Press, (1986); "A Practical Guide to Molecular Cloning" Perbal, B., (1984) and "Methods in Enzymology" Vol. 1-317, Academic Press; "PCR Protocols: A Guide To Methods And Applications", Academic Press, San Diego, CA (1990); Marshak et al., "Strategies for Protein Purification and Characterization - A Laboratory Course Manual" CSHL Press (1996); all of which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Other general references are provided throughout this document. The procedures therein are believed to be well known in the art and are provided for the convenience of the reader. All the information contained therein is incorporated herein by reference.

GENERAL EXPERIMENTAL AND BIOINFORMATICS METHODS RNA extraction - Tissues growing at various growth conditions (as described below) were sampled and RNA was extracted using TRIzol Reagent from Invitrogen [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) invitrogen (dot) com/content (dot)cfm?pageid=469] . Approximately 30-50 mg of tissue was taken from samples. The weighed tissues were ground using pestle and mortar in liquid nitrogen and resuspended in 500 μΐ of TRIzol Reagent. To the homogenized lysate, 100 μΐ of chloroform was added followed by precipitation using isopropanol and two washes with 75 % ethanol. The RNA was eluted in 30 μΐ of RNase-free water. RNA samples were cleaned up using Qiagen 's RNeasy minikit clean-up protocol as per the manufacturer's protocol (QIAGEN Inc, CA USA). For convenience, each micro-array expression information tissue type has received an expression Set ID.

Correlation analysis - was performed for selected genes according to some embodiments of the invention, in which the characterized parameters (measured parameters according to the correlation IDs) were used as "x axis" for correlation with the tissue transcriptom which was used as the "Y axis". For each gene and measured parameter a correlation coefficient "R" was calculated (using Pearson correlation) along with a p-value for the significance of the correlation. When the correlation coefficient (R) between the levels of a gene's expression in a certain tissue and a phenotypic performance across ecotypes/variety/hybrid is high in absolute value (between 0.5- 1), there is an association between the gene (specifically the expression level of this gene) the phenotypic characteristic (e.g., improved nitrogen use efficiency, abiotic stress tolerance, yield, growth rate and the like).

EXAMPLE 1

IDENTIFYING GENES WHICH INCREASE NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY

(NUE), FERTILIZER USE EFFICIENCY (FUE), YIELD, GROWTH RATE, VIGOR, BIOMASS, OIL CONTENT, ABIOTIC STRESS TOLERANCE (ABST)

AND/OR WATER USE EFFICIENCY (WUE) IN PLANTS The present inventors have identified polynucleotides which upregulation of expression thereof in plants increases nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), fertilizer use efficiency (FUE), yield (e.g., seed yield, oil yield, biomass, grain quantity and/or quality), growth rate, vigor, biomass, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, abiotic stress tolerance (ABST) and/or water use efficiency (WUE) of a plant.

All nucleotide sequence datasets used here were originated from publicly available databases or from performing sequencing using the Solexa technology (e.g. Barley and Sorghum). Sequence data from 100 different plant species was introduced into a single, comprehensive database. Other information on gene expression, protein annotation, enzymes and pathways were also incorporated. Major databases used include:

• Genomes

o Arabidopsis genome [TAIR genome version 6 (arabidopsis (dot) org/)] o Rice genome [IRGSP build 4.0 (rgp (dot) dna (dot) affrc (dot) go (dot) jp/IRGSP/)].

o Poplar [Populus trichocarpa release 1.1 from JGI (assembly release vl.O) (genome (dot) jgi-psf (dot) org/)]

o Brachypodium [JGI 4x assembly, brachpodium (dot) org)]

o Soybean [DOE-JGI SCP, version GlymaO or Glymal (phytozome (dot) net/)] o Grape [French-Italian Public Consortium for Grapevine Genome

Characterization grapevine genome (genoscope (dot) ens (dot) fr /)]

o Castobean [TIGR/J Craig Venter Institute 4x assembly [(msc (dot) jevi (dot) org/r_communis]

o Sorghum [DOE-JGI SCP, version Sbil [phytozome (dot) net/)],

o Maize [maizesequence (dot) org/]

o Cucumber [cucumber (dot) genomics (dot) org (dot) cn/page/cucumber/index (dot) jsp]

o Tomato [solgenomics (dot) net/tomato/]

o Cassava [phytozome (dot) net/cassava (dot) php]

• Expressed EST and mRNA sequences were extracted from the following databases:

o GenBank (ncbi (dot) nlm (dot) nih (dot) gov/Genbank/).

o RefSeq (ncbi (dot) nlm (dot) nih (dot) gov/RefSeq/).

o TAIR (arabidopsis (dot) org/).

• Protein and pathway databases

o Uniprot [uniprot (dot) org/] .

o AraCyc [arabidopsis (dot) org/biocyc/index (dot) jsp].

o ENZYME [expasy (dot) org/enzyme/] .

· Microarray datasets were downloaded from:

o GEO (ncbi (dot) nlm (dot) nih (dot) gov/geo/)

o TAIR (Arabidopsis (dot) org/).

o Proprietary micro-array data (See WO2008/122980 and Examples 3-11 below).

• QTL and SNPs information

o Gramene [gramene (dot) org/qtl/] .

o Panzea [panzea (dot) org/index (dot) html] .

o Soybean QTL: [soybeanbreederstoolbox(dot) com/].

Database Assembly - was performed to build a wide, rich, reliable annotated and easy database comprised of publicly available genomic mRNA, ESTs DNA sequences, data from various crops as well as gene expression, protein annotation and pathway,

QTLs data, and other relevant information.

Database assembly is comprised of a toolbox of gene refining, structuring, annotation and analysis tools enabling to construct a tailored database for each gene discovery project. Gene refining and structuring tools enable to reliably detect splice variants and antisense transcripts, generating understanding of various potential phenotypic outcomes of a single gene. The capabilities of the "LEADS" platform of

Compugen LTD for analyzing human genome have been confirmed and accepted by the scientific community [see e.g., "Widespread Antisense Transcription", Yelin, et al.

(2003) Nature Biotechnology 21, 379-85; "Splicing of Alu Sequences", Lev-Maor, et al. (2003) Science 300 (5623), 1288-91; "Computational analysis of alternative splicing using EST tissue information", Xie H et al. Genomics 2002], and have been proven most efficient in plant genomics as well. EST clustering and gene assembly - For gene clustering and assembly of organisms with available genome sequence data (arabidopsis, rice, castorbean, grape, brachypodium, poplar, soybean, sorghum) the genomic LEADS version (GANG) was employed. This tool allows most accurate clustering of ESTs and mRNA sequences on genome, and predicts gene structure as well as alternative splicing events and anti- sense transcription.

For organisms with no available full genome sequence data, "expressed LEADS" clustering software was applied.

Gene annotation - Predicted genes and proteins were annotated as follows: Sequences blast search [blast (dot) ncbi (dot) nlm (dot) nih (dot) gov /Blast (dot) cgi] against all plant UniProt [uniprot (dot) org/] was performed. Open reading frames of each putative transcript were analyzed and longest ORF with higher number of homologues was selected as predicted protein of the transcript. The predicted proteins were analyzed by InterPro [ebi (dot) ac (dot) uk/interpro/] .

Blast against proteins from AraCyc and ENZYME databases was used to map the predicted transcripts to AraCyc pathways.

Predicted proteins from different species were compared using blast algorithm [ncbi (dot) nlm (dot) nih (dot) gov /Blast (dot) cgi] to validate the accuracy of the predicted protein sequence, and for efficient detection of orthologs.

Gene expression profiling - Several data sources were exploited for gene expression profiling, namely microarray data and digital expression profile (see below). According to gene expression profile, a correlation analysis was performed to identify genes which are co-regulated under different development stages and environmental conditions and associated with different phenotypes.

Publicly available microarray datasets were downloaded from TAIR and NCBI

GEO sites, renormalized, and integrated into the database. Expression profiling is one of the most important resource data for identifying genes important for yield.

A digital expression profile summary was compiled for each cluster according to all keywords included in the sequence records comprising the cluster. Digital expression, also known as electronic Northern Blot, is a tool that displays virtual expression profile based on the EST sequences forming the gene cluster. The tool provides the expression profile of a cluster in terms of plant anatomy (e.g., the tissue/organ in which the gene is expressed), developmental stage (the developmental stages at which a gene can be found) and profile of treatment (provides the physiological conditions under which a gene is expressed such as drought, cold, pathogen infection, etc). Given a random distribution of ESTs in the different clusters, the digital expression provides a probability value that describes the probability of a cluster having a total of N ESTs to contain X ESTs from a certain collection of libraries. For the probability calculations, the following is taken into consideration: a) the number of ESTs in the cluster, b) the number of ESTs of the implicated and related libraries, c) the overall number of ESTs available representing the species. Thereby clusters with low probability values are highly enriched with ESTs from the group of libraries of interest indicating a specialized expression.

Recently, the accuracy of this system was demonstrated by Portnoy et al., 2009 (Analysis Of The Melon Fruit Transcriptome Based On 454 Pyrosequencing) in: Plant & Animal Genomes XVII Conference, San Diego, CA. Transcriptomic analysis, based on relative EST abundance in data was performed by 454 pyrosequencing of cDNA representing mRNA of the melon fruit. Fourteen double strand cDNA samples obtained from two genotypes, two fruit tissues (flesh and rind) and four developmental stages were sequenced. GS FLX pyrosequencing (Roche/454 Life Sciences) of non-normalized and purified cDNA samples yielded 1,150,657 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) that assembled into 67,477 unigenes (32,357 singletons and 35,120 contigs). Analysis of the data obtained against the Cucurbit Genomics Database [icugi (dot) org/] confirmed the accuracy of the sequencing and assembly. Expression patterns of selected genes fitted well their qRT-PCR data.

Overall, 215 genes were identified to have a major impact on nitrogen use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, yield (e.g., seed yield, oil yield, grain quantity and/or quality), growth rate, vigor, biomass, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, abiotic stress tolerance and/or water use efficiency when expression thereof is increased in plants. The identified genes, their curated polynucleotide and polypeptide sequences, as well as their updated sequences according to GenBank database are summarized in Table 1, hereinbelow. Table 1

Identified polynucleotides for increasing nitrogen use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, yield, growth rate, vigor, biomass, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, abiotic stress tolerance and/or water use efficiency of a plant

Polyn.

Gene Polyp. SEQ

Cluster tag Organism SEQ ID

Name ID NO:

NO:

LNU749 barleyllOv2IAV834836 barley 1 496

LNU749 barleyllOv2IAV834836 barley 1 712

LNU750 barleyll0v2IBE215751 barley 2 497

LNU750 barleyll0v2IBE215751 barley 2 497

LNU751 barleyll0v2IBE413235 barley 3 498

LNU752 barleyll0v2IBE421033 barley 4 499

LNU753 barleyll0v2IBE422116 barley 5 500

LNU754 barleyll0v2IBE601673 barley 6 501

LNU756 barleyll0v2IBF620955 barley 7 502

LNU757 barleyll0v2IBF624113 barley 8 503

LNU758 barleyll0v2IBF629458 barley 9 504

LNU759 barleyll0v2IBM376337 barley 10 505

LNU760 barleyll2vl lCX630466 barley 11 506

LNU761 barleyll2vl lAJ463320 barley 12 507

LNU762 barleyll2vllAV834698 barley 13 508

LNU763 barleyll2vllAV836421 barley 14 509

LNU764 barleyll2vllAV914625 barley 15 510

LNU766 barleyll2vllAW983189 barley 16 511

LNU767 barleyll2vllBE 196490 barley 17 512

LNU768 barleyll2vllBE216887 barley 18 513

LNU769 barleyll2vllBE437319 barley 19 514

LNU770 barleyll2vllBE602491 barley 20 515

LNU771 barleyll2vllBF064919 barley 21 516

LNU772 barleyll2vllBF253521 barley 22 517

LNU773 barleyll2vllBF256991 barley 23 518

LNU774 barleyll2vllBF258839 barley 24 519

LNU775 barleyll2vllBF266348 barley 25 520

LNU776 barleyll2vllBF266777 barley 26 521

LNU777 barleyll2vllBF628559 barley 27 522

LNU778 barleyll2vl lBG300262 barley 28 523

LNU779 barleyll2vl lBG309380 barley 29 524

LNU780 barleyll2vllBI779788 barley 30 525

LNU781 barleyll2vllBI948718 barley 31 526

LNU782 barleyll2vllBI950988 barley 32 527

LNU783 barleyll2vllBI957813 barley 33 528

LNU784 barleyll2vl lBQ762763 barley 34 529

LNU785 barleyll2vl lBU986731 barley 35 530

LNU786 barleyll2vl lEX599010 barley 36 531

LNU787 brachypodiuml 12v 1 IBRADI1 G37175 brachypo 37 532 Polyn.

Gene Polyp. SEQ

Cluster tag Organism SEQ ID

Name ID NO:

NO:

dium

LNU788 brachypodiuml 12vl IBRADI1 G51187 brachypo 38 533 dium

LNU789 brachypodiuml 12v 1 IBRADI1 G64180 brachypo 39 534 dium

LNU790 brachypodiumll2vllBRADIlG64950 brachypo 40 535 dium

LNU791 brachypodiumll2vllBRADIlG69030 brachypo 41 536 dium

LNU792 brachypodiuml 12v 1 IBRADI2G51430 brachypo 42 537 dium

LNU793 brachypodiumll2vllBRADI2G53980 brachypo 43 538 dium

LNU794 brachypodiumll2vllBRADI3G16630T brachypo 44 539

2 dium

LNU795 brachypodiuml 12v 1 IBRADI4G01230 brachypo 45 540 dium

LNU796 brachypodiuml 12v 1 IBRADI4G05020 brachypo 46 541 dium

LNU797 brachypodiuml 12v 1 IBRADI4G07060 brachypo 47 542 dium

LNU798 brachypodiumll2vllBRADI4G27334 brachypo 48 543 dium

LNU799 brachypodiuml 12v 1 IBRADI4G29720 brachypo 49 544 dium

LNU800 brachypodiumll2vllBRADI5G16060 brachypo 50 545 dium

LNU801 foxtail_milletll lv3IPHY7SI000598M foxtail_mi 51 546 llet

LNU802 foxtail_milletll lv3IPHY7SI000948M foxtail_mi 52 547 llet

LNU803 foxtail_milletll lv3IPHY7SI003585M foxtail_mi 53 548 llet

LNU804 foxtail_milletl 11 v3 IPHY7SI009882M foxtail_mi 54 549 llet

LNU805 foxtail_milletl 11 v3 IPHY7SI013938M foxtail_mi 55 550 llet

LNU806 foxtail_milletl 11 v3 IPHY7SI014253M foxtail_mi 56 551 llet

LNU807 foxtail_milletl 11 v3 IPHY7SI021778M foxtail_mi 57 552 llet

LNU808 foxtail_milletl 11 v3 IPHY7SI023199M foxtail_mi 58 553 llet

LNU809 foxtail_milletl 11 v3 IPHY7SI036241 M foxtail_mi 59 554 llet

LNU810 foxtail_milletll lv3ISICRP086135 foxtail_mi 60 555 llet

LNU811 maizellOvl lAKOlOl l maize 61 556 Polyn.

Gene Polyp. SEQ

Cluster tag Organism SEQ ID

Name ID NO:

NO:

LNU813 maizell0vl lAI629666 maize 62 557

LNU814 maizell0vl lAI637029 maize 63 558

LNU815 maizell0vl lAI979480 maize 64 559

LNU816 maizell0vl lAI979737 maize 65 560

LNU817 maizell0vl lAW231541 maize 66 561

LNU818 maizell0vl lAW267199 maize 67 562

LNU819 maizell0vl lAW282410 maize 68 563

LNU820 maizell0vl lAW288911 maize 69 564

LNU821 maizell0vl lAW497499 maize 70 565

LNU822 maizell0vl lAW927651 maize 71 566

LNU823 maizell0vl lBE512590 maize 72 567

LNU824 maizell0vl lBE552882 maize 73 568

LNU825 maizell0vl lBE575202 maize 74 569

LNU828 maizell0vllBG458848 maize 75 570

LNU829 maizell0vllBG549052 maize 76 571

LNU830 maizell0vl lBI679654 maize 77 572

LNU831 maizell0vllBM269210 maize 78 573

LNU832 maizell0vllBM895367 maize 79 574

LNU833 maizell0vllBU036574 maize 80 575

LNU834 maizell0vllCB816561 maize 81 576

LNU835 maizell0vllCD986056 maize 82 577

LNU837 maizell0vl lCF064369 maize 83 578

LNU838 maizell0vl lCF634284 maize 84 579

LNU839 maizell0vllCO523359 maize 85 580

LNU840 maizell0vl lDN208554 maize 86 581

LNU841 maizell0vl lDN225757 maize 87 582

LNU843 maizellOvl lEEl 87987 maize 88 583

LNU844 maizell0vllT18396 maize 89 584

LNU845 maizell0vl lW21625 maize 90 585

LNU846 maizelgbl70IAF093537 maize 91 586

LNU847 medicagoll2vllAL366283 medicago 92 587

LNU848 ricell lvl lAF072694 rice 93 588

LNU849 ricell lvllAU057716 rice 94 589

LNU850 ricell lvllBI306328 rice 95 590

LNU851 ricell lvllBI813446 rice 96 591

LNU852 ricell lvllCA764428 rice 97 592

LNU853 ricell lvl lCB645176 rice 98 593

LNU854 ricel 11 vl IGFXAF377947X27 rice 99 594

LNU856 sorghuml09vl lSB10G011070 sorghum 100 595

LNU857 sorghuml 11 vl ISB 10G007600 sorghum 101 596

LNU858 sorghuml 12v 11 AW285114 sorghum 102 597

LNU861 sorghuml 12vllBE918914 sorghum 103 598

LNU862 sorghumll2vl IBG356040 sorghum 104 599 Polyn.

Gene Polyp. SEQ

Cluster tag Organism SEQ ID

Name ID NO:

NO:

LNU864 sorghumll2vl ICD424245 sorghum 105 600

LNU865 sorghumll2vl lSB0169S002030 sorghum 106 601

LNU866 sorghumll2vl lSB01G003110 sorghum 107 602

LNU867 sorghumll2vl lSB01G004510 sorghum 108 603

LNU868 sorghumll2vl lSB01G005240 sorghum 109 604

LNU869 sorghumll2vl lSB01G006870 sorghum 110 605

LNU870 sorghumll2vl lSB01G006930 sorghum 111 606

LNU871 sorghumll2vl lSB01G007380 sorghum 112 607

LNU872 sorghumll2vl lSB01G011260 sorghum 113 608

LNU873 sorghumll2vl lSB01G011890 sorghum 114 609

LNU874 sorghumll2vl lSB01G015540 sorghum 115 610

LNU875 sorghumll2vl lSB01G017100 sorghum 116 611

LNU876 sorghumll2vl lSB01G032593Pl sorghum 117 612

LNU878 sorghumll2vl lSB01G035780 sorghum 118 613

LNU879 sorghumll2vl lSB01G040060 sorghum 119 614

LNU880 sorghumll2vl lSB01G046630 sorghum 120 615

LNU881 sorghumll2vl lSB01G047345 sorghum 121 616

LNU882 sorghumll2vl lSB01G048200 sorghum 122 617

LNU883 sorghumll2vl lSB01G048670 sorghum 123 618

LNU884 sorghumll2vl lSB01G048910 sorghum 124 619

LNU885 sorghumll2vl lSB02G001450 sorghum 125 620

LNU886 sorghumll2vl ISB02G002020 sorghum 126 621

LNU887 sorghumll2vl ISB02G003980 sorghum 127 622

LNU888 sorghumll2vl ISB02G009320 sorghum 128 623

LNU889 sorghumll2vl ISB02G023760 sorghum 129 624

LNU890 sorghumll2vl ISB02G027260 sorghum 130 625

LNU892 sorghumll2vl lSB02G033210 sorghum 131 626

LNU893 sorghumll2vl ISB02G036470 sorghum 132 627

LNU894 sorghumll2vl ISB02G039430 sorghum 133 628

LNU895 sorghumll2vl ISB02G042020 sorghum 134 629

LNU896 sorghumll2vl ISB02G043060 sorghum 135 630

LNU897 sorghumll2vl ISB02G043340 sorghum 136 631

LNU898 sorghumll2vl lSB03G001900 sorghum 137 632

LNU899 sorghumll2vl lSB03G003880 sorghum 138 633

LNU900 sorghumll2vl ISB03G004920 sorghum 139 634

LNU901 sorghumll2vl ISB03G006670 sorghum 140 635

LNU902 sorghumll2vl ISB03G009240 sorghum 141 636

LNU903 sorghumll2vl lSB03G013600 sorghum 142 637

LNU904 sorghumll2vl lSB03G015670 sorghum 143 638

LNU905 sorghumll2vl lSB03G025980 sorghum 144 639

LNU906 sorghumll2vl ISB03G028220 sorghum 145 640

LNU907 sorghuml 12vl ISB03G029160 sorghum 146 641

LNU908 sorghumll2vl ISB03G030720 sorghum 147 642 Polyn.

Gene Polyp. SEQ

Cluster tag Organism SEQ ID

Name ID NO:

NO:

LNU909 sorghumll2vl lSB03G032235 sorghum 148 643

LNU910 sorghumll2vl lSB03G034870 sorghum 149 644

LNU911 sorghumll2vl lSB03G035900 sorghum 150 645

LNU912 sorghumll2vl lSB03G037390 sorghum 151 646

LNU913 sorghumll2vl lSB03G039370 sorghum 152 647

LNU914 sorghumll2vl ISB04G000560 sorghum 153 648

LNU915 sorghumll2vl ISB04G000860 sorghum 154 649

LNU916 sorghumll2vl lSB04G003110 sorghum 155 650

LNU917 sorghumll2vl lSB04G005810 sorghum 156 651

LNU918 sorghumll2vl ISB04G005960 sorghum 157 652

LNU919 sorghumll2vl ISB04G008660 sorghum 158 653

LNU920 sorghumll2vl ISB04G019220 sorghum 159 654

LNU921 sorghumll2vl ISB04G023720 sorghum 160 655

LNU922 sorghumll2vl lSB04G031020 sorghum 161 656

LNU923 sorghuml 12vl ISB04G031630 sorghum 162 657

LNU924 sorghumll2vl lSB04G031790 sorghum 163 658

LNU925 sorghumll2vl lSB04G031980 sorghum 164 659

LNU926 sorghumll2vl ISB04G032240 sorghum 165 660

LNU928 sorghumll2vl lSB04G035530 sorghum 166 661

LNU929 sorghumll2vl lSB04G036780 sorghum 167 662

LNU930 sorghumll2vl ISB04G037720 sorghum 168 663

LNU931 sorghumll2vl ISB05G000570 sorghum 169 664

LNU932 sorghumll2vl lSB05G001300 sorghum 170 665

LNU933 sorghumll2vl ISB05G005230 sorghum 171 666

LNU934 sorghumll2vl ISB05G006950 sorghum 172 667

LNU935 sorghumll2vl ISB05G020340 sorghum 173 668

LNU936 sorghumll2vl lSB05G021410 sorghum 174 669

LNU938 sorghumll2vl ISB05G025900 sorghum 175 670

LNU939 sorghumll2vl lSB06G015080 sorghum 176 671

LNU940 sorghumll2vl lSB06G016140 sorghum 177 672

LNU941 sorghumll2vl lSB06G018480 sorghum 178 673

LNU942 sorghumll2vl lSB06G019950 sorghum 179 674

LNU943 sorghumll2vl ISB06G020900 sorghum 180 675

LNU944 sorghumll2vl ISB07G000250 sorghum 181 676

LNU945 sorghumll2vl ISB07G004040 sorghum 182 677

LNU946 sorghumll2vl ISB07G004390 sorghum 183 678

LNU947 sorghumll2vl lSB07G021870 sorghum 184 679

LNU948 sorghumll2vl ISB07G027790 sorghum 185 680

LNU949 sorghumll2vl lSB08G002580 sorghum 186 681

LNU950 sorghumll2vl ISB08G002740 sorghum 187 682

LNU951 sorghumll2vl lSB08G003140 sorghum 188 683

LNU952 sorghumll2vl lSB08G007610 sorghum 189 684

LNU953 sorghumll2vl lSB08G015020 sorghum 190 685 Polyn.

Gene Polyp. SEQ

Cluster tag Organism SEQ ID

Name ID NO:

NO:

LNU954 sorghumll2vl lSB08G016400 sorghum 191 686

LNU955 sorghumll2vl lSB08G016530 sorghum 192 687

LNU956 sorghumll2vl lSB08G018765 sorghum 193 688

LNU957 sorghumll2vl ISB08G020600 sorghum 194 689

LNU958 sorghumll2vl lSB08G021920 sorghum 195 690

LNU959 sorghumll2vl lSB09G021265 sorghum 196 691

LNU960 sorghumll2vl lSB09G021520 sorghum 197 692

LNU961 sorghumll2vl ISB09G026930 sorghum 198 693

LNU962 sorghumll2vl ISB09G026990 sorghum 199 694

LNU963 sorghumll2vl lSB10G002960 sorghum 200 695

LNU964 sorghumll2vl lSB10G023640 sorghum 201 696

LNU965 sorghumll2vl lSB10G026450 sorghum 202 697

LNU966 sorghumll2vl lSB10G026910 sorghum 203 698

LNU967 sorghumll2vl lSB10G028680 sorghum 204 699

LNU968 sorghumll2vl lSB10G030200 sorghum 205 700

LNU969 sorghumll2vl IXM_002468645 sorghum 206 701

LNU970 soybeani 11 v 1 IGLYMA 13G20220 soybean 207 702

LNU971 tomatoll lvllAI772930 tomato 208 703

LNU972 tomatoll lvllAI775263 tomato 209 704

LNU975 tomatoll lvl lBI422101 tomato 210 705

LNU976 wheatll2v3ICA596628 wheat 211 706

LNU977 wheatll2v3ICK152213 wheat 212 707

LNU760_ brachypodiumll2vllBRADIlG02117 brachypo 213 708 HI dium

LNU832_ sorghumll2vl lSB03G013780 sorghum 214 709 H2

LNU834_ sorghumll2vl lSB02G003380 sorghum 215 710 HI

LNU861_ maizell0vl lCF635645 maize 216 711 H3

LNU859 sorghuml 12vl IAW677786 sorghum 217 -

LNU860 sorghuml 12v 1 IBE362249 sorghum 218 -

LNU863 sorghumll2vl lBG410755 sorghum 219 -

LNU750 barleyll0v2IBE215751 barley 220 713

LNU760 barleyll0v2ICX630466 barley 221 714

LNU771 barleyll2vllBF064919 barley 222 715

LNU772 barleyll2vllBF253521 barley 223 716

LNU783 barleyll2vllBI957813 barley 224 528

LNU785 barleyll2vl lBU986731 barley 225 717

LNU786 barleyll2vl lEX599010 barley 226 718

LNU787 brachypodiumi 12v 1 IBRADIl G37175 brachypo 227 719 dium

LNU790 brachypodiumll2vllBRADIlG64950 brachypo 228 535 dium Polyn.

Gene Polyp. SEQ

Cluster tag Organism SEQ ID

Name ID NO:

NO:

LNU792 brachypodiuml 12v 1 IBRADI2G51430 brachypo 229 537 dium

LNU793 brachypodiumll2vllBRADI2G53980 brachypo 230 538 dium

LNU795 brachypodiuml 12v 1 IBRADI4G01230 brachypo 231 720 dium

LNU801 foxtail_milletll lv3IPHY7SI000598M foxtail_mi 232 546 llet

LNU802 foxtail_milletll lv3IPHY7SI000948M foxtail_mi 233 547 llet

LNU806 foxtail_milletl 11 v3 IPHY7SI014253M foxtail_mi 234 721 llet

LNU807 foxtail_milletl 11 v3 IPHY7SI021778M foxtail_mi 235 552 llet

LNU830 maizell0vl lBI679654 maize 236 572

LNU837 maizell0vl lCF064369 maize 237 722

LNU839 maizell0vllCO523359 maize 238 580

LNU843 maizellOvl lEEl 87987 maize 239 723

LNU845 maizell0vl lW21625 maize 240 724

LNU847 medicagoll2vllAL366283 medicago 241 725

LNU848 ricell lvl lAF072694 rice 242 588

LNU851 ricell lvllBI813446 rice 243 591

LNU856 sorghuml09vl lSB10G011070 sorghum 244 726

LNU858 sorghuml 12v 11 AW285114 sorghum 245 727

LNU862 sorghumll2vl lBG356040 sorghum 246 728

LNU864 sorghumll2vl ICD424245 sorghum 247 600

LNU866 sorghumll2vl lSB01G003110 sorghum 248 729

LNU870 sorghumll2vl lSB01G006930 sorghum 249 730

LNU873 sorghumll2vl lSB01G011890 sorghum 250 609

LNU876 sorghumll2vl lSB01G032593Pl sorghum 251 612

LNU886 sorghumll2vl ISB02G002020 sorghum 252 731

LNU887 sorghumll2vl lSB02G003980 sorghum 253 622

LNU889 sorghumll2vl ISB02G023760 sorghum 254 624

LNU892 sorghumll2vl lSB02G033210 sorghum 255 732

LNU896 sorghumll2vl ISB02G043060 sorghum 256 733

LNU897 sorghumll2vl ISB02G043340 sorghum 257 631

LNU902 sorghumll2vl ISB03G009240 sorghum 258 636

LNU905 sorghumll2vl lSB03G025980 sorghum 259 639

LNU906 sorghumll2vl lSB03G028220 sorghum 260 734

LNU908 sorghumll2vl lSB03G030720 sorghum 261 735

LNU910 sorghumll2vl lSB03G034870 sorghum 262 736

LNU911 sorghumll2vl lSB03G035900 sorghum 263 737

LNU914 sorghumll2vl ISB04G000560 sorghum 264 648

LNU919 sorghumll2vl lSB04G008660 sorghum 265 653

LNU920 sorghumll2vl lSB04G019220 sorghum 266 654 Polyn.

Gene Polyp. SEQ

Cluster tag Organism SEQ ID

Name ID NO:

NO:

LNU921 sorghumll2vl ISB04G023720 sorghum 267 655

LNU926 sorghumll2vl ISB04G032240 sorghum 268 660

LNU929 sorghumll2vl lSB04G036780 sorghum 269 662

LNU931 sorghumll2vl ISB05G000570 sorghum 270 664

LNU932 sorghumll2vl lSB05G001300 sorghum 271 738

LNU935 sorghumll2vl ISB05G020340 sorghum 272 668

LNU936 sorghumll2vl lSB05G021410 sorghum 273 669

LNU938 sorghumll2vl ISB05G025900 sorghum 274 670

LNU946 sorghumll2vl ISB07G004390 sorghum 275 678

LNU951 sorghumll2vl lSB08G003140 sorghum 276 739

LNU954 sorghumll2vl lSB08G016400 sorghum 277 740

LNU956 sorghumll2vl lSB08G018765 sorghum 278 741

LNU960 sorghumll2vl lSB09G021520 sorghum 279 692

LNU962 sorghumll2vl ISB09G026990 sorghum 280 694

LNU967 sorghumll2vl lSB10G028680 sorghum 281 699

LNU969 sorghumll2vl IXM_002468645 sorghum 282 742

LNU972 tomatoll lvllAI775263 tomato 283 743

LNU975 tomatoll lvl lBI422101 tomato 284 744

LNU977 wheatll2v3ICK152213 wheat 285 745

LNU861_ maizell0vl lCF635645 maize 286 746 H3

LNU859 sorghuml 12vl IAW677786 sorghum 287 -

LNU863 sorghumll2vl lBG410755 sorghum 288 -

LNU749 barleyll0v2IAV834836 barley 289 747

LNU751 barleyll0v2IBE413235 barley 290 498

LNU752 barleyll0v2IBE421033 barley 291 748

LNU753 barleyll0v2IBE422116 barley 292 500

LNU754 barleyll0v2IBE601673 barley 293 501

LNU756 barleyll0v2IBF620955 barley 294 502

LNU757 barleyll0v2IBF624113 barley 295 503

LNU758 barleyll0v2IBF629458 barley 296 504

LNU759 barleyll0v2IBM376337 barley 297 505

LNU761 barleyll2vl lAJ463320 barley 298 507

LNU762 barleyll2vllAV834698 barley 299 508

LNU763 barleyll2vllAV836421 barley 300 509

LNU764 barleyll2vllAV914625 barley 301 510

LNU766 barleyll2vllAW983189 barley 302 749

LNU767 barleyll2vllBE 196490 barley 303 512

LNU768 barleyll2vllBE216887 barley 304 513

LNU769 barleyll2vllBE437319 barley 305 750

LNU770 barleyll2vllBE602491 barley 306 515

LNU771 barleyll2vllBF064919 barley 307 516

LNU772 barleyll2vllBF253521 barley 308 517 Polyn.

Gene Polyp. SEQ

Cluster tag Organism SEQ ID

Name ID NO:

NO:

LNU773 barleyll2vllBF256991 barley 309 751

LNU774 barleyll2vllBF258839 barley 310 519

LNU775 barleyll2vllBF266348 barley 311 520

LNU776 barleyll2vllBF266777 barley 312 752

LNU777 barleyll2vllBF628559 barley 313 522

LNU778 barleyll2vl lBG300262 barley 314 523

LNU779 barleyll2vl lBG309380 barley 315 524

LNU780 barleyll2vllBI779788 barley 316 753

LNU781 barleyll2vllBI948718 barley 317 526

LNU782 barleyll2vllBI950988 barley 318 527

LNU783 barleyll2vllBI957813 barley 319 528

LNU784 barleyll2vl lBQ762763 barley 320 754

LNU785 barleyll2vl lBU986731 barley 321 530

LNU786 barleyll2vl lEX599010 barley 322 755

LNU787 brachypodiuml 12v 1 IBRADI1 G37175 brachypo 323 532 dium

LNU788 brachypodiuml 12vl IBRADI1 G51187 brachypo 324 756 dium

LNU789 brachypodiuml 12v 1 IBRADI1 G64180 brachypo 325 534 dium

LNU790 brachypodiumll2vllBRADIlG64950 brachypo 326 535 dium

LNU791 brachypodiumll2vllBRADIlG69030 brachypo 327 536 dium

LNU792 brachypodiuml 12v 1 IBRADI2G51430 brachypo 328 537 dium

LNU793 brachypodiumll2vllBRADI2G53980 brachypo 329 538 dium

LNU794 brachypodiumll2vllBRADI3G16630T brachypo 330 539

2 dium

LNU795 brachypodiuml 12v 1 IBRADI4G01230 brachypo 331 757 dium

LNU796 brachypodiuml 12v 1 IBRADI4G05020 brachypo 332 541 dium

LNU797 brachypodiuml 12v 1 IBRADI4G07060 brachypo 333 542 dium

LNU798 brachypodiumll2vllBRADI4G27334 brachypo 334 543 dium

LNU799 brachypodiuml 12v 1 IBRADI4G29720 brachypo 335 544 dium

LNU800 brachypodiumll2vllBRADI5G16060 brachypo 336 545 dium

LNU801 foxtail_milletll lv3IPHY7SI000598M foxtail_mi 337 546 llet

LNU802 foxtail_milletll lv3IPHY7SI000948M foxtail_mi 338 547 llet

LNU803 foxtail_milletll lv3IPHY7SI003585M foxtail_mi 339 548 Polyn.

Gene Polyp. SEQ

Cluster tag Organism SEQ ID

Name ID NO:

NO:

llet

LNU804 foxtail_milletl 11 v3 IPHY7SI009882M foxtail_mi 340 758 llet

LNU805 foxtail_milletl 11 v3 IPHY7SI013938M foxtail_mi 341 550 llet

LNU806 foxtail_milletl 11 v3 IPHY7SI014253M foxtail_mi 342 759 llet

LNU807 foxtail_milletl 11 v3 IPHY7SI021778M foxtail_mi 343 552 llet

LNU808 foxtail_milletl 11 v3 IPHY7SI023199M foxtail_mi 344 553 llet

LNU809 foxtail_milletl 11 v3 IPHY7SI036241 M foxtail_mi 345 760 llet

LNU811 maizellOvl lAKOlOl l maize 346 556

LNU813 maizell0vl lAI629666 maize 347 557

LNU814 maizell0vl lAI637029 maize 348 558

LNU815 maizell0vl lAI979480 maize 349 559

LNU816 maizell0vl lAI979737 maize 350 761

LNU817 maizell0vl lAW231541 maize 351 762

LNU818 maizell0vl lAW267199 maize 352 763

LNU819 maizell0vl lAW282410 maize 353 563

LNU820 maizellOvl lAW288911 maize 354 564

LNU821 maizell0vl lAW497499 maize 355 764

LNU822 maizell0vl lAW927651 maize 356 566

LNU823 maizellOvl lBE512590 maize 357 567

LNU824 maizellOvl lBE552882 maize 358 765

LNU825 maizell0vl lBE575202 maize 359 766

LNU828 maizellOvllBG458848 maize 360 570

LNU829 maizell0vllBG549052 maize 361 767

LNU830 maizell0vl lBI679654 maize 362 572

LNU831 maizell0vllBM269210 maize 363 768

LNU833 maizell0vllBU036574 maize 364 769

LNU835 maizellOvllCD986056 maize 365 577

LNU837 maizell0vl lCF064369 maize 366 770

LNU838 maizell0vl lCF634284 maize 367 579

LNU839 maizell0vllCO523359 maize 368 580

LNU840 maizell0vl lDN208554 maize 369 581

LNU841 maizell0vl lDN225757 maize 370 582

LNU843 maizellOvl lEEl 87987 maize 371 583

LNU844 maizellOvllT18396 maize 372 584

LNU845 maizell0vl lW21625 maize 373 771

LNU846 maizelgbl70IAF093537 maize 374 586

LNU847 medicagoll2vllAL366283 medicago 375 772

LNU848 ricell lvl lAF072694 rice 376 588 Polyn.

Gene Polyp. SEQ

Cluster tag Organism SEQ ID

Name ID NO:

NO:

LNU849 ricell lvllAU057716 rice 377 589

LNU850 ricell lvllBI306328 rice 378 590

LNU851 ricell lvllBI813446 rice 379 591

LNU852 ricell lvllCA764428 rice 380 592

LNU853 ricell lvl lCB645176 rice 381 593

LNU854 ricel 11 vl IGFXAF377947X27 rice 382 594

LNU856 sorghuml09vl lSB10G011070 sorghum 383 595

LNU857 sorghuml 11 vl ISB 10G007600 sorghum 384 773

LNU858 sorghuml 12v 11 AW285114 sorghum 385 774

LNU862 sorghumll2vl IBG356040 sorghum 386 599

LNU864 sorghumll2vl ICD424245 sorghum 387 600

LNU865 sorghumll2vl lSB0169S002030 sorghum 388 601

LNU866 sorghumll2vl lSB01G003110 sorghum 389 775

LNU867 sorghumll2vl lSB01G004510 sorghum 390 603

LNU868 sorghumll2vl lSB01G005240 sorghum 391 604

LNU869 sorghumll2vl lSB01G006870 sorghum 392 605

LNU870 sorghumll2vl lSB01G006930 sorghum 393 606

LNU871 sorghumll2vl lSB01G007380 sorghum 394 607

LNU872 sorghumll2vl lSB01G011260 sorghum 395 608

LNU873 sorghumll2vl lSB01G011890 sorghum 396 609

LNU874 sorghumll2vl lSB01G015540 sorghum 397 610

LNU875 sorghumll2vl lSB01G017100 sorghum 398 611

LNU876 sorghumll2vl lSB01G032593Pl sorghum 399 612

LNU878 sorghumll2vl lSB01G035780 sorghum 400 613

LNU879 sorghumll2vl lSB01G040060 sorghum 401 614

LNU880 sorghumll2vl lSB01G046630 sorghum 402 615

LNU881 sorghumll2vl lSB01G047345 sorghum 403 616

LNU882 sorghumll2vl lSB01G048200 sorghum 404 617

LNU884 sorghumll2vl lSB01G048910 sorghum 405 619

LNU885 sorghumll2vl lSB02G001450 sorghum 406 620

LNU886 sorghumll2vl ISB02G002020 sorghum 407 776

LNU887 sorghumll2vl ISB02G003980 sorghum 408 622

LNU888 sorghumll2vl ISB02G009320 sorghum 409 623

LNU889 sorghumll2vl ISB02G023760 sorghum 410 624

LNU890 sorghumll2vl ISB02G027260 sorghum 411 625

LNU892 sorghumll2vl lSB02G033210 sorghum 412 626

LNU893 sorghumll2vl ISB02G036470 sorghum 413 627

LNU894 sorghumll2vl ISB02G039430 sorghum 414 628

LNU895 sorghumll2vl ISB02G042020 sorghum 415 629

LNU896 sorghumll2vl ISB02G043060 sorghum 416 630

LNU897 sorghumll2vl ISB02G043340 sorghum 417 111

LNU898 sorghumll2vl lSB03G001900 sorghum 418 778

LNU899 sorghumll2vl lSB03G003880 sorghum 419 633 Polyn.

Gene Polyp. SEQ

Cluster tag Organism SEQ ID

Name ID NO:

NO:

LNU900 sorghumll2vl ISB03G004920 sorghum 420 779

LNU901 sorghumll2vl ISB03G006670 sorghum 421 780

LNU902 sorghumll2vl ISB03G009240 sorghum 422 636

LNU903 sorghumll2vl lSB03G013600 sorghum 423 637

LNU904 sorghumll2vl lSB03G015670 sorghum 424 781

LNU905 sorghumll2vl lSB03G025980 sorghum 425 639

LNU906 sorghumll2vl ISB03G028220 sorghum 426 782

LNU907 sorghuml 12vl ISB03G029160 sorghum 427 783

LNU908 sorghumll2vl ISB03G030720 sorghum 428 642

LNU909 sorghumll2vl lSB03G032235 sorghum 429 784

LNU910 sorghumll2vl lSB03G034870 sorghum 430 644

LNU911 sorghumll2vl lSB03G035900 sorghum 431 785

LNU912 sorghumll2vl lSB03G037390 sorghum 432 646

LNU913 sorghumll2vl lSB03G039370 sorghum 433 647

LNU914 sorghumll2vl ISB04G000560 sorghum 434 648

LNU915 sorghumll2vl ISB04G000860 sorghum 435 649

LNU916 sorghumll2vl lSB04G003110 sorghum 436 650

LNU917 sorghumll2vl lSB04G005810 sorghum 437 651

LNU918 sorghumll2vl ISB04G005960 sorghum 438 652

LNU919 sorghumll2vl ISB04G008660 sorghum 439 653

LNU920 sorghumll2vl ISB04G019220 sorghum 440 654

LNU921 sorghumll2vl ISB04G023720 sorghum 441 655

LNU922 sorghumll2vl lSB04G031020 sorghum 442 656

LNU923 sorghuml 12vl ISB04G031630 sorghum 443 657

LNU924 sorghumll2vl lSB04G031790 sorghum 444 658

LNU925 sorghumll2vl lSB04G031980 sorghum 445 659

LNU926 sorghumll2vl ISB04G032240 sorghum 446 660

LNU928 sorghumll2vl lSB04G035530 sorghum 447 661

LNU930 sorghumll2vl ISB04G037720 sorghum 448 786

LNU931 sorghumll2vl lSB05G000570 sorghum 449 664

LNU932 sorghumll2vl lSB05G001300 sorghum 450 787

LNU933 sorghumll2vl lSB05G005230 sorghum 451 666

LNU934 sorghumll2vl lSB05G006950 sorghum 452 667

LNU935 sorghumll2vl ISB05G020340 sorghum 453 788

LNU936 sorghumll2vl lSB05G021410 sorghum 454 669

LNU938 sorghumll2vl lSB05G025900 sorghum 455 789

LNU940 sorghumll2vl lSB06G016140 sorghum 456 672

LNU941 sorghumll2vl lSB06G018480 sorghum 457 673

LNU942 sorghumll2vl lSB06G019950 sorghum 458 674

LNU943 sorghumll2vl ISB06G020900 sorghum 459 675

LNU944 sorghumll2vl ISB07G000250 sorghum 460 676

LNU945 sorghumll2vl ISB07G004040 sorghum 461 677

LNU946 sorghumll2vl ISB07G004390 sorghum 462 678 Polyn.

Gene Polyp. SEQ

Cluster tag Organism SEQ ID

Name ID NO:

NO:

LNU947 sorghumll2vl lSB07G021870 sorghum 463 679

LNU948 sorghumll2vl ISB07G027790 sorghum 464 680

LNU949 sorghumll2vl lSB08G002580 sorghum 465 681

LNU950 sorghumll2vl ISB08G002740 sorghum 466 682

LNU951 sorghumll2vl lSB08G003140 sorghum 467 790

LNU952 sorghumll2vl lSB08G007610 sorghum 468 684

LNU953 sorghumll2vl lSB08G015020 sorghum 469 685

LNU954 sorghumll2vl lSB08G016400 sorghum 470 791

LNU955 sorghumll2vl lSB08G016530 sorghum 471 687

LNU956 sorghumll2vl lSB08G018765 sorghum 472 792

LNU957 sorghumll2vl ISB08G020600 sorghum 473 689

LNU958 sorghumll2vl lSB08G021920 sorghum 474 690

LNU959 sorghumll2vl lSB09G021265 sorghum 475 691

LNU960 sorghumll2vl lSB09G021520 sorghum 476 692

LNU961 sorghumll2vl lSB09G026930 sorghum 477 693

LNU962 sorghumll2vl ISB09G026990 sorghum 478 694

LNU963 sorghumll2vl lSB10G002960 sorghum 479 695

LNU964 sorghumll2vl lSB10G023640 sorghum 480 696

LNU965 sorghumll2vl lSB10G026450 sorghum 481 697

LNU966 sorghumll2vl lSB10G026910 sorghum 482 698

LNU967 sorghumll2vl lSB10G028680 sorghum 483 699

LNU968 sorghumll2vl lSB10G030200 sorghum 484 793

LNU970 soybeanl 11 v 1 IGLYMA 13G20220 soybean 485 702

LNU971 tomatoll lvllAI772930 tomato 486 703

LNU972 tomatoll lvllAI775263 tomato 487 704

LNU975 tomatoll lvl lBI422101 tomato 488 705

LNU976 wheatll2v3ICA596628 wheat 489 706

LNU977 wheatll2v3ICK152213 wheat 490 794

LNU760_ brachypodiumll2vllBRADIlG02117 brachypo 491 708 HI dium

LNU832_ sorghumll2vl lSB03G013780 sorghum 492 709

H2

LNU834_ sorghumll2vl lSB02G003380 sorghum 493 710

HI

LNU861_ maizell0vl lCF635645 maize 494 711 H3

LNU859 sorghuml 12vl IAW677786 sorghum 495 -

Table 1. Provided are the gene names, cluster names, organisms fmor which they are derived, and the sequence identifiers of the polynucleotides and polypeptide sequences. "Polyp." = polypeptide; "Polyn." - Polynucleotide. EXAMPLE 2

IDENTIFICATION OF HOMOLOGOUS (E.G., ORTHOLOGOUS) SEQUENCES THAT INCREASE NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY, FERTILIZER USE EFFICIENCY, YIELD, GROWTH RATE, VIGOR, BIOMASS, OIL CONTENT, ABIOTIC STRESS TOLERANCE AND/OR WATER USE EFFICIENCY IN

PLANTS

The concepts of orthology and paralogy have recently been applied to functional characterizations and classifications on the scale of whole-genome comparisons. Orthologs and paralogs constitute two major types of homologs: The first evolved from a common ancestor by specialization, and the latter is related by duplication events. It is assumed that paralogs arising from ancient duplication events are likely to have diverged in function while true orthologs are more likely to retain identical function over evolutionary time.

To further investigate and identify putative orthologs of the genes affecting nitrogen use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, yield (e.g., seed yield, oil yield, biomass, grain quantity and/or quality), growth rate, vigor, biomass, oil content, abiotic stress tolerance and/or water use efficiency, all sequences were aligned using the BLAST (/Basic Local Alignment Search Tool/). Sequences sufficiently similar were tentatively grouped. These putative orthologs were further organized under a Phylogram - a branching diagram (tree) assumed to be a representation of the evolutionary relationships among the biological taxa. Putative ortholog groups were analyzed as to their agreement with the phylogram and in cases of disagreements these ortholog groups were broken accordingly. Expression data was analyzed and the EST libraries were classified using a fixed vocabulary of custom terms such as developmental stages (e.g., genes showing similar expression profile through development with up regulation at specific stage, such as at the seed filling stage) and/or plant organ (e.g., genes showing similar expression profile across their organs with up regulation at specific organs such as seed). The annotations from all the ESTs clustered to a gene were analyzed statistically by comparing their frequency in the cluster versus their abundance in the database, allowing the construction of a numeric and graphic expression profile of that gene, which is termed "digital expression". The rationale of using these two complementary methods with methods of phenotypic association studies of QTLs, SNPs and phenotype expression correlation is based on the assumption that true orthologs are likely to retain identical function over evolutionary time. These methods provide different sets of indications on function similarities between two homologous genes, similarities in the sequence level - identical amino acids in the protein domains and similarity in expression profiles.

The search and identification of homologous genes involves the screening of sequence information available, for example, in public databases, which include but are not limited to the DNA Database of Japan (DDBJ), Genbank, and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory Nucleic Acid Sequence Database (EMBL) or versions thereof or the MIPS database. A number of different search algorithms have been developed, including but not limited to the suite of programs referred to as BLAST programs. There are five implementations of BLAST, three designed for nucleotide sequence queries (BLASTN, BLASTX, and TBLASTX) and two designed for protein sequence queries (BLASTP and TBLASTN) (Coulson, Trends in Biotechnology: 76-80, 1994; Birren et al., Genome Analysis, I: 543, 1997). Such methods involve alignment and comparison of sequences. The BLAST algorithm calculates percent sequence identity and performs a statistical analysis of the similarity between the two sequences. The software for performing BLAST analysis is publicly available through the National Centre for Biotechnology Information. Other such software or algorithms are GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA and TFASTA. GAP uses the algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch (J. Mol. Biol. 48: 443-453, 1970) to find the alignment of two complete sequences that maximizes the number of matches and minimizes the number of gaps.

The homologous genes may belong to the same gene family. The analysis of a gene family may be carried out using sequence similarity analysis. To perform this analysis one may use standard programs for multiple alignments e.g. Clustal W. A neighbor-joining tree of the proteins homologous to the genes of some embodiments of the invention may be used to provide an overview of structural and ancestral relationships. Sequence identity may be calculated using an alignment program as described above. It is expected that other plants will carry a similar functional gene (orthologue) or a family of similar genes and those genes will provide the same preferred phenotype as the genes presented here. Advantageously, these family members may be useful in the methods of some embodiments of the invention. Example of other plants include, but not limited to, barley (Hordeum vulgare), Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), maize (Zea mays), cotton (Gossypium), Oilseed rape (Brassica napus), Rice (Oryza sativa), Sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum), Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), Soybean (Glycine max), Sunflower (Helianthus annuus), Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and Wheat (Triticum aestivum).

The above-mentioned analyses for sequence homology is preferably carried out on a full-length sequence, but may also be based on a comparison of certain regions such as conserved domains. The identification of such domains would also be well within the realm of the person skilled in the art and would involve, for example, a computer readable format of the nucleic acids of some embodiments of the invention, the use of alignment software programs and the use of publicly available information on protein domains, conserved motifs and boxes. This information is available in the PRODOM (biochem (dot) ucl (dot) ac (dot) uk/bsm/dbbrowser/protocol/prodomqry (dot) html), PIR (pir (dot) Georgetown (dot) edu/) or Pfam (sanger (dot) ac (dot) uk/Software/Pfam/) database. Sequence analysis programs designed for motif searching may be used for identification of fragments, regions and conserved domains as mentioned above. Preferred computer programs include, but are not limited to, MEME, SIGNALSCAN, and GENESCAN.

A person skilled in the art may use the homologous sequences provided herein to find similar sequences in other species and other organisms. Homologues of a protein encompass, peptides, oligopeptides, polypeptides, proteins and enzymes having amino acid substitutions, deletions and/or insertions relative to the unmodified protein in question and having similar biological and functional activity as the unmodified protein from which they are derived. To produce such homologues, amino acids of the protein may be replaced by other amino acids having similar properties (conservative changes, such as similar hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, antigenicity, propensity to form or break a-helical structures or 3-sheet structures). Conservative substitution Tables are well known in the art [see for example Creighton (1984) Proteins. W.H. Freeman and Company]. Homologues of a nucleic acid encompass nucleic acids having nucleotide substitutions, deletions and/or insertions relative to the unmodified nucleic acid in question and having similar biological and functional activity as the unmodified nucleic acid from which they are derived. Polynucleotides and polypeptides with significant homology to the identified genes described in Table 1 (Example 1 above) were identified from the databases using BLAST software with the Blastp and tBlastn algorithms as filters for the first stage, and the needle (EMBOSS package) or Frame+ algorithm alignment for the second stage. Local identity (Blast alignments) was defined with a very permissive cutoff - 60% Identity on a span of 60% of the sequences lengths because it is used only as a filter for the global alignment stage. The default filtering of the Blast package was not utilized (by setting the parameter "-F F").

In the second stage, homologs were defined based on a global identity of at least 80% to the core gene polypeptide sequence.

Two distinct forms for finding the optimal global alignment for protein or nucleotide sequences were used in this application:

1. Between two proteins (following the blastp filter):

EMBOSS-6.0.1 Needleman-Wunsch algorithm with the following modified parameters: gapopen=8 gapextend=2. The rest of the parameters were unchanged from the default options described hereinabove.

2. Between a protein sequence and a nucleotide sequence (following the tblastn filter):

GenCore 6.0 OneModel application utilizing the Frame+ algorithm with the following parameters: model=frame+_p2n.model mode=qglobal -q=protein. sequence -db= nucleotide. sequence. The rest of the parameters are unchanged from the default options described hereinabove.

The query polypeptide sequences were SEQ ID NOs: 496-794 and the query polynucleotides were SEQ ID NOs: 1-495, and the identified orthologous and homologous sequences having at least 80% global sequence identity are provided in Table 2, below. These homologous genes are expected to increase plant yield, seed yield, oil yield, oil content, growth rate, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, photosynthetic capacity, biomass, vigor, ABST and/or NUE of a plant. Table 2

Homologues (e.g., orthologues) of the identified genes/polypeptides for increasing nitrogen use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, yield, seed yield, growth rate, vigor, biomass, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, abiotic stress tolerance and/or water use efficiency of a plant

Table 2: Provided are the homologous (e.g., orthologous) polypeptides and polynucleotides of the genes identified in Table 1 and of their cloned genes, which can increase nitrogen use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, yield, seed yield, growth rate, vigor, biomass, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, abiotic stress tolerance and/or water use efficiency of a plant. Homology was calculated as % of identity over the aligned sequences. The query sequences were polypeptide sequences SEQ ID NOs:496-794 and polynucleotide sequences SEQ ID NOs: 1-495, and the subject sequences are polypeptide sequences or polynucleotide sequences which were dynamically translated in all six reading frames identified in the database based on greater than 80 % identity to the query polypeptide sequences. "Polyp." = polypeptide; "Polyn." - Polynucleotide. Algor. = Algorithm, "globlastp" - global homology using blastp; "glotblastn" - global homology using tblastn. "Horn." - homologous, "ident" = identity. The output of the functional genomics approach described herein is a set of genes highly predicted to improve nitrogen use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, yield, seed yield, growth rate, vigor, biomass, oil content, fiber yield, fiber length, fiber quality, abiotic stress tolerance and/or water use efficiency of a plant by increasing their expression.

Although each gene is predicted to have its own impact, modifying the mode of expression of more than one gene or gene product (RNA, polypeptide) is expected to provide an additive or synergistic effect on the desired trait (e.g., nitrogen use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, yield, growth rate, vigor, biomass, oil content, abiotic stress tolerance and/or water use efficiency of a plant). Altering the expression of each gene described here alone or of a set of genes together increases the overall yield and/or other agronomic important traits, hence expects to increase agricultural productivity. EXAMPLE 3

PRODUCTION OF BARLEY TRANSCRIPTOM AND HIGH THROUGHPUT CORRELATION ANALYSIS USING 44K BARLEY OLIGONUCLEOTIDE

MICRO-ARRAY

In order to produce a high throughput correlation analysis comparing between plant phenotype and gene expression level, the present inventors utilized a Barley oligonucleotide micro-array, produced by Agilent Technologies [chem. (dot) agilent (dot) com/Scripts/PDS (dot) asp?lPage=50879]. The array oligonucleotide represents about 47,500 Barley genes and transcripts. In order to define correlations between the levels of RNA expression and yield or vigor related parameters, various plant characteristics of 25 different Barley accessions were analyzed. Among them, 13 accessions encompassing the observed variance were selected for RNA expression analysis. The correlation between the RNA levels and the characterized parameters was analyzed using Pearson correlation test [davidmlane (dot) com/hyperstat/A34739 (dot) html].

Experimental procedures

Analyzed Barley tissues - Five tissues at different developmental stages [meristem, flower, booting spike, stem, flag leaf], representing different plant characteristics, were sampled and RNA was extracted as described above. Each micro- array expression information tissue type has received a Set ID as summarized in Table 3 below.

Table 3

Barley transcriptom expression sets

Table 3.

Barley yield components and vigor related parameters assessment - 25 Barley accessions in 4 repetitive blocks (named A, B, C, and D), each containing 4 plants per plot were grown at net house. Plants were phenotyped on a daily basis following the standard descriptor of barley (Table 4, below). Harvest was conducted while 50 % of the spikes were dry to avoid spontaneous release of the seeds. Plants were separated to the vegetative part and spikes, of them, 5 spikes were threshed (grains were separated from the glumes) for additional grain analysis such as size measurement, grain count per spike and grain yield per spike. All material was oven dried and the seeds were threshed manually from the spikes prior to measurement of the seed characteristics (weight and size) using scanning and image analysis. The image analysis system included a personal desktop computer (Intel P4 3.0 GHz processor) and a public domain program - ImageJ 1.37 (Java based image processing program, which was developed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and freely available on the internet [rsbweb (dot) nih (dot) gov/]. Next, analyzed data was saved to text files and processed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute).

Table 4

Barley standard descriptors

Table 4.

Grains per spike - At the end of the experiment (50 % of the spikes were dry) all spikes from plots within blocks A-D were collected. The total number of grains from 5 spikes that were manually threshed was counted. The average grain per spike was calculated by dividing the total grain number by the number of spikes. Grain average size (cm) - At the end of the experiment (50 % of the spikes were dry) all spikes from plots within blocks A-D were collected. The total grains from 5 spikes that were manually threshed were scanned and images were analyzed using the digital imaging system. Grain scanning was done using Brother scanner (model DCP- 135), at the 200 dpi resolution and analyzed with Image J software. The average grain size was calculated by dividing the total grain size by the total grain number.

Grain average weight (mgr) - At the end of the experiment (50 % of the spikes were dry) all spikes from plots within blocks A-D were collected. The total grains from 5 spikes that were manually threshed were counted and weight. The average weight was calculated by dividing the total weight by the total grain number.

Grain yield per spike (gr) - At the end of the experiment (50 % of the spikes were dry) all spikes from plots within blocks A-D were collected. The total grains from 5 spikes that were manually threshed were weight. The grain yield was calculated by dividing the total weight by the spike number.

Spike length analysis - At the end of the experiment (50 % of the spikes were dry) all spikes from plots within blocks A-D were collected. The five chosen spikes per plant were measured using measuring tape excluding the awns.

Spike number analysis - At the end of the experiment (50 % of the spikes were dry) all spikes from plots within blocks A-D were collected. The spikes per plant were counted.

Growth habit scoring - At the growth stage 10 (booting), each of the plants was scored for its growth habit nature. The scale that was used was 1 for prostate nature till 9 for erect.

Hairiness of basal leaves - At the growth stage 5 (leaf sheath strongly erect; end of tillering), each of the plants was scored for its hairiness nature of the leaf before the last. The scale that was used was 1 for prostate nature till 9 for erect.

Plant height - At the harvest stage (50 % of spikes were dry) each of the plants was measured for its height using measuring tape. Height was measured from ground level to top of the longest spike excluding awns.

Days to flowering - Each of the plants was monitored for flowering date. Days of flowering was calculated from sowing date till flowering date. Stem pigmentation - At the growth stage 10 (booting), each of the plants was scored for its stem color. The scale that was used was 1 for green till 5 for full purple.

Vegetative dry weight and spike yield - At the end of the experiment (50 % of the spikes were dry) all spikes and vegetative material from plots within blocks A-D were collected. The biomass and spikes weight of each plot was separated, measured and divided by the number of plants.

Dry weight = total weight of the vegetative portion above ground (excluding roots) after drying at 70 °C in oven for 48 hours;

Spike yield per plant = total spike weight per plant (gr) after drying at 30 °C in oven for 48 hours.

Harvest Index (for barley) - The harvest index was calculated using Formula XVIII above.

Table 5

Barley correlated parameters (vectors)

Table 5.

Experimental Results

13 different Barley accessions were grown and characterized for 13 parameters as described above. The average for each of the measured parameter was calculated using the JMP software and values are summarized in Tables 6 and 7 below. Subsequent correlation analysis between the various transcriptom sets (Table 3) and the average parameters, was conducted. Follow, results were integrated to the database. Table 6

Measured parameters of correlation Ids in Barley accessions

Table 6: Provided are the values of each of the parameters measured in Barley accessions according to the correlation identifications (Correlation IDs Table 5 above).

Table 7

Table 7. Provided are the values of each of the parameters measured in Barley accessions according to the correlation identifications (Correlation IDs Table 5 above). Table 8

Correlation between the expression level of the selected polynucleotides of the invention and their homologues in specific tissues or developmental stages and the phenotypic performance across Barley accessions

Table 8. Provided are the correlations (R) and p-values (P) between the expression levels of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues or developmental stages (Expression sets) and the phenotypic performance in various yield (seed yield, oil yield, oil content), biomass, growth rate and/or vigor components [Correlation (Corr.) vector (Vec.) Expression (Exp.)] Corr. Vector = correlation vector specified in Table 5; Exp. Set = expression set specified in Table 3.

EXAMPLE 4

PRODUCTION OF BARLEY TRANSCRIPTOM AND HIGH THROUGHPUT CORRELATION ANALYSIS USING 60K BARLEY OLIGONUCLEOTIDE

MICRO-ARRAY

In order to produce a high throughput correlation analysis comparing between plant phenotype and gene expression level, the present inventors utilized a Barley oligonucleotide micro-array, produced by Agilent Technologies [chem. (dot) agilent (dot) com/Scripts/PDS (dot) asp?lPage=50879]. The array oligonucleotide represents about 60K Barley genes and transcripts. In order to define correlations between the levels of RNA expression and yield or vigor related parameters, various plant characteristics of 15 different Barley accessions were analyzed. Among them, 10 accessions encompassing the observed variance were selected for RNA expression analysis. The correlation between the RNA levels and the characterized parameters was analyzed using Pearson correlation test [davidmlane (dot) com/hyperstat/A34739 (dot) html] .

Experimental procedures

Analyzed Barley tissues - Tissues at different developmental stages representing different plant characteristics, were sampled and RNA was extracted as described above. Each micro-array expression information tissue type has received a Set ID as summarized in Tables 9- 11 below.

Table 9

Barley transcriptom expression sets under normal and low N conditions (at vegetative stage)

Table 9. Provided are the barley transcriptom expression sets under normal and low N (low nitrogen) conditions (at vegetative stage).

Table 10

Barley transcriptom expression sets under normal and low N conditions (at reproductive stage)

Table 10. Provided are the barley transcriptom expression sets under normal and low N conditions (at reproductive stage). Table 11

Barley transcriptom expression sets under drought conditions (at vegetative stage)

Table 11. Provided are the barley transcriptom expression sets under drought conditions (at vegetative stage).

Barley yield components and vigor related parameters assessment - 15 Barley accessions in 5 repetitive blocks, each containing 5 plants per pot were grown at net house. Three different treatments were applied: plants were regularly fertilized and watered during plant growth until harvesting (as recommended for commercial growth, plants were irrigated 2-3 times a week, and fertilization was given in the first 1.5 months of the growth period) or under low Nitrogen (80% percent less Nitrogen) or under drought stress (cycles of drought and re-irrigating were conducted throughout the whole experiment, overall 40% less water were given in the drought treatment). Plants were phenotyped on a daily basis following the parameters listed in Table 12 below. Harvest was conducted while all the spikes were dry. All material was oven dried and the seeds were threshed manually from the spikes prior to measurement of the seed characteristics (weight and size) using scanning and image analysis. The image analysis system included a personal desktop computer (Intel P4 3.0 GHz processor) and a public domain program - ImageJ 1.37 (Java based image processing program, which was developed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and freely available on the internet [rsbweb (dot) nih (dot) gov/]. Next, analyzed data was saved to text files and processed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute).

Grain yield (gr.) - At the end of the experiment all spikes of the pots were collected. The total grains from all spikes that were manually threshed were weighted. The grain yield was calculated by per plot or per plant.

Spike length and width analysis - At the end of the experiment the length and width of five chosen spikes per plant were measured using measuring tape excluding the awns.

Spike number analysis - The spikes per plant were counted. Plant height - Each of the plants was measured for its height using measuring tape. Height was measured from ground level to top of the longest spike excluding awns at two time points at the Vegetative growth (30 days after sowing) and at harvest.

Spike weight - The biomass and spikes weight of each plot was separated, measured and divided by the number of plants.

Dry weight = total weight of the vegetative portion above ground (excluding roots) after drying at 70°C in oven for 48 hours at two time points at the Vegetative growth (30 days after sowing) and at harvest.

Spikelet per spike = number of spikelets per spike was counted.

Root/Shoot Ratio - The Root/Shoot Ratio is calculated using Formula XXII above.

Total No. of tillers- all tillers were counted per plot at two time points at the Vegetative growth (30 days after sowing) and at harvest.

Percent of reproductive tillers - the number of reproductive tillers barring a spike at harvest was divided by the total numbers of tillers.

SPAD - Chlorophyll content was determined using a Minolta SPAD 502 chlorophyll meter and measurement was performed at time of flowering. SPAD meter readings were done on young fully developed leaf. Three measurements per leaf were taken per plot.

Root FW (gr.), root length (cm) and No. of lateral roots - 3 plants per plot were selected for measurement of root weight, root length and for counting the number of lateral roots formed.

Shoot FW (fresh weight) - weight of 3 plants per plot were recorded at different time-points.

Average Grain Area (cm ) - At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the spike. A sample of -200 grains was weighted, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The grain area was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

Average Grain Length and width (cm) - At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the spike. A sample of -200 grains was weighted, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The sum of grain lengths or width (longest axis) was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

Average Grain perimeter (cm) - At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the spike. A sample of -200 grains was weighted, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The sum of grain perimeter was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

Heading date - the day in which booting stage was observed was recorded and number of days from sowing to heading was calculated.

Relative water content - Fresh weight (FW) of three leaves from three plants each from different seed ID was immediately recorded; then leaves were soaked for 8 hours in distilled water at room temperature in the dark, and the turgid weight (TW) was recorded. Total dry weight (DW) was recorded after drying the leaves at 60°C to a constant weight. Relative water content (RWC) is calculated according to Formula I above.

Harvest Index (for barley) - The harvest index was calculated using Formula XVIII above.

Relative growth rate: the relative growth rate (RGR) of Plant Height (Formula III above), SPAD (Formula rV above) and number of tillers (Formula V above) were calculated using the indicated formulas.

Ratio Drought/Normal: Represents ratio for the specified parameter of Drought condition results divided by Normal conditions results (maintenance of phenotype under drought in comparison to normal conditions).

Table 12

Barley correlated parameters (vectors) under normal and low N conditions

(at vegetative stage)

Correlated parameter with Correlation ID

Lateral roots per plant at TP3 [number] Low N 8

No of tillers -Low N -TP2 [number] 9

Num Leaves [number] 10

Num Seeds [number] 11

Num Spikes [number] 12

Num Tillers [number] 13

Plant Height (cm)-Normal 14

Plant Height (cm) -Low N 15

Plant Height (cm)-Low N-TP2 16

Root FW per plant at vegetative stage [gr.] Normal 17

Root length per plant at vegetative stage [cm] Normal 18

Root FW per plant at vegetative stage [gr.] Low N 19

Root length per plant at vegetative stage [cm] Low N 20

Chlorophyll level at vegetative stage [SPAD] Normal 21

Chlorophyll level at vegetative stage [SPAD] Low N 22

Seed Yield [gr.] 23

Seed Number (per plot)- Low N [number] 24

Seed Yield (gr) -Low N 25

Seed Yield (gr) -Normal 26

Shoot FW per plant at vegetative stage [gr.] Normal 27

Spike length [cm] Normal 28

Spike width [mm] Normal 29

Spike total weight (per plot)- normal [gr.] 30

Spike Length (cm) -Low N 31

Spike Width (cm) -Low N 32

Spike total weight (per plot) -Low N [gr.] 33

Total Tillers [number] 34

Total Leaf Area (mm2)-TP4 - Low N 35

Total No of Spikes per plot-Low N [number] 36

Total No of tillers per plot-Low N [number] 37

shoot FW (gr)-Low N -TP2 38

Table 12. Provided are the barley correlated parameters. "TP" = time point; "DW" = dry weight; "FW" = fresh weight; "Low N" = Low Nitrogen.

Table 13

Barley correlated parameters (vectors) under normal and low N conditions

(at reproductive stage)

Correlation ID Correlated parameter with

1 Grain Perimeter [mm]

2 Grain area [mm]

3 Grain length [mm]

4 Grain width [mm]

5 Grains DW/ Shoots DW

6 Grains per plot [number]

7 Grains weight per plant [gr.]

8 Grains weight per plot [gr.]

9 Plant Height [cm]

10 Roots DW [gr.] Correlation ID Correlated parameter with

11 Row number [number]

12 Spikes FW (Harvest) [gr.]

13 Spikes num [number]

14 Tillering (Harvest) [number]

15 Vegetative DW (Harvest) [gr.]

16 percent of reproductive tillers [percent]

17 shoot/root ratio

Table 13. Provided are the barley correlated parameters under normal and low N conditions (at reproductive stage). "TP" = time point; "DW" = dry weight; "FW" = fresh weight; "Low N" = Low Nitrogen; "Relative water content [percent] Ratio Drought/Normal" - maintenance of phenotype under drought in comparison to normal conditions

Table 14

Barley correlated parameters (vectors) under drought conditions (at vegetative stage)

Table 14. Provided are the barley correlated parameters under drought conditions (at vegetative stage). "RBiH/BiH" = root- shoot ratio

Experimental Results

15 different Barley accessions were grown and characterized for different parameters as described above. Tables 12-14 describe the Barley correlated parameters. The average for each of the measured parameter was calculated using the JMP software and values are summarized in Tables 15-24 below. Subsequent correlation analysis between the various transcriptom sets and the average parameters was conducted. Follow, results were integrated to the database.

Table 15

Measured parameters of correlation IDs in Barley accessions under low N conditions

(at vegetative stage)

Table 15: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Barley accessions (line) under low N conditions, Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 16

Measured parameters of correlation IDs in additional Barley accessions under low N conditions (at vegetative stage)

Table 16. Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Barley accessions (line) under low N conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section. Table 17

Measured parameters of correlation IDs Barley accessions under normal conditions

(at vegetative stage)

Table 17: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Barley accessions (line) under normal conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 18

Measured parameters of correlation IDs in additional Barley accessions under normal conditions (at vegetative stage)

measured in Barley accessions (line) under normal conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 19

Measured parameters of correlation IDs in Barley accessions under low N conditions (at reproductive stage)

Corr. ID/

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Line

Line-1 2.24 0.25 0.89 0.35 0.40 683.40 6.65 33.24 76.40

Line-2 2.24 0.24 0.87 0.35 0.16 510.50 3.96 19.81 84.00

Line-3 2.18 0.24 0.86 0.35 1.01 1093.50 9.27 46.37 64.67 Corr. ID/

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Line

Line-4 2.05 0.23 0.80 0.37 0.79 767.60 7.65 38.25 66.20

Line-5 2.08 0.24 0.83 0.37 0.41 621.00 6.06 30.30 72.00

Line-6 2.03 0.25 0.78 0.41 0.99 1069.00 10.83 54.13 56.60

Line-7 2.25 0.24 0.90 0.35 0.67 987.75 7.94 39.69 68.00

Line-8 1.88 0.22 0.72 0.39 0.61 903.20 7.40 36.98 65.80

Line-9 2.09 0.23 0.82 0.36 0.28 581.80 4.52 22.58 82.00

Line-10 2.03 0.22 0.79 0.36 1.04 904.40 8.41 39.68 62.80

Line- 11 2.02 0.24 0.80 0.37 0.12 242.40 2.00 10.84 67.40

Line-12 1.98 0.21 0.80 0.34 0.86 928.40 8.05 40.26 76.20

Line-13 1.69 0.18 0.65 0.35 0.58 984.20 7.08 35.37 91.60

Line-14 1.98 0.19 0.82 0.29 0.05 157.67 0.75 3.73 44.00

Line-15 1.89 0.17 0.77 0.29 0.08 263.25 1.14 5.68 52.75

Table 19: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Barley accessions (line) under low N conditions (at reproductive stage). Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 20

Measured parameters of correlation IDs in additional Barley accessions under low N conditions (at reproductive stage)

Table 20. Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Barley accessions (line) under low N conditions (at reproductive stage). Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section. Table 21

Measured parameters of correlation IDs Barley accessions under accessions under normal conditions (at reproductive stage)

Table 21 : Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Barley accessions (line) under normal conditions (at reproductive stage). Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 22

Measured parameters of correlation IDs in additional Barley accessions under accessions under normal conditions (at reproductive stage)

Table 22. Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Barley accessions (line) under normal conditions (at reproductive stage). Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section. Table 23

Additional measured parameters of correlation IDs in Barley accessions under

Drought conditions

Table 23: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Barley accessions (line) under drought growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 24

Additional measured parameters of correlation IDs in additional Barley accessions under

Drought conditions

Corr.

ID/ 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 22 23 Line

0.0 80. 77. 2.0 21. 0.0 16. 4.2 17. 8.6 11. 11. 8.3

Line-1

1 60 52 7 67 9 70 0 72 4 68 68 3

Line-2 0.0 53. 60. 1.4 20. - 16. 4.3 24. 9.0 9.0 9.0 8.6 Corr.

ID/ 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 22 23 Line

1 40 19 8 33 0.1 85 6 24 1 4 4 1

2

0.0 55. 27. 1.1 22. 0.0 13. 7.6 18. 7.8 10. 10. 7.3

Line-3

1 87 13 2 00 0 27 0 20 3 92 92 3

0.0 18. 1.8 24. 0.0 13. 8.4 18. 7.3 10. 10. 7.6

Line-4

1 62 7 00 1 55 4 00 2 16 16 7

0.0 43. 117 1.6 20. 0.0 14. 4.9 19. 8.7 10. 10. 6.6

Line-5

3 22 .42 7 67 4 19 2 50 4 32 32 7

Line-6 0.0 69. 70. 1.6 18. 0.0 15. 3.4 15. 7.6 8.7 8.7 6.6

2 78 72 8 33 7 64 3 00 2 8 8 7

0.0 45. 37. 1.6 21. 0.0 15. 6.9 23. 6.9 13. 13. 7.6

Line-7

1 49 34 2 00 1 66 0 40 8 00 00 7

0.0 76. 25. 0.8 20. 0.0 17. 5.8 28. 8.0 7.4 7.4 6.6

Line-8

1 51 56 5 33 0 49 0 16 5 4 4 7

Line-9 0.0 87. 66. 1.4 21. 0.0 16. 8.5 21. 6.0 13. 13. 6.0

1 41 18 5 67 6 00 5 96 6 92 92 0

0.0 22. 1.3 19. 0.0 18. 9.6 33. 6.7 11. 11. 8.6

Line-10

1 13 8 67 4 31 7 03 3 00 00 7

0.0 41. 0.8 16. 0.0 17. 5.4 34. 9.5 6.7 6.7 7.6

Line-11

2 12 2 67 5 42 2 80 5 8 8 7

0.0 58. 116 0.5 17. 0.0 14. 3.0 11. 7.8 8.4 8.4 6.3

Line-12

2 32 .95 8 00 0 23 5 73 4 5 5 3

Line-13 0.0 80. 84. 0.6 15. 0.0 14. 4.0 18. 7.8 9.1 9.1 7.0

1 58 10 3 17 7 81 7 78 1 5 5 0

0.0 73. 37. 1.0 27. 0.0 16. 3.7 21. 8.3 5.1 5.1 7.0

Line-14

1 09 46 7 00 3 54 2 00 5 2 2 0

Line-15 0.0 98. 0.7 15. 0.0 12. 3.2 9.8 5.4 16. 16. 6.6

3 86 0 00 6 72 1 8 7 13 13 7

Table 24. Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Barley accessions (line) under drought growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section. Table 25

Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues and the phenotypic performance under low nitrogen and normal conditions (at vegetative stage) across Barley accessions

Gene Exp. Cor. Gene Exp. Cor.

R P value R P value

Name set Set ID Name set Set ID

2.45E-

LNV749 0.76 1.75E-02 1 15 LNU750 0.73 2 27

02

2.60E-

LNU750 0.77 1.54E-02 2 17 LNU750 0.87 3 35

03

LNU751 0.89 1.30E-03 1 15 LNU751 0.98 2.69E- 2 27 Gene Exp. Cor. Gene Exp. Cor.

R P value R P value Name set Set ID Name set Set ID

06

1.73E-

LNU751 0.93 2.74E-04 2 17 LNU751 0.76 3 15

02

5.34E-

LNU752 0.72 2.74E-02 1 15 LNU752 0.92 2 27

04

4.60E-

LNU752 0.86 2.91E-03 2 17 LNU753 0.84 3 31

03

3.73E-

LNU753 0.74 2.15E-02 3 19 LNU754 0.85 1 19

03

5.09E-

LNU754 0.78 1.29E-02 1 38 LNU754 0.84 2 21

03

3.31E-

LNU754 0.71 3.26E-02 3 31 LNU754 0.86 3 19

03

3.10E-

LNU754 0.80 8.98E-03 3 3 LNU754 0.86 3 38

03

4.47E-

LNU756 0.94 4.00E-04 4 18 LNU756 0.72 4 27

02

2.33E-

LNU756 0.74 3.76E-02 4 17 LNU756 0.70 5 35

02

2.33E-

LNU756 0.87 9.76E-04 5 8 LNU756 0.70 5 38

02

1.34E-

LNU756 0.74 1.40E-02 5 6 LNU756 0.78 3 31

02

5.28E-

LNU756 0.72 2.94E-02 3 38 LNU757 0.70 6 28

02

1.66E-

LNU757 0.77 9.44E-03 5 6 LNU757 0.88 3 20

03

1.27E-

LNU758 0.79 2.06E-02 4 14 LNU758 0.86 5 20

03

8.91E-

LNU758 0.77 1.60E-02 3 24 LNU759 0.80 3 3

03

3.85E-

LNU759 0.72 2.87E-02 3 8 LNU760 0.73 4 18

02

1.07E-

LNU760 0.74 2.15E-02 3 19 LNU760 0.79 3 3

02

2.57E-

LNU760 0.85 4.06E-03 3 22 LNU760 0.73 3 38

02

4.00E-

LNU760 0.70 3.50E-02 3 6 LNU761 0.73 6 10

02

2.64E-

LNU761 0.81 1.47E-02 6 27 LNU761 0.90 6 13

03

1.07E-

LNU761 0.74 2.34E-02 1 15 LNU761 0.83 4 14

02

1.68E-

LNU761 0.83 6.15E-03 2 27 LNU761 0.76 2 17

02

2.49E-

LNU761 0.86 3.06E-03 3 31 LNU761 0.73 3 19

02

9.31E-

LNU762 0.71 4.71E-02 6 27 LNU762 0.84 6 13

03 Gene Exp. Cor. Gene Exp. Cor.

R P value R P value Name set Set ID Name set Set ID

1.68E-

LNV762 0.84 4.92E-03 1 1 LNU762 0.76 1 37

02

2.70E-

LNU763 0.81 1.58E-02 6 5 LNU763 0.73 2 18

02

2.25E-

LNU763 0.74 2.30E-02 2 27 LNU763 0.74 2 17

02

9.51E-

LNV764 0.73 3.83E-02 4 18 LNU764 0.77 5 26

03

1.26E-

LNV764 0.77 8.83E-03 5 7 LNU764 0.75 5 25

02

1.85E-

LNV764 0.74 1.50E-02 5 33 LNU764 0.76 3 7

02

9.88E-

LNV764 0.76 1.68E-02 3 36 LNU764 0.80 3 16

03

2.65E-

LNU766 0.71 4.88E-02 6 27 LNU766 0.77 6 13

02

2.11E-

LNU766 0.71 3.21E-02 1 8 LNU766 0.87 1 20

03

7.63E-

LNU766 0.73 4.02E-02 4 14 LNU766 0.78 5 19

03

9.25E-

LNU766 0.83 2.85E-03 5 3 LNU766 0.77 5 8

03

3.08E-

LNU766 0.83 6.19E-03 2 21 LNU766 0.71 3 15

02

1.54E-

LNU767 0.76 1.02E-02 5 31 LNU767 0.77 3 31

02

1.43E-

LNU768 0.84 8.81E-03 6 13 LNU768 0.77 1 35

02

3.42E-

LNU768 0.72 2.93E-02 1 6 LNU768 0.74 4 10

02

2.19E-

LNU768 0.85 3.32E-03 3 31 LNU769 0.74 1 24

02

2.94E-

LNU769 0.77 9.46E-03 5 20 LNU769 0.72 2 11

02

9.80E-

LNU770 0.79 6.40E-03 5 19 LNU770 0.77 5 35

03

4.44E-

LNU770 0.94 4.58E-05 5 38 LNU770 0.81 5 6

03

1.29E-

LNU770 0.73 2.54E-02 3 19 LNU770 0.78 3 3

02

2.94E-

LNU770 0.83 6.19E-03 3 38 LNU770 0.72 3 6

02

2.59E-

LNU771 0.74 3.66E-02 4 10 LNU771 0.90 4 18

03

4.44E-

LNU771 0.76 1.64E-02 2 29 LNU772 0.72 6 5

02

5.24E-

LNU772 0.73 4.12E-02 4 34 LNU772 0.70 4 18

02

2.35E-

LNU772 0.77 1.60E-02 2 18 LNU773 0.78 6 12

02 Gene Exp. Cor. Gene Exp. Cor.

R P value R P value Name set Set ID Name set Set ID

3.00E-

LNU773 0.75 3.21E-02 6 27 LNU773 0.72 1 20

02

7.06E-

LNU773 0.88 7.99E-04 5 8 LNU773 0.82 3 31

03

4.98E-

LNU773 0.93 3.04E-04 3 19 LNU773 0.84 3 3

03

6.35E-

LNU773 0.94 2.08E-04 3 38 LNU773 0.82 3 6

03

5.80E-

LNU774 0.92 1.27E-03 6 5 LNU774 0.83 1 31

03

1.97E-

LNU774 0.73 2.53E-02 1 19 LNU774 0.75 1 38

02

1.80E-

LNU774 0.73 3.92E-02 4 1 LNU774 0.80 4 27

02

4.74E-

LNU774 0.80 1.70E-02 4 17 LNU774 0.84 2 18

03

2.84E-

LNU774 0.85 3.61E-03 2 27 LNU774 0.86 2 17

03

5.09E-

LNU774 0.93 3.07E-04 3 31 LNU774 0.84 3 19

03

1.46E-

LNU774 0.74 2.28E-02 3 35 LNU774 0.89 3 38

03

4.43E-

LNU774 0.77 1.45E-02 3 6 LNU775 0.72 6 21

02

2.95E-

LNU775 0.73 4.07E-02 6 27 LNU775 0.76 6 13

02

3.80E-

LNU775 0.70 3.53E-02 1 24 LNU775 0.73 4 2

02

3.36E-

LNU775 0.78 1.28E-02 3 31 LNU775 0.71 3 38

02

2.89E-

LNU776 0.82 1.33E-02 4 28 LNU776 0.89 4 13

03

2.67E-

LNU776 0.80 9.89E-03 3 31 LNU776 0.73 3 19

02

5.87E-

LNU776 0.79 1.15E-02 3 35 LNU776 0.83 3 38

03

1.14E-

LNU776 0.88 1.76E-03 3 6 LNU776 0.79 3 16

02

2.53E-

LNU777 0.94 4.33E-04 6 17 LNU777 0.87 1 19

03

1.16E-

LNU777 0.96 4.74E-05 1 38 LNU777 0.79 1 6

02

3.12E-

LNU777 0.83 5.49E-03 3 31 LNU777 0.86 3 19

03

1.94E-

LNU777 0.80 9.73E-03 3 38 LNU778 0.79 6 13

02

1.74E-

LNU778 0.87 4.98E-03 6 14 LNU778 0.73 5 25

02

7.02E-

LNU778 0.70 2.30E-02 5 33 LNU778 0.82 2 2

03 Gene Exp. Cor. Gene Exp. Cor.

R P value R P value

Name set Set ID Name set Set ID

1.12E-

LNU778 0.74 2.19E-02 3 3 LNU778 0.79 3 38

02

1.61E-

LNU778 0.82 7.05E-03 3 6 LNU779 0.77 3 19

02

2.40E-

LNU779 0.91 7.64E-04 3 3 LNU779 0.74 3 8

02

2.55E-

LNU779 0.82 7.27E-03 3 38 LNU779 0.73 3 6

02

1.56E-

LNU780 0.74 3.59E-02 4 1 LNU780 0.73 5 8

02

1.80E-

LNU780 0.77 8.82E-03 5 38 LNU780 0.76 2 27

02

6.27E-

LNU780 0.75 2.06E-02 2 17 LNU780 0.91 3 31

04

7.00E-

LNU780 0.86 2.62E-03 3 19 LNU780 0.82 3 38

03

2.31E-

LNU781 0.73 4.00E-02 6 17 LNU781 0.74 1 31

02

3.24E-

LNU781 0.70 2.29E-02 5 19 LNU781 0.83 5 38

03

1.49E-

LNU781 0.88 1.93E-03 2 27 LNU781 0.89 2 17

03

2.01E-

LNU781 0.73 2.64E-02 3 15 LNU782 0.79 4 34

02

5.05E-

LNU782 0.72 4.27E-02 4 21 LNU782 0.71 4 13

02

2.48E-

LNU783 0.79 1.92E-02 6 13 LNU783 0.73 3 7

02

2.89E-

LNU783 0.74 2.19E-02 3 36 LNU784 0.76 6 5

02

4.48E-

LNU784 0.96 5.76E-05 2 27 LNU784 0.92 2 17

04

3.88E-

LNU784 0.78 1.26E-02 3 35 LNU785 0.73 6 34

02

7.06E-

LNU785 0.82 1.24E-02 6 12 LNU785 0.85 6 10

03

2.36E-

LNU785 0.73 4.02E-02 6 4 LNU785 0.78 6 27

02

8.50E-

LNU785 0.80 1.77E-02 6 13 LNU785 0.81 1 20

03

1.15E-

LNU785 0.70 2.42E-02 5 7 LNU785 0.76 5 24

02

4.47E-

LNU785 0.80 5.77E-03 5 25 LNU785 0.81 5 33

03

8.48E-

LNU785 0.94 1.75E-04 2 27 LNU785 0.90 2 17

04

Table 25. Provided are the correlations (R) between the expression levels yield improving genes and their homologs in various tissues [Expression (Exp) sets] and the phenotypic performance [yield, biomass, growth rate and/or vigor components (Correlation vector (Cor))] under normal and low nitrogen conditions across barley varieties. P = p value. Table 26

Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues and the phenotypic performance under low nitrogen and normal conditions (at reproductive stage) across Barley accessions

Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

2.39E- 1.36E-

LNV749 0.701 3 4 LNU749 0.744 3 10

02 02

2.00E- 1.66E-

LNV749 0.715 3 12 LNU749 0.730 6 15

02 02

5.32E- 2.05E-

LNV749 0.801 6 10 LNU749 0.713 5 14

03 02

1.52E- 2.22E-

LNV749 0.736 4 9 LNU750 0.707 1 9

02 02

1.67E- 2.06E-

LNU751 0.854 3 13 LNU753 0.713 2 6

03 02

7.69E- 4.12E-

LNU753 0.781 2 7 LNU753 0.814 2 8

03 03

1.22E- 6.18E-

LNU753 0.752 2 12 LNU753 0.793 3 17

02 03

2.23E- 2.21E-

LNU754 0.707 5 2 LNU754 0.708 5 1

02 02

1.56E- 1.10E-

LNU754 0.734 5 3 LNU756 0.759 4 17

02 02

6.40E- 2.52E-

LNU757 0.886 2 14 LNU757 0.837 2 13

04 03

1.05E- 1.29E-

LNU757 0.761 6 10 LNU757 0.747 1 13

02 02

9.99E- 1.32E-

LNU758 0.765 6 15 LNU758 0.746 1 9

03 02

1.88E- 1.45E-

LNU759 0.720 2 5 LNU759 0.739 2 7

02 02

2.01E- 1.61E-

LNU759 0.715 2 8 LNU760 0.732 2 13

02 02

7.28E- 1.08E-

LNU761 0.784 3 17 LNU761 0.759 6 6

03 02

1.89E- 1.49E-

LNU761 0.720 6 5 LNU761 0.737 6 7

02 02

1.62E- 1.33E-

LNU761 0.731 6 8 LNU761 0.745 5 17

02 02

1.34E- 1.87E-

LNU762 0.745 5 13 LNU763 0.721 2 13

02 02

2.46E- 5.78E-

LNU763 0.838 6 15 LNU763 0.797 5 14

03 03

1.91E- 1.68E-

LNU763 0.719 4 15 LNU764 0.729 3 13

02 02

1.91E- 1.32E-

LNU764 0.719 3 16 LNU764 0.746 5 4

02 02

LNU764 0.709 2.17E- 5 10 LNU764 0.762 1.03E- 1 9 Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

02 02

9.84E- 1.94E-

LNU766 0.766 2 9 LNU766 0.718 3 9

03 02

1.03E- 7.49E-

LNU766 0.763 1 17 LNU766 0.782 1 9

02 03

3.53E- 1.70E-

LNU767 0.822 5 17 LNU768 0.728 5 14

03 02

2.28E- 2.07E-

LNU769 0.705 2 1 LNU769 0.713 2 3

02 02

3.79E- 3.67E-

LNU769 0.819 3 4 LNU769 0.820 3 10

03 03

1.81E- 1.62E-

LNU769 0.723 1 16 LNU770 0.732 2 13

02 02

1.93E- 8.95E-

LNU770 0.848 3 13 LNU770 0.772 3 16

03 03

2.04E- 1.80E-

LNU771 0.714 6 11 LNU771 0.724 5 4

02 02

1.61E- 1.93E-

LNU771 0.855 1 5 LNU772 0.718 3 2

03 02

6.71E- 5.36E-

LNU772 0.789 6 15 LNU773 0.801 3 14

03 03

5.81E- 1.43E-

LNU773 0.797 3 13 LNU773 0.860 5 4

03 03

2.56E- 9.96E-

LNU773 0.836 1 4 LNU774 0.765 3 4

03 03

3.21E- 1.94E-

LNU774 0.710 6 16 LNU774 0.848 1 4

02 03

1.84E- 2.23E-

LNU774 0.722 1 10 LNU775 0.842 5 16

02 03

1.19E- 5.07E-

LNU775 0.753 4 5 LNU776 0.804 2 4

02 03

7.03E- 1.97E-

LNU776 0.786 2 14 LNU776 0.717 2 13

03 02

2.21E- 2.67E-

LNU776 0.708 5 17 LNU777 0.834 2 13

02 03

9.38E- 2.16E-

LNU777 0.769 4 4 LNU778 0.709 3 7

03 02

4.95E- 2.04E-

LNU778 0.805 3 10 LNU778 0.714 3 8

03 02

2.10E- 1.24E-

LNU778 0.712 3 12 LNU778 0.750 6 2

02 02

1.09E- 5.15E-

LNU778 0.759 4 2 LNU778 0.803 4 1

02 03

5.20E- 1.58E-

LNU778 0.803 4 3 LNU779 0.856 3 14

03 03

9.80E- 8.88E-

LNU779 0.873 3 13 LNU779 0.772 5 10

04 03

2.01E- 1.58E-

LNU781 0.715 3 15 LNU782 0.733 3 13

02 02 Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

8.33E- 1.66E-

LNU782 0.776 5 4 LNU782 0.730 4 17

03 02

7.30E- 4.87E-

LNU782 0.784 4 9 LNU782 0.806 1 4

03 03

1.48E- 1.57E-

LNU782 0.858 1 10 LNU783 0.734 2 6

03 02

3.01E- 1.93E-

LNU783 0.829 2 7 LNU783 0.848 2 8

03 03

5.45E- 1.11E-

LNU783 0.800 2 12 LNU783 0.758 3 4

03 02

1.57E- 1.79E-

LNU783 0.734 3 16 LNU783 0.724 5 15

02 02

6.72E- 5.32E-

LNU783 0.885 1 16 LNU784 0.801 3 14

04 03

1.03E- 2.03E-

LNU784 0.763 3 13 LNU784 0.846 5 10

02 03

1.37E- 2.07E-

LNU784 0.744 4 15 LNU784 0.713 4 10

02 02

7.88E- 2.86E-

LNU784 0.779 1 4 LNU784 0.832 1 10

03 03

1.43E-

LNU785 0.740 5 14

02

Table 26. Provided are the correlations (R) between the expression levels yield improving genes and their homologs in various tissues [Expression (Exp) sets] and the phenotypic performance [yield, biomass, growth rate and/or vigor components (Correlation vector (Cor))] under normal and low nitrogen conditions across barley varieties. P = p value.

Table 27

Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues and the phenotypic performance under drought conditions across

Barley accessions

Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

2.82E- 6.74E-

LNU749 0.859 1 18 LNU749 0.780 1 11

02 02

4.66E- 1.76E-

LNU749 0.818 1 20 LNU749 0.798 3 10

02 02

2.90E- 4.12E-

LNU749 0.759 3 16 LNU749 0.727 3 11

02 02

3.79E- 6.39E-

LNU749 0.735 5 22 LNU749 0.858 5 4

02 03

2.77E- 2.30E-

LNU749 0.763 5 15 LNU749 0.739 4 19

02 02

1.69E- 2.56E-

LNU749 0.844 4 13 LNU749 0.730 4 12

02 02

2.96E- 2.99E-

LNU749 0.717 4 14 LNU750 0.855 1 12

02 02 Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

4.59E- 2.37E-

LNU750 0.820 1 2 LNU750 0.872 1 14

02 02

4.21E- 1.35E-

LNU750 0.912 3 13 LNU750 0.816 3 14

03 02

2.05E- 7.97E-

LNU750 0.787 3 1 LNU750 0.700 2 6

02 02

8.34E- 7.82E-

LNU751 0.754 1 2 LNU751 0.762 1 14

02 02

9.09E- 2.29E-

LNU751 0.743 1 1 LNU751 0.778 3 10

02 02

3.28E- 5.88E-

LNU751 0.887 3 11 LNU751 0.737 2 1

03 02

3.56E- 3.82E-

LNU751 0.700 4 12 LNU753 0.734 3 21

02 02

1.73E- 2.41E-

LNU753 0.843 2 21 LNU753 0.819 2 12

02 02

2.33E- 9.13E-

LNU753 0.777 5 10 LNU753 0.840 5 11

02 03

3.24E- 9.03E-

LNU753 0.749 5 2 LNU754 0.743 1 21

02 02

4.80E- 1.57E-

LNU754 0.711 3 12 LNU754 0.849 6 13

02 02

2.08E- 3.36E-

LNU754 0.747 6 2 LNU754 0.706 6 14

02 02

6.62E- 6.48E-

LNU754 0.970 5 14 LNU756 0.784 1 19

05 02

5.77E- 3.89E-

LNU756 0.797 1 23 LNU756 0.945 3 19

02 04

2.64E- 5.66E-

LNU756 0.767 3 22 LNU756 0.830 6 16

02 03

2.23E- 1.93E-

LNU756 0.825 2 5 LNU756 0.835 2 6

02 02

5.51E- 3.69E-

LNU756 0.744 2 20 LNU756 0.883 5 19

02 03

1.45E- 7.03E-

LNU756 0.886 4 19 LNU756 0.818 4 22

03 03

1.79E- 1.12E-

LNU756 0.758 4 4 LNU757 0.713 1 10

02 01

2.94E- 1.13E-

LNU757 0.857 1 23 LNU757 0.712 1 6

02 01

5.73E- 7.99E-

LNU757 0.798 1 17 LNU757 0.759 1 20

02 02

5.01E- 3.71E-

LNU757 0.754 2 11 LNU757 0.882 5 19

02 03

8.67E- 3.98E-

LNU758 0.842 3 12 LNU758 0.777 2 16

03 02

1.56E- 1.15E-

LNU758 0.768 4 14 LNU759 0.708 1 16

02 01 Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

6.85E- 1.13E-

LNU759 0.855 3 21 LNU761 0.712 1 18

03 01

1.62E- 2.71E-

LNU761 0.804 3 11 LNU761 0.765 5 17

02 02

7.09E- 6.54E-

LNU762 0.774 1 7 LNU762 0.933 1 18

02 03

8.26E- 8.91E-

LNU762 0.755 1 5 LNU762 0.922 1 6

02 03

1.08E- 7.65E-

LNU762 0.914 1 11 LNU762 0.977 1 20

02 04

6.70E- 5.58E-

LNU762 0.934 3 7 LNU762 0.865 3 5

04 03

9.05E- 3.14E-

LNU762 0.840 3 6 LNU762 0.752 5 4

03 02

3.94E- 1.46E-

LNU762 0.731 5 15 LNU764 0.811 3 22

02 02

9.40E- 5.30E-

LNU764 0.838 3 4 LNU764 0.700 3 15

03 02

7.89E- 1.47E-

LNU764 0.812 6 5 LNU764 0.772 6 6

03 02

3.13E- 2.26E-

LNU764 0.798 6 8 LNU764 0.824 2 10

02 02

3.31E- 1.08E-

LNU764 0.794 2 22 LNU764 0.871 2 2

02 02

5.15E- 1.04E-

LNU764 0.904 2 1 LNU764 0.724 5 13

03 01

6.46E- 1.11E-

LNU764 0.858 5 11 LNU764 0.869 4 13

03 02

2.72E- 1.50E-

LNU764 0.725 4 14 LNU764 0.852 4 8

02 02

3.41E- 1.79E-

LNU766 0.845 1 21 LNU766 0.797 3 22

02 02

9.35E- 3.95E-

LNU766 0.838 3 7 LNU766 0.731 3 16

03 02

2.03E- 2.51E-

LNU766 0.787 3 18 LNU766 0.897 3 5

02 03

5.37E- 4.66E-

LNU766 0.939 3 6 LNU766 0.714 3 4

04 02

1.04E- 5.27E-

LNU766 0.832 3 20 LNU766 0.833 4 19

02 03

2.69E- 2.49E-

LNU766 0.864 4 22 LNU766 0.867 4 4

03 03

6.60E- 8.34E-

LNU767 0.782 1 23 LNU767 0.754 1 11

02 02

7.73E- 1.20E-

LNU767 0.764 1 20 LNU767 0.920 3 17

02 03

2.34E- 5.72E-

LNU767 0.737 6 1 LNU767 0.740 2 23

02 02 Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

9.67E- 7.37E-

LNU767 0.876 2 11 LNU768 0.769 1 12

03 02

2.43E- 6.70E-

LNU768 0.774 3 7 LNU768 0.894 2 16

02 03

4.48E- 1.19E-

LNU768 0.766 2 1 LNU768 0.787 4 14

02 02

3.03E- 7.68E-

LNU770 0.854 1 23 LNU770 0.849 3 19

02 03

6.00E- 6.26E-

LNU770 0.861 3 22 LNU770 0.730 6 8

03 02

6.37E- 7.46E-

LNU770 0.728 2 7 LNU770 0.709 2 5

02 02

4.31E- 2.49E-

LNU770 0.769 2 6 LNU770 0.817 2 9

02 02

7.53E- 1.95E-

LNU770 0.708 2 20 LNU770 0.752 4 19

02 02

9.61E- 1.30E-

LNU771 0.735 1 10 LNU771 0.860 3 13

02 02

1.58E- 7.21E-

LNU771 0.806 3 2 LNU771 0.852 3 14

02 03

2.26E- 2.12E-

LNU771 0.779 3 1 LNU771 0.829 3 8

02 02

2.70E- 2.08E-

LNU771 0.725 6 20 LNU771 0.830 2 21

02 02

4.46E- 5.28E-

LNU771 0.766 2 5 LNU771 0.749 2 6

02 02

1.34E- 2.32E-

LNU771 0.858 2 11 LNU771 0.822 2 12

02 02

2.60E- 9.44E-

LNU771 0.958 5 13 LNU771 0.838 5 14

03 03

1.18E- 3.22E-

LNU771 0.921 5 1 LNU771 0.710 4 7

03 02

3.55E- 2.20E-

LNU771 0.701 4 5 LNU771 0.742 4 6

02 02

2.13E- 1.91E-

LNU771 0.745 4 17 LNU771 0.753 4 20

02 02

9.40E- 3.25E-

LNU772 0.738 1 18 LNU772 0.749 3 2

02 02

3.29E- 3.90E-

LNU772 0.708 6 22 LNU772 0.848 6 4

02 03

3.05E- 1.47E-

LNU772 0.754 5 10 LNU772 0.811 5 2

02 02

1.14E- 2.49E-

LNU772 0.790 4 2 LNU773 0.772 3 22

02 02

1.66E- 6.80E-

LNU773 0.802 3 18 LNU773 0.720 3 8

02 02

5.87E- 3.24E-

LNU773 0.899 6 8 LNU773 0.796 2 16

03 02 Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

1.12E- 1.18E-

LNU774 0.713 1 22 LNU774 0.705 1 2

01 01

2.28E- 1.95E-

LNU774 0.739 6 12 LNU774 0.791 5 17

02 02

3.30E- 1.70E-

LNU775 0.747 3 21 LNU775 0.800 3 11

02 02

4.03E- 6.51E-

LNU775 0.729 3 14 LNU775 0.725 6 8

02 02

2.33E- 4.50E-

LNU775 0.822 2 16 LNU775 0.718 5 9

02 02

3.92E- 9.27E-

LNU775 0.731 5 12 LNU775 0.802 4 21

02 03

5.04E- 1.52E-

LNU776 0.811 1 1 LNU776 0.808 3 10

02 02

2.33E- 3.94E-

LNU776 0.777 3 2 LNU776 0.778 2 2

02 02

6.04E- 3.61E-

LNU776 0.734 2 14 LNU776 0.786 2 1

02 02

8.21E- 2.25E-

LNU776 0.904 4 10 LNU776 0.741 4 2

04 02

3.54E- 2.88E-

LNU777 0.947 3 10 LNU777 0.892 3 2

04 03

4.75E- 3.24E-

LNU778 0.712 3 23 LNU778 0.709 6 7

02 02

1.16E- 8.79E-

LNU778 0.789 6 5 LNU778 0.805 6 6

02 03

3.71E- 9.07E-

LNU778 0.784 2 21 LNU778 0.975 5 8

02 04

3.45E- 2.04E-

LNU778 0.703 4 19 LNU778 0.748 4 22

02 02

6.87E- 3.65E-

LNU780 0.778 LNU780 0.785 6 8

02 1 23

02

5.20E- 1.00E-

LNU781 0.807 1 LNU781 0.917 1 5

02 1 8

02

3.79E- 2.06E-

LNU781 0.837 6 LNU781 0.880 1 11

02 1 02

7.63E- 1.68E-

LNU781 0.765 2

02 1 0 LNU781 0.910 3 22

03

4.67E- 3.18E-

LNU782 0.818 1 15 LNU782 0.889 3 11

02 03

3.04E- 7.89E-

LNU782 0.715 6 7 LNU782 0.886 2 12

02 03

4.65E- 4.37E-

LNU782 0.908 2 14 LNU782 0.721 5 9

03 02

3.21E- 2.06E-

LNU782 0.856 4 11 LNU782 0.747 4 14

03 02

2.81E- 2.40E-

LNU783 0.762 3 2 LNU783 0.735 6 10

02 02 Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

2.39E- 6.61E-

LNU783 0.820 2 21 LNU784 0.782 1 18

02 02

1.54E- 6.13E-

LNU784 0.897 1 5 LNU784 0.790 1 6

02 02

8.83E- 1.04E-

LNU784 0.746 1 11 LNU784 0.724 1 20

02 01

5.29E- 4.02E-

LNU784 0.701 3 22 LNU784 0.776 3 8

02 02

2.04E- 8.15E-

LNU784 0.748 6 5 LNU784 0.885 6 8

02 03

3.20E- 1.03E-

LNU784 0.710 4 17 LNU785 0.726 1 23

02 01

1.17E- 6.77E-

LNU785 0.706 1 18 LNU785 0.779 1 6

01 02

3.43E- 3.39E-

LNU785 0.845 1 11 LNU785 0.846 1 20

02 02

4.96E- 7.53E-

LNU785 0.708 3 20 LNU785 0.708 2 23

02 02

5.81E- 4.31E-

LNU785 0.738 2 17 LNU785 0.769 4 13

02 02

7.74E- 4.28E-

LNU785 0.813 4 1 LNU834 0.826 1 10

03 02

2.56E- 7.48E-

LNU834 0.866 1 22 LNU834 0.767 1 2

02 02

7.64E- 6.35E-

LNU834 0.765 1 14 LNU834 0.824 6 11

02 03

3.78E- 2.71E-

LNU834 0.782 2 21 LNU834 0.810 2 5

02 02

3.36E- 1.87E-

LNU834 0.792 2 6 LNU834 0.838 2 12

02 02

7.50E- 4.28E-

LNU834 0.708 2 20 LNU839 0.826 1 10

02 02

2.56E- 7.48E-

LNU839 0.866 1 22 LNU839 0.767 1 2

02 02

7.64E- 6.35E-

LNU839 0.765 1 14 LNU839 0.824 6 11

02 03

3.78E- 2.71E-

LNU839 0.782 2 21 LNU839 0.810 2 5

02 02

3.36E- 1.87E-

LNU839 0.792 2 6 LNU839 0.838 2 12

02 02

7.50E-

LNU839 0.708 2 20

02

Table 27. Provided are the correlations (R) between the expression levels yield improving genes and their homologs in various tissues [Expression (Exp) sets] and the phenotypic performance [yield, biomass, growth rate and/or vigor components (Correlation vector (Cor))] under drought conditions across barley varieties. P = p value. EXAMPLE 5

PRODUCTION OF SORGHUM TRANSCRIPTOM AND HIGH THROUGHPUT CORRELATION ANALYSIS WITH YIELD, NUE, AND ABST RELATED

PARAMETERS MEASURED IN FIELDS USING 44K SORGUHM

OLIGONUCLEOTIDE MICRO-ARRAYS

In order to produce a high throughput correlation analysis between plant phenotype and gene expression level, the present inventors utilized a sorghum oligonucleotide micro-array, produced by Agilent Technologies [chem. (dot) agilent

(dot) com/Scripts/PDS (dot) asp?lPage=50879]. The array oligonucleotide represents about 44,000 sorghum genes and transcripts. In order to define correlations between the levels of RNA expression with ABST, yield and NUE components or vigor related parameters, various plant characteristics of 17 different sorghum hybrids were analyzed.

Among them, 10 hybrids encompassing the observed variance were selected for RNA expression analysis. The correlation between the RNA levels and the characterized parameters was analyzed using Pearson correlation test [davidmlane (dot) com/hyperstat/A34739 (dot) html].

Correlation of Sorghum varieties across ecotypes grown under regular growth conditions, severe drought conditions and low nitrogen conditions

Experimental procedures

17 Sorghum varieties were grown in 3 repetitive plots, in field. Briefly, the growing protocol was as follows:

/. Regular growth conditions: sorghum plants were grown in the field using commercial fertilization and irrigation protocols (370 liter per meter , fertilization of 14 units of 21% urea per entire growth period).

2. Drought conditions: sorghum seeds were sown in soil and grown under normal condition until around 35 days from sowing, around stage V8 (eight green leaves are fully expanded, booting not started yet). At this point, irrigation was stopped, and severe drought stress was developed.

3. Low Nitrogen fertilization conditions: sorghum plants were fertilized with 50% less amount of nitrogen in the field than the amount of nitrogen applied in the regular growth treatment. All the fertilizer was applied before flowering.

Analyzed Sorghum tissues - All 10 selected Sorghum hybrids were sample per each treatment. Tissues [Flag leaf, Flower meristem and Flower] from plants growing under normal conditions, severe drought stress and low nitrogen conditions were sampled and RNA was extracted as described above. Each micro-array expression information tissue type has received a Set ID as summarized in Table 28 below.

Table 28

Sorghum transcriptom expression sets in field experiments

Table 28: Provided are the sorghum transcriptom expression sets. Flag leaf = the leaf below the flower; Flower meristem = Apical meristem following panicle initiation; Flower = the flower at the anthesis day.

The following parameters were collected using digital imaging system:

Average Grain Area (cm ) - At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the Plant 'Head' . A sample of -200 grains were weighted, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The grain area was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

Average Grain Length (cm) - At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the Plant 'Head' . A sample of -200 grains were weighted, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The sum of grain lengths (longest axis) was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

Head Average Area (cm ) - At the end of the growing period 5 'Heads' were, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The 'Head' area was measured from those images and was divided by the number of 'Heads ' .

Head Average Length (cm) - At the end of the growing period 5 'Heads' were, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The 'Head' length (longest axis) was measured from those images and was divided by the number of 'Heads' . An image processing system was used, which consists of a personal desktop computer (Intel P4 3.0 GHz processor) and a public domain program - ImageJ 1.37, Java based image processing software, which was developed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and is freely available on the internet at rsbweb (dot) nih (dot) gov/. Images were captured in resolution of 10 Mega Pixels (3888x2592 pixels) and stored in a low compression JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group standard) format. Next, image processing output data for seed area and seed length was saved to text files and analyzed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute).

Additional parameters were collected either by sampling 5 plants per plot or by measuring the parameter across all the plants within the plot.

Total Seed Weight per Head (gr.) - At the end of the experiment (plant 'Heads') heads from plots within blocks A-C were collected. 5 heads were separately threshed and grains were weighted, all additional heads were threshed together and weighted as well. The average grain weight per head was calculated by dividing the total grain weight by number of total heads per plot (based on plot). In case of 5 heads, the total grains weight of 5 heads was divided by 5.

FW Head per Plant gram - At the end of the experiment (when heads were harvested) total heads and 5 selected heads per plots within blocks A-C were collected separately. The heads (total and 5) were weighted (gr.) separately, and the average fresh weight per plant was calculated for total (FW Head/Plant gr. based on plot) and for 5 (FW Head/Plant gr. based on 5 plants) heads.

Plant height - Plants were characterized for height during growing period at 5 time points. In each measure, plants were measured for their height using a measuring tape. Height was measured from ground level to top of the longest leaf.

Plant leaf number - Plants were characterized for leaf number during growing period at 5 time points. In each measure, plants were measured for their leaf number by counting all the leaves of 3 selected plants per plot.

Relative Growth Rate - was calculated using Formulas III (above) and VIII (above).

SPAD - Chlorophyll content was determined using a Minolta SPAD 502 chlorophyll meter and measurement was performed 64 days post sowing. SPAD meter readings were done on young fully developed leaf. Three measurements per leaf were taken per plot.

Vegetative dry weight and Heads - At the end of the experiment (when inflorescence were dry) all inflorescence and vegetative material from plots within blocks A-C were collected. The biomass and heads weight of each plot was separated, measured and divided by the number of heads.

Dry weight = total weight of the vegetative portion above ground (excluding roots) after drying at 70 °C in oven for 48 hours;

Harvest Index (HI) (Sorghum)- The harvest index was calculated using Formula XVI above.

FW Heads/(FW Heads + FW Plants) - The total fresh weight of heads and their respective plant biomass was measured at the harvest day. The heads weight was divided by the sum of weights of heads and plants.

Experimental Results

17 different sorghum hybrids were grown and characterized for different parameters (Table 29). The average for each of the measured parameter was calculated using the JMP software (Tables 30-35) and a subsequent correlation analysis was performed (Table 36). Results were then integrated to the database.

Table 29

Sorghum correlated parameters (vectors)

Correlation ID Correlated parameter with

1 Average Grain Area (cm ² ), Drought

2 Average Grain Area (cm ² ), Low N

3 Average Grain Area (cm ² ), Normal

4 FW - Head/Plant gr (based on plot), Drought

5 FW - Head/Plant gr (based on plot), Low N

6 FW - Head/Plant gr (based on plot), Normal

7 FW - Head/Plant gr (based on 5 plants), Low N

8 FW - Head/Plant gr (based on 5 plants), Normal

9 FW Heads / (FW Heads+ FW Plants)(all plot), Drought

10 FW Heads / (FW Heads+ FW Plants)(all plot), Low N

11 FW Heads / (FW Heads+ FW Plants)(all plot), Normal

12 FW/Plant gr (based on plot), Drought

13 FW/Plant gr (based on plot), Low N

14 FW/Plant gr (based on plot), Normal

15 Final Plant Height (cm), Drought

16 Final Plant Height (cm), Low N

17 Final Plant Height (cm), Normal Correlation ID Correlated parameter with

18 Head Average Area (cm ² ), Drought

19 Head Average Area (cm ² ), Low N

20 Head Average Area (cm ² ), Normal

21 Head Average Length (cm), Drought

22 Head Average Length (cm), Low N

23 Head Average Length (cm), Normal

24 Head Average Perimeter (cm), Drought

25 Head Average Perimeter (cm), Low N

26 Head Average Perimeter (cm), Normal

27 Head Average Width (cm), Drought

28 Head Average Width (cm), Low N

29 Head Average Width (cm), Normal

30 Leaf SPAD 64 DPS (Days Post Sowing), Drought

31 Leaf SPAD 64 DPS (Days Post Sowing), Low N

32 Leaf SPAD 64 DPS (Days Post Sowing), Normal

33 Lower Ratio Average Grain Area, Low N

34 Lower Ratio Average Grain Area, Normal

35 Lower Ratio Average Grain Length, Low N

36 Lower Ratio Average Grain Length, Normal

37 Lower Ratio Average Grain Perimeter, Low N

38 Lower Ratio Average Grain Perimeter, Normal

39 Lower Ratio Average Grain Width, Low N

40 Lower Ratio Average Grain Width, Normal

41 Total grain weight /Head (based on plot) gr, Low N

42 Total grain weight /Head gr (based on 5 heads), Low N

43 Total grain weight /Head gr (based on 5 heads), Normal

44 Total grain weight /Head gr (based on plot), Normal

45 Total grain weight /Head gr (based on plot) Drought

46 Upper Ratio Average Grain Area, Drought

47 Upper Ratio Average Grain Area, Low N

48 Upper Ratio Average Grain Area, Normal

49 [Grain Yield+plant biomass/SPAD 64 DPS], Normal

50 [Grain Yield+plant biomass/SPAD 64 DPS], Low N

51 [Grain yield /SPAD 64 DPS], Low N

52 [Grain yield /SPAD 64 DPS], Normal

53 [Plant biomass (FW)/SPAD 64 DPS], Drought

54 [Plant biomass (FW)/SPAD 64 DPS], Low N

55 [Plant biomass (FW)/SPAD 64 DPS], Normal

Table 29. Providec are the Sorghum correlated parameters (vectors), "gr." = grams;

"SPAD" = chlorophyll levels; "FW" = Plant Fresh weight; "DW"= Plant Dry weight; "normal" = standard growth conditions; "DPS" = days post-sowing; "Low N" = Low Nitrogen.

FW - Head/Plant gr. (based on 5 plants), fresh weigh of the harvested heads was divided by the number of heads that were phenotyped, Low N-low nitrogen conditions: Lower Ratio Average Grain Area grain area of the lower fraction of grains. Table 30

Measured parameters in Sorghum accessions under normal conditions

Table 30: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Sorghum accessions (line ID) under normal conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 31

Additional measured parameters in Sorghum accessions under normal conditions

Seed

ID/Cor. 32 34 36 38 40 43 44 48 49 52 55 ID

Line-1 43.01 0.83 0.91 0.91 0.91 47.40 31.12 1.22 4.50 3.78 0.72

Line-2 0.74 0.88 0.87 0.83 46.30 26.35 1.30 8.17 7.74 0.43

Line-3 43.26 0.78 0.92 0.91 0.85 28.37 18.72 1.13 7.87 7.01 0.86 Seed

ID/Cor. 32 34 36 38 40 43 44 48 49 52 55 ID

Line-4 44.74 0.80 0.91 0.95 0.87 70.40 38.38 1.14 10.68 10.10 0.58

Line-5 45.76 0.70 0.89 0.90 0.79 32.15 26.67 1.16 8.34 7.65 0.69

Line-6 41.61 0.70 0.88 0.92 0.80 49.23 28.85 1.15 4.40 3.34 1.05

Line-7 45.21 0.83 0.91 0.91 0.90 63.45 47.67 1.19 3.74 3.05 0.69

Line-8 45.14 0.81 0.90 0.91 0.89 44.45 31.00 1.24 4.83 3.90 0.93

Line-9 43.03 0.84 0.92 0.92 0.92 56.65 39.99 1.25 3.67 2.83 0.84

Line-10 45.59 0.79 0.92 0.93 0.85 60.00 38.36 1.24 2.89 2.18 0.72

Line-11 44.83 0.77 0.89 0.91 0.86 45.45 32.10 1.32 2.91 2.19 0.72

Line-12 45.33 0.80 0.91 0.92 0.89 58.19 32.69 1.22 3.12 2.41 0.71

Line-13 46.54 0.81 0.91 0.90 0.90 70.60 32.79 1.18 4.75 3.58 1.17

Line-14 43.99 0.82 0.91 0.91 0.91 70.10 51.53 1.18 3.69 2.90 0.79

Line-15 45.09 0.81 0.90 0.91 0.91 53.95 35.71 1.22 3.85 3.01 0.85

Line-16 45.14 0.82 0.90 0.91 0.90 59.87 38.31 1.25 5.84 4.85 0.98

Table 31 : Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Sorghum accessions (line ID) under normal conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section. Table 32

Measured parameters in Sorghum accessions under Low nitrogen conditions

Seed

ID/Cor. 2 5 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 ID

214. 388. 204. 104. 96.2 23.2 56.3 38.3

Line-1 0.11 0.51 5.26

78 00 78 00 4 2 2 3

205. 428. 199. 80.9 214. 25.5 79.2 10.4 38.9

Line-2 0.11 0.51

05 67 64 3 72 8 0 1 8

73.4 297. 340. 204. 98.5 20.9 53.2 42.3

Line-3 0.14 0.17 5.93

9 67 51 73 9 3 5 3

122. 280. 240. 125. 182. 28.4 76.2 40.9

Line-4 0.12 0.39 8.25

96 00 60 40 83 3 1 0

153. 208. 537. 225. 119. 24.3 67.2 43.1

Line-5 0.14 0.21 6.19

07 33 78 40 64 2 7 5

93.2 303. 359. 208. 110. 22.6 59.4 39.8

Line-6 0.13 0.19 6.12

3 67 40 07 19 4 9 5

134. 436. 149. 121. 172. 32.1 79.2 42.6

Line-7 0.12 0.48 6.81

11 00 20 40 36 1 8 8

77.4 376. 129. 100. 84.8 20.3 51.5 43.3

Line-8 0.12 0.38 5.25

4 33 06 27 1 8 2 1

129. 474. 178. 121. 156. 26.6 69.8 39.0

Line-9 0.12 0.42 7.52

63 67 71 13 25 9 9 1

Line- 99.8 437. 124. 94.5 136. 26.3 66.1 42.7

0.13 0.44 6.59 10 3 67 27 3 71 1 8 1

Line- 76.9 383. 101. 110. 137. 25.4 67.3 40.0

0.13 0.43 6.85 11 5 00 33 00 70 3 7 8

Line- 84.2 375. 132. 115. 96.5 23.1 57.9 43.9

0.12 0.39 5.32 12 5 00 12 07 4 1 0 8 Seed

ID/Cor. 2 5 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31

ID

Line- 92.2 425. 111. 104. 158. 27.8 70.6 45.4

0.12 0.44 7.25

13 4 00 90 73 19 7 1 4

Line- 138. 434. 176. 173. 163. 28.8 73.7 44.7

0.12 0.44 7.19

14 83 00 99 67 95 8 6 5

Line- 113. 408. 143. 115. 138. 27.6 66.8 42.5

0.11 0.44 6.28

15 32 67 67 60 39 4 7 8

Line- 95.5 378. 126. 138. 135. 25.5 65.4 43.8

0.12 0.43 6.57

16 0 50 98 80 46 2 0 1

Table 32: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Sorghum accessions (line ID) under low nitrogen conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 33

Additional measured parameters in Sorghum accessions under low nitrogen growth conditions

Table 33: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Sorghum accessions (line ID) under low nitrogi en conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section. Table 34

Measured parameters in Sorghum accessions under drought conditions

Table 34: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Sorghum accessions (line ID) under drought conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 35

Additional Measured parameters in Sorghum accessions under drought conditions

Seed ID/

45 46 53

Correlation ID

Line-1 22.114 1.305 5.126

Line-2 16.770 1.190 3.376

Line-3 9.189 1.285 5.674

Line-4 104.444 1.459 9.509 Seed ID/

45 46 53

Correlation ID

Line-5 3.235 1.206 5.163

Line-6 21.997 1.214 9.658

Line-7 9.975 1.993

Line-8 18.579 1.123

Line-9 29.271 2.141

Line- 10 10.453 2.651

Line- 11 14.765 0.874

Line- 12 12.861 1.091

Line- 13 18.237 0.991

Line- 14 11.602 5.461

Line- 15 18.647 2.682

Line- 16 16.356 3.054

Line- 17 8.405

Table 35: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Sorghum accessions (line ID) under drought conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section. Table 36

Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues and the phenotypic performance under normal or abiotic stress conditions across Sorghum accessions

Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

LNU856 0.849 3.76E-03 1 18 LNU856 0.827 5.96E-03 1 27

LNU856 0.830 5.57E-03 1 24 LNU857 0.748 2.04E-02 9 55

LNU858 0.841 2.31E-03 6 36 LNU858 0.781 7.71E-03 6 34

LNU858 0.741 1.41E-02 2 41 LNU858 0.721 1.85E-02 2 51

LNU858 0.788 6.74E-03 2 16 LNU858 0.736 1.53E-02 3 11

LNU858 0.826 3.23E-03 3 6 LNU858 0.711 2.10E-02 3 8

LNU859 0.717 1.97E-02 6 55 LNU859 0.829 3.04E-03 9 17

LNU859 0.713 2.07E-02 9 40 LNU859 0.736 1.52E-02 9 23

LNU859 0.819 3.78E-03 9 44 LNU859 0.785 7.10E-03 9 43

LNU859 0.706 2.26E-02 9 34 LNU859 0.764 1.00E-02 2 41

LNU859 0.782 7.47E-03 2 16 LNU859 0.717 1.97E-02 8 42

LNU860 0.789 6.70E-03 6 17 LNU860 0.706 2.24E-02 6 44

LNU860 0.773 8.80E-03 2 41 LNU860 0.711 2.11E-02 2 22

LNU860 0.891 5.43E-04 2 42 LNU860 0.757 1.13E-02 2 51

LNU860 0.760 1.07E-02 2 37 LNU860 0.877 8.51E-04 4 53

LNU860 0.854 1.65E-03 4 4 LNU860 0.878 8.41E-04 4 12

LNU860 0.728 1.69E-02 5 41 LNU860 0.845 2.10E-03 5 16

LNU860 0.713 3.09E-02 7 18 LNU860 0.723 1.81E-02 1 53

LNU860 0.726 1.74E-02 1 12 LNU861 0.835 2.63E-03 6 17

LNU861 0.707 2.22E-02 6 44 LNU861 0.794 6.15E-03 2 16

LNU861 0.792 6.35E-03 4 53 LNU861 0.802 5.22E-03 4 4

LNU861 0.790 6.53E-03 4 12 LNU861 0.871 2.26E-03 3 52

LNU861 0.874 2.05E-03 3 49 LNU861 0.892 5.26E-04 1 53

LNU861 0.890 5.56E-04 1 4 LNU861 0.879 8.08E-04 1 12 Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

LNU862 0.716 1.98E-02 6 40 LNU862 0.767 9.63E-03 4 53

LNU862 0.767 9.58E-03 4 12 LNU862 0.726 2.69E-02 3 55

LNU862 0.797 5.81E-03 3 43 LNU862 0.753 1.20E-02 1 15

LNU863 0.857 3.15E-03 9 55 LNU863 0.758 1.11E-02 2 16

LNU863 0.878 8.46E-04 5 31 LNU863 0.776 8.30E-03 7 53

LNU863 0.751 1.22E-02 7 4 LNU863 0.770 9.20E-03 7 12

LNU864 0.816 3.97E-03 2 16 LNU864 0.700 2.42E-02 3 29

LNU864 0.729 1.67E-02 3 14 LNU864 0.736 1.53E-02 7 4

LNU864 0.708 2.20E-02 7 12 LNU865 0.719 1.90E-02 6 44

LNU865 0.740 1.43E-02 9 11 LNU865 0.754 1.17E-02 2 10

LNU865 0.742 1.40E-02 5 13 LNU865 0.774 8.53E-03 3 8

LNU866 0.752 1.22E-02 2 41 LNU866 0.844 2.13E-03 2 16

LNU866 0.848 3.91E-03 3 52 LNU866 0.746 1.32E-02 3 11

LNU866 0.868 1.13E-03 3 6 LNU866 0.805 8.85E-03 3 49

LNU866 0.734 1.56E-02 1 4 LNU867 0.719 1.92E-02 6 3

LNU867 0.704 2.31E-02 3 6 LNU868 0.916 2.00E-04 6 48

LNU868 0.804 5.04E-03 2 16 LNU868 0.821 3.59E-03 3 17

LNU868 0.819 3.75E-03 3 44 LNU869 0.719 1.90E-02 2 2

LNU869 0.790 6.49E-03 5 2 LNU870 0.906 3.04E-04 4 53

LNU870 0.829 3.00E-03 4 4 LNU870 0.912 2.33E-04 4 12

LNU870 0.723 1.82E-02 1 53 LNU870 0.733 1.58E-02 1 12

LNU871 0.752 1.22E-02 6 17 LNU871 0.720 1.89E-02 4 53

LNU871 0.709 2.16E-02 4 4 LNU871 0.735 1.53E-02 4 12

LNU871 0.747 1.30E-02 7 9 LNU871 0.717 2.98E-02 1 21

LNU872 0.714 2.05E-02 4 53 LNU872 0.710 2.13E-02 4 12

LNU872 0.735 1.55E-02 5 41 LNU872 0.743 2.19E-02 7 18

LNU873 0.732 1.61E-02 9 44 LNU873 0.848 1.95E-03 8 35

LNU873 0.768 1.56E-02 3 55 LNU874 0.715 2.02E-02 2 22

LNU874 0.855 1.60E-03 2 42 LNU874 0.727 1.72E-02 4 53

LNU874 0.710 2.15E-02 4 4 LNU874 0.736 1.53E-02 4 12

LNU874 0.724 1.79E-02 5 54 LNU874 0.777 8.13E-03 5 13

LNU875 0.839 2.41E-03 6 3 LNU876 0.793 6.15E-03 6 17

LNU876 0.705 3.38E-02 4 27 LNU876 0.867 1.17E-03 4 53

LNU876 0.809 4.56E-03 4 4 LNU876 0.866 1.21E-03 4 12

LNU876 0.780 7.72E-03 5 5 LNU876 0.731 1.62E-02 5 7

LNU876 0.830 2.95E-03 5 50 LNU876 0.776 8.26E-03 5 54

LNU876 0.842 2.24E-03 5 13 LNU876 0.793 1.07E-02 3 52

LNU876 0.784 1.24E-02 3 49 LNU876 0.894 4.83E-04 3 8

LNU878 0.718 1.94E-02 6 11 LNU878 0.725 1.76E-02 6 49

LNU878 0.778 8.03E-03 2 16 LNU879 0.756 1.15E-02 6 11

LNU879 0.707 2.21E-02 6 6 LNU879 0.704 2.32E-02 6 14

LNU879 0.771 9.10E-03 2 28 LNU879 0.913 2.22E-04 4 53

LNU879 0.820 3.70E-03 4 4 LNU879 0.916 1.99E-04 4 12

LNU879 0.717 1.97E-02 5 5 LNU879 0.773 8.76E-03 5 50

LNU879 0.734 1.56E-02 5 54 LNU879 0.849 1.89E-03 5 13

LNU880 0.718 1.93E-02 2 47 LNU881 0.789 6.64E-03 2 41

LNU881 0.730 1.66E-02 2 51 LNU881 0.755 1.17E-02 2 37

LNU881 0.931 8.91E-05 2 16 LNU882 0.785 1.22E-02 3 52 Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

LNU882 0.794 1.07E-02 3 49 LNU882 0.724 2.75E-02 1 45

LNU883 0.799 5.57E-03 2 47 LNU883 0.743 2.19E-02 3 52

LNU883 0.887 6.25E-04 3 6 LNU883 0.786 7.03E-03 3 14

LNU883 0.742 2.22E-02 3 49 LNU883 0.720 1.89E-02 3 8

LNU883 0.719 1.91E-02 1 9 LNU883 0.747 2.07E-02 1 18

LNU883 0.784 1.23E-02 1 24 LNU883 0.744 2.17E-02 1 21

LNU884 0.874 9.44E-04 2 41 LNU884 0.745 1.35E-02 2 22

LNU884 0.767 9.63E-03 2 35 LNU884 0.872 1.02E-03 2 51

LNU884 0.743 1.38E-02 2 37 LNU884 0.779 1.33E-02 4 45

LNU884 0.809 4.58E-03 3 6 LNU885 0.845 2.08E-03 6 17

LNU885 0.879 8.12E-04 6 44 LNU885 0.712 2.10E-02 2 47

LNU885 0.891 5.48E-04 4 53 LNU885 0.788 6.83E-03 4 4

LNU885 0.897 4.40E-04 4 12 LNU885 0.721 1.87E-02 5 41

LNU885 0.711 2.13E-02 5 13 LNU885 0.724 1.78E-02 5 51

LNU885 0.843 2.18E-03 7 30 LNU885 0.705 2.28E-02 1 53

LNU885 0.716 1.99E-02 1 12 LNU886 0.862 1.35E-03 6 3

LNU887 0.710 3.23E-02 9 52 LNU887 0.714 3.07E-02 9 49

LNU887 0.725 1.76E-02 2 47 LNU888 0.858 1.50E-03 6 48

LNU888 0.742 1.41E-02 2 41 LNU888 0.732 1.62E-02 2 35

LNU888 0.811 4.39E-03 2 51 LNU888 0.716 1.99E-02 2 37

LNU888 0.706 2.26E-02 8 41 LNU888 0.741 1.42E-02 8 51

LNU888 0.787 6.95E-03 8 37 LNU888 0.855 1.64E-03 7 30

LNU889 0.971 3.19E-06 6 52 LNU889 0.851 1.80E-03 6 6

LNU889 0.884 6.87E-04 6 14 LNU889 0.948 3.02E-05 6 49

LNU889 0.763 1.02E-02 6 8 LNU890 0.796 5.88E-03 8 2

LNU890 0.779 7.92E-03 5 2 LNU892 0.717 1.96E-02 9 8

LNU892 0.915 5.43E-04 4 18 LNU892 0.892 1.23E-03 4 27

LNU892 0.864 2.70E-03 4 24 LNU892 0.733 1.59E-02 8 28

LNU892 0.734 2.43E-02 7 27 LNU893 0.818 3.85E-03 3 43

LNU894 0.850 1.84E-03 6 52 LNU894 0.815 4.08E-03 6 49

LNU894 0.802 5.22E-03 6 8 LNU894 0.840 4.64E-03 9 52

LNU894 0.855 1.61E-03 9 14 LNU894 0.808 8.35E-03 9 49

LNU894 0.871 1.04E-03 2 16 LNU894 0.711 3.16E-02 3 52

LNU894 0.862 1.33E-03 3 6 LNU894 0.829 3.05E-03 3 14

LNU894 0.733 1.59E-02 3 8 LNU894 0.718 2.93E-02 1 21

LNU895 0.716 1.97E-02 6 20 LNU895 0.720 1.88E-02 5 7

LNU895 0.716 1.97E-02 5 19 LNU895 0.868 1.13E-03 5 41

LNU895 0.792 6.32E-03 5 22 LNU895 0.797 5.75E-03 5 25

LNU895 0.817 3.91E-03 5 51 LNU895 0.748 1.28E-02 3 29

LNU895 0.727 1.72E-02 3 14 LNU897 0.746 1.32E-02 3 17

LNU897 0.790 6.56E-03 3 44 LNU899 0.701 2.39E-02 6 3

LNU899 0.717 1.96E-02 2 16 LNU900 0.894 4.83E-04 6 17

LNU900 0.713 2.05E-02 6 44 LNU900 0.710 2.14E-02 6 43

LNU900 0.765 9.88E-03 4 53 LNU900 0.772 8.88E-03 4 12

LNU900 0.883 7.13E-04 5 16 LNU901 0.920 1.62E-04 4 53

LNU901 0.869 1.10E-03 4 4 LNU901 0.916 1.93E-04 4 12

LNU901 0.770 9.12E-03 5 5 LNU901 0.767 9.70E-03 5 50

LNU901 0.768 9.54E-03 5 54 LNU901 0.807 4.75E-03 5 13 Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

LNU902 0.886 6.47E-04 6 17 LNU902 0.856 1.59E-03 6 44

LNU903 0.714 2.04E-02 6 3 LNU903 0.785 7.13E-03 2 7

LNU903 0.738 1.48E-02 2 19 LNU903 0.829 3.05E-03 2 22

LNU903 0.786 7.04E-03 2 42 LNU903 0.840 2.36E-03 2 25

LNU904 0.738 1.48E-02 6 52 LNU904 0.731 1.64E-02 6 14

LNU904 0.751 1.24E-02 6 49 LNU904 0.765 9.94E-03 4 53

LNU904 0.718 1.94E-02 4 4 LNU904 0.767 9.63E-03 4 12

LNU904 0.732 1.61E-02 5 10 LNU905 0.710 2.14E-02 2 47

LNU905 0.872 2.17E-03 4 45 LNU905 0.800 5.42E-03 4 53

LNU905 0.854 1.65E-03 4 4 LNU905 0.785 7.10E-03 4 12

LNU905 0.714 2.04E-02 8 5 LNU905 0.725 1.76E-02 5 54

LNU905 0.761 1.06E-02 5 13 LNU905 0.822 6.54E-03 7 45

LNU905 0.720 2.86E-02 1 45 LNU906 0.749 1.26E-02 6 17

LNU906 0.778 8.04E-03 6 40 LNU906 0.832 2.85E-03 6 44

LNU906 0.805 4.95E-03 6 34 LNU906 0.745 1.35E-02 2 41

LNU906 0.855 1.63E-03 2 16 LNU906 0.939 5.71E-05 4 53

LNU906 0.868 1.12E-03 4 4 LNU906 0.943 4.37E-05 4 12

LNU907 0.700 2.42E-02 6 29 LNU907 0.829 3.00E-03 6 52

LNU907 0.825 3.28E-03 6 49 LNU907 0.790 6.50E-03 6 8

LNU907 0.791 6.44E-03 8 33 LNU907 0.706 2.26E-02 8 39

LNU907 0.836 2.59E-03 8 35 LNU907 0.746 1.32E-02 8 37

LNU908 0.701 2.41E-02 2 5 LNU908 0.725 1.77E-02 1 4

LNU909 0.805 4.99E-03 2 41 LNU909 0.745 1.34E-02 2 51

LNU909 0.920 1.66E-04 2 16 LNU909 0.789 1.14E-02 4 45

LNU909 0.822 3.51E-03 3 11 LNU909 0.771 9.03E-03 3 6

LNU910 0.761 1.05E-02 6 17 LNU910 0.743 1.37E-02 6 44

LNU910 0.743 1.38E-02 5 41 LNU910 0.732 1.62E-02 5 51

LNU910 0.767 9.66E-03 5 16 LNU910 0.761 1.71E-02 3 52

LNU910 0.781 1.30E-02 3 49 LNU910 0.763 1.02E-02 1 53

LNU910 0.761 1.05E-02 1 4 LNU910 0.768 9.45E-03 1 12

LNU911 0.716 1.99E-02 6 11 LNU911 0.774 8.56E-03 8 10

LNU911 0.708 2.18E-02 5 41 LNU911 0.712 2.09E-02 5 51

LNU911 0.733 1.59E-02 3 6 LNU911 0.760 1.08E-02 7 30

LNU912 0.773 8.74E-03 9 17 LNU912 0.706 2.25E-02 9 44

LNU912 0.710 2.15E-02 9 43 LNU912 0.712 2.08E-02 2 47

LNU912 0.702 3.48E-02 4 18 LNU912 0.717 1.96E-02 7 15

LNU912 0.902 3.58E-04 1 30 LNU913 0.713 2.06E-02 2 31

LNU913 0.705 2.29E-02 2 22 LNU913 0.726 1.75E-02 2 37

LNU913 0.760 1.08E-02 3 17 LNU913 0.746 1.33E-02 3 40

LNU913 0.821 3.63E-03 3 44 LNU913 0.803 5.19E-03 3 36

LNU913 0.777 8.20E-03 3 34 LNU914 0.713 2.07E-02 6 40

LNU914 0.759 1.09E-02 6 34 LNU914 0.716 1.98E-02 9 8

LNU914 0.707 2.22E-02 5 51 LNU916 0.753 1.92E-02 1 21

LNU917 0.750 1.25E-02 6 17 LNU917 0.728 1.70E-02 6 44

LNU917 0.900 3.94E-04 4 53 LNU917 0.794 6.13E-03 4 4

LNU917 0.904 3.29E-04 4 12 LNU917 0.959 4.46E-05 3 52

LNU917 0.830 2.97E-03 3 6 LNU917 0.925 3.50E-04 3 49

LNU917 0.804 5.09E-03 3 8 LNU917 0.728 2.62E-02 1 18 Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

LNU918 0.837 2.54E-03 9 17 LNU918 0.757 1.13E-02 8 16

LNU918 0.748 1.29E-02 3 44 LNU919 0.791 6.48E-03 9 17

LNU919 0.756 1.14E-02 9 40 LNU919 0.758 1.11E-02 9 44

LNU919 0.758 1.10E-02 9 43 LNU919 0.709 2.16E-02 9 34

LNU919 0.896 4.55E-04 2 41 LNU919 0.733 1.59E-02 2 22

LNU919 0.736 1.52E-02 2 42 LNU919 0.836 2.56E-03 2 51

LNU919 0.780 7.74E-03 2 37 LNU919 0.769 9.37E-03 2 16

LNU919 0.870 1.05E-03 8 35 LNU919 0.708 2.19E-02 3 17

LNU920 0.728 1.71E-02 6 14 LNU920 0.727 1.72E-02 6 49

LNU920 0.790 1.12E-02 4 45 LNU921 0.701 2.40E-02 6 17

LNU921 0.876 8.95E-04 4 53 LNU921 0.804 5.05E-03 4 4

LNU921 0.867 1.16E-03 4 12 LNU922 0.819 3.73E-03 6 3

LNU922 0.740 1.44E-02 2 37 LNU922 0.796 5.83E-03 2 16

LNU922 0.779 7.87E-03 5 2 LNU922 0.701 2.39E-02 3 20

LNU922 0.820 6.77E-03 1 18 LNU922 0.864 2.66E-03 1 24

LNU922 0.886 1.47E-03 1 21 LNU923 0.785 7.10E-03 6 48

LNU923 0.734 1.56E-02 5 2 LNU923 0.897 4.27E-04 3 17

LNU923 0.714 2.03E-02 3 44 LNU924 0.824 3.39E-03 9 17

LNU924 0.746 1.32E-02 9 23 LNU924 0.734 1.56E-02 9 44

LNU924 0.803 5.20E-03 4 53 LNU924 0.820 3.66E-03 4 4

LNU924 0.808 4.66E-03 4 12 LNU924 0.702 2.36E-02 8 33

LNU924 0.723 1.81E-02 8 35 LNU925 0.715 2.00E-02 6 11

LNU925 0.737 1.49E-02 6 6 LNU925 0.701 2.38E-02 6 14

LNU925 0.782 7.53E-03 2 5 LNU925 0.716 1.98E-02 2 50

LNU925 0.737 1.51E-02 2 54 LNU925 0.765 9.87E-03 2 41

LNU925 0.710 2.14E-02 2 10 LNU925 0.785 7.18E-03 2 28

LNU925 0.717 1.95E-02 2 13 LNU925 0.752 1.22E-02 2 51

LNU925 0.761 1.05E-02 2 37 LNU925 0.734 1.56E-02 4 53

LNU925 0.751 1.22E-02 4 12 LNU925 0.824 3.40E-03 8 41

LNU925 0.787 6.84E-03 8 51 LNU925 0.770 9.16E-03 8 37

LNU925 0.814 4.16E-03 8 16 LNU925 0.825 6.15E-03 3 52

LNU925 0.711 2.13E-02 3 6 LNU925 0.762 1.71E-02 3 49

LNU925 0.817 3.91E-03 3 8 LNU926 0.823 3.43E-03 6 17

LNU926 0.706 2.26E-02 6 43 LNU926 0.778 8.05E-03 8 2

LNU926 0.715 2.02E-02 7 30 LNU928 0.840 4.57E-03 4 45

LNU928 0.733 2.47E-02 3 52 LNU928 0.793 1.08E-02 3 49

LNU928 0.712 3.13E-02 7 45 LNU928 0.855 1.60E-03 1 15

LNU930 0.754 1.18E-02 9 11 LNU930 0.748 1.28E-02 2 41

LNU930 0.714 2.03E-02 2 35 LNU930 0.757 1.13E-02 2 42

LNU930 0.748 1.29E-02 2 51 LNU930 0.733 1.60E-02 2 37

LNU930 0.702 2.35E-02 2 16 LNU930 0.774 1.45E-02 3 52

LNU930 0.767 1.59E-02 3 49 LNU931 0.834 2.72E-03 6 3

LNU931 0.797 5.77E-03 8 41 LNU931 0.795 5.99E-03 8 35

LNU931 0.836 2.60E-03 8 42 LNU931 0.836 2.60E-03 8 51

LNU931 0.859 1.44E-03 8 37 LNU931 0.709 2.16E-02 5 2

LNU932 0.829 5.69E-03 3 55 LNU932 0.703 3.47E-02 7 18

LNU932 0.799 9.81E-03 7 27 LNU932 0.729 2.58E-02 7 24

LNU933 0.771 9.00E-03 5 2 LNU933 0.778 8.03E-03 1 30 Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

LNU934 0.834 2.71E-03 6 48 LNU934 0.868 1.13E-03 9 43

LNU934 0.711 2.10E-02 2 41 LNU934 0.755 1.16E-02 2 51

LNU934 0.757 1.12E-02 2 37 LNU934 0.716 1.98E-02 3 17

LNU934 0.897 4.31E-04 3 44 LNU935 0.739 1.46E-02 6 17

LNU935 0.781 7.62E-03 9 17 LNU935 0.765 1.62E-02 3 55

LNU935 0.927 3.22E-04 1 18 LNU935 0.815 7.47E-03 1 27

LNU935 0.871 2.21E-03 1 24 LNU935 0.735 2.42E-02 1 21

LNU936 0.739 1.46E-02 6 36 LNU936 0.735 1.55E-02 6 34

LNU936 0.786 7.01E-03 2 42 LNU936 0.734 1.56E-02 8 16

LNU938 0.743 1.39E-02 9 17 LNU938 0.847 2.00E-03 9 44

LNU938 0.836 2.57E-03 4 30 LNU939 0.830 2.95E-03 4 53

LNU939 0.777 8.25E-03 4 4 LNU939 0.830 2.98E-03 4 12

LNU939 0.821 3.56E-03 5 5 LNU939 0.821 3.60E-03 5 50

LNU939 0.869 1.11E-03 5 54 LNU939 0.900 3.91E-04 5 13

LNU939 0.954 6.53E-05 7 18 LNU939 0.894 1.15E-03 7 27

LNU939 0.904 8.15E-04 7 24 LNU940 0.784 7.31E-03 6 6

LNU940 0.762 1.04E-02 6 40 LNU940 0.748 1.29E-02 6 14

LNU940 0.730 1.64E-02 6 34 LNU940 0.718 2.95E-02 9 52

LNU940 0.841 2.28E-03 9 6 LNU940 0.715 2.02E-02 9 14

LNU940 0.713 2.05E-02 5 5 LNU940 0.721 1.86E-02 5 54

LNU940 0.767 9.62E-03 5 13 LNU941 0.893 5.02E-04 2 41

LNU941 0.753 1.20E-02 2 22 LNU941 0.741 1.42E-02 2 35

LNU941 0.721 1.87E-02 2 42 LNU941 0.891 5.44E-04 2 51

LNU941 0.824 3.37E-03 2 37 LNU941 0.857 1.52E-03 3 6

LNU942 0.716 1.99E-02 9 17 LNU942 0.786 6.97E-03 2 41

LNU942 0.737 1.50E-02 2 22 LNU942 0.740 1.43E-02 2 51

LNU942 0.839 2.43E-03 4 53 LNU942 0.829 3.01E-03 4 4

LNU942 0.846 2.01E-03 4 12 LNU942 0.895 4.67E-04 8 31

LNU942 0.885 1.52E-03 3 52 LNU942 0.884 1.56E-03 3 49

LNU942 0.771 9.09E-03 1 53 LNU942 0.792 6.32E-03 1 4

LNU942 0.761 1.06E-02 1 12 LNU943 0.720 1.88E-02 6 17

LNU943 0.766 9.80E-03 5 19 LNU943 0.773 8.75E-03 5 28

LNU943 0.701 2.38E-02 5 13 LNU944 0.803 5.12E-03 6 26

LNU944 0.861 1.38E-03 6 20 LNU944 0.805 4.92E-03 6 23

LNU944 0.718 1.95E-02 6 44 LNU944 0.804 5.03E-03 2 28

LNU944 0.750 1.25E-02 8 47 LNU944 0.795 1.05E-02 3 52

LNU944 0.747 2.08E-02 3 49 LNU944 0.752 1.22E-02 3 8

LNU945 0.703 2.34E-02 6 14 LNU945 0.813 4.27E-03 2 47

LNU945 0.805 4.92E-03 8 35 LNU946 0.791 6.43E-03 6 17

LNU946 0.795 5.99E-03 6 44 LNU946 0.898 4.26E-04 5 16

LNU946 0.745 1.34E-02 3 23 LNU946 0.867 2.49E-03 7 18

LNU946 0.899 9.92E-04 7 27 LNU946 0.796 1.02E-02 7 24

LNU947 0.736 1.52E-02 9 40 LNU947 0.741 1.41E-02 9 34

LNU947 0.717 1.96E-02 1 53 LNU947 0.847 1.98E-03 1 4

LNU947 0.705 2.29E-02 1 12 LNU948 0.780 7.76E-03 6 48

LNU948 0.710 2.15E-02 6 3 LNU948 0.705 2.27E-02 1 30

LNU949 0.751 1.23E-02 6 52 LNU949 0.800 5.48E-03 6 11

LNU949 0.834 2.72E-03 6 6 LNU949 0.736 1.52E-02 6 14 Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

LNU949 0.758 1.11E-02 6 49 LNU949 0.730 1.66E-02 2 47

LNU949 0.764 1.01E-02 4 53 LNU949 0.843 2.17E-03 4 4

LNU949 0.756 1.14E-02 4 12 LNU949 0.795 6.00E-03 5 5

LNU949 0.805 4.96E-03 5 50 LNU949 0.780 7.77E-03 5 54

LNU949 0.799 5.56E-03 5 13 LNU949 0.758 1.11E-02 3 8

LNU950 0.739 1.47E-02 6 3 LNU951 0.744 1.37E-02 2 13

LNU952 0.838 4.78E-03 3 52 LNU952 0.870 1.07E-03 3 6

LNU952 0.776 1.39E-02 3 49 LNU952 0.796 5.90E-03 3 8

LNU952 0.785 1.21E-02 1 45 LNU952 0.786 7.02E-03 1 53

LNU952 0.728 1.70E-02 1 4 LNU952 0.774 8.66E-03 1 12

LNU953 0.774 1.44E-02 3 52 LNU953 0.771 1.51E-02 3 49

LNU953 0.726 1.74E-02 3 8 LNU954 0.814 4.13E-03 6 52

LNU954 0.715 2.02E-02 6 14 LNU954 0.793 6.19E-03 6 49

LNU954 0.726 2.69E-02 4 45 LNU954 0.860 1.42E-03 8 5

LNU954 0.861 1.36E-03 8 50 LNU954 0.851 1.79E-03 8 54

LNU954 0.739 1.46E-02 8 10 LNU954 0.871 1.04E-03 8 35

LNU954 0.782 7.52E-03 8 13 LNU954 0.802 5.29E-03 5 5

LNU954 0.774 8.55E-03 5 54 LNU954 0.762 1.04E-02 5 10

LNU954 0.750 2.00E-02 7 18 LNU954 0.730 2.57E-02 7 24

LNU955 0.732 1.61E-02 9 17 LNU955 0.805 8.86E-03 4 18

LNU955 0.812 7.90E-03 4 27 LNU955 0.728 2.63E-02 4 24

LNU955 0.824 3.40E-03 8 33 LNU955 0.851 1.80E-03 8 39

LNU955 0.705 2.27E-02 5 2 LNU955 0.710 2.15E-02 1 30

LNU956 0.786 1.21E-02 4 45 LNU956 0.787 1.19E-02 1 45

LNU957 0.749 1.27E-02 6 29 LNU957 0.743 1.37E-02 6 20

LNU957 0.782 1.27E-02 3 55 LNU958 0.801 5.37E-03 9 17

LNU958 0.773 8.77E-03 4 30 LNU958 0.800 5.47E-03 8 33

LNU958 0.799 5.53E-03 8 39 LNU958 0.759 1.09E-02 8 16

LNU958 0.720 1.88E-02 5 41 LNU958 0.886 6.41E-04 5 16

LNU959 0.827 3.13E-03 2 41 LNU959 0.747 1.29E-02 2 22

LNU959 0.757 1.13E-02 2 51 LNU959 0.778 8.02E-03 2 16

LNU959 0.727 1.72E-02 4 9 LNU959 0.928 3.02E-04 3 52

LNU959 0.871 1.03E-03 3 6 LNU959 0.701 2.39E-02 3 14

LNU959 0.893 1.17E-03 3 49 LNU959 0.771 8.97E-03 3 8

LNU960 0.865 1.23E-03 6 17 LNU960 0.886 6.43E-04 6 44

LNU960 0.771 9.08E-03 9 26 LNU960 0.807 4.82E-03 9 23

LNU960 0.722 1.83E-02 9 44 LNU960 0.754 1.17E-02 2 42

LNU960 0.759 1.10E-02 2 37 LNU960 0.932 8.55E-05 4 53

LNU960 0.870 1.05E-03 4 4 LNU960 0.932 8.83E-05 4 12

LNU960 0.738 1.49E-02 5 13 LNU960 0.703 2.34E-02 5 51

LNU961 0.738 1.47E-02 6 20 LNU961 0.803 5.15E-03 9 17

LNU961 0.836 2.56E-03 9 44 LNU961 0.735 1.54E-02 9 43

LNU961 0.745 1.35E-02 8 33 LNU961 0.824 3.40E-03 8 35

LNU961 0.781 7.62E-03 3 8 LNU961 0.874 2.06E-03 7 18

LNU961 0.954 6.50E-05 7 27 LNU961 0.789 1.14E-02 7 24

LNU962 0.808 4.66E-03 2 16 LNU962 0.725 1.76E-02 5 28

LNU962 0.897 1.06E-03 3 52 LNU962 0.848 1.93E-03 3 6

LNU962 0.892 1.22E-03 3 49 LNU962 0.706 3.36E-02 1 45 Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

LNU964 0.706 2.24E-02 2 33 LNU964 0.778 8.03E-03 2 41

LNU964 0.756 1.14E-02 2 35 LNU964 0.820 3.71E-03 2 51

LNU964 0.820 3.71E-03 2 37 LNU964 0.778 8.06E-03 3 44

LNU964 0.713 2.06E-02 1 53 LNU964 0.712 2.08E-02 1 12

LNU965 0.828 3.08E-03 6 48 LNU965 0.745 1.35E-02 6 3

LNU965 0.779 7.92E-03 2 33 LNU965 0.885 6.71E-04 2 41

LNU965 0.767 9.59E-03 2 39 LNU965 0.829 3.04E-03 2 51

LNU965 0.861 1.39E-03 2 37 LNU965 0.875 9.24E-04 2 16

LNU966 0.709 2.17E-02 6 52 LNU966 0.708 2.20E-02 6 3

LNU966 0.748 1.29E-02 3 6 LNU966 0.716 3.00E-02 7 45

LNU967 0.800 5.48E-03 6 17 LNU967 0.766 9.82E-03 4 53

LNU967 0.707 2.22E-02 4 4 LNU967 0.768 9.41E-03 4 12

LNU968 0.771 9.02E-03 6 48 LNU968 0.719 1.90E-02 2 33

LNU968 0.919 1.71E-04 2 41 LNU968 0.904 3.35E-04 2 51

LNU968 0.781 7.72E-03 2 37 LNU968 0.734 1.56E-02 2 16

LNU968 0.788 6.83E-03 3 17 LNU968 0.826 3.22E-03 3 43

LNU969 0.805 4.95E-03 2 42

Table 36: Provided are the correlations (R) between the expression levels of yield improving genes and their homologues in tissues [Flag leaf, Flower meristem, stem and Flower; Expression sets (Exp)] and the phenotypic performance in various yield, biomass, growth rate and/or vigor components [Correlation vector (cor.)] under stress conditions or normal conditions across Sorghum accessions. P = p value.

EXAMPLE 6

PRODUCTION OF SORGHUM TRANSCRIPTOM AND HIGH THROUGHPUT CORRELATION ANALYSIS WITH BIOMASS, NUE, AND ABST RELATED

PARAMETERS MEASURED IN SEMI-HYDROPONICS CONDITIONS USING

44K SORGUHM OLIGONUCLEOTIDE MICRO-ARRAYS Sorghum vigor related parameters under low nitrogen, 100 mM NaCl, low temperature (10 ± 2 °C) and normal growth conditions - Ten Sorghum hybrids were grown in 3 repetitive plots, each containing 17 plants, at a net house under semi- hydroponics conditions. Briefly, the growing protocol was as follows: Sorghum seeds were sown in trays filled with a mix of vermiculite and peat in a 1 : 1 ratio. Following germination, the trays were transferred to the high salinity solution (100 mM NaCl in addition to the Full Hoagland solution), low temperature (10 + 2 °C in the presence of Full Hoagland solution), low nitrogen solution (the amount of total nitrogen was reduced in 90% from the full Hoagland solution (i.e., to a final concentration of 10% from full Hoagland solution, final amount of 1.2 mM N) or at Normal growth solution (Full Hoagland containing 16 niM N solution, at 28 + 2 °C). Plants were grown at 28 + 2 °C.

Full Hoagland solution consists of: KN0 ₃ - 0.808 grams/liter, MgS0 ₄ - 0.12 grams/liter, KH ₂ P0 ₄ - 0.172 grams/liter and 0.01 % (volume/volume) of 'Super coratin' micro elements (Iron-EDDHA [ethylenediamine-N,N'-bis(2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid)]- 40.5 grams/liter; Mn - 20.2 grams/liter; Zn 10.1 grams/liter; Co 1.5 grams/liter; and Mo 1.1 grams/liter), solution's pH should be 6.5 - 6.8] .

Analyzed Sorghum tissues - All 10 selected Sorghum hybrids were sampled per each treatment. Three tissues [leaves, meristems and roots] growing at 100 mM NaCl, low temperature (10 + 2 °C), low Nitrogen (1.2 mM N) or under Normal conditions were sampled and RNA was extracted as described above. Each micro-array expression information tissue type has received a Set ID as summarized in Table 37 below.

Table 37

Sorghum transcriptom expression sets under semi hydroponics conditions

Table 37: Provided are the Sorghum transcriptom expression sets. Cold conditions = 10

± 2 °C; NaCl = 100 mM NaCl; low nitrogen =1.2 mM Nitrogen; Normal conditions = 16 mM Nitrogen.

Experimental Results

10 different Sorghum hybrids were grown and characterized for the following parameters: "Leaf No" = leaf number per plant (average of five plants); "Plant Height " = plant height [cm] (average of five plants); "DW Root/Plant " - root dry weight per plant (average of five plants); DW Shoot/Plant - shoot dry weight per plant (average of five plants) (Table 38). The average for each of the measured parameter was calculated using the JMP software and values are summarized in Tables 39-45 below. Subsequent correlation analysis was performed (Table 46). Results were then integrated to the database. Table 38

Sorghum correlated parameters (vectors)

Correlation ID Correlated parameter with

1 DW Root/Plant - 100 mM NaCl [gr.]

2 DW Root/Plant - Cold [gr.]

3 DW Root/Plant - Low Nitrogen [gr.]

4 DW Root/Plant -Normal [gr.]

5 DW Shoot/Plant - Low Nitrogen [gr.]

6 DW Shoot/Plant - 100 mM NaCl [gr.]

7 DW Shoot/Plant - Cold [gr.]

8 DW Shoot/Plant - Normal [gr.]

9 Leaf TP1 - 100 mM NaCl [number]

10 Leaf TP1 - Cold [number]

11 Leaf TP1 - Low Nitrogen [number]

12 Leaf TP1 - Normal [number]

13 Leaf TP2 - 100 mM NaCl [number]

14 Leaf TP2 - Cold [number]

15 Leaf TP2 - Low Nitrogen [number]

16 Leaf TP2 - Normal [number]

17 Leaf TP3 - 100 mM NaCl [number]

18 Leaf TP3 - Cold [number]

19 Leaf TP3 - Low Nitrogen [number]

20 Leaf TP3 - Normal [number]

21 Low N- NUE total biomass [gr.]

22 Low N- Shoot/Root

23 Low N-NUE roots

24 Low N-NUE shoots

25 Low N-percent-root biomass compared to normal

26 Low N-percent-shoot biomass compared to normal

27 Low N-percent-total biomass reduction compared to normal

28 N level/ Leaf [Low Nitrogen]

29 N level/ Leaf [100 mM NaCl]

30 N level/ Leaf [Cold]

31 N level/ Leaf [Normal]

32 Normal- Shoot/Root

33 Normal-NUE roots

34 Normal-NUE shoots

35 Normal-NUE total biomass

36 Plant Height TP1 - 100 mM NaCl [cm]

37 Plant Height TP1 - Cold [cm]

38 Plant Height TP1 - Low Nitrogen [cm]

39 Plant Height TP1 - Normal [cm]

40 Plant Height TP2 - Cold [cm]

41 Plant Height TP2 - Low Nitrogen [cm]

42 Plant Height TP2 - Normal [cm]

43 Plant Height TP2 -100 mM NaCl [cm]

44 Plant Height TP3 - 100 mM NaCl [cm]

45 Plant Height TP3 - Low Nitrogen [cm]

46 RGR Leaf Num Normal Correlation ID Correlated parameter with

47 Root Biomass [DW- gr.]/SPAD [100 mM NaCl]

48 Root Biomass [DW- gr.]/SPAD [Cold]

49 Root Biomass [DW- gr.]/SPAD [Low Nitrogen]

50 Root Biomass [DW- gr.]/SPAD [Normal]

51 SPAD - Cold

52 SPAD - Low Nitrogen

53 SPAD - Normal

54 SPAD 100 - mM NaCl

55 Shoot Biomass [DW- gr.]/SPAD [100 mM NaCl]

56 Shoot Biomass [DW- gr.]/SPAD [Cold]

57 Shoot Biomass [DW- gr.]/SPAD [Low Nitrogen]

58 Shoot Biomass [DW- gr.]/SPAD [Normal]

59 Total Biomass-Root+Shoot [DW- gr.]/SPAD [100 mM NaCl]

60 Total Biomass-Root+Shoot [DW- gr.]/SPAD [Cold]

61 Total Biomass-Root+Shoot [DW- gr.]/SPAD [Low Nitrogen]

62 Total Biomass-Root+Shoot[DW- gr.]/SPAD [Normal]

Table 38: Pro vie ed are the Sorghum correlated parameters. Cold conditions = 10 + 2

°C; NaCl = 100 mM NaCl; low nitrogen = 1.2 mM Nitrogen; Normal conditions = 16 mM Nitrogen * TP- 1-2-3 refers to time points 1, 2 and 3.

Table 39

Sorghum accessions, measured parameters under low nitrogen growth conditions

Table 39: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Sorghum accessions (line ID) under low nitrogen conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 40

Additional sorghum accessions, measured parameters under low nitrogen growth conditions

Corr.

ID/tin 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 49 57 61 e lD

Line- 27.52 1.87 17.88 84.52 81.57 82.58 6.89 0.00 0.00 0.00

9 Ml

1 8 5 1 8 3 5 2 2 3 5 Corr.

ID/lin 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 2S 49 57 61 e lD

Line- 64.12 1.70 23.53 40.58 80.95 79.16 79.81 6.56 0.00 0.00 0.01 2 4 7 8 6 4 4 2 8 4 7 1

Line- 115.2 1.73 43.87 71.35 117.0 104.7 109.1 6.30 0.00 0.01 0.01 3 31 1 7 4 04 54 04 7 7 1 8

Line- 58.01 1.56 22.58 35.43 100.5 103.4 102.3 7.44 0.00 0.00 0.00 4 7 8 0 6 19 97 17 6 3 5 8

Line- 52.21 2.09 16.88 35.33 72.53 83.70 79.73 6.88 0.00 0.00 0.00 5 9 6 6 3 8 7 7 6 3 5 8

Line- 35.10 1.81 12.44 22.66 71.77 83.21 78.76 5.87 0.00 0.00 0.00 6 3 5 0 3 7 5 7 3 3 6 9

Line- 84.57 2.06 28.19 56.38 93.47 107.6 102.4 6.14 0.00 0.00 0.01 7 5 2 4 1 2 89 92 6 5 9 4

Line- 63.72 2.09 20.52 43.20 76.05 81.38 79.58 6.04 0.00 0.00 0.01 8 8 7 8 0 1 6 8 6 3 7 0

Line- 47.02 1.50 18.75 28.27 86.82 70.30 76.07 7.68 0.00 0.00 0.00 9 9 4 6 3 0 0 3 3 3 4 7

Line- 59.99 1.99 20.08 39.91 80.51 75.85 77.35 6.74 0.00 0.00 0.01 10 8 9 6 2 1 9 5 0 3 7 0

Table 40: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Sorghum accessions (line ID) under low nitrogen conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 41

Sorghum accessions, measured parameters under salinity (100 mM NaCl) conditions

Table 41 : Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Sorghum accessions (line ID) under 100 mM NaCl growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section

Table 42

Additional Sorghum accessions, measured parameters under salinity (100 mM NaCl) conditions

Corr.

ID/line 29 47 55 59 43 44 54 ID

Line-1 8.183 0.002 0.003 0.004 14.200 21.800 32.733

Line-2 8.503 0.003 0.005 0.008 16.267 23.167 35.144 Corr.

ID/line 29 47 55 59 43 44 54 ID

Line-3 6.124 0.004 0.007 0.012 20.367 30.367 27.967

Line-4 6.977 0.002 0.004 0.007 13.333 22.833 30.933

Line-5 8.492 0.002 0.004 0.006 15.900 23.700 34.533

Line-6 6.921 0.003 0.004 0.007 16.533 23.300 29.989

Line-7 7.763 0.004 0.005 0.009 15.467 22.467 32.089

Line-8 7.079 0.003 0.006 0.009 18.933 26.833 31.856

Line-9 8.601 0.005 0.003 0.008 13.680 20.280 32.513

Line- 10 8.172 0.004 0.004 0.008 15.767 23.567 34.322

Table 42: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Sorghum accessions (line ID) under 100 mM NaCl growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section

Table 43

Sorghum accessions, measured parameters under cold conditions

Table 43: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Sorghum accessions (line ID) under cold growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 44

Sorghum accessions, measured parameters under regular growth conditions

Corr. ID/line ID 4 8 12 16 20 39 42 46 53

14.96 26.70

Line-1 0.053 0.101 3.000 4.167 5.333 7.467 0.155

7 0 Corr. ID/line ID 4 8 12 16 20 39 42 46 53

18.23 29.33

Line-2 0.134 0.236 3.067 4.500 5.867 9.300 0.186

3 3

12.86 22.10 29.85

Line-3 0.173 0.313 3.800 4.800 6.200 0.159

7 0 6

17.60 29.08

Line-4 0.103 0.158 3.200 4.600 5.800 8.567 0.173

0 9

18.06 24.97

Line-5 0.107 0.194 3.233 4.533 5.800 8.933 0.171

7 8

18.53 24.62

Line-6 0.120 0.188 3.233 4.967 5.733 8.533 0.168

3 2

10.66 22.83 30.78

Line-7 0.139 0.241 3.133 4.600 5.733 0.174

7 3 9

10.26 22.03 25.50

Line-8 0.124 0.244 3.433 4.933 6.000 0.171

7 3 0

20.03 32.88

Line-9 0.099 0.185 3.000 4.500 5.600 7.867 0.174

3 9

21.80 33.54

Line-10 0.115 0.242 3.000 4.567 6.067 8.767 0.204

0 4

Table 44: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Sorghum accessions (line ID) under cold growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 45

Additional Sorghum accessions, measured parameters under regular growth conditions

measured in Sorghum accessions (line ID) under regular growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section. Table 46

Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in roots and the phenotypic performance under normal or abiotic stress conditions across Sorghum accessions

Corr Corr

Gene Exp Gene Exp

R P value . Set R P value . Set Name . set Name . set

ID ID

LNU856 0.862 1.26E-02 3 49 LNU856 0.860 1.31E-02 3 3

LNU856 0.933 2.14E-03 3 5 LNU856 0.812 2.67E-02 3 45

LNU856 0.851 1.52E-02 3 23 LNU856 0.896 6.34E-03 3 61

LNU856 0.928 2.59E-03 3 24 LNU856 0.921 3.24E-03 3 21

LNU856 0.877 9.56E-03 3 57 LNU856 0.855 1.42E-02 3 41

LNU856 0.801 9.50E-03 2 20 LNU856 0.840 2.37E-03 1 18

LNU857 0.716 7.05E-02 3 22 LNU857 0.812 7.87E-03 6 49

LNU857 0.777 1.37E-02 6 3 LNU857 0.778 1.36E-02 6 5

LNU857 0.777 1.37E-02 6 23 LNU857 0.811 7.92E-03 6 61

LNU857 0.778 1.36E-02 6 24 LNU857 0.787 1.19E-02 6 21

LNU857 0.727 2.65E-02 6 38 LNU857 0.795 1.04E-02 6 57

LNU857 0.703 3.47E-02 2 34 LNU857 0.757 1.82E-02 5 7

LNU857 0.744 2.15E-02 5 48 LNU857 0.701 3.52E-02 5 10

LNU857 0.858 3.08E-03 5 56 LNU857 0.827 5.94E-03 5 60

LNU857 0.847 3.99E-03 5 37 LNU857 0.871 2.26E-03 5 40

LNU857 0.854 3.42E-03 5 14 LNU859 0.899 3.96E-04 1 48

LNU859 0.850 1.84E-03 1 2 LNU859 0.712 2.10E-02 1 56

LNU859 0.829 3.04E-03 1 60 LNU860 0.848 1.59E-02 3 28

LNU860 0.721 2.82E-02 6 45 LNU861 0.756 1.85E-02 6 45

LNU861 0.768 1.57E-02 6 41 LNU861 0.700 3.57E-02 8 4

LNU861 0.776 1.40E-02 8 42 LNU862 0.705 7.70E-02 3 26

LNU862 0.804 8.99E-03 5 30 LNU863 0.792 1.09E-02 6 49

LNU863 0.790 1.13E-02 6 3 LNU863 0.734 2.43E-02 6 5

LNU863 0.790 1.13E-02 6 23 LNU863 0.756 1.84E-02 6 61

LNU863 0.734 2.43E-02 6 24 LNU863 0.764 1.65E-02 6 21

LNU863 0.720 2.88E-02 6 57 LNU863 0.738 2.32E-02 7 1

LNU863 0.818 7.05E-03 7 59 LNU863 0.838 4.83E-03 7 47

LNU863 0.766 1.60E-02 2 8 LNU863 0.781 1.29E-02 2 42

LNU863 0.709 3.26E-02 8 20 LNU863 0.838 4.76E-03 8 42

LNU864 0.801 3.04E-02 3 28 LNU864 0.897 1.05E-03 5 30

LNU866 0.719 6.86E-02 3 5 LNU866 0.720 6.82E-02 3 45

LNU866 0.721 6.77E-02 3 24 LNU866 0.705 7.71E-02 3 57

LNU866 0.817 2.48E-02 3 41 LNU870 0.840 1.80E-02 3 5

LNU870 0.861 1.28E-02 3 45 LNU870 0.766 4.45E-02 3 61

LNU870 0.790 3.46E-02 3 38 LNU870 0.829 2.11E-02 3 57

LNU870 0.879 9.10E-03 3 41 LNU870 0.705 3.39E-02 6 52

LNU871 0.701 3.55E-02 5 10 LNU872 0.739 5.75E-02 3 52

LNU872 0.793 1.09E-02 6 49 LNU872 0.780 1.32E-02 6 3

LNU872 0.800 9.62E-03 6 5 LNU872 0.739 2.29E-02 6 11

LNU872 0.780 1.32E-02 6 23 LNU872 0.802 9.38E-03 6 61

LNU872 0.800 9.62E-03 6 24 LNU872 0.802 9.33E-03 6 21

LNU872 0.841 4.52E-03 6 38 LNU872 0.791 1.11E-02 6 57

LNU876 0.809 2.75E-02 3 5 LNU876 0.792 3.39E-02 3 45 Corr Corr

Gene Exp Gene Exp

R P value . Set R P value . Set Name . set Name . set

ID ID

LNU876 0.703 7.82E-02 3 61 LNU876 0.705 7.70E-02 3 22

LNU876 0.877 9.56E-03 3 38 LNU876 0.713 7.21E-02 3 19

LNU876 0.723 6.66E-02 3 57 LNU876 0.801 9.52E-03 6 49

LNU876 0.830 5.65E-03 6 3 LNU876 0.790 1.12E-02 6 5

LNU876 0.782 1.28E-02 6 45 LNU876 0.798 9.87E-03 6 11

LNU876 0.830 5.65E-03 6 23 LNU876 0.774 1.43E-02 6 61

LNU876 0.790 1.12E-02 6 24 LNU876 0.797 1.01E-02 6 21

LNU876 0.773 1.45E-02 6 38 LNU876 0.760 1.74E-02 6 57

LNU876 0.754 1.90E-02 6 41 LNU876 0.740 2.25E-02 2 46

LNU876 0.713 3.12E-02 2 12 LNU876 0.827 5.95E-03 2 20

LNU876 0.807 8.53E-03 5 14 LNU876 0.720 1.89E-02 1 14

LNU878 0.901 5.64E-03 3 27 LNU878 0.825 2.22E-02 3 25

LNU878 0.779 3.88E-02 3 11 LNU878 0.793 3.33E-02 3 26

LNU878 0.755 1.16E-02 1 30 LNU879 0.877 9.44E-03 3 27

LNU879 0.724 6.60E-02 3 25 LNU879 0.904 5.24E-03 3 11

LNU879 0.749 5.28E-02 3 28 LNU879 0.897 6.12E-03 3 26

LNU879 0.724 2.73E-02 7 54 LNU879 0.811 7.99E-03 2 46

LNU879 0.888 1.37E-03 2 32 LNU879 0.711 3.17E-02 5 7

LNU879 0.821 6.73E-03 5 56 LNU879 0.761 1.71E-02 5 60

LNU879 0.832 5.38E-03 5 37 LNU879 0.785 1.23E-02 5 40

LNU879 0.820 6.79E-03 5 14 LNU879 0.741 1.43E-02 1 30

LNU881 0.731 6.19E-02 3 38 LNU883 0.744 5.51E-02 3 49

LNU883 0.750 5.21E-02 3 3 LNU883 0.901 5.61E-03 3 5

LNU883 0.794 3.30E-02 3 45 LNU883 0.708 7.50E-02 3 11

LNU883 0.828 2.14E-02 3 61 LNU883 0.781 3.82E-02 3 24

LNU883 0.747 5.34E-02 3 21 LNU883 0.701 7.93E-02 3 38

LNU883 0.753 5.08E-02 3 19 LNU883 0.839 1.83E-02 3 57

LNU883 0.768 4.35E-02 3 41 LNU883 0.700 3.57E-02 5 30

LNU884 0.745 5.48E-02 3 23 LNU884 0.725 6.54E-02 3 24

LNU884 0.750 5.23E-02 3 21 LNU884 0.704 7.77E-02 3 41

LNU884 0.714 3.09E-02 8 50 LNU884 0.713 3.12E-02 8 12

LNU884 0.729 1.67E-02 1 7 LNU884 0.748 1.28E-02 1 56

LNU884 0.787 6.95E-03 1 37 LNU885 0.851 1.51E-02 3 52

LNU885 0.709 7.44E-02 3 28 LNU885 0.736 2.37E-02 2 39

LNU885 0.821 6.72E-03 5 18 LNU888 0.835 1.93E-02 3 27

LNU888 0.844 1.70E-02 3 25 LNU888 0.762 4.66E-02 3 11

LNU889 0.794 1.06E-02 5 10 LNU889 0.740 2.27E-02 5 56

LNU889 0.710 3.22E-02 5 60 LNU889 0.713 3.11E-02 5 37

LNU889 0.847 3.95E-03 5 14 LNU892 0.799 3.12E-02 3 3

LNU892 0.796 3.23E-02 3 11 LNU895 0.803 2.96E-02 3 49

LNU895 0.857 1.37E-02 3 3 LNU895 0.845 1.66E-02 3 15

LNU895 0.718 6.92E-02 3 5 LNU895 0.868 1.14E-02 3 45

LNU895 0.877 9.60E-03 3 23 LNU895 0.700 7.99E-02 3 61

LNU895 0.765 4.53E-02 3 24 LNU895 0.826 2.22E-02 3 21

LNU895 0.717 6.97E-02 3 38 LNU895 0.779 3.91E-02 3 41

LNU895 0.723 2.77E-02 6 45 LNU895 0.707 3.31E-02 6 52

LNU895 0.710 3.21E-02 2 53 LNU895 0.825 6.24E-03 8 31

LNU895 0.787 1.18E-02 8 53 LNU895 0.765 9.90E-03 1 18 Corr Corr

Gene Exp Gene Exp

R P value . Set R P value . Set Name . set Name . set

ID ID

LNU896 0.773 4.15E-02 3 27 LNU896 0.806 2.87E-02 3 25

LNU896 0.703 2.33E-02 1 30 LNU897 0.715 3.05E-02 7 1

LNU897 0.710 3.21E-02 8 46 LNU897 0.751 1.97E-02 8 53

LNU898 0.717 7.00E-02 3 45 LNU898 0.918 3.53E-03 3 38

LNU898 0.705 3.41E-02 6 38 LNU898 0.771 9.01E-03 1 7

LNU898 0.779 7.96E-03 1 56 LNU898 0.723 1.82E-02 1 60

LNU898 0.834 2.68E-03 1 37 LNU898 0.825 3.31E-03 1 40

LNU901 0.808 8.46E-03 8 50 LNU901 0.726 2.68E-02 8 35

LNU901 0.831 5.48E-03 8 39 LNU901 0.786 1.20E-02 8 4

LNU901 0.735 2.42E-02 8 62 LNU901 0.796 1.03E-02 8 33

LNU902 0.761 1.73E-02 6 5 LNU902 0.738 2.33E-02 6 61

LNU902 0.761 1.73E-02 6 24 LNU902 0.738 2.32E-02 6 21

LNU902 0.753 1.91E-02 6 57 LNU902 0.714 3.06E-02 6 41

LNU902 0.887 1.44E-03 7 1 LNU902 0.923 3.91E-04 7 47

LNU902 0.767 1.59E-02 5 18 LNU903 0.701 7.93E-02 3 28

LNU903 0.768 1.57E-02 6 52 LNU903 0.863 1.29E-03 1 18

LNU904 0.777 3.97E-02 3 22 LNU904 0.716 3.01E-02 7 43

LNU905 0.807 2.82E-02 3 22 LNU905 0.708 3.27E-02 2 32

LNU906 0.767 4.41E-02 3 49 LNU906 0.729 6.29E-02 3 5

LNU906 0.810 2.73E-02 3 45 LNU906 0.777 3.97E-02 3 61

LNU906 0.778 3.95E-02 3 38 LNU906 0.750 5.22E-02 3 57

LNU906 0.816 2.53E-02 3 41 LNU907 0.758 1.79E-02 8 20

LNU910 0.825 6.17E-03 6 49 LNU910 0.846 4.09E-03 6 3

LNU910 0.828 5.87E-03 6 25 LNU910 0.725 2.71E-02 6 5

LNU910 0.846 4.09E-03 6 23 LNU910 0.745 2.12E-02 6 61

LNU910 0.725 2.71E-02 6 24 LNU910 0.780 1.32E-02 6 21

LNU911 0.880 8.99E-03 3 27 LNU911 0.745 5.47E-02 3 11

LNU911 0.849 1.56E-02 3 26

LNU913 0.720 2.88E-02 7 55 LNU913 0.762 1.71E-02 7 43

LNU913 0.709 3.25E-02 5 51 LNU914 0.778 3.95E-02 3 5

LNU914 0.709 7.45E-02 3 45 LNU914 0.807 2.83E-02 3 61

LNU914 0.794 3.30E-02 3 19 LNU914 0.840 1.81E-02 3 57

LNU914 0.774 4.12E-02 3 41 LNU914 0.787 1.19E-02 6 45

LNU914 0.808 8.36E-03 6 52 LNU914 0.726 2.67E-02 6 41

LNU915 0.841 1.77E-02 3 49 LNU915 0.887 7.78E-03 3 3

LNU915 0.837 1.87E-02 3 15 LNU915 0.710 7.36E-02 3 45

LNU915 0.702 7.90E-02 3 61 LNU915 0.701 3.53E-02 5 48

LNU915 0.759 1.76E-02 5 2 LNU917 0.840 4.56E-03 2 46

LNU917 0.737 2.36E-02 2 32 LNU917 0.888 1.38E-03 8 32

LNU918 0.824 2.27E-02 3 25 LNU918 0.859 3.03E-03 2 46

LNU918 0.714 3.06E-02 2 53 LNU918 0.748 2.04E-02 8 32

LNU919 0.907 4.82E-03 3 25 LNU920 0.743 2.18E-02 5 51

LNU922 0.717 2.98E-02 6 22 LNU922 0.803 5.12E-03 1 48

LNU922 0.749 1.26E-02 1 2 LNU922 0.769 9.35E-03 1 60

LNU924 0.759 1.78E-02 8 16 LNU926 0.705 7.68E-02 3 49

LNU926 0.713 3.12E-02 7 1 LNU926 0.792 1.10E-02 7 59

LNU926 0.726 2.67E-02 7 47 LNU926 0.802 9.37E-03 5 18

LNU929 0.811 2.68E-02 3 23 LNU929 0.726 6.46E-02 3 24 Corr Corr

Gene Exp Gene Exp

R P value . Set R P value . Set Name . set Name . set

ID ID

LNU929 0.773 4.16E-02 3 21 LNU929 0.834 5.24E-03 2 46

LNU930 0.734 6.01E-02 3 52 LNU930 0.757 4.87E-02 3 22

LNU931 0.729 2.59E-02 2 50 LNU931 0.769 1.54E-02 2 12

LNU931 0.759 1.77E-02 2 58 LNU931 0.759 1.78E-02 2 62

LNU932 0.749 2.01E-02 6 22 LNU933 0.881 8.82E-03 3 49

LNU933 0.887 7.74E-03 3 3 LNU933 0.742 5.60E-02 3 15

LNU933 0.803 2.97E-02 3 23 LNU933 0.713 7.22E-02 3 61

LNU933 0.798 9.90E-03 8 12 LNU933 0.713 3.12E-02 8 58

LNU934 0.817 2.48E-02 3 27 LNU934 0.818 2.45E-02 3 25

LNU934 0.803 2.98E-02 3 11 LNU934 0.703 7.80E-02 3 52

LNU934 0.861 2.90E-03 5 51 LNU934 0.771 1.50E-02 5 30

LNU935 0.736 2.38E-02 6 41 LNU935 0.700 3.57E-02 8 8

LNU935 0.758 1.78E-02 8 39 LNU935 0.746 2.10E-02 8 4

LNU935 0.856 3.25E-03 8 42 LNU940 0.851 1.51E-02 3 11

LNU940 0.904 5.20E-03 3 52 LNU941 0.785 3.66E-02 3 25

LNU942 0.916 3.72E-03 3 49 LNU942 0.915 3.90E-03 3 3

LNU942 0.786 3.61E-02 3 23 LNU942 0.759 4.80E-02 3 61

LNU942 0.784 1.25E-02 7 44 LNU942 0.764 1.66E-02 7 55

LNU942 0.871 2.24E-03 7 9 LNU942 0.793 1.08E-02 7 13

LNU942 0.792 1.09E-02 7 36 LNU942 0.744 2.15E-02 7 59

LNU942 0.811 8.01E-03 7 43 LNU942 0.767 1.59E-02 7 6

LNU942 0.744 2.16E-02 8 4 LNU943 0.713 3.11E-02 6 49

LNU943 0.750 1.99E-02 6 3 LNU943 0.790 1.12E-02 6 25

LNU943 0.750 1.99E-02 6 23 LNU944 0.715 7.09E-02 3 49

LNU944 0.739 5.78E-02 3 3 LNU944 0.928 2.57E-03 3 15

LNU944 0.807 2.81E-02 3 45 LNU944 0.735 6.01E-02 3 41

LNU944 0.710 3.21E-02 7 6 LNU944 0.826 6.07E-03 2 12

LNU944 0.721 2.83E-02 2 35 LNU944 0.715 3.05E-02 2 34

LNU944 0.742 2.21E-02 2 8 LNU944 0.714 3.07E-02 2 20

LNU944 0.826 6.06E-03 2 39 LNU944 0.748 2.04E-02 2 4

LNU944 0.739 2.30E-02 2 58 LNU944 0.734 2.44E-02 2 62

LNU944 0.711 3.17E-02 2 33 LNU945 0.830 2.08E-02 3 22

LNU945 0.746 2.10E-02 6 22 LNU952 0.789 1.15E-02 7 29

LNU952 0.814 7.65E-03 7 54 LNU952 0.708 3.28E-02 8 32

LNU953 0.805 2.91E-02 3 27 LNU953 0.776 4.04E-02 3 11

LNU953 0.906 4.97E-03 3 26 LNU953 0.729 2.58E-02 2 35

LNU953 0.734 2.43E-02 2 39 LNU953 0.701 3.53E-02 2 4

LNU953 0.769 1.55E-02 2 33 LNU953 0.741 1.43E-02 1 37

LNU954 0.707 3.31E-02 5 10 LNU955 0.718 2.95E-02 7 44

LNU955 0.725 2.70E-02 8 33 LNU956 0.720 6.80E-02 3 22

LNU956 0.713 3.11E-02 6 22 LNU958 0.797 3.17E-02 3 22

LNU958 0.826 6.10E-03 6 15 LNU958 0.724 2.75E-02 6 5

LNU958 0.798 9.93E-03 6 45 LNU958 0.704 3.43E-02 6 52

LNU958 0.724 2.75E-02 6 24 LNU958 0.711 3.18E-02 6 57

LNU958 0.809 8.24E-03 6 41 LNU958 0.846 4.08E-03 2 32

LNU958 0.766 1.61E-02 5 37 LNU958 0.789 1.14E-02 8 16

LNU958 0.792 1.09E-02 8 42 LNU959 0.799 3.12E-02 3 19

LNU959 0.723 2.78E-02 8 50 LNU959 0.749 2.03E-02 8 33 Corr Corr

Gene Exp Gene Exp

R P value . Set R P value . Set Name . set Name . set

ID ID

LNU960 0.742 5.60E-02 3 11 LNU962 0.739 5.80E-02 3 25

LNU964 0.837 1.88E-02 3 49 LNU964 0.852 1.49E-02 3 3

LNU964 0.727 6.44E-02 3 15 LNU964 0.884 8.34E-03 3 5

LNU964 0.760 4.75E-02 3 45 LNU964 0.834 1.97E-02 3 11

LNU964 0.778 3.93E-02 3 23 LNU964 0.756 4.91E-02 3 52

LNU964 0.841 1.76E-02 3 61 LNU964 0.813 2.63E-02 3 24

LNU964 0.819 2.41E-02 3 21 LNU964 0.780 3.84E-02 3 38

LNU964 0.808 2.77E-02 3 57 LNU964 0.716 7.03E-02 3 41

LNU964 0.700 3.57E-02 6 45 LNU964 0.705 3.40E-02 6 38

LNU965 0.798 3.15E-02 3 27 LNU965 0.848 1.59E-02 3 26

LNU966 0.743 5.59E-02 3 61 LNU966 0.757 4.86E-02 3 57

LNU967 0.874 1.01E-02 3 49 LNU967 0.890 7.28E-03 3 3

LNU967 0.779 3.88E-02 3 23 LNU967 0.702 7.88E-02 3 61

LNU967 0.787 1.18E-02 6 41 LNU968 0.732 6.15E-02 3 27

LNU969 0.717 2.98E-02 7 9

Table 46. Provided are the correlations (R) between the expression levels yield improving genes and their homologues in various tissues [Expression sets (Exp)] and the phenotypic performance [yield, biomass, growth rate and/or vigor components (Correlation vector)] under abiotic stress conditions (salinity) or normal conditions across Sorghum accessions. Cor. - Correlation vector as described hereinabove (Table 38). P = p value.

EXAMPLE 7

PRODUCTION OF MAIZE TRANSCRIPTOM AND HIGH THROUGHPUT CORRELATION ANALYSIS WITH YIELD AND NUE RELATED PARAMETERS USING 60K MAIZE OLIGONUCLEOTIDE MICRO-ARRAYS

In order to produce a high throughput correlation analysis between plant phenotype and gene expression level, the present inventors utilized a maize oligonucleotide micro-array, produced by Agilent Technologies [chem. (dot) agilent (dot) com/Scripts/PDS (dot) asp?lPage=50879]. The array oligonucleotide represents about 44,000 maize genes and transcripts.

Correlation of Maize hybrids across ecotypes grown under regular growth conditions

Experimental procedures

12 Maize hybrids were grown in 3 repetitive plots, in field. Maize seeds were planted and plants were grown in the field using commercial fertilization and irrigation protocols (485 metric cubes of water per dunam, 30 units of uran 21% fertilization per entire growth period). In order to define correlations between the levels of RNA expression with stress and yield components or vigor related parameters, the 12 different maize hybrids were analyzed. Among them, 10 hybrids encompassing the observed variance were selected for RNA expression analysis. The correlation between the RNA levels and the characterized parameters was analyzed using Pearson correlation test [davidmlane (dot) com/hyperstat/A34739 (dot) html] .

Analyzed Maize tissues - All 10 selected maize hybrids were sampled per 3 time points (TP2 = V6-V8, TP5 = R1-R2, TP6=R3-R4). Four types of plant tissues [Ear, flag leaf indicated in Table 47 as "leaf, grain distal part, and internode] growing under Normal conditions were sampled and RNA was extracted as described above. Each micro-array expression information tissue type has received a Set ID as summarized in Table 47 below.

Table 47

Maize transcriptom expression sets

Table 47: Provided are the maize transcriptom expression sets. Leaf = the leaf below the main ear; Flower meristem = Apical meristem following male flower initiation; Ear = the female flower at the anthesis day. Grain Distal = maize developing grains from the cob extreme area, Grain Basal = maize developing grains from the cob basal area; Internodes = internodes located above and below the main ear in the plant. TP= time point.

The following parameters were collected using digital imaging system:

Grain Area (cm ) - At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the ear. A sample of -200 grains were weighted, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The grain area was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

Grain Length and Grain width (cm) - At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the ear. A sample of -200 grains were weighted, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The sum of grain lengths /or width (longest axis) was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains. 2

Ear Area (cm ) - At the end of the growing period 5 ears were, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The Ear area was measured from those images and was divided by the number of Ears.

Ear Length and Ear Width (cm) - At the end of the growing period 5 ears were, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The Ear length and width (longest axis) was measured from those images and was divided by the number of ears.

The image processing system was used, which consists of a personal desktop computer (Intel P4 3.0 GHz processor) and a public domain program - ImageJ 1.37, Java based image processing software, which was developed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and is freely available on the internet at rsbweb (dot) nih (dot) gov/. Images were captured in resolution of 10 Mega Pixels (3888x2592 pixels) and stored in a low compression JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group standard) format. Next, image processing output data for seed area and seed length was saved to text files and analyzed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute).

Additional parameters were collected either by sampling 6 plants per plot or by measuring the parameter across all the plants within the plot.

Normalized Grain Weight per plant (gr.) - At the end of the experiment all ears from plots within blocks A-C were collected. Six ears were separately threshed and grains were weighted, all additional ears were threshed together and weighted as well. The average grain weight per ear was calculated by dividing the total grain weight by number of total ears per plot (based on plot). In case of 6 ears, the total grains weight of 6 ears was divided by 6.

Ear FW (gr.) - At the end of the experiment (when ears were harvested) total and 6 selected ears per plots within blocks A-C were collected separately. The plants with (total and 6) were weighted (gr.) separately and the average ear per plant was calculated for total [Ear FW (fresh weight) per plot] and for 6 (Ear FW per plant).

Plant height and Ear height - Plants were characterized for height at harvesting. In each measure, 6 plants were measured for their height using a measuring tape. Height was measured from ground level to top of the plant below the tassel. Ear height was measured from the ground level to the place were the main ear is located. Leaf number per plant - Plants were characterized for leaf number during growing period at 5 time points. In each measure, plants were measured for their leaf number by counting all the leaves of 3 selected plants per plot.

Relative Growth Rate was calculated using Formulas II-XIII (described above). SPAD - Chlorophyll content was determined using a Minolta SPAD 502 chlorophyll meter and measurement was performed 64 days post sowing. SPAD meter readings were done on young fully developed leaf. Three measurements per leaf were taken per plot. Data were taken after 46 and 54 days after sowing (DPS).

Dry weight per plant - At the end of the experiment (when inflorescence were dry) all vegetative material from plots within blocks A-C were collected.

Dry weight = total weight of the vegetative portion above ground (excluding roots) after drying at 70 °C in oven for 48 hours.

Harvest Index (HI) (Maize) - The harvest index was calculated using Formula XVII above.

Percent Filled Ear [%] - was calculated as the percentage of the Ear area with grains out of the total ear.

Cob diameter [cm] - The diameter of the cob without grains was measured using a ruler.

Kernel Row Number per Ear - The number of rows in each ear was counted. Experimental Results

12 different maize hybrids were grown and characterized for different parameters. The correlated parameters are described in Table 48 below. The average for each of the measured parameter was calculated using the JMP software (Tables 49- 50) and a subsequent correlation analysis was performed. Results were then integrated to the database.

Table 48

Maize correlated parameters (vectors)

Correlated parameter with Correlation ID

Ears FW per plant based on all gr 8

Filled per Whole Ear 9

Grain Area cm ² 10

Grain Length cm 11

Grain Width cm 12

Growth Rate Leaf Num 13

Kernel Row Number per Ear 14

Leaf Number per Plant 15

Normalized Grain Weight per Plant based on all gr 16

Normalized Grain Weight per plant based on 6 gr 17

Percent Filled Ear 18

Plant Height per Plot cm 19

SPAD 46DPS TP2 20

SPAD 54DPS TP5 21

Table 48. SPAD 46DPS and SPAD 54DPS: Chlorophyl level after 46 and 54 days after g (DPS). "FW" = fresh weight; "DW" = dry weight. Table 49

Measured parameters in Maize accessions under normal conditions

Corr.

ID/tine 21 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

ID

54. 51. 28. 657 85. 245 135 19. 5.5 278 0.9 0.7 1.1

Line-1

28 67 96 .50 06 .83 .17 69 8 .19 2 5 7

57. 56. 25. 491 85. 208 122 19. 5.1 217 0.9 0.7 1.0

Line-2

18 41 08 .67 84 .33 .33 06 5 .50 2 1 9

56. 53. 28. 641 90. 262 131 20. 5.6 288 0.9 0.7 1.1

Line-3

01 55 05 .11 51 .22 .97 52 7 .28 3 6 8

59. 55. 25. 580 95. 263 114 21. 5.5 247 0.9 0.7 1.2

Line-4

68 21 73 .56 95 .89 .00 34 3 .88 2 7 1

54. 55. 28. 655 91. 272 135 20. 5.7 280 0.9 0.8 1.2

Line-5

77 30 72 .56 62 .22 .28 92 3 .11 1 1 3

59. 59. 25. 569 72. 177 94. 18. 5.2 175 0.9 0.7 1.1

Line-6

14 35 78 .44 41 .78 28 23 3 .84 5 1 2

57. 58. 26. 511 74. 188 120 19. 5.2 192 0.8 0.7 1.1

Line-7

99 48 43 .11 03 .89 .94 02 2 .47 7 1 4

60. 55. 25. 544 76. 197 107 18. 5.3 204 0.9 0.7 1.1

Line-8

36 88 19 .44 53 .22 .72 57 3 .70 4 5 3

54. 52.

Line-9

77 98

51. 53. 26. 574 55. 141 60. 16. 4.1 142 0.8 0.5 0.9

Line-10

39 86 67 .17 20 .11 44 69 2 .72 0 0 2

61. 59. 522 95. 261 112 21. 5.5 264 0.9 0.7 1.1

Line-11

14 75 .22 36 .11 .50 70 8 .24 6 6 8

53. 49.

Line-12

34 99 Table 49. Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in maize accessions (line ID) under regular growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 50

Additional measured parameters in Maize accessions under normal growth conditions

measured in maize accessions (line ID) under regular growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 51

Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues and the phenotypic performance under normal conditions across maize varieties

Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

LNU811 0.752 3.14E-02 8 13 LNU811 0.724 4.23E-02 8 11

LNU811 0.748 3.30E-02 8 10 LNU813 0.737 3.68E-02 5 12

LNU813 0.766 4.48E-02 4 15 LNU813 0.738 5.84E-02 4 19

LNU813 0.854 1.44E-02 4 5 LNU813 0.827 2.16E-02 4 8

LNU813 0.701 7.96E-02 4 4 LNU813 0.746 3.37E-02 8 11

LNU813 0.750 3.19E-02 8 6 LNU813 0.873 9.59E-04 6 20

LNU813 0.843 3.53E-02 2 15 LNU814 0.726 4.16E-02 5 11

LNU814 0.790 1.97E-02 5 6 LNU814 0.753 8.40E-02 4 1

LNU814 0.900 5.74E-03 4 14 LNU814 0.748 5.34E-02 4 6

LNU814 0.867 1.15E-02 4 8 LNU814 0.825 2.22E-02 4 4

LNU814 0.770 7.34E-02 7 1 LNU814 0.746 5.40E-02 7 14

LNU814 0.824 2.28E-02 7 13 LNU814 0.815 2.54E-02 7 6

LNU814 0.844 1.70E-02 7 8 LNU814 0.813 2.62E-02 7 4

LNU814 0.892 6.99E-03 1 14 LNU814 0.735 5.99E-02 1 8

LNU814 0.756 4.94E-02 1 4 LNU814 0.789 6.62E-03 6 6

LNU814 0.782 7.51E-03 6 8 LNU814 0.770 9.12E-03 6 4

LNU814 0.749 8.63E-02 2 3 LNU814 0.722 1.05E-01 2 16

LNU814 0.859 2.84E-02 2 6 LNU814 0.964 1.90E-03 2 9 Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

LNU814 0.884 1.94E-02 2 18 LNU814 0.829 4.12E-02 2 17

LNU815 0.803 5.42E-02 2 9 LNU815 0.715 l.lOE-01 2 18

LNU816 0.851 1.52E-02 4 19 LNU816 0.825 2.24E-02 4 5

LNU816 0.799 5.66E-02 1 1 LNU816 0.778 6.87E-02 2 12

LNU818 0.795 3.26E-02 4 12 LNU818 0.726 6.45E-02 1 14

LNU818 0.791 3.42E-02 1 15 LNU818 0.727 6.40E-02 1 11

LNU818 0.788 3.54E-02 1 9 LNU818 0.733 6.10E-02 1 10

LNU818 0.761 4.68E-02 1 7 LNU818 0.792 3.36E-02 1 12

LNU818 0.735 3.76E-02 8 13 LNU818 0.827 1.14E-02 8 11

LNU818 0.732 3.88E-02 8 10 LNU818 0.735 2.40E-02 3 15

LNU819 0.801 3.02E-02 4 18 LNU819 0.726 6.45E-02 1 3

LNU819 0.787 3.58E-02 1 6 LNU819 0.951 9.89E-04 1 18

LNU820 0.735 9.57E-02 2 12 LNU821 0.840 9.08E-03 5 3

LNU821 0.759 2.90E-02 5 16 LNU821 0.821 1.24E-02 5 11

LNU821 0.920 1.22E-03 5 6 LNU821 0.810 1.48E-02 5 4

LNU821 0.864 5.63E-03 5 17 LNU821 0.908 4.74E-03 1 14

LNU821 0.702 7.86E-02 1 13 LNU821 0.729 6.31E-02 1 6

LNU821 0.796 3.23E-02 1 8 LNU821 0.812 2.65E-02 1 4

LNU821 0.756 8.20E-02 2 9 LNU821 0.752 8.49E-02 2 18

LNU822 0.753 8.42E-02 4 1 LNU822 0.839 1.84E-02 4 2

LNU822 0.828 1.10E-02 8 1 LNU822 0.730 3.99E-02 8 14

LNU822 0.961 1.45E-04 8 13 LNU822 0.809 1.50E-02 8 11

LNU822 0.808 1.53E-02 8 10 LNU822 0.948 3.34E-04 8 2

LNU822 0.898 2.48E-03 8 7 LNU822 0.707 5.00E-02 8 8

LNU823 0.875 9.86E-03 7 3 LNU823 0.790 3.44E-02 7 16

LNU823 0.905 5.13E-03 7 6 LNU823 0.950 1.02E-03 7 18

LNU823 0.715 7.07E-02 7 19 LNU823 0.774 4.10E-02 7 8

LNU823 0.838 1.86E-02 7 4 LNU823 0.806 2.85E-02 7 17

LNU823 0.818 1.31E-02 8 12 LNU823 0.770 7.33E-02 2 9

LNU824 0.702 5.24E-02 5 2 LNU824 0.835 9.85E-03 5 12

LNU824 0.704 7.74E-02 1 5 LNU824 0.780 2.25E-02 3 1

LNU824 0.705 3.39E-02 3 5 LNU824 0.849 3.25E-02 2 12

LNU825 0.802 5.48E-02 2 12 LNU829 0.931 7.75E-04 8 1

LNU829 0.781 2.22E-02 8 13 LNU829 0.876 4.34E-03 8 19

LNU829 0.813 1.42E-02 8 2 LNU829 0.787 2.05E-02 8 5

LNU829 0.781 2.21E-02 8 7 LNU829 0.756 3.00E-02 8 8

LNU830 0.751 8.50E-02 2 9 LNU830 0.772 7.20E-02 2 18

LNU831 0.714 4.67E-02 8 2 LNU831 0.704 5.13E-02 8 7

LNU831 0.743 1.39E-02 6 8 LNU832 0.712 7.28E-02 7 3

LNU832 0.764 4.57E-02 7 16 LNU832 0.761 4.68E-02 7 11

LNU832 0.835 1.93E-02 7 10 LNU832 0.774 4.12E-02 7 19

LNU832 0.897 6.13E-03 7 5 LNU832 0.788 3.54E-02 7 7

LNU832 0.865 1.20E-02 7 12 LNU832 0.745 5.44E-02 7 17

LNU832 0.788 3.54E-02 1 15 LNU832 0.760 4.76E-02 1 13

LNU832 0.758 4.85E-02 1 9 LNU832 0.714 7.14E-02 1 10

LNU832 0.756 4.91E-02 1 7 LNU832 0.749 3.25E-02 8 12

LNU832 0.707 2.22E-02 6 10 LNU832 0.828 3.07E-03 6 12

LNU832 0.857 3.15E-03 3 15 LNU832 0.714 3.08E-02 3 10 Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

LNU832 0.729 2.59E-02 3 12 LNU832 0.780 6.70E-02 2 12

LNU833 0.810 5.08E-02 7 1 LNU833 0.805 1.60E-02 8 1

LNU833 0.701 5.27E-02 8 14 LNU833 0.780 2.25E-02 8 2

LNU833 0.746 8.84E-02 2 14 LNU834 0.718 6.89E-02 4 3

LNU834 0.754 5.05E-02 4 6 LNU834 0.717 6.99E-02 4 10

LNU834 0.717 6.96E-02 4 19 LNU834 0.867 1.15E-02 4 5

LNU834 0.704 7.77E-02 4 7 LNU834 0.733 6.11E-02 4 8

LNU834 0.724 6.56E-02 4 12 LNU834 0.707 7.58E-02 4 4

LNU834 0.843 1.72E-02 7 15 LNU834 0.855 1.42E-02 7 21

LNU834 0.883 8.46E-03 7 9 LNU834 0.828 2.14E-02 7 12

LNU834 0.717 6.97E-02 1 15 LNU834 0.747 5.38E-02 1 9

LNU834 0.778 3.93E-02 1 10 LNU834 0.857 1.36E-02 1 12

LNU834 0.972 5.30E-05 8 13 LNU834 0.876 4.37E-03 8 11

LNU834 0.958 1.78E-04 8 10 LNU834 0.776 2.35E-02 8 2

LNU834 0.876 4.30E-03 8 7 LNU834 0.708 4.92E-02 8 8

LNU834 0.729 4.01E-02 8 4 LNU834 0.747 2.09E-02 3 3

LNU834 0.828 5.89E-03 3 16 LNU834 0.859 3.03E-03 3 15

LNU834 0.840 4.61E-03 3 13 LNU834 0.915 5.41E-04 3 11

LNU834 0.723 2.77E-02 3 6 LNU834 0.720 2.88E-02 3 9

LNU834 0.943 1.39E-04 3 10 LNU834 0.874 2.06E-03 3 19

LNU834 0.778 1.35E-02 3 5 LNU834 0.883 1.63E-03 3 7

LNU834 0.906 7.68E-04 3 12 LNU834 0.708 3.28E-02 3 4

LNU834 0.835 5.12E-03 3 17 LNU834 0.765 7.62E-02 2 15

LNU834 0.703 1.20E-01 2 9 LNU834 0.775 7.00E-02 2 18

LNU834 0.860 2.81E-02 2 12 LNU835 0.716 7.01E-02 4 16

LNU835 0.734 6.03E-02 4 15 LNU835 0.807 2.83E-02 4 9

LNU835 0.791 3.43E-02 4 10 LNU835 0.846 1.64E-02 4 19

LNU835 0.777 3.98E-02 4 5 LNU835 0.917 3.64E-03 4 12

LNU835 0.766 4.45E-02 1 3 LNU835 0.805 2.89E-02 1 16

LNU835 0.707 7.55E-02 1 9 LNU835 0.753 5.07E-02 1 10

LNU835 0.960 6.02E-04 1 19 LNU835 0.930 2.38E-03 1 5

LNU835 0.791 3.42E-02 1 7 LNU835 0.841 1.77E-02 1 8

LNU835 0.746 5.42E-02 1 12 LNU835 0.728 6.34E-02 1 4

LNU835 0.732 6.14E-02 1 17 LNU835 0.758 8.07E-02 2 9

LNU835 0.882 2.00E-02 2 12 LNU837 0.822 2.32E-02 1 14

LNU837 0.703 7.79E-02 1 4 LNU837 0.778 2.31E-02 8 11

LNU837 0.755 3.02E-02 8 7 LNU837 0.845 3.40E-02 2 14

LNU837 0.907 1.26E-02 2 5 LNU838 0.819 1.29E-02 5 19

LNU838 0.711 4.80E-02 5 5 LNU838 0.860 2.80E-02 2 9

LNU838 0.948 4.01E-03 2 18 LNU839 0.717 6.99E-02 4 10

LNU839 0.717 6.96E-02 4 19 LNU839 0.867 1.15E-02 4 5

LNU839 0.704 7.77E-02 4 7 LNU839 0.724 6.56E-02 4 12

LNU839 0.972 5.30E-05 8 13 LNU839 0.876 4.37E-03 8 11

LNU839 0.958 1.78E-04 8 10 LNU839 0.776 2.35E-02 8 2

LNU839 0.876 4.30E-03 8 7 LNU839 0.708 4.92E-02 8 8

LNU839 0.729 4.01E-02 8 4 LNU839 0.765 7.62E-02 2 15

LNU839 0.703 1.20E-01 2 9 LNU839 0.775 7.00E-02 2 18

LNU840 0.759 4.77E-02 1 19 LNU840 0.781 3.80E-02 1 8 Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

LNU840 0.834 3.89E-02 2 18 LNU841 0.707 7.55E-02 1 16

LNU841 0.755 5.00E-02 7 10 LNU841 0.774 4.10E-02 7 19

LNU841 0.861 1.29E-02 7 5 LNU841 0.855 1.43E-02 7 12

LNU841 0.704 2.31E-02 6 3 LNU841 0.824 3.36E-03 6 8

LNU841 0.775 8.41E-03 6 4 LNU843 0.736 5.94E-02 7 3

LNU843 0.796 3.22E-02 7 16 LNU843 0.776 4.03E-02 7 21

LNU843 0.729 6.29E-02 7 9 LNU843 0.806 2.85E-02 7 10

LNU843 0.866 1.17E-02 7 19 LNU843 0.793 3.33E-02 7 5

LNU843 0.721 6.77E-02 7 7 LNU843 0.866 1.18E-02 7 12

LNU843 0.770 4.28E-02 7 17 LNU843 0.754 5.02E-02 1 15

LNU845 0.801 3.03E-02 7 6 LNU845 0.877 9.48E-03 7 18

LNU845 0.703 7.84E-02 7 4 LNU845 0.708 7.51E-02 7 17

LNU845 0.834 3.90E-02 2 14 LNU845 0.711 1.13E-01 2 5

LNU846 0.817 2.49E-02 7 3 LNU846 0.777 4.00E-02 7 16

LNU846 0.721 6.76E-02 7 13 LNU846 0.777 3.97E-02 7 11

LNU846 0.889 7.41E-03 7 6 LNU846 0.894 6.59E-03 7 18

LNU846 0.796 3.22E-02 7 4 LNU846 0.834 1.97E-02 7 17

LNU846 0.733 9.72E-02 2 9 LNU846 0.724 1.04E-01 2 12

Table 51. Provided are the correlations (R) between the expression levels yield improving genes and their homologs in various tissues [Expression (Exp) sets] and the phenotypic performance [yield, biomass, growth rate and/or vigor components (Correlation vector (Cor))] under normal conditions across maize varieties. P = p value.

EXAMPLE 8

PRODUCTION OF MAIZE TRANSCRIPTOM AND HIGH THROUGHPUT CORRELATION ANALYSIS WITH YIELD AND NUE RELATED PARAMETERS WHEN GROWN UNDER REDUCED NITROGEN FERTILIZATION USING 60K

MAIZE OLIGONUCLEOTIDE MICRO-ARRAYS

In order to produce a high throughput correlation analysis between plant phenotype and gene expression level, the present inventors utilized a maize oligonucleotide micro-array, produced by Agilent Technologies [chem. (dot) agilent (dot) com/Scripts/PDS (dot) asp?lPage=50879]. The array oligonucleotide represents about 44,000 maize genes and transcripts.

Correlation of Maize hybrids across ecotypes grown under low Nitrogen conditions

Experimental procedures

12 Maize hybrids were grown in 3 repetitive plots, in field. Maize seeds were planted and plants were grown in the field using commercial fertilization and irrigation protocols (485 metric cubes of water per dunam, 30 units of uran 21% fertilization per entire growth period). In order to define correlations between the levels of RNA expression with NUE and yield components or vigor related parameters, the 12 different maize hybrids were analyzed. Among them, 11 hybrids encompassing the observed variance were selected for RNA expression analysis. The correlation between the RNA levels and the characterized parameters was analyzed using Pearson correlation test [davidmlane (dot) com/hyperstat/A34739 (dot) html] .

Analyzed Maize tissues - All 10 selected maize hybrids were sampled per each treatment (low N and normal conditions), in three time points: TP2 = V6-V8 (six to eight collar leaf are visible, rapid growth phase and kernel row determination begins), TP5 = R1-R2 (silking-blister), TP6 = R3-R4 (milk-dough). Four types of plant tissues [Ear, flag leaf indicated in Tables 52-53 as leaf, grain distal part, and internode] were sampled and RNA was extracted as described above. Each micro-array expression information tissue type has received a Set ID as summarized in Tables 52-53 below.

Table 52

Maize under low N conditions transcriptom expression sets

Table 52: Provided are the maize transcriptom expression sets. Leaf = the leaf below the main ear; Flower meristem = Apical meristem following male flower initiation; Ear = the female flower at the anthesis day. Grain Distal= maize developing grains from the cob extreme area, Grain Basal= maize developing grains from the cob basal area; Internodes = internodes located above and below the main ear in the plant.

Table 53

Maize under normal conditions transcriptom expression sets

Set ID Expression Set

1 Maize field/Normal/Ear/Rl-R2

2 Maize field/Normal/Ear/R3-R4

3 Maize field Normal/Grain/Distal/R4-R5

4 Maize field Normal/Internode/Rl-R2

5 Maize field Normal/Internode/R3-R4

6 Maize field Normal/Internode/V6-V8

7 Maize field Normal/Leaf/Rl-R2

8 Maize field Normal/Leaf/V6-V8 Table 53: Provided are the maize transcriptom expression sets. Leaf = the leaf below the main ear; Flower meristem = Apical meristem following male flower initiation; Ear = the female flower at the anthesis day. Grain Distal= maize developing grains from the cob extreme area, Grain Basal= maize developing grains from the cob basal area; Internodes = internodes located above and below the main ear in the plant.

The following parameters were collected were collected either by sampling 6 plants per plot or by measuring the parameter across all the plants within the plot.

Seed yield per plant (Kg.) - At the end of the experiment all ears from plots within blocks A-C were collected. 6 ears were separately threshed and grains were weighted, all additional ears were threshed together and weighted as well. The average grain weight per ear was calculated by dividing the total grain weight by number of total ears per plot (based on plot). In case of 6 ears, the total grains weight of 6 ears was divided by 6.

Ear weight per plot (gr.) - At the end of the experiment (when ears were harvested) total and 6 selected ears per plots within blocks were collected separately. The plants with (total and 6) were weighted (gr.) separately and the average ear per plant was calculated for Ear weight per plot (total of 42 plants per plot).

Plant height and Ear height - Plants were characterized for height at harvesting. In each measure, 6 plants were measured for their height using a measuring tape. Height was measured from ground level to top of the plant below the tassel. Ear height was measured from the ground level to the place were the main ear is located.

Leaf number per plant - Plants were characterized for leaf number during growing period at 5 time points. In each measure, plants were measured for their leaf number by counting all the leaves of 3 selected plants per plot.

SPAD - Chlorophyll content was determined using a Minolta SPAD 502 chlorophyll meter and measurement was performed 64 days post sowing. SPAD meter readings were done on young fully developed leaf. Seven measurements per leaf were taken per plot. Data were taken after once per weeks after sowing.

Dry weight per plant - At the end of the experiment (when Inflorescence were dry) all vegetative material from plots within blocks A-C were collected.

Dry weight = total weight of the vegetative portion above ground (excluding roots) after drying at 70 °C in oven for 48 hours;

Ear length of Filled Ear [cm]- it was calculated as the length of the ear with grains out of the total ear. Ear length and width [cm]- it was calculated as the length and width of the ear in the filled. Measurement was performed in 6 plants per each plot.

Kernel Row Number per Ear- The number of rows in each ear was counted.

Stalk width [cm]- The diameter of the stalk was measured in the internode located below the main ear. Measurement was performed in 6 plants per each plot.

Leaf area index [LAI]= total leaf area of all plants in a plot. Measurement was performed using a Leaf area-meter.

NUE [kg/kg] -is the ratio between total grain yield per total N applied in soil.

NUpE [kg/kg] -is the ratio between total plant biomass per total N applied in soil.

Yield/stalk width [kg/cm] -is the ratio between total grain yields and the width of the stalk.

Yield/LAI [kg] -is the ratio between total grain yields and total leaf area index. Experimental Results

11 different maize hybrids were grown and characterized for different parameters. Tables 54-55 describe the Maize correlated parameters. The average for each of the measured parameter was calculated using the JMP software (Tables 56-59) and a subsequent correlation analysis was performed (Tables 60-61). Results were then integrated to the database.

Table 54

Maize under low N conditions correlated parameters (vectors)

Correlation ID Correlated parameter with

17 Low N- NUpE [biomass/N applied]

18 Low N- Seed yield per dunam [kg]

19 Low N- Yield/LAI

20 Low N- Yield/stalk width

21 Low N- seed yield per 1 plant rest of the plot [0- RH in Kg]

Table 54. "cm" = centimeters' "mm" = millimeters; "kg" = kilograms; SPAD at R1-R2 and SPAD R3-R4: Chlorophyl level after early and late stages of grain filling; "NUE" = nitrogen use efficiency; "NUpE" = nitrogen uptake efficiency; "LAI" = leaf area; "N" = nitrogen; Low N = under low Nitrogen conditions; "Normal" = under normal conditions; "dunam" = 1000 m ² .

Table 55

Maize under normal conditions correlated parameters (vectors)

Table 55. "cm" = centimeters' "mm" = millimeters; "kg" = kilograms; SPAD at R1-R2 and SPAD R3-R4: Chlorophyl level after early and late stages of grain filling; "NUE" = nitrogen use efficiency; "NUpE" = nitrogen uptake efficiency; "LAI" = leaf area; "N" = nitrogen; Low N = under low Nitrogen conditions; "Normal" = under normal conditions; "dunam" = 1000 m ² .

Table 56

Measured parameters in Maize accessions under normal conditions

Corr.

ID/ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Line

1.26 19.9 16.2 51.0 11.8 130.31 273.4 16.1 56.88 59.9 2.9

Line-1

7 44 33 75 00 1 56 11 9 33 11 Corr.

ID/ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Line

1.30 20.1 17.5 46.2 11.1 122.33 260.5 14.6 57.16 60.9 2.6

Line-2

0 67 00 90 11 3 00 67 1 00 44

1.33 18.1 17.7 45.9 13.2 127.66 288.0 15.4 59.27 56.8 2.7

Line-3

3 11 22 19 78 7 00 44 2 92 11

1.50 19.8 18.4 47.6 11.7 113.02 238.5 15.8 61.61 58.7 2.9

Line-4

0 89 44 32 78 2 00 89 1 00 00

1.30 19.5 15.6 51.4 11.9 135.27 286.9 16.1 58.62 58.7 2.7

Line-5

0 00 67 07 44 8 44 67 8 00 00

1.58 17.7 14.6 47.4 12.3 224.8 15.1 61.22 63.1 2.6

Line-6 94.278

3 22 67 20 33 33 67 8 58 22

1.41 17.6 12.9 47.2 12.4 120.94 264.4 16.0 60.16 59.7 2.9

Line-7

7 67 44 53 44 4 44 00 7 50 22

1.36 17.2 14.0 46.8 12.2 107.72 251.6 14.8 61.08 62.3 2.7

Line-8

7 78 28 46 22 2 11 33 9 50 22

11.3 20.5 18.7 49.2 12.5 112.50 278.4 15.3 62.20 61.9 2.8

Line-9

83 00 78 75 56 0 44 89 0 25 44

Line- 1.70 17.5 12.3 48.2 11.6 139.66 279.0 17.6 57.50 57.2 2.6

10 0 00 33 83 67 7 00 67 6 25 56

Line- 0.41 19.8 16.0 41.8 9.27 163.7 14.2 52.04 49.3 2.2

60.444

11 7 56 67 37 8 78 67 4 42 56

Table 56. Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in maize accessions (line ID) under normal conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section. Table 57

Additional Measured parameters in Maize accessions under normal conditions

Corr. ID/ 12 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 13 19 Line

23.43 24.97 1335. 456.7 426.0

Line-1 8.943 4.452 0.008 0.167 3.208

1 8 625 07 86

19.05 17.80 1087. 412.4 312.9

Line-2 7.023 3.624 0.009 0.136 3.947

2 7 058 43 75

20.29 20.33 1202. 443.3 307.2

Line-3 7.533 4.008 0.009 0.150 3.332

3 2 532 68 77

20.71 19.95 1271. 438.7 362.4

Line-4 7.991 4.237 0.010 0.159 4.012

9 7 204 05 42

20.48 19.02 1202. 446.6 314.1

Line-5 8.483 4.010 0.009 0.150 3.864

6 6 966 59 38

15.36 13.90 937.0 356.9 224.5

Line-6 5.632 3.124 0.011 0.117 4.191

0 4 83 50 82

16.38 16.23 985.8 337.4 266.4

Line-7 6.100 3.286 0.009 0.123 3.969

3 4 93 86 37

17.19 17.21 1050. 385.7 261.6

Line-8 6.659 3.500 0.009 0.131 4.322

1 4 131 90 64

21.95 21.01 1365. 481.9 482.3

Line-9 8.402 4.551 0.076 0.171 2.888

5 7 293 42 29 Corr. ID/ 12 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 3 19 Line

20.99 21.52 1226. 471.5

Line- 10 8.215 4.087 0.004 0.153 4.306

4 9 077 68

300.9 139.7

Line- 11 1.879 1.003 5.725 5.519 0.003 0.038

28 28

Table 57. Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in maize accessions (line ID) under normal conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 58

Measured parameters in Maize accessions under low Nitrogen conditions

Table 58: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in maize accessions (line ID) under low nitrogen conditions, Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 59

Additional measured parameters in Maize accessions under low Nitrogen conditions

Corr.

ID/ 12 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 13 19 Line

18.02 18.35 1083. 416.5 341.5

Line-1 1.593 7.225 0.011 0.135 2.923

3 2 749 32 01 Corr.

ID/ 12 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 13 19 Line

21.78 21.91 1261. 528.3 408.0

Line-2 1.429 8.411 0.010 0.158 3.155

7 9 635 83 93

10.32 26.33 26.47 1549. 583.4 464.7

Line-3 1.533 0.010 0.194 3.330

8 5 9 245 58 68

25.14 25.33 1497. 541.0 522.2

Line-4 1.950 9.986 0.013 0.187 2.873

4 3 865 17 58

19.54 19.68 1143. 428.0 439.5

Line-5 1.483 7.626 0.010 0.143 2.786

7 5 850 89 25

18.04 18.54 1159. 444.2 312.5

Line-6 1.600 7.728 0.011 0.145 3.764

9 1 260 94 81

21.38 19.78 1207. 407.2 345.9

Line-7 1.583 8.049 0.011 0.151 3.499

8 5 424 00 01

20.78 20.91 1250. 477.4 287.7

Line-8 1.283 8.334 0.009 0.156 5.016

8 7 052 38 35

19.67 19.93 1146. 445.6

Line-9 1.514 7.640 0.010 0.143

6 5 036 04

383.2 167.9

Line-10 0.433 2.555 7.213 7.722 0.003 0.048

19 02

10.59 25.70 25.90 1589. 562.2 501.2

Line-11 1.517 0.010 0.199 3.157

9 2 2 914 94 39

Ta )le 59: Providec are the values of each of the parameters (as c escribec above) measured in maize accessions (line ID) under low nitrogen conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section. Table 60

Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues and the phenotypic performance under normal conditions across maize varieties

Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name . set Name set

ID ID

LNU811 0.880 2.07E-02 1 13 LNU811 0.809 5.10E-02 5 13

LNU811 0.748 3.29E-02 2 12 LNU811 0.896 2.58E-03 2 4

LNU811 0.814 1.39E-02 2 8 LNU811 0.855 3.02E-02 6 13

LNU813 0.945 4.45E-03 5 5 LNU813 0.934 6.46E-03 5 10

LNU813 0.825 4.34E-02 5 9 LNU813 0.718 4.48E-02 2 17

LNU813 0.757 2.96E-02 2 11 LNU813 0.718 4.48E-02 2 1

LNU813 0.747 5.37E-02 4 17 LNU813 0.747 5.37E-02 4 1

LNU813 0.849 7.73E-03 3 10 LNU813 0.809 2.74E-02 6 7

LNU813 0.704 7.72E-02 6 10 LNU813 0.701 7.93E-02 6 16

LNU813 0.851 1.52E-02 6 6 LNU813 0.743 5.58E-02 6 9

LNU814 0.766 4.47E-02 1 8 LNU814 0.976 8.47E-04 5 17

LNU814 0.713 l.l lE-01 5 3 LNU814 0.976 8.47E-04 5 1

LNU814 0.725 1.03E-01 5 9 LNU814 0.702 1.20E-01 5 19

LNU814 0.745 3.41E-02 2 11 LNU814 0.718 6.94E-02 4 3

LNU814 0.757 4.90E-02 4 6 LNU814 0.847 1.61E-02 4 8

LNU814 0.711 7.30E-02 6 8 LNU815 0.736 3.72E-02 2 10 Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name . set Name set

ID ID

LNU815 0.845 8.22E-03 3 12 LNU815 0.833 1.02E-02 3 15

LNU815 0.761 2.83E-02 3 14 LNU815 0.877 4.20E-03 3 4

LNU815 0.881 3.87E-03 3 16 LNU815 0.761 2.83E-02 3 18

LNU815 0.761 2.83E-02 3 21 LNU815 0.725 4.20E-02 3 19

LNU815 0.794 1.87E-02 7 13 LNU816 0.807 5.22E-02 1 19

LNU816 0.710 7.39E-02 1 2 LNU816 0.945 4.48E-03 5 13

LNU816 0.711 4.80E-02 2 10 LNU816 0.866 2.58E-02 4 13

LNU816 0.705 5.09E-02 3 5 LNU816 0.833 2.01E-02 6 7

LNU816 0.738 5.82E-02 6 16 LNU816 0.726 6.47E-02 6 6

LNU816 0.816 7.34E-03 7 11 LNU816 0.759 1.78E-02 7 9

LNU817 0.728 l.OlE-01 5 11 LNU818 0.708 7.51E-02 1 12

LNU818 0.731 6.18E-02 1 11 LNU818 0.879 9.14E-03 1 5

LNU818 0.719 6.85E-02 1 14 LNU818 0.907 4.80E-03 1 4

LNU818 0.937 1.84E-03 1 10 LNU818 0.719 6.85E-02 1 18

LNU818 0.719 6.85E-02 1 21 LNU818 0.814 2.60E-02 1 9

LNU818 0.721 6.75E-02 1 20 LNU818 0.741 9.18E-02 5 11

LNU818 0.796 5.80E-02 5 10 LNU818 0.766 7.60E-02 5 8

LNU818 0.758 2.94E-02 2 4 LNU818 0.789 2.00E-02 3 10

LNU818 0.869 2.47E-02 6 13 LNU818 0.700 7.98E-02 6 11

LNU818 0.758 4.81E-02 6 10 LNU818 0.805 8.91E-03 7 10

LNU818 0.801 9.46E-03 7 9 LNU819 0.772 4.19E-02 1 3

LNU819 0.770 7.32E-02 1 19 LNU819 0.773 4.15E-02 1 2

LNU819 0.813 4.92E-02 5 5 LNU819 0.722 1.83E-02 8 7

LNU819 0.769 9.28E-03 8 5 LNU819 0.709 2.18E-02 8 6

LNU819 0.742 5.64E-02 4 10 LNU819 0.713 4.73E-02 3 17

LNU819 0.713 4.73E-02 3 1 LNU819 0.727 6.44E-02 6 4

LNU820 0.714 4.66E-02 3 3 LNU820 0.749 3.25E-02 3 2

LNU821 0.702 7.87E-02 1 5 LNU821 0.753 5.08E-02 1 8

LNU822 0.824 1.18E-02 7 13 LNU823 0.705 7.67E-02 4 11

LNU823 0.879 9.16E-03 4 3 LNU823 0.795 3.25E-02 4 8

LNU823 0.812 4.97E-02 4 19 LNU823 0.717 4.54E-02 3 9

LNU823 0.710 7.37E-02 6 17 LNU823 0.710 7.37E-02 6 1

LNU823 0.702 3.50E-02 7 9 LNU824 0.704 7.74E-02 1 6

LNU824 0.791 1.93E-02 2 11 LNU824 0.764 2.72E-02 2 9

LNU824 0.754 1.89E-02 7 6 LNU825 0.725 4.18E-02 2 4

LNU825 0.706 5.04E-02 3 2 LNU828 0.829 4.12E-02 5 5

LNU829 0.894 2.72E-03 2 7 LNU829 0.771 2.52E-02 2 6

LNU829 0.907 7.49E-04 7 17 LNU829 0.907 7.49E-04 7 1

LNU830 0.862 2.73E-02 5 9 LNU830 0.738 3.67E-02 2 11

LNU831 0.790 3.44E-02 4 3 LNU832 0.734 6.02E-02 1 7

LNU832 0.932 2.24E-03 1 5 LNU832 0.714 l.l lE-01 5 10

LNU832 0.778 3.92E-02 4 7 LNU832 0.809 2.74E-02 4 12

LNU832 0.747 5.34E-02 4 11 LNU832 0.814 2.60E-02 4 15

LNU832 0.780 3.86E-02 4 14 LNU832 0.822 2.33E-02 4 16

LNU832 0.917 3.65E-03 4 6 LNU832 0.780 3.86E-02 4 18

LNU832 0.780 3.86E-02 4 21 LNU832 0.803 2.98E-02 4 20

LNU832 0.722 6.68E-02 6 5 LNU832 0.703 3.48E-02 7 11

LNU832 0.809 8.29E-03 7 5 LNU832 0.709 3.24E-02 7 10 Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name . set Name set

ID ID

LNU832 0.795 1.05E-02 1 9 LNU833 0.843 3.50E-02 5 5

LNU833 0.728 l.OlE-01 5 4 LNU833 0.789 1.99E-02 2 5

LNU833 0.823 3.43E-03 8 10 LNU833 0.710 7.40E-02 4 3

LNU833 0.721 4.37E-02 3 10 LNU833 0.740 9.27E-02 6 13

LNU833 0.702 7.84E-02 6 10 LNU833 0.884 3.56E-03 7 13

LNU834 0.935 6.23E-03 1 13 LNU834 0.847 1.62E-02 1 10

LNU834 0.754 5.01E-02 1 9 LNU834 0.853 3.08E-02 5 4

LNU834 0.804 5.40E-02 5 10 LNU834 0.712 1.13E-01 5 19

LNU834 0.807 5.22E-02 5 2 LNU834 0.707 5.00E-02 2 8

LNU834 0.727 1.73E-02 8 15 LNU834 0.731 1.64E-02 8 16

LNU834 0.735 2.42E-02 8 19 LNU834 0.792 3.39E-02 4 4

LNU834 0.947 1.20E-03 4 10 LNU834 0.871 1.07E-02 6 17

LNU834 0.720 6.82E-02 6 4 LNU834 0.820 2.38E-02 6 6

LNU834 0.871 1.07E-02 6 1 LNU834 0.825 4.33E-02 6 19

LNU834 0.706 7.62E-02 6 20 LNU834 0.779 1.33E-02 7 7

LNU834 0.801 9.44E-03 7 12 LNU834 0.716 3.00E-02 7 11

LNU834 0.742 2.22E-02 7 15 LNU834 0.768 1.57E-02 7 14

LNU834 0.853 3.46E-03 7 4 LNU834 0.712 3.13E-02 7 10

LNU834 0.761 1.73E-02 7 6 LNU834 0.768 1.57E-02 7 18

LNU834 0.768 1.57E-02 7 21 LNU834 0.764 1.65E-02 7 20

LNU835 0.966 3.91E-04 1 7 LNU835 0.793 3.32E-02 1 12

LNU835 0.743 5.55E-02 1 5 LNU835 0.816 2.52E-02 1 15

LNU835 0.778 3.92E-02 1 14 LNU835 0.836 1.91E-02 1 16

LNU835 0.915 3.86E-03 1 6 LNU835 0.778 3.92E-02 1 18

LNU835 0.778 3.92E-02 1 21 LNU835 0.822 2.34E-02 1 20

LNU835 0.753 8.37E-02 5 10 LNU835 0.772 2.48E-02 2 10

LNU835 0.881 8.80E-03 6 7 LNU835 0.811 2.69E-02 6 12

LNU835 0.711 7.35E-02 6 11 LNU835 0.724 6.57E-02 6 5

LNU835 0.809 2.76E-02 6 15 LNU835 0.801 3.06E-02 6 14

LNU835 0.759 4.77E-02 6 4 LNU835 0.821 2.36E-02 6 10

LNU835 0.812 2.66E-02 6 16 LNU835 0.814 2.59E-02 6 6

LNU835 0.801 3.06E-02 6 18 LNU835 0.801 3.06E-02 6 21

LNU835 0.833 2.00E-02 6 20 LNU837 0.713 7.24E-02 1 11

LNU837 0.879 9.15E-03 1 8 LNU837 0.737 9.44E-02 5 7

LNU837 0.845 3.41E-02 5 6 LNU837 0.731 2.54E-02 8 19

LNU837 0.752 5.14E-02 4 2 LNU838 0.821 4.54E-02 5 17

LNU838 0.715 l.lOE-01 5 3 LNU838 0.821 4.54E-02 5 1

LNU838 0.784 2.14E-02 3 7 LNU838 0.717 4.53E-02 3 6

LNU839 0.853 3.08E-02 5 4 LNU839 0.712 1.13E-01 5 19

LNU839 0.807 5.22E-02 5 2 LNU839 0.707 5.00E-02 2 8

LNU839 0.820 2.38E-02 6 6 LNU840 0.842 1.74E-02 1 7

LNU840 0.701 7.90E-02 1 6 LNU840 0.884 1.95E-02 5 17

LNU840 0.884 1.95E-02 5 1 LNU841 0.754 5.01E-02 4 7

LNU841 0.761 4.68E-02 4 12 LNU841 0.781 3.80E-02 4 15

LNU841 0.729 6.29E-02 4 14 LNU841 0.760 4.76E-02 4 16

LNU841 0.894 6.56E-03 4 6 LNU841 0.729 6.29E-02 4 18

LNU841 0.729 6.29E-02 4 21 LNU841 0.769 4.32E-02 4 20

LNU843 0.761 4.69E-02 1 4 LNU843 0.726 6.49E-02 1 9 Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name . set Name set

ID ID

LNU843 0.717 1.97E-02 8 5 LNU843 0.828 2.15E-02 4 1

LNU843 0.864 1.21E-02 4 12 LNU843 0.800 3.08E-02 4 11

LNU843 0.852 1.48E-02 4 15 LNU843 0.840 1.79E-02 4 14

LNU843 0.742 5.64E-02 4 4 LNU843 0.717 6.98E-02 4 10

LNU843 0.859 1.34E-02 4 16 LNU843 0.834 1.98E-02 4 6

LNU843 0.840 1.79E-02 4 18 LNU843 0.840 1.79E-02 4 21

LNU843 0.848 1.59E-02 4 20 LNU844 0.894 1.63E-02 5 5

LNU845 0.761 7.91E-02 5 6 LNU845 0.800 1.71E-02 2 17

LNU845 0.800 1.71E-02 2 1 LNU845 0.825 1.17E-02 2 9

LNU845 0.710 2.14E-02 8 11 LNU845 0.874 1.01E-02 4 8

LNU846 0.809 5.14E-02 5 10 LNU846 0.787 2.06E-02 2 12

LNU846 0.865 5.50E-03 2 4 LNU846 0.707 4.99E-02 2 19

LNU846 0.735 1.55E-02 8 11 LNU846 0.706 2.26E-02 8 8

LNU846 0.746 5.39E-02 4 12 LNU846 0.819 2.41E-02 4 11

LNU846 0.737 5.88E-02 4 15 LNU846 0.771 4.23E-02 4 14

LNU846 0.796 3.24E-02 4 4 LNU846 0.703 7.81E-02 4 16

LNU846 0.771 4.23E-02 4 18 LNU846 0.899 5.94E-03 4 8

LNU846 0.771 4.23E-02 4 21 LNU846 0.726 6.45E-02 4 9

LNU846 0.755 8.24E-02 4 19 LNU846 0.724 6.56E-02 4 20

LNU846 0.809 8.33E-03 7 3 LNU846 0.849 7.69E-03 7 19

LNU846 0.746 2.09E-02 7 2

Table 60. Provided are the correlations (R) between the expression levels yield improving genes and their homologs in various tissues [Expression (Exp) sets] and the phenotypic performance [yield, biomass, growth rate and/or vigor components (Correlation vector (Cor))] under normal conditions across maize varieties. P = p value.

Table 61

Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues and the phenotypic performance under low N conditions across maize varieties

Corr. Corr.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

LNU811 0.836 3.80E-02 1 13 LNU811 0.782 2.18E-02 5 19

LNU813 0.876 2.22E-02 1 13 LNU813 0.762 4.66E-02 1 11

LNU813 0.835 1.93E-02 1 2 LNU813 0.731 6.18E-02 1 1

LNU813 0.766 1.61E-02 5 7 LNU813 0.705 5.09E-02 5 19

LNU813 0.730 9.98E-02 6 10 LNU813 0.842 3.53E-02 6 9

LNU813 0.879 2.10E-02 6 5 LNU813 0.941 5.07E-03 6 6

LNU813 0.708 1.16E-01 6 15 LNU813 0.708 1.15E-01 6 19

LNU813 0.733 9.77E-02 6 1 LNU813 0.727 1.73E-02 3 10

LNU813 0.766 9.82E-03 3 9 LNU813 0.843 1.72E-02 8 13

LNU813 0.726 6.48E-02 7 13 LNU813 0.702 5.21E-02 7 8

LNU813 0.746 5.42E-02 4 6 LNU814 0.832 3.97E-02 1 19

LNU814 0.923 3.02E-03 1 2 LNU814 0.752 5.12E-02 1 1

LNU814 0.713 7.21E-02 1 16 LNU814 0.873 4.67E-03 5 13

LNU814 0.786 2.07E-02 5 19 LNU814 0.777 6.88E-02 6 18 Corr. Corr.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

LNU814 0.850 3.20E-02 6 4 LNU814 0.776 6.94E-02 6 8

LNU814 0.777 6.88E-02 6 14 LNU814 0.703 1.20E-01 6 20

LNU814 0.897 1.54E-02 6 6 LNU814 0.881 2.04E-02 6 15

LNU814 0.808 5.18E-02 6 19 LNU814 0.777 6.88E-02 6 2

LNU814 0.777 6.88E-02 6 21 LNU814 0.833 3.95E-02 6 16

LNU814 0.785 3.64E-02 8 13 LNU814 0.752 3.14E-02 8 10

LNU814 0.727 4.08E-02 8 4 LNU814 0.873 1.03E-02 7 13

LNU814 0.799 1.73E-02 7 11 LNU814 0.826 2.21E-02 7 19

LNU814 0.766 2.67E-02 7 2 LNU814 0.774 2.43E-02 2 10

LNU814 0.802 3.02E-02 4 5 LNU814 0.729 6.28E-02 4 11

LNU814 0.742 5.61E-02 4 15 LNU814 0.839 1.83E-02 4 19

LNU814 0.703 7.78E-02 4 2 LNU814 0.709 7.47E-02 4 16

LNU815 0.775 7.03E-02 6 13 LNU815 0.903 1.37E-02 6 11

LNU816 0.830 2.08E-02 1 1 LNU816 0.934 6.40E-03 6 3

LNU816 0.815 4.09E-03 3 9 LNU816 0.911 4.27E-03 8 13

LNU816 0.753 3.10E-02 8 7 LNU816 0.883 8.36E-03 7 13

LNU816 0.910 1.71E-03 7 11 LNU817 0.748 2.04E-02 5 6

LNU817 0.737 9.47E-02 6 5 LNU817 0.708 4.94E-02 2 10

LNU817 0.792 1.92E-02 2 4 LNU817 0.916 1.41E-03 2 5

LNU817 0.893 2.82E-03 2 6 LNU817 0.775 4.09E-02 4 6

LNU818 0.878 9.37E-03 1 8 LNU818 0.844 8.44E-03 5 13

LNU818 0.705 3.40E-02 5 11 LNU818 0.910 1.19E-02 6 18

LNU818 0.760 7.98E-02 6 4 LNU818 0.709 1.15E-01 6 8

LNU818 0.910 1.19E-02 6 14 LNU818 0.716 l. lOE-01 6 20

LNU818 0.771 7.29E-02 6 15 LNU818 0.796 5.84E-02 6 19

LNU818 0.742 9.11E-02 6 2 LNU818 0.910 1.19E-02 6 21

LNU818 0.814 4.89E-02 6 16 LNU818 0.806 8.77E-03 3 13

LNU818 0.705 5.08E-02 8 8 LNU818 0.828 1.12E-02 7 8

LNU818 0.882 8.69E-03 2 13 LNU818 0.882 3.71E-03 2 11

LNU818 0.776 4.04E-02 4 9 LNU818 0.860 1.31E-02 4 8

LNU819 0.712 1.12E-01 6 18 LNU819 0.712 1.12E-01 6 14

LNU819 0.703 1.19E-01 6 15 LNU819 0.889 1.78E-02 6 19

LNU819 0.946 4.29E-03 6 1 LNU819 0.712 1.12E-01 6 21

LNU819 0.742 5.63E-02 4 17 LNU819 0.729 6.32E-02 4 8

LNU819 0.859 1.32E-02 4 7 LNU819 0.742 5.63E-02 4 12

LNU820 0.854 3.06E-02 6 10 LNU820 0.748 8.71E-02 6 3

LNU820 0.771 7.27E-02 6 5 LNU820 0.738 3.67E-02 8 17

LNU820 0.738 3.67E-02 8 12 LNU820 0.783 2.16E-02 2 18

LNU820 0.783 2.16E-02 2 14 LNU820 0.826 1.15E-02 2 20

LNU820 0.778 2.29E-02 2 15 LNU820 0.783 2.16E-02 2 21

LNU820 0.798 1.76E-02 2 16 LNU821 0.705 1.18E-01 1 19

LNU821 0.701 7.95E-02 1 2 LNU821 0.835 3.85E-02 6 8

LNU821 0.846 8.04E-03 2 18 LNU821 0.846 8.04E-03 2 14

LNU821 0.874 4.59E-03 2 20 LNU821 0.818 1.31E-02 2 15

LNU821 0.888 7.64E-03 2 19 LNU821 0.922 1.13E-03 2 2

LNU821 0.763 2.75E-02 2 1 LNU821 0.846 8.04E-03 2 21

LNU821 0.867 5.26E-03 2 16 LNU821 0.953 8.86E-04 4 17

LNU821 0.953 8.86E-04 4 12 LNU822 0.727 6.41E-02 8 19 Corr. Corr.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

LNU822 0.795 3.24E-02 4 17 LNU822 0.795 3.24E-02 4 12

LNU823 0.832 2.02E-02 1 17 LNU823 0.712 7.28E-02 1 9

LNU823 0.712 7.29E-02 1 3 LNU823 0.710 7.38E-02 1 5

LNU823 0.926 2.77E-03 1 7 LNU823 0.832 2.02E-02 1 12

LNU823 0.710 3.23E-02 5 10 LNU823 0.770 9.19E-03 3 3

LNU823 0.735 3.79E-02 2 3 LNU823 0.842 8.65E-03 2 7

LNU823 0.713 7.21E-02 4 4 LNU823 0.704 7.75E-02 4 7

LNU824 0.769 4.32E-02 1 18 LNU824 0.757 4.88E-02 1 4

LNU824 0.769 4.32E-02 1 14 LNU824 0.740 5.71E-02 1 15

LNU824 0.800 5.60E-02 1 19 LNU824 0.774 4.10E-02 1 2

LNU824 0.784 3.71E-02 1 1 LNU824 0.769 4.32E-02 1 21

LNU824 0.746 5.40E-02 1 16 LNU824 0.791 1.12E-02 5 9

LNU824 0.714 3.07E-02 5 4 LNU824 0.758 4.85E-02 8 19

LNU824 0.703 5.17E-02 2 17 LNU824 0.835 9.93E-03 2 4

LNU824 0.877 4.25E-03 2 5 LNU824 0.889 3.12E-03 2 6

LNU824 0.703 5.17E-02 2 12 LNU824 0.786 3.60E-02 4 13

LNU824 0.846 1.65E-02 4 11 LNU825 0.800 3.06E-02 1 8

LNU825 0.916 3.70E-03 8 13 LNU825 0.885 3.45E-03 8 11

LNU825 0.729 4.03E-02 7 8 LNU825 0.908 4.75E-03 2 13

LNU825 0.804 1.62E-02 2 11 LNU825 0.740 5.74E-02 4 17

LNU825 0.740 5.74E-02 4 12 LNU828 0.990 1.44E-04 6 5

LNU828 0.823 4.40E-02 6 6 LNU828 0.721 1.06E-01 6 15

LNU829 0.805 2.91E-02 4 8 LNU830 0.762 2.78E-02 5 19

LNU830 0.748 8.74E-02 6 7 LNU831 0.939 5.45E-03 1 13

LNU831 0.715 7.09E-02 1 11 LNU831 0.904 2.03E-03 5 13

LNU831 0.757 1.81E-02 5 11 LNU831 0.702 7.90E-02 8 13

LNU831 0.894 6.66E-03 2 13 LNU831 0.921 3.25E-03 4 13

LNU831 0.978 1.40E-04 4 11 LNU832 0.825 2.23E-02 1 5

LNU832 0.768 4.36E-02 1 20 LNU832 0.866 1.18E-02 1 6

LNU832 0.719 6.85E-02 1 15 LNU832 0.801 3.05E-02 1 1

LNU832 0.706 7.60E-02 1 16 LNU832 0.895 1.61E-02 6 5

LNU832 0.875 2.24E-02 6 6 LNU832 0.856 3.21E-03 3 13

LNU832 0.767 9.66E-03 3 9 LNU832 0.827 3.13E-03 3 11

LNU832 0.707 4.96E-02 8 5 LNU832 0.746 3.36E-02 8 11

LNU832 0.713 4.73E-02 8 6 LNU832 0.797 1.79E-02 7 18

LNU832 0.827 1.13E-02 7 4 LNU832 0.725 4.20E-02 7 3

LNU832 0.893 2.85E-03 7 5 LNU832 0.797 1.79E-02 7 14

LNU832 0.829 1.09E-02 7 20 LNU832 0.944 4.10E-04 7 6

LNU832 0.839 9.28E-03 7 15 LNU832 0.797 1.79E-02 7 21

LNU832 0.817 1.33E-02 7 16 LNU832 0.809 1.51E-02 2 9

LNU832 0.734 3.80E-02 2 4 LNU832 0.717 4.54E-02 2 11

LNU832 0.751 3.17E-02 2 6 LNU833 0.778 3.96E-02 1 10

LNU833 0.813 2.61E-02 1 5 LNU833 0.765 4.51E-02 1 11

LNU833 0.746 5.44E-02 1 6 LNU833 0.873 1.02E-02 1 1

LNU833 0.776 6.99E-02 6 8 LNU833 0.738 9.37E-02 6 11

LNU833 0.853 1.46E-02 7 13 LNU833 0.904 2.03E-03 7 11

LNU833 0.715 4.62E-02 2 20 LNU833 0.738 3.66E-02 2 11

LNU833 0.715 4.63E-02 2 16 LNU833 0.745 5.46E-02 4 9 Corr. Corr.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

LNU833 0.836 1.92E-02 4 8 LNU834 0.820 2.41E-02 1 18

LNU834 0.737 5.87E-02 1 10 LNU834 0.871 1.07E-02 1 17

LNU834 0.810 2.71E-02 1 9 LNU834 0.722 6.72E-02 1 4

LNU834 0.819 2.43E-02 1 3 LNU834 0.805 2.90E-02 1 5

LNU834 0.894 6.67E-03 1 7 LNU834 0.820 2.41E-02 1 14

LNU834 0.750 5.23E-02 1 20 LNU834 0.803 2.96E-02 1 6

LNU834 0.869 1.10E-02 1 15 LNU834 0.871 1.07E-02 1 12

LNU834 0.886 1.88E-02 1 19 LNU834 0.805 2.88E-02 1 2

LNU834 0.724 6.61E-02 1 1 LNU834 0.820 2.41E-02 1 21

LNU834 0.852 1.49E-02 1 16 LNU834 0.927 7.87E-03 6 18

LNU834 0.846 3.38E-02 6 4 LNU834 0.927 7.87E-03 6 14

LNU834 0.831 4.03E-02 6 15 LNU834 0.879 2.12E-02 6 19

LNU834 0.758 8.05E-02 6 2 LNU834 0.927 7.87E-03 6 21

LNU834 0.839 3.69E-02 6 16 LNU834 0.723 2.78E-02 3 13

LNU834 0.743 1.37E-02 3 17 LNU834 0.786 7.05E-03 3 9

LNU834 0.711 2.12E-02 3 3 LNU834 0.795 6.03E-03 3 11

LNU834 0.743 1.37E-02 3 12 LNU834 0.700 5.31E-02 8 10

LNU834 0.927 9.31E-04 8 4 LNU834 0.758 2.93E-02 8 5

LNU834 0.855 6.81E-03 8 6 LNU834 0.775 2.38E-02 7 7

LNU834 0.760 2.87E-02 7 11 LNU834 0.933 2.14E-03 2 13

LNU834 0.748 3.29E-02 2 17 LNU834 0.765 2.69E-02 2 9

LNU834 0.883 3.63E-03 2 4 LNU834 0.851 7.38E-03 2 5

LNU834 0.850 7.48E-03 2 6 LNU834 0.748 3.29E-02 2 12

LNU834 0.822 2.31E-02 4 13 LNU834 0.990 1.73E-05 4 11

LNU835 0.867 1.16E-02 1 8 LNU835 0.710 7.37E-02 1 20

LNU835 0.822 4.45E-02 6 11 LNU835 0.754 1.89E-02 3 13

LNU835 0.892 6.97E-03 8 13 LNU835 0.973 4.88E-05 8 11

LNU835 0.739 3.61E-02 7 5 LNU835 0.711 4.81E-02 7 20

LNU835 0.788 2.01E-02 2 4 LNU835 0.780 2.25E-02 2 6

LNU835 0.881 8.78E-03 4 13 LNU837 0.897 1.54E-02 1 19

LNU837 0.776 4.02E-02 1 2 LNU837 0.825 2.24E-02 1 1

LNU838 0.941 1.55E-03 4 13 LNU838 0.953 9.08E-04 11

LNU839 0.820 2.41E-02 1 18 LNU839 0.739 5.77E-02 1 17

LNU839 0.722 6.72E-02 1 4 LNU839 0.740 5.73E-02 1 3

LNU839 0.805 2.90E-02 1 5 LNU839 0.820 2.41E-02 1 14

LNU839 0.750 5.23E-02 1 20 LNU839 0.803 2.96E-02 1 6

LNU839 0.869 1.10E-02 1 15 LNU839 0.739 5.77E-02 1 12

LNU839 0.886 1.88E-02 1 19 LNU839 0.805 2.88E-02 1 2

LNU839 0.724 6.61E-02 1 1 LNU839 0.820 2.41E-02 1 21

LNU839 0.852 1.49E-02 1 16 LNU839 0.927 7.87E-03 6 18

LNU839 0.846 3.38E-02 6 4 LNU839 0.731 9.85E-02 6 8

LNU839 0.927 7.87E-03 6 14 LNU839 0.831 4.03E-02 6 15

LNU839 0.879 2.12E-02 6 19 LNU839 0.758 8.05E-02 6 2

LNU839 0.927 7.87E-03 6 21 LNU839 0.839 3.69E-02 6 16

LNU839 0.723 2.78E-02 3 13 LNU839 0.795 6.03E-03 3 11

LNU839 0.760 2.87E-02 7 11 LNU839 0.883 3.63E-03 2 4

LNU839 0.851 7.38E-03 2 5 LNU839 0.850 7.48E-03 2 6

LNU839 0.822 2.31E-02 4 13 LNU839 0.752 5.11E-02 4 9 Corr. Corr.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp.

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name set

ID ID

LNU839 0.930 2.40E-03 4 8 LNU839 0.990 1.73E-05 4 11

LNU840 0.701 5.28E-02 7 9 LNU841 0.843 3.50E-02 6 13

LNU841 0.737 3.69E-02 8 8 LNU841 0.929 2.48E-03 7 13

LNU841 0.808 1.54E-02 7 11 LNU843 0.701 7.94E-02 1 18

LNU843 0.871 1.07E-02 1 10 LNU843 0.890 7.22E-03 1 17

LNU843 0.787 3.58E-02 1 9 LNU843 0.803 2.97E-02 1 3

LNU843 0.821 2.36E-02 1 7 LNU843 0.701 7.94E-02 1 14

LNU843 0.890 7.22E-03 1 12 LNU843 0.701 7.94E-02 1 21

LNU843 0.722 1.84E-02 3 10 LNU844 0.745 8.95E-02 6 10

LNU844 0.865 5.60E-03 8 7 LNU844 0.765 2.69E-02 7 17

LNU844 0.814 1.38E-02 7 7 LNU844 0.765 2.69E-02 7 12

LNU845 0.823 2.28E-02 1 18 LNU845 0.706 7.65E-02 1 17

LNU845 0.786 3.60E-02 1 9 LNU845 0.746 5.42E-02 1 3

LNU845 0.903 5.33E-03 1 5 LNU845 0.823 2.28E-02 1 14

LNU845 0.847 1.61E-02 1 20 LNU845 0.840 1.81E-02 1 6

LNU845 0.871 1.06E-02 1 15 LNU845 0.706 7.65E-02 1 12

LNU845 0.818 4.68E-02 1 19 LNU845 0.879 9.12E-03 1 2

LNU845 0.909 4.59E-03 1 1 LNU845 0.823 2.28E-02 1 21

LNU845 0.873 1.04E-02 1 16 LNU845 0.818 4.64E-02 6 9

LNU845 0.894 1.62E-02 6 7 LNU845 0.705 2.28E-02 3 7

LNU845 0.710 3.20E-02 3 19 LNU845 0.785 7.12E-03 3 1

LNU845 0.784 2.12E-02 8 17 LNU845 0.839 9.14E-03 8 9

LNU845 0.816 1.35E-02 8 8 LNU845 0.740 3.58E-02 8 7

LNU845 0.717 4.54E-02 8 20 LNU845 0.784 2.12E-02 8 12

LNU845 0.763 2.75E-02 7 9 LNU845 0.762 2.79E-02 7 8

LNU845 0.797 3.17E-02 4 5 LNU845 0.703 7.81E-02 4 6

LNU846 0.711 1.13E-01 6 10 LNU846 0.791 6.08E-02 6 3

LNU846 0.843 8.57E-03 8 17 LNU846 0.881 3.86E-03 8 5

LNU846 0.788 2.03E-02 8 6 LNU846 0.843 8.57E-03 8 12

LNU846 0.779 2.26E-02 7 10 LNU846 0.701 5.25E-02 2 18

LNU846 0.820 1.26E-02 2 10 LNU846 0.845 8.19E-03 2 9

LNU846 0.832 1.05E-02 2 3 LNU846 0.701 5.25E-02 2 14

LNU846 0.724 4.25E-02 2 6 LNU846 0.711 4.82E-02 2 15

LNU846 0.701 5.25E-02 2 21

Table 61. Provided are the correlations (R) between the expression levels yield improving genes and their homologs in various tissues [Expression (Exp) sets] and the phenotypic performance [yield, biomass, growth rate and/or vigor components (Correlation vector (Cor))] under low Nitrogen conditions across maize varieties. P = p value. EXAMPLE 9

PRODUCTION OF TOMATO TRANSCRIPTOM AND HIGH THROUGHPUT CORRELATION ANALYSIS USING 44K TOMATO OLIGONUCLEOTIDE

MICRO-ARRAY

In order to produce a high throughput correlation analysis between NUE related phenotypes and gene expression, the present inventors utilized a Tomato oligonucleotide micro-array, produced by Agilent Technologies [chem. (dot) agilent (dot) com/Scripts/PDS (dot) asp?lPage=50879]. The array oligonucleotide represents about 44,000 Tomato genes and transcripts. In order to define correlations between the levels of RNA expression with NUE, ABST, yield components or vigor related parameters various plant characteristics of 18 different Tomato varieties were analyzed. Among them, 10 varieties encompassing the observed variance were selected for RNA expression analysis. The correlation between the RNA levels and the characterized parameters was analyzed using Pearson correlation test [davidmlane (dot) com/hyperstat/A34739 (dot) html].

Correlation of Tomato varieties across ecotypes grown under low Nitrogen, drought and regular growth conditions

Experimental procedures:

10 Tomato varieties were grown in 3 repetitive blocks, each containing 6 plants per plot were grown at net house. Briefly, the growing protocol was as follows:

/. Regular growth conditions: Tomato varieties were grown under normal conditions (4-6 Liters/m of water per day and fertilized with NPK as recommended in protocols for commercial tomato production).

2. Low Nitrogen fertilization conditions: Tomato varieties were grown under normal conditions (4-6 Liters/m per day and fertilized with NPK as recommended in protocols for commercial tomato production) until flower stage. At this time, Nitrogen fertilization was stopped.

3. Drought stress: Tomato variety was grown under normal conditions (4-6 Liters/m per day) until flower stage. At this time, irrigation was reduced to 50 % compared to normal conditions.

Plants were phenotyped on a daily basis following the standard descriptor of tomato (Table 63). Harvest was conducted while 50 % of the fruits were red (mature). Plants were separated to the vegetative part and fruits, of them, 2 nodes were analyzed for additional inflorescent parameters such as size, number of flowers, and inflorescent weight. Fresh weight of all vegetative material was measured. Fruits were separated to colors (red vs. green) and in accordance with the fruit size (small, medium and large). Next, analyzed data was saved to text files and processed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute). Data parameters collected are summarized in Tables 64-70, hereinbelow.

Analyzed Tomato tissues - Two tissues at different developmental stages [flower and leaf], representing different plant characteristics, were sampled and RNA was extracted as described above. For convenience, each micro-array expression information tissue type has received a Set ID as summarized in Table 62 below.

Table 62

Tomato transcriptom expression sets

Table 62: Provided are the identification (ID) letters of each of the tomato expression sets.

Table 63 provides the tomato correlated parameters (Vectors). The average for each of the measured parameter was calculated using the JMP software and values are summarized in Tables 64-70 below. Subsequent correlation analysis was conducted (Table 71). Results were integrated to the database.

Table 63

Tomato correlated parameters (vectors)

Correlation

Correlated parameter with

ID

100 weight green fruit (Drought) [kg] 1

100 weight green fruit (Low N) [kg] 2 Correlation

Correlated parameter with

ID

100 weight green fruit (Normal) [kg] 3

100 weight red fruit (Drought) [kg] 4

100 weight red fruit (Low N) [kg] 5

100 weight red fruit (Normal) [kg] 6

Cluster Weight NUE/Normal [kg] 7

FW NUE/Normal [gr.] 8

FW drought/Normal [gr.] 9

FW/Plant (NUE) [gr.] 10

FW/Plant (Normal) [gr.] 11

FW/Plant Drought [gr.] 12

Fruit Drought/NUE [gr.] 13

Fruit NUE/Normal [gr.] 14

Fruit Yield Drought/Normal [gr.] 15

Fruit Yield/Plant (NUE) [gr.] 16

Fruit Yield/Plant Drought [gr.] 17

Fruit yield /Plant (Normal) [gr.] 18

HI [yield/yield+biomass] (Low N) 19

HI [yield/yield+biomass] (Normal) 20

Leaflet Length [cm] (Low N) [cm] 21

Leaflet Length [cm] (Normal) [cm] 22

Leaflet Length [cm]) (Drought) [cm] 23

Leaflet Width (Low N) [cm] 24

Leaflet Width (Normal) [cm] 25

Leaflet Width [cm] (Drought) [cm] 26

NUE [yield/SPAD] (Low N) 27

NUE [yield/SPAD] (Normal) 28

NUE2 [total biomass/SPAD] (Low N) 29

NUE2 [total biomass/SPAD] (Normal) 30

NUpE [biomass/SPAD] (Low N) 31

NUpE [biomass/SPAD] (Normal) 32

No flowers (NUE) 33

No flowers (Normal) 34

Num of Flower Drought/NUE 35

Num of Flower Drought/Normal 36

Num of flowers (Drought) 37

Num. Flowers NUE/Normal 38

RWC (Normal) [%] 39

RWC Drought [%] 40

RWC Drought/Normal [%] 41

RWC NUE [%] 42

RWC NUE/Normal [%] 43

SAPD 100% RWC NUE/Normal [SPAD unit] 44

SLA [leaf area/plant biomass] (Low N) 45

SLA [leaf area/plant biomass] (Normal) 46

SPAD (Normal) [SPAD unit] 47

SPAD 100% RWC (NUE) [SPAD unit] 48

SPAD 100% RWC (Normal) [SPAD unit] 49

SPAD NUE [SPAD unit] 50

SPAD NUE/Normal [SPAD unit] 51 Correlation

Correlated parameter with

ID

Total Leaf Area [cm ^A 2] (Low N) 52

Total Leaf Area [cm ^A 2] (Normal) 53

Total Leaf Area [cm ^A 2]) (Drought) 54

Weight Flower clusters (Normal) [gr.] 55

Weight clusters (flowers) (NUE) [gr.] 56

Weight flower clusters (Drought) [gr.] 57

Yield/SLA (Low N) 58

Yield/SLA (Normal) 59

Yield/total leaf area (Low N) 60

Yield/total leaf area (Normal) 61 average red fruit weight (NUE) [gr.] 62 average red fruit weight (Normal) [gr.] 63 average red fruit weight Drought [gr.] 64 flower cluster weight Drought/NUE [gr.] 65 flower cluster weight Drought/Normal [gr.] 66 red fruit weight Drought/Normal [gr.] 67

Table 63. Provided are the tomato correlated parameters, "gr." = grams; "FW" = fresh weight; "NUE" = nitrogen use efficiency; "RWC" = relative water content; "NUpE" = nitrogen uptake efficiency; "SPAD" = chlorophyll levels; "HI" = harvest index (vegetative weight divided on yield); "SLA" = specific leaf area (leaf area divided by leaf dry weight).

Fruit Yield (grams) - At the end of the experiment [when 50 % of the fruit were ripe (red)] all fruits from plots within blocks A-C were collected. The total fruits were counted and weighted. The average fruits weight was calculated by dividing the total fruit weight by the number of fruits.

Yield/SLA and Yield/total leaf area - Fruit yield divided by the specific leaf area or the total leaf area gives a measurement of the balance between reproductive and vegetative processes.

Plant Fresh Weight (grams) - At the end of the experiment [when 50 % of the fruit were ripe (red)] all plants from plots within blocks A-C were collected. Fresh weight was measured (grams).

Inflorescence Weight (grams) - At the end of the experiment [when 50 % of the fruits were ripe (red)] two inflorescence from plots within blocks A-C were collected. The inflorescence weight (gr.) and number of flowers per inflorescence were counted.

SPAD - Chlorophyll content was determined using a Minolta SPAD 502 chlorophyll meter and measurement was performed at time of flowering. SPAD meter readings were done on young fully developed leaf. Three measurements per leaf were taken per plot. Water use efficiency (WUE) - can be determined as the biomass produced per unit transpiration. To analyze WUE, leaf relative water content was measured in control and transgenic plants. Fresh weight (FW) was immediately recorded; then leaves were soaked for 8 hours in distilled water at room temperature in the dark, and the turgid weight (TW) was recorded. Total dry weight (DW) was recorded after drying the leaves at 60 °C to a constant weight. Relative water content (RWC) was calculated according to the following Formula I [(FW - DW/TW - DW) x 100] as described above.

Plants that maintain high relative water content (RWC) compared to control lines were considered more tolerant to drought than those exhibiting reduced relative water content.

Experimental Results

Table 64

Measured parameters in Tomato accessions under drought conditions line

ID/Co 9 12 13 15 17 35 36 37 40 41 57 64 r. ID

1.71 2.62 1.15 0.56 0.46 0.87 2.94 16.6 72.1 0.99 0.36 0.0

Line-1

7 0 1 5 7 7 1 67 20 0 8 09

0.34 1.09 0.73 1.41 0.48 1.21 0.33 6.50 74.5 0.97 0.40 0.1

Line-2

4 2 2 5 3 9 6 0 10 4 7 95

0.61 1.84 1.32 1.27 0.62 1.74 2.47 15.6 65.3 1.01 0.32 0.2

Line-3

1 7 1 4 9 1 4 67 30 6 5 09

2.63 2.22 0.75 2.87 0.34 1.56 2.65 20.3 72.2 1.07 0.28 0.0

Line-4

0 1 6 6 7 4 2 33 20 7 8 05

1.17 2.63 1.51 4.20 2.04 1.09 1.20 11.6 66.1 1.20 0.55 0.1

Line-5

7 4 3 1 4 4 7 67 30 7 1 02

1.36 2.70 0.70 0.55 0.25 1.52 3.04 25.3 68.3 0.88 0.31 0.0

Line-6

5 8 5 0 0 0 0 33 30 0 1 02

4.01 3.40 5.06 0.08 0.04 4.95 5.94 29.7 78.1 1.34 0.44 0.0

Line-7

8 6 3 5 5 6 7 33 30 3 5 35

1.01 2.10 0.89 1.03 0.45 1.08 2.08 17.3 18.4 0.27 0.55 0.0

Line-8

0 8 1 0 3 3 0 33 60 8 5 06

0.60 1.94 0.67 1.39 0.29 0.97 1.46 14.6 73.2 1.13 0.30 0.0

Line-9

8 8 1 2 2 8 7 67 10 1 4 05

Line- 0.64 1.76 2.17 3.28 1.01 4.94 4.23 29.6 62.5 0.83 0.31 0.0

10 0 3 1 0 7 4 8 67 00 1 5 05

Line- 0.95 1.72 0.37 0.90 0.60 0.88 1.66 15.0 67.2 1.01 0.30 0.0

11 0 1 7 6 0 2 7 00 10 5 8 05

Line- 0.51 1.92 1.27 2.61 0.49 0.79 1.29 10.3 75.7 1.19 0.31 0.0

12 0 3 3 8 4 5 2 33 60 9 1 12

Line- 1.16 2.20 0.84 0.31 0.27 2.11 3.43 18.3 62.8 1.10 8.36 0.0

13 8 6 2 9 2 5 8 33 20 7 0 05

Line- 1.93 3.73 1.51 2.48 0.67 1.28 1.50 12.0 70.6 1.96 0.28 0.0

14 8 1 2 4 9 6 0 00 90 6 8 06 line

ID/Co 9 12 i3 i5 i7 35 36 37 40 41 57 64 r. ID

Line- 0.35 0.75 0.98 0.40 0.14 1.60 2.65 20.3 55.7 0.71 0.34 0.3 15 2 4 4 5 0 5 2 33 50 8 2 03

Line- 1.06 1.75 1.33 1.61 0.52 1.90 1.40 12.6 75.2 0.75 0.44 0.1 16 3 7 7 9 9 0 7 67 20 2 1 38

Line- 0.20 0.62 0.38 1.76 0.55 1.35 1.18 12.6 63.6 1.00 0.26 0.0 17 8 6 4 3 4 7 8 67 80 8 8 40

Line- 0.48 1.10 0.83 1.42 0.41 1.41 1.25 11.3 62.3 0.82 0.42 0.0 18 3 9 7 4 4 7 9 33 10 9 6 89

Table 64: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Sorghum accessions (line ID) under drought growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 65

Additional Measured parameters in Tomato accessions under drought conditions

Table 65: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Tomato accessions (line ID) under drought conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 66

Measured parameters in Tomato accessions under low nitrogen conditions tine

ID/Cor. 7 8 iO 14 6 33 38 42 43 44 48 ID

0.45 2.64 4.04 0.49 0.40 19.00 3.35 1.01 0.78

Line-1 74.070 28.469

7 9 1 1 6 0 3 7 7

1.07 0.38 1.21 1.93 0.66 0.27 1.29 1.37

Line-2 5.333 99.080 39.039

2 2 3 2 0 6 6 2

0.44 0.74 2.24 0.96 0.47 1.42 1.08 0.92

Line-3 9.000 69.490 33.009

2 3 6 5 7 1 1 0

0.00 3.00 2.54 3.80 0.45 13.00 1.69 0.94 0.75

Line-4 63.240 23.418

6 8 0 2 8 0 6 3 3

1.07 0.82 1.85 2.77 1.35 10.66 1.10 1.41 1.30

Line-5 77.360 34.528

6 7 0 6 1 7 3 2 9

0.02 1.54 3.06 0.78 0.35 16.66 2.00 1.00 0.96

Line-6 77.910 32.513

2 4 3 0 4 7 0 4 5

0.37 3.69 3.13 0.01 0.00 1.20 1.38 1.10

Line-7 6.000 80.490 27.661

1 7 4 7 9 0 3 7

0.80 1.21 2.54 1.15 0.50 16.00 1.92 1.01 0.94

Line-8 67.400 33.676

9 8 2 7 9 0 0 3 9

0.54 0.57 1.84 2.07 0.43 15.00 1.50 1.03 0.79

Line-9 67.160 30.045

8 5 4 4 6 0 0 8 3

0.36 0.55 1.51 1.51 0.46 0.85 0.87 0.92

Line-10 6.000 66.070 35.502

4 1 7 1 8 7 8 4

0.95 1.05 1.91 2.40 1.59 17.00 1.88 1.05 0.93

Line-11 69.570 24.812

3 6 3 6 3 0 9 0 7

0.80 0.49 1.85 2.05 0.38 13.00 1.62 1.09 1.35

Line-12 69.300 40.771

0 2 6 6 8 0 5 6 6

0.34 1.31 2.47 0.37 0.32 1.62 100.00 1.76 1.44

Line-13 8.667 47.467

0 0 2 9 3 5 0 1 3

0.61 1.36 2.62 1.64 0.44 1.16 1.60 1.50

Line-14 9.333 57.660 26.064

1 1 1 2 9 7 3 2

0.93 0.50 1.08 0.41 0.14 12.66 1.65 1.17 1.04

Line-15 90.790 35.378

8 6 4 2 3 7 2 0 6

0.67 0.70 1.16 1.21 0.39 0.74 0.68 0.56

Line-16 6.667 68.000 30.600

7 5 6 1 6 1 0 2

0.40 0.30 0.92 4.58 1.44 0.87 0.94 1.48

Line-17 9.333 59.650 38.971

4 6 1 7 2 5 4 4

1.43 0.47 1.08 1.70 0.49 0.88 0.96 0.84

Line-18 8.000 72.170 37.456

9 4 8 0 5 9 1 3

Table 66: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Tomato accessions (Seed ID) under low nitrogen growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section. Table 67

Additional measured parameters in Tomato accessions under low nitrogen conditions line

ID/Co 50 51 56 62 2 19 21 24 27 29 31 r. ID

Line- 38.4 0.7 0.5 0.0 0.091 6.398 3.466 0.01 0.156 0.141

0.87

1 00 73 33 24 2 65 88 425 19 95 line

ID/Co 50 51 56 62 2 19 21 24 27 29 31 r. ID

Line- 39.4 1.0 0.3 0.1 3.663 0.352 5.920 1.973 0.01 0.047 0.031 2 00 59 67 91 33 31 27 73 691 99 08

Line- 47.5 0.8 0.3 0.0 0.566 0.175 3.686 1.785 0.01 0.082 0.068 3 00 51 07 06 67 1 36 01 444 47 03

Line- 37.0 0.7 0.3 0.0 0.152 5.427 2.551 0.01 0.128 0.108

0.37

4 00 97 50 05 86 13 98 957 03 46

Line- 44.6 0.9 0.4 0.0 3.403 0.422 6.951 3.517 0.03 0.092 0.053 5 00 25 73 96 33 08 19 76 913 71 58

Line- 41.7 0.9 0.2 0.0 0.683 0.103 3.733 1.731 0.01 0.105 0.094 6 00 61 49 04 33 71 74 01 09 12 22

Line- 34.4 0.8 0.2 0.0 0.453 0.002 4.385 1.872 0.00 0.113 0.113 7 00 02 93 06 33 83 15 21 032 64 32

Line- 50.0 0.9 0.4 0.0 0.473 0.166 6.723 3.541 0.01 0.090 0.075 8 00 38 67 07 33 79 86 86 511 6 49

Line- 44.7 0.7 0.4 0.0 0.191 6.656 3.278 0.01 0.075 0.061

0.54

9 00 64 00 06 03 57 15 45 89 39

Line- 53.7 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.393 0.235 4.386 2.522 0.01 0.055 0.042 10 00 51 03 13 33 94 54 5 319 91 72

Line- 35.7 0.8 0.8 0.0 0.454 3.901 2.607 0.06 0.141 0.077

0.97

11 00 93 20 21 46 07 88 422 3 09

Line- 58.8 1.2 0.4 0.0 0.913 0.173 5.290 2.612 0.00 0.055 0.045 12 00 35 00 05 33 06 57 33 952 04 51

Line- 47.5 0.8 0.3 0.0 0.363 0.115 6.316 3.577 0.00 0.058 0.052 13 00 20 47 06 33 48 83 72 68 88 08

Line- 45.2 0.9 0.4 0.0 0.346 0.146 5.112 2.564 0.01 0.117 0.100 14 00 36 28 47 67 22 6 2 722 79 56

Line- 39.0 0.8 0.3 0.3 0.566 0.116 4.724 2.483 0.00 0.034 0.030 15 00 94 53 57 67 34 94 02 404 69 65

Line- 45.0 0.8 0.4 0.0 4.383 0.253 6.832 3.430 0.01 0.051 0.038 16 00 26 47 37 33 38 45 48 293 02 09

Line- 65.3 1.5 0.2 0.6 0.610 7.097 3.298 0.03 0.060 0.023

2.02

17 00 70 83 26 25 01 74 701 64 64

Line- 51.9 0.8 0.4 0.312 8.213 3.689 0.01 0.042 0.029

8.13

18 00 78 70 74 38 39 322 26 04

Table 67: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Tomato accessions (Seed ID) under low nitrogen growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 68

Additional measured parameters in Tomato accessions under low nitrogen conditions line ID/Cor. ID 45 52 58 60 5

Line-1 140.044 565.932 0.0029 0.00072 1.06

Line-2 317.118 384.77 0.00208 0.00172 6.86667

Line-3 131.293 294.827 0.00363 0.00162 0.64667

Line-4 148.817 377.995 0.00308 0.00121 0.53

Line-5 257.51 476.393 0.00525 0.00284 7.17333

Line-6 64.3367 197.085 0.00551 0.0018 0.44 line ID/Cor. ID 45 52 58 60 5

Line-7 144.599 453.236 6.1E-05 2E-05

Line-8 246.05 625.515 0.00207 0.00081 0.55333

Line-9 405.548 748.01 0.00107 0.00058 0.74667

Line-10 299.316 453.962 0.00156 0.00103 0.58

Line-11 86.1901 164.853 0.01849 0.00967 1.26667

Line-12 182.319 338.303 0.00213 0.00115 1.34

Line-13 160.178 395.995 0.00202 0.00082 0.52

Line-14 90.0951 236.149 0.00498 0.0019 0.57333

Line-15 160.99 174.585 0.00089 0.00082 0.94333

Line-16 379.028 441.778 0.00104 0.0009 6.17

Line-17 531.079 489.183 0.00272 0.00295 3.67333

Line-18 650.684 707.8 0.00076 0.0007 11.325

Table 68: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Tomato accessions (Seed ID) under low nitrogen growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section. Table 69

Measured parameters in Tomato accessions under normal conditions line

ID/Cor. 11 18 34 39 47 49 55 63 20 28 ID

1.52 0.82 36.17 0.04 0.35 0.01

Line-1 5.667 72.830 49.700 1.167

6 6 0 8 1 7

3.17 0.34 28.44 0.00 0.09 0.00

Line-2 19.333 76.470 37.200 0.342

4 2 7 8 7 9

3.02 0.49 35.89 0.00 0.14 0.00

Line-3 6.333 64.290 55.800 0.693

2 4 3 8 0 9

0.84 0.12 31.08 56.34 0.28 0.12 0.00

Line-4 7.667 67.070 46.400

4 1 5 8 6 5 3

2.23 0.48 26.38 0.00 0.17 0.01

Line-5 9.667 54.790 48.200 0.440

8 7 4 5 9 0

1.98 0.45 33.68 11.31 0.05 0.18 0.01

Line-6 8.333 77.610 43.400

4 4 4 3 4 6 0

0.84 0.52 24.97 0.23 0.38 0.01

Line-7 5.000 58.180 42.900 0.790

8 9 9 1 4 2

2.08 0.44 35.47 0.29 0.17 0.00

Line-8 8.333 66.510 53.300 0.577

8 0 2 0 4 8

3.20 0.21 37.87 0.00 0.06 0.00

Line-9 10.000 64.710 58.500 0.730

6 0 5 6 1 4

2.75 0.31 38.42 0.00 0.10 0.00

Line-10 7.000 75.250 51.100 0.833

4 0 6 7 1 6

1.81 0.66 26.49 0.05 0.26 0.01

Line-11 9.000 66.230 40.000 0.860

1 2 4 8 8 7

3.77 0.18 30.06 0.00 0.04 0.00

Line-12 8.000 63.210 47.600 0.500

0 9 6 7 8 4

1.88 0.85 32.88 0.02 0.31 0.01

Line-13 5.333 56.770 57.900 1.020

8 2 9 6 1 5

1.92 0.27 17.35 0.26 0.12 0.00

Line-14 8.000 35.960 48.300 0.700

6 3 4 1 4 6 line

ID/Cor. 11 18 34 39 47 49 55 63 20 28 ID

2.14 0.34 33.81 0.02 0.13 0.00

Line- 15 7.667 77.620 43.600 0.377

3 7 8 9 9 8

1.65 0.32 100.00 54.46 0.00 0.16 0.00

Line- 16 9.000 54.500 0.660

2 7 0 7 5 5 6

3.01 0.31 26.25 0.00 0.09 0.00

Line- 17 10.667 63.160 41.600 0.700

1 4 3 3 5 8

2.29 0.29 44.42 0.00 0.11 0.00

Line- 18 9.000 75.130 59.100 0.327

4 1 7 9 3 5

Table 69: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Tomato accessions (lined ID) under normal growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 70

Additional measured parameters in Tomato accessions under normal conditions line

ID/Cor. 30 32 3 6 22 25 46 53 59 61 ID

Line-1 0.047 0.031

Line-2 0.095 0.085

0.556 0.823 6.342 3.690 140.9 426.0 0.003 0.001

Line-3 0.063 0.054

67 33 84 46 89 99 5 16

3.053 2.456 7.988 4.767 689.6 582.3 0.000 0.000

Line-4 0.021 0.018

33 67 03 56 65 84 17 21

0.503 5.593 3.433 130.2 291.4 0.003 0.001

Line-5 0.057 0.046 0.24

33 31 57 2 03 74 67

2.576 7.697 4.560 299.1 593.5 0.001 0.000

Line-6 0.056 0.046 2.76

67 22 61 18 83 52 77

6.323 5.316 7.845 4.435 1117. 947.5 0.000 0.000

Line-7 0.032 0.020

33 67 68 34 74 94 47 56

5.753 6.216 3.150 111.7 233.3 0.003 0.001

Line-8 0.047 0.039 5.24

33 98 39 7 52 94 89

0.376 6.159 3.368 106.2 340.7 0.001 0.000

Line-9 0.058 0.055 0.61

67 7 88 94 31 98 62

0.296 5.652 3.131 123.1 339.1 0.002 0.000

Line-10 0.060 0.054 0.66

67 11 12 39 11 52 91

1.953 2.703 4.394 2.396 104.9 190.1 0.006 0.003

Line-11 0.062 0.045

33 33 88 32 86 41 31 48

2.533 4.441 2.024 111.8 421.7 0.001 0.000

Line-12 0.083 0.079 0.7

33 38 36 8 89 69 45

1.423 6.769 3.800 307.9 581.3 0.002 0.001

Line-13 0.047 0.033 2.64

33 6 2 46 34 77 47

7.415 3.743 419.3 807.5 0.000 0.000

Line-14 0.046 0.040 2.03 4.67

86 3 65 11 65 34

2.166 6.708 2.975 365.8 784.0 0.000 0.000

Line-15 0.057 0.049 1.385

67 98 23 12 56 95 44

0.493 5.865 3.219 212.9 351.8 0.001 0.000

Line-16 0.036 0.030 2.27

33 25 56 26 01 53 93 tine

ID/Cor. 30 32 3 6 22 25 46 53 59 61 ID

0.343 2.088 84.94 255.7 0.003 0.001

Line-17 0.080 0.072 0.45 4.16

33 98 41 76 7 23

0.416 0.753 10.29 5.912 469.8 1078. 0.000 0.000

Line-18 0.044 0.039

67 33 02 28 74 1 62 27

Table 70: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Tomato accessions (line ID) under normal growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 71

Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues and the phenotypic performance under normal and stress conditions across tomato ecotypes

Table 71. Provided are the correlations (R) between the expression levels yield improving genes and their homologs in various tissues [Expression (Exp) sets] and the phenotypic performance [yield, biomass, growth rate and/or vigor components (Correlation vector (Cor))] under normal and low nitrogen conditions across tomato ecotypes. P = p value.

Correlation of early vigor traits across collection of Tomato ecotypes under Low nitrogen, 300 mM NaCl, and normal growth conditions - Ten tomato hybrids were grown in 3 repetitive plots, each containing 17 plants, at a net house under semi- hydroponics conditions. Briefly, the growing protocol was as follows: Tomato seeds were sown in trays filled with a mix of vermiculite and peat in a 1 : 1 ratio. Following germination, the trays were transferred to the high salinity solution (300 mM NaCl in addition to the Full Hoagland solution), low nitrogen ("low N") solution (the amount of total nitrogen was reduced in 90% from the full Hoagland solution, final amount of 0.8 mM N), or at Normal growth solution (Full Hoagland containing 8 mM N solution, grown at 28 + 2°C). Plants were grown at 28 + 2 °C.

Full Hoagland solution consists of: KN0 ₃ - 0.808 grams/liter, MgS0 ₄ - 0.12 grams/liter, KH ₂ P0 ₄ - 0.172 grams/liter and 0.01 % (volume/volume) of 'Super coratin' micro elements (Iron-EDDHA [ethylenediamine-N,N'-bis(2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid)]- 40.5 grams/liter; Mn - 20.2 grams/liter; Zn 10.1 grams/liter; Co 1.5 grams/liter; and Mo 1.1 grams/liter), solution's pH should be 6.5 - 6.8.

Analyzed tomato tissues - All 10 selected Tomato varieties were sample per each treatment. Three tissues [leaves, meristems and flowers] were sampled and RNA was extracted as described above. For convenience, each micro-array expression information tissue type has received a Set ID as summarized in Table 72 below.

Table 72

Tomato transcriptom experimental sets

Tomato vigor related parameters - following 5 weeks of growing, plant were harvested and analyzed for Leaf number, plant height, chlorophyll levels (SPAD units), different indices of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and plant biomass. Next, analyzed data was saved to text files and processed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute). Data parameters collected are summarized in Table 73, herein below. Table 73

Tomato correlated parameters (vectors)

Table 73. Provided are the tomato correlated parameters,. "DW" = dry weight; "cm" = centimeter. "Leaf No." = leaf number.

Experimental Results

10 different Tomato varieties were grown and characterized for parameters as described above. The average for each of the measured parameter was calculated using the JMP software and values are summarized in Tables 74-77 below. Subsequent correlation analysis was conducted (Table 78). Follow, results were integrated to the database.

Table 74

Measured parameters in Tomato accessions under low nitrogen conditions

Cor.

1 10 14 18 19 24 25 4 5 ID/Line

10.85

Line-1 0.850 0.810 36.780 1.010 34.570 45.330 5.560 6.990

4 Cor.

1 10 14 18 19 24 25 4 5 ID/Line

11.40

Line-2 0.900 0.830 39.890 0.980 24.870 47.780 6.220 2.540

9

Line-3 0.980 0.840 34.440 1.020 28.580 40.780 7.220

10.43

Line-4 1.090 0.850 47.000 1.000 31.580 55.330 6.780 7.040

8

11.16

Line-5 0.880 0.830 46.440 0.980 29.720 56.220 5.560 5.040

9

Line-6 1.020 0.930 45.440 0.980 31.830 48.670 6.560 8.929 8.010

15.09

Line-7 0.870 0.850 47.670 0.930 30.330 55.780 5.110 7.926

0

Line-8 1.060 1.050 39.330 1.050 30.290 37.440 5.890 7.993 9.020

10.30

Line-9 0.910 0.840 41.780 1.010 31.320 49.560 5.560 8.780

4

Line- 10 1.120 0.880 41.000 0.990 28.770 46.330 6.330 8.585 7.250

11.52

Line- 11 7.730

8

14.49 15.94

Line- 12

1 0

Table 74. Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Tomato accessions (Line) under low nitrogen growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 75

Additional measured parameters in Tomato accessions under low nitrogen conditions

Table 75. Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Tomato accessions (Line) under low nitrogen growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section. Table 76

Measured parameters in Tomato accessions under normal conditions

Table 76. Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Tomato accessions (Line) under normal growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 77

Measured parameters in Tomato accessions under salinity conditions

Cor.

2 3 11 12 13 15 27 4 21 17 23 ID/Line

0.54 0.64 0.15 0.12 0.36 5.60 3.56 11.4 0.00 0.00 0.00

Line-1

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 1 0 1

0.57 0.63 0.16 0.14 0.44 6.46 3.94 11.6 0.00 0.00 0.00

Line-2

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 39 1 0 1

0.68 0.69 0.25 0.21 0.26 8.47 5.00

Line-3

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0.64 0.59 0.18 0.15 0.71 8.56 4.00 10.7 0.00 0.00 0.00

Line-4

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 88 1 0 1

0.56 0.64 0.19 0.16 0.46 8.87 3.56 10.7 0.00 0.00 0.00

Line-5

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 76 2 0 2

0.68 0.67 0.17 0.16 0.54 7.56 4.39 6.95 0.00 0.00 0.00

Line-6

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 1

0.54 0.62 0.18 0.15 0.66 8.64 3.17 9.21 0.00 0.00 0.00

Line-7

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 1 Cor.

2 3 11 12 13 15 27 4 21 17 23 ID/Line

0.67 0.63 0.14 0.15 0.40 5.57 3.72 8.53 0.00 0.00 0.00

Line-8

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 1 0 1

0.65 0.72 0.14 0.12 0.52 5.82 4.00 10.3 0.00 0.00 0.00

Line-9

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 70 1 0 1

0.75 0.68 0.23 0.20 0.45 9.36 4.28 8.84 0.00

Line- 10

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

10.4 0.00 0.00 0.00

Line- 11

34 1 0 1

12.4 0.00 0.00 0.00

Line- 12

29 1 0 1

Table 77. Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Tomato accessions (Line) under salinity growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 78

Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues and the phenotypic performance under normal and stress conditions across tomato ecotypes

Table 78. Provided are the correlations (R) between the expression levels yield improving genes and their homologs in various tissues [Expression (Exp) sets] and the phenotypic performance [yield, biomass, growth rate and/or vigor components (Correlation vector (Corr))] under normal and low nitrogen conditions across tomato ecotypes. P = p value.

EXAMPLE 10

PRODUCTION OF MAIZE TRANSCRIPTOM AND HIGH THROUGHPUT

CORRELATION ANALYSIS WHEN GROWN UNDER NORMAL AND DEFOLIATION CONDITIONS USING 60K MAIZE OLIGONUCLEOTIDE

MICRO-ARRAY

To produce a high throughput correlation analysis, the present inventors utilized a Maize oligonucleotide micro-array, produced by Agilent Technologies [chem. (dot) agilent (dot) com/Scripts/PDS (dot) asp?lPage=50879]. The array oligonucleotide represents about 60K Maize genes and transcripts designed based on data from Public databases (Example 1). To define correlations between the levels of RNA expression and yield, biomass components or vigor related parameters, various plant characteristics of 13 different Maize varieties were analyzed under normal conditions and defoliation treatment. Same varieties were subjected to RNA expression analysis. The correlation between the RNA levels and the characterized parameters was analyzed using Pearson correlation test [davidmlane (dot) com/hyperstat/A34739 (dot) html].

Experimental procedures

13 maize varieties lines were grown in 6 repetitive plots, in field. Maize seeds were planted and plants were grown in the field using commercial fertilization and irrigation protocols. After silking 3 plots in every varieties line underwent the defoliation treatment. In this treatment all the leaves above the ear were removed. After the treatment all the plants were grown according to the same commercial fertilization and irrigation protocols.

Three tissues at flowering developmental (Rl) stage including leaf (flowering - Rl), stem (flowering -Rl), and flowering meristem (flowering -Rl) representing different plant characteristics, were sampled from treated and untreated plants. RNA was extracted as described in "GENERAL EXPERIMENTAL AND BIOINFORMATICS METHODS". For convenience, each micro-array expression information tissue type has received a Set ID as summarized in Tables 79-80 below. Table 79

Tissues used for Maize transcriptom expression sets (Under normal conditions)

Table 79: Provided are the identification (ID) number of each of the Maize expression sets.

Table 80

Tissues used for Maize transcriptom expression sets (Under defoliation conditions)

The following parameters were collected by imaging.

The image processing system was used, which consists of a personal desktop computer (Intel P4 3.0 GHz processor) and a public domain program - ImageJ 1.37, Java based image processing software, which was developed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and is freely available on the internet at rsbweb (dot) nih (dot) gov/. Images were captured in resolution of 10 Mega Pixels (3888x2592 pixels) and stored in a low compression JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group standard) format. Next, image processing output data for seed area and seed length was saved to text files and analyzed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute).

1000 grain weight - At the end of the experiment all seeds from all plots were collected and weighedand the weight of 1000 was calculated.

Ear Area (cm )- At the end of the growing period 5 ears were, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The Ear area was measured from those images and was divided by the number of ears.

Ear Length and Ear Width (cm) - At the end of the growing period 6 ears were, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The Ear length and width (longest axis) was measured from those images and was divided by the number of ears.

Grain Area (cm ) - At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the ear. A sample of -200 grains were weight, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The grain area was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

Grain Length and Grain width (cm) - At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the ear. A sample of -200 grains were weight, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The sum of grain lengths /or width (longest axis) was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

Grain Perimeter (cm) - At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the ear. A sample of -200 grains were weight, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The sum of grain perimeter was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

Ear filled grain area (cm ) - At the end of the growing period 5 ears were, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The Ear area filled with kernels was measured from those images and was divided by the number of Ears.

Filled per Whole Ear - was calculated as the length of the ear with grains out of the total ear.

Additional parameters were collected either by sampling 6 plants per plot or by measuring the parameter across all the plants within the plot.

Cob width [cm] - The diameter of the cob without grains was measured using a ruler.

Ear average weight [kg] - At the end of the experiment (when ears were harvested) total and 6 selected ears per plots were collected. The ears were weighted and the average ear per plant was calculated. The ear weight was normalized using the relative humidity to be 0%.

Plant height and Ear height - Plants were characterized for height at harvesting. In each measure, 6 plants were measured for their height using a measuring tape. Height was measured from ground level to top of the plant below the tassel. Ear height was measured from the ground level to the place were the main ear is located Ear row num - The number of rows per ear was counted. Ear fresh weight per plant (GF)- During the grain filling period (GF) and total and 6 selected ears per plot were collected separately. The ears were weighted and the average ear weight per plant was calculated.

Ears dry weight -At the end of the experiment (when ears were harvested) total and 6 selected ears per plots were collected and weighted. The ear weight was normalized using the relative humidity to be 0%.

Ears fresh weight -At the end of the experiment (when ears were harvested) total and 6 selected ears per plots were collected and weighted.

Ears per plant-number of ears per plant were counted.

Grains weight (Kg.) - At the end of the experiment all ears were collected. Ears from 6 plants from each plot were separately threshed and grains were weighted.

Grains dry weight (Kg.) - At the end of the experiment all ears were collected. Ears from 6 plants from each plot were separately threshed and grains were weighted. The grain weight was normalized using the relative humidity to be 0%.

Grain weight per ear (Kg.) - At the end of the experiment all ears were collected.

5 ears from each plot were separately threshed and grains were weighted. The average grain weight per ear was calculated by dividing the total grain weight by the number of ears.

Leaves area per plant (GF) and (HD) [LAI]= Total leaf area of 6 plants in a plot his parameter was measured at two time points during the course of the experiment; at heading (HD) and during the grain filling period (GF). Measurement was performed using a Leaf area-meter at two time points in the course of the experiment; during the grain filling period and at the heading stage (VT).

Leaves fresh weight (GF) and (HD) - This parameter was measured at two time points during the course of the experiment; at heading (HD) and during the grain filling period (GF). Leaves used for measurement of the LAI were weighted.

Lower stem fresh weight (GF) (HD) and (H) - This parameter was measured at three time points during the course of the experiment: at heading (HD), during the grain filling period (GF) and at harvest (H). Lower internodes from at least 4 plants per plot were separated from the plant and weighted. The average internode weight per plant was calculated by dividing the total grain weight by the number of plants. Lower stem length (GF) (HD) and (H) - This parameter was measured at three time points during the course of the experiment; at heading (HD), during the grain filling period (GF) and at harvest (H). Lower internodes from at least 4 plants per plot were separated from the plant and their length was measured using a ruler. The average internode length per plant was calculated by dividing the total grain weight by the number of plants.

Lower stem width (GF) (HD) and (H) - This parameter was measured at three time points during the course of the experiment: at heading (HD), during the grain filling period (GF) and at harvest (H). Lower internodes from at least 4 plants per plot were separated from the plant and their diameter was measured using a caliber. The average internode width per plant was calculated by dividing the total grain weight by the number of plants.

Plant height growth: the relative growth rate (RGR) of Plant Height was calculated using Formula III above.

SPAD - Chlorophyll content was determined using a Minolta SPAD 502 chlorophyll meter and measurement was performed 64 days post sowing. SPAD meter readings were done on young fully developed leaf. Three measurements per leaf were taken per plot. Data were taken after 46 and 54 days after sowing (DPS).

Stem fresh weight (GF) and (HD)- This parameter was measured at two time points during the course of the experiment: at heading (HD) and during the grain filling period (GF). Stems of the plants used for measurement of the LAI were weighted.

Total dry matter was calculated using Formula XXXV.

Upper stem fresh weight (GF) (HD) and (H) - This parameter was measured at three time points during the course of the experiment; at heading (HD), during the grain filling period (GF)and at harvest(H). Upper internodes from at least 4 plants per plot were separated from the plant and weighted. The average internode weight per plant was calculated by dividing the total grain weight by the number of plants.

Upper stem length (GF) (HD) and (H) - This parameter was measured at three time points during the course of the experiment; at heading (HD), during the grain filling period (GF) and at harvest (H). Upper internodes from at least 4 plants per plot were separated from the plant and their length was measured using a ruler. The average internode length per plant was calculated by dividing the total grain weight by the number of plants.

Upper stem width (GF) (HD) and (H) (mm) - This parameter was measured at three time points during the course of the experiment; at heading (HD), during the grain filling period (GF)and at harvest(H). Upper internodes from at least 4 plants per plot were separated from the plant and their diameter was measured using a caliber. The average internode width per plant was calculated by dividing the total grain weight by the number of plants.

Vegetative dry weight (Kg.) - total weight of the vegetative portion of 6 plants (above ground excluding roots) after drying at 70 °C in oven for 48 hours weight by the number of plants.

Vegetative fresh weight (Kg.) - total weight of the vegetative portion of 6 plants (above ground excluding roots).

Node number - nodes on the stem were counted at the heading stage of plant development.

Table 81

Maize correlated parameters (vectors) under normal conditions and under defoliation

Normal conditions Defoliation

Correlation Correlati

Correlated parameter with Correlated parameter with

ID on ID

1000 grains weight [g] 1 1000 grains weight [g] 1

Cob width [mm] 2 Cob width [mm] 2

Ear Area [cm ² ] 3 Ear Area [cm ² ] 3

Ear Filled Grain Area [cm ² ] 4 Ear Filled Grain Area [cm ² ] 4

Ear Width [cm] 5 Ear Width [cm] 5

Ear avr weight [g] 6 Ear avr weight [g] 6

Ear height [cm] 7 Ear height [cm] 7

Ear length (feret's) [cm] 8 Ear length (feret's) [cm] 8

Ear row num 9 Ear row num 9

Ears FW per plant (GF)

10 Ears dry weight (SP) [g/plant] 10 [g/plant]

Ears dry weight (SP) [kg] 11 Ears fresh weight (SP) [kg] 11

Ears fresh weight (SP) [kg] 12 Ears per plant (SP) [g/plant] 12

Ears per plant (SP) [g/plant] 13 Filled / Whole Ear [value] 13

Filled / Whole Ear [value] 14 Grain Perimeter [cm] 14

Grain Perimeter [cm] 15 Grain RH [%] 15

Grain RH [%] 16 Grain area [cm ² ] 16

Grain area [cm ² ] 17 Grain length [cm] 17

Grain length [cm] 18 Grain width [cm] 18

Grain width [cm] 19 Grains dry weight (SP) [kg] 19

Table 81. Provided are the maize correlated parameters,. "NUE" = nitrogen use efficiency; "DW" = dry weight; "cm" = centimeter, "GF" =grain filling, "PP"= per plant, "h"= harvest, "avr" = average, "NUM" = number, "mm" = millimeter; "g" = grams; "kg" = kilograms; "cm" = centimeter.

Thirteen maize varieties were grown, and characterized for parameters, as described above. The average for each parameter was calculated using the JMP software, and values are summarized in Tables 82-85 below. Subsequent correlation between the various transcriptom sets for all or sub set of lines was done by the bioinformatic unit and results were integrated into the database (Tables 86-87 below).

Table 82

Measured parameters in Maize varieties under normal conditions

Ecotype/Treatment Line-l Line-2 Line-3 Line-4 Line-5 Line-6

1 241.091 296.503 232.402 263.250 305.376 303.614

2 23.427 24.633 22.149 25.106 24.714 23.207

3 47.516 82.296 36.009 74.626 61.731 76.997

4 46.808 80.887 17.431 72.415 56.829 73.430

5 4.249 4.656 3.210 4.787 5.016 4.961

6 22.854 209.500 55.556 164.627 132.917 177.444

7 71.139 121.667 110.611 134.235 89.333 149.639

8 13.937 22.091 13.897 19.622 16.062 20.024

9 11.778 13.000 13.750 14.944 15.471 14.556

10 228.743 351.262 201.689 323.077 217.161 307.874

11 0.615 1.257 0.333 1.087 0.798 1.065

12 0.688 1.687 0.468 1.457 1.072 1.412

13 1.667 1.000 1.000 1.111 1.000 1.000

14 0.985 0.982 0.406 0.969 0.919 0.953

15 3.146 3.299 2.793 3.233 3.318 3.275

16 12.700 12.500 12.367 12.367 12.233 11.967

17 0.652 0.720 0.517 0.667 0.705 0.706

18 1.058 1.125 0.895 1.123 1.155 1.133

19 0.783 0.808 0.734 0.753 0.776 0.789

20 0.415 0.907 0.121 0.800 0.367 0.766

21 0.475 1.037 0.138 0.913 0.418 0.869

22 0.069 0.151 0.020 0.133 0.061 0.128

23 137.328 230.129 141.263 197.636 154.760 201.031

24 96.392 110.968 103.967 80.570 119.360 157.210

25 4186.917 7034.596 4884.333 6402.795 4297.250 6353.074

26 4341.250 3171.000 4347.500 3527.000 4517.333 3984.750

27 9.000 8.000 8.833 6.750 8.500 7.750

28 4.333 4.833 3.917 4.167 4.000 4.833

29 32.294 33.111 35.214 33.517 34.526 33.869

30 29.703 35.403 15.660 25.025 23.986 26.514

31 33.690 23.517 21.746 20.340 23.466 25.083

32 38.818 72.988 36.998 59.900 32.614 74.715

33 13.417 19.350 15.833 20.400 16.342 20.925

34 12.484 16.761 16.094 20.022 15.006 22.594

35 9.417 14.500 14.133 17.750 11.083 20.000

36 20.208 19.855 15.904 16.841 15.593 16.139

37 21.518 19.423 15.819 17.188 17.028 16.086

38 23.494 24.138 20.247 20.533 20.812 20.973

39 14.667 15.222 13.778 14.556 13.667 14.611

40 74.000 69.667 74.000 71.000 74.000 69.667

41 173.389 265.111 203.556 255.944 177.444 271.111

42 4.030 6.302 4.153 6.519 4.358 7.144 Ecotype/Treatment Line-l Line-2 Line-3 Line-4 Line-5 Line-6

43 60.952 59.772 48.589 53.170 57.919 53.206

44 447.155 649.026 347.648 489.318 404.783 524.055

45 468.300 758.610 392.713 587.875 437.855 801.320

46 1.615 2.565 1.411 2.058 1.835 2.316

47 14.369 19.614 8.862 15.539 13.003 17.824

48 10.441 12.937 8.003 11.212 10.438 12.975

49 11.792 16.633 13.917 18.755 13.217 18.375

50 10.422 16.928 13.683 18.756 12.306 18.717

Table 82.

Table 83

Measured parameters in Maize varieties under normal conditions,

additional maize lines

Ecotype/Treatme

Line-14 Line-15 Line-16 Line- 17 Line-18 Line-19 Line-20 nt

1 290.881 202.573 250.257 275.409 306.201 256.858 187.316

2 23.184 25.919 24.876 22.751 26.468 21.662 24.046

3 78.355 51.175 93.914 57.832 96.772 64.428 55.077

4 74.411 45.927 92.312 54.139 95.429 61.811 51.437

5 4.786 4.368 5.182 4.430 5.001 4.091 4.264

6 147.490 101.917 207.111 100.476 228.444 129.889 84.805

7 118.389 117.889 145.235 99.222 133.778 81.444 125.000

8 20.313 14.750 22.601 16.653 23.837 19.849 16.955

9 16.118 15.944 15.889 13.545 14.000 12.667 17.941

10 325.083 244.997 327.145 241.060 363.704 262.126 146.149

11 1.159 0.612 1.292 0.632 1.371 0.779 0.690

12 1.800 0.704 1.595 0.865 1.739 1.213 0.861

13 1.000 1.000 1.056 1.056 1.000 1.000 0.944

14 0.930 0.889 0.982 0.934 0.986 0.955 0.934

15 3.246 2.860 3.182 3.082 3.291 2.946 2.810

16 12.600 12.033 12.233 11.200 11.967 13.133 11.667

17 0.665 0.526 0.646 0.627 0.705 0.587 0.495

18 1.142 0.992 1.118 1.041 1.151 0.969 0.962

19 0.740 0.672 0.730 0.763 0.774 0.767 0.653

20 0.820 0.362 0.921 0.419 1.017 0.516 0.408

21 0.940 0.411 1.050 0.471 1.155 0.595 0.462

22 0.137 0.064 0.154 0.073 0.169 0.086 0.073

23 212.413 137.330 181.432 133.844 199.221 155.821 140.336

24 116.750 96.150 106.945 107.158 85.973 98.842 134.450

7123.47 4162.75 6075.20 4339.78 6597.66 4756.58 4209.09

25

5 0 6 8 6 3 1

4205.50

26

0

27 7.000 8.667 7.250 7.833 7.250 9.000 9.833

28 4.250 3.833 4.833 3.333 4.083 3.833 4.167

29 33.185 34.815 33.659 36.480 33.781 34.431 34.898

30 27.606 24.589 25.264 24.006 26.178 21.142 29.925

31 20.603 15.197 16.347 19.856 18.901 22.333 31.712

32 60.358 50.068 63.067 46.065 55.885 29.802 68.184 Ecotype/Treatme

Line-14 Line-15 Line-16 Line- 17 Line-18 Line-19 Line-20 nt

33 18.083 17.700 20.182 15.475 19.808 16.042 23.075

34 17.072 18.267 20.694 14.622 18.478 16.206 21.117

35 15.000 12.333 18.675 14.633 20.500 11.240 18.333

36 18.105 16.705 17.094 15.435 16.868 15.521 14.653

37 17.962 15.953 18.421 16.266 17.434 15.489 16.656

38 23.473 21.292 20.973 20.593 21.458 18.966 22.008

39 14.278 13.889 14.722 14.444 15.444 12.556 13.389

40 72.000 74.000 69.667 74.000 71.000 74.000 68.333

41 244.250 215.206 273.556 229.889 273.222 194.056 260.167

42 5.603 4.686 6.960 4.424 7.017 4.298 6.424

43 55.376 56.450 56.759 54.600 55.812 52.548 61.457

44 507.783 475.345 549.336 463.157 509.738 324.976 477.917

45 660.695 468.267 724.575 435.500 618.460 339.267 592.130

46 2.233 1.347 2.727 1.503 2.331 1.560 1.615

47 15.849 12.442 14.395 16.773 17.848 13.457 20.847

48 9.723 3.074 6.981 9.759 9.396 11.344 16.205

49 17.067 14.467 17.518 17.542 18.150 15.625 20.150

50 16.417 12.094 18.339 15.622 16.628 16.572 18.494

Table 83.

Table 84

Measured parameters in Maize varieties under defoliation

Ecotype/Treatment Line-2 Line-3 Line-4 Line-5 Line-6 Line-7

1 280.025 249.808 251.859 244.024 294.292 262.463

2 19.028 21.874 22.115 19.269 16.306 21.460

3 53.600 NA 45.503 25.764 38.307 37.749

4 51.497 NA 42.952 21.912 34.591 36.008

5 4.181 NA 4.207 3.376 3.919 3.945

6 89.202 56.056 100.750 26.773 73.389 79.167

7 119.444 102.778 131.556 91.375 145.528 121.000

8 16.338 NA 13.626 10.542 12.889 12.481

9 12.706 13.909 14.357 13.600 13.000 13.167

10 0.747 0.317 0.583 0.189 0.440 0.475

11 0.973 0.464 0.833 0.250 0.629 0.637

12 1.000 0.944 0.944 0.471 1.000 1.000

13 0.954 NA 0.915 0.820 0.873 0.951

14 3.109 2.936 3.144 2.894 3.179 2.919

15 13.467 12.767 12.367 13.200 12.833 12.400

16 0.649 0.562 0.632 0.563 0.669 0.570

17 1.052 0.947 1.080 0.957 1.079 0.956

18 0.777 0.753 0.740 0.729 0.781 0.757

19 0.523 0.155 0.400 0.087 0.289 0.283

20 0.604 0.178 0.456 0.097 0.331 0.323

21 0.087 0.027 0.069 0.021 0.048 0.047

22 112.270 78.475 94.985 107.475 125.138 93.500

23 3914.000 NA 3480.000 NA 4276.500 NA

24 7.750 8.000 7.500 8.667 8.000 8.167 Ecotype/Treatment Line-2 Line-3 Line-4 Line-5 Line-6 Line-7

25 4.500 3.917 4.083 4.917 4.333 4.583

26 32.472 34.626 33.093 34.456 33.637 32.433

27 23.021 18.392 26.502 19.689 26.975 14.456

28 64.160 30.778 53.813 28.248 56.413 47.118

29 16.294 15.306 21.439 14.294 20.850 14.056

30 15.150 12.250 18.500 9.133 16.667 14.917

31 19.539 15.813 16.899 15.916 15.793 15.517

32 24.300 18.868 20.565 21.737 21.058 22.490

33 15.167 13.167 14.389 13.294 15.000 13.833

34 72.000 78.000 73.000 74.000 73.000 74.000

35 251.417 191.000 248.639 175.500 268.056 203.444

36 6.385 3.787 6.319 4.232 6.315 4.214

37 61.213 47.106 57.363 55.451 58.022 58.156

38 713.540 323.125 538.043 442.733 705.525 421.642

Table 84.

Table 85

Measured parameters in Maize varieties under defoliation, additional maize lines

Ecotype/Treatment Line-14 Line-15 Line-16 Line- 17 Line-18 Line-19 Line-20

1 230.119 200.087 271.250 236.886 259.427 218.764 203.643

2 19.768 23.640 22.441 20.880 20.283 20.871 21.198

3 39.827 32.330 47.329 21.782 65.896 37.337 63.114

4 36.313 25.193 43.339 20.167 64.803 34.644 54.962

5 4.099 3.520 4.202 2.743 4.664 3.532 4.562

6 85.044 53.044 33.100 92.167 161.761 66.500 89.497

7 123.375 112.722 135.000 96.000 136.500 73.500 113.944

8 13.214 11.957 14.818 10.472 17.602 13.734 17.210

9 14.063 15.125 13.750 12.333 13.938 12.471 18.000

10 0.454 0.300 0.630 0.128 0.803 0.399 0.478

11 0.648 0.371 0.819 0.136 1.148 0.739 0.599

12 0.889 0.944 1.000 0.222 0.882 1.000 0.944

13 0.905 0.709 0.905 0.933 0.983 0.918 0.757

14 3.130 2.558 3.016 2.810 3.117 2.767 2.934

15 12.567 13.000 13.150 12.800 13.150 12.967 11.700

16 0.631 0.442 0.610 0.528 0.623 0.513 0.543

17 1.066 0.826 1.024 0.932 1.084 0.927 1.020

18 0.750 0.672 0.750 0.716 0.724 0.699 0.670

19 0.302 0.143 0.439 0.044 0.667 0.255 0.359

20 0.345 0.165 0.505 0.050 0.767 0.293 0.406

21 0.056 0.025 0.073 0.026 0.124 0.043 0.076

22 113.783 93.190 93.738 94.367 89.858 91.600 122.070

3436.00 4593.00 4315.50

23 NA NA NA NA

0 0 0

24 6.750 8.800 7.500 7.833 6.250 8.500 9.400

25 4.417 4.667 4.500 4.000 4.083 4.333 4.167

26 33.433 32.831 33.424 33.020 33.981 31.871 33.320

27 27.885 17.561 17.329 17.691 20.510 23.057 34.332

28 64.188 48.835 76.233 45.857 57.850 27.597 59.030

29 18.759 17.972 20.883 13.228 17.828 14.911 20.122 Ecotype/Treatment Line-14 Line-15 Line-16 Line- 17 Line-18 Line-19 Line-20

30 16.100 12.917 14.833 12.917 17.500 10.667 17.200

31 18.215 17.289 17.233 16.176 17.882 15.890 18.708

32 20.955 22.352 22.470 20.057 21.230 18.472 20.590

33 14.389 13.667 14.667 14.222 15.611 12.333 13.111

34 71.000 74.000 70.667 74.000 71.000 75.333 72.000

35 254.639 210.222 261.944 215.889 268.878 181.722 251.000

36 6.482 4.912 6.282 4.450 7.044 3.711 5.808

37 59.654 58.322 59.985 54.907 56.761 50.606 60.657

38 673.238 485.700 738.368 392.267 692.225 327.840 539.167

Table 85.

Tables 86 and 87 here in below provide the correlations (R) between the expression levels yield improving genes and their homologs in various tissues [Expression (Exp) sets] and the phenotypic performance [yield, biomass, growth rate and/or vigor components (Correlation vector (Cor))] under normal and defoliation conditions across maize varieties. P = p value.

Table 86

Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues and the phenotypic performance under normal conditions across maize varieties

Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name . set

ID ID

LNU814 0.711 1.41E-02 3 26 LNU824 0.727 3.85E-05 3 50

LNU824 0.843 1.24E-07 3 12 LNU824 0.720 4.95E-05 3 6

LNU824 0.770 6.81E-06 3 20 LNU824 0.779 4.47E-06 3 11

LNU824 0.775 5.45E-06 3 21 LNU824 0.752 1.44E-05 3 25

LNU824 0.701 9.54E-05 3 10 LNU824 0.754 1.34E-05 3 22

LNU824 0.776 1.35E-05 2 50 LNU824 0.704 1.76E-04 2 23

LNU824 0.743 4.96E-05 2 12 LNU824 0.708 1.56E-04 2 11

LNU832 0.766 1.60E-02 2 26 LNU813 0.722 1.21E-02 2 49

LNU813 0.738 6.14E-03 3 13 LNU814 0.700 1.12E-02 3 32

LNU813 0.719 1.26E-02 2 48 LNU815 0.835 7.34E-04 1 36

LNU814 0.729 1.10E-02 1 5 LNU815 0.732 6.85E-03 1 19

LNU815 0.705 1.05E-02 1 1 LNU816 0.703 1.57E-02 2 7

LNU815 0.753 4.68E-03 1 30 LNU817 0.840 1.21E-03 2 38

LNU816 0.722 7.99E-03 1 13 LNU818 0.834 7.40E-04 3 37

LNU818 0.731 6.92E-03 3 28 LNU818 0.737 9.61E-03 2 41

LNU818 0.794 2.02E-03 3 7 LNU818 0.770 5.60E-03 2 34

LNU818 0.700 1.64E-02 2 51 LNU818 0.749 8.04E-03 1 5

LNU818 0.829 1.60E-03 2 7 LNU819 0.712 1.40E-02 2 40

LNU819 0.764 6.20E-03 3 5 LNU820 0.755 4.57E-03 3 18

LNU819 0.713 1.37E-02 1 5 LNU820 0.834 7.46E-04 3 32

LNU820 0.794 2.05E-03 3 46 LNU820 0.704 1.07E-02 3 21 Cor. Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp

R P value Set R P value Set Name set Name . set

ID ID

LNU820 0.712 9.44E-03 3 20 LNU820 0.759 4.22E-03 1 36

LNU820 0.712 9.44E-03 3 22 LNU821 0.715 8.92E-03 3 51

LNU820 0.736 6.32E-03 1 19 LNU823 0.780 2.76E-03 3 34

LNU823 0.766 3.65E-03 3 51 LNU823 0.757 4.38E-03 3 42

LNU823 0.741 5.79E-03 3 33 LNU823 0.726 7.47E-03 3 35

LNU823 0.776 3.03E-03 3 43 LNU823 0.753 1.19E-02 2 8

LNU823 0.744 8.61E-03 2 51 LNU825 0.745 5.38E-03 3 19

LNU824 0.705 1.05E-02 3 13 LNU828 0.726 7.57E-03 3 34

LNU825 0.704 1.56E-02 2 1 LNU828 0.719 8.47E-03 1 49

LNU828 0.804 1.62E-03 3 33 LNU828 0.726 7.53E-03 1 48

LNU828 0.789 2.31E-03 1 45 LNU829 0.713 9.30E-03 19

LNU828 0.823 1.02E-03 1 30 LNU831 0.865 2.82E-04 1 36

LNU831 0.746 5.30E-03 44 LNU834 0.730 6.97E-03 1 24

LNU831 0.777 2.96E-03 1 53 LNU834 0.805 1.57E-03 1 34

LNU834 0.751 7.71E-03 1 5 LNU834 0.702 1.09E-02 1 46

LNU834 0.723 7.92E-03 1 18 LNU834 0.767 3.57E-03 1 20

LNU834 0.829 8.51E-04 1 32 LNU834 0.751 4.89E-03 1 11

LNU834 0.723 7.86E-03 1 7 LNU834 0.767 3.57E-03 1 22

LNU834 0.758 4.28E-03 1 21 LNU835 0.876 1.86E-04 1 49

LNU835 0.725 1.15E-02 51 LNU835 0.809 1.46E-03 1 44

LNU835 0.748 5.16E-03 1 52 LNU835 0.925 1.61E-05 1 48

LNU835 0.869 2.39E-04 1 45 LNU835 0.806 1.54E-03 1 31

LNU835 0.784 2.52E-03 1 10 LNU839 0.751 7.71E-03 1 5

LNU835 0.916 2.89E-05 1 30 LNU841 0.792 3.65E-03 25

LNU840 0.844 5.57E-04 1 25 LNU841 0.845 5.38E-04 1 36

LNU841 0.710 9.70E-03 1 47 LNU841 0.849 4.80E-04 1 37

LNU841 0.854 4.03E-04 1 53 LNU841 0.729 7.17E-03 1 54

LNU841 0.772 3.27E-03 1 55 LNU844 0.716 8.75E-03 3 46

LNU844 0.724 7.79E-03 3 24 LNU844 0.758 4.28E-03 3 20

LNU844 0.812 1.34E-03 3 32 LNU844 0.747 5.21E-03 3 21

LNU844 0.717 8.64E-03 3 11 LNU844 0.835 7.31E-04 1 44

LNU844 0.758 4.28E-03 3 22 LNU844 0.727 7.35E-03 1 55

LNU844 0.731 6.88E-03 1 45 LNU845 0.799 1.81E-03 3 33

Table 86.

Table 87

Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues and the phenotypic performance under defoliation across maize varieties

Gene Exp. Cor. Gene Exp. Cor.

R P value R P value

Name set Set ID Name set Set ID

LNU814 0.761 1.01E-05 3 21 LNU819 0.765 8.32E-06 1 21

LNU824 0.720 4.95E-05 3 41 LNU824 0.715 5.85E-05 2 41

LNU824 0.719 5.18E-05 2 11 LNU829 0.725 7.62E-03 3 23

LNU829 0.753 1.41E-05 3 21 LNU832 0.703 8.91E-05 1 21

LNU835 0.720 4.98E-05 1 21 LNU813 0.721 8.15E-03 2 15

LNU813 0.740 5.93E-03 1 22 LNU814 0.701 1.11E-02 1 36 Gene Exp. Cor. Gene Exp. Cor.

R P value R P value

Name set Set ID Name set Set ID

LNU814 0.701 1.11E-02 3 24 LNU815 0.766 3.70E-03 3 16

LNU815 0.710 9.74E-03 3 14 LNU815 0.773 3.20E-03 1 18

LNU815 0.769 3.49E-03 1 16 LNU816 0.714 9.14E-03 1 21

LNU816 0.751 4.86E-03 3 2 LNU817 0.718 8.54E-03 1 22

LNU817 0.732 6.79E-03 3 24 LNU819 0.754 4.59E-03 2 22

LNU819 0.716 8.80E-03 3 42 LNU819 0.767 3.57E-03 2 2

LNU819 0.792 2.16E-03 2 5 LNU819 0.730 6.98E-03 2 7

LNU819 0.733 6.71E-03 2 37 LNU823 0.706 1.03E-02 3 14

LNU820 0.771 3.29E-03 1 36 LNU823 0.738 6.19E-03 3 1

LNU823 0.765 3.78E-03 3 16 LNU824 0.834 7.54E-04 1 36

LNU823 0.764 3.81E-03 1 36 LNU829 0.725 7.62E-03 3 23

LNU825 0.700 1.12E-02 3 8 LNU829 0.870 2.32E-04 1 36

LNU829 0.744 5.55E-03 3 32 LNU831 0.703 1.08E-02 3 31

LNU829 0.733 6.68E-03 2 27 LNU833 0.752 4.82E-03 2 42

LNU832 0.712 9.33E-03 3 40 LNU834 0.771 3.30E-03 3 30

LNU834 0.723 7.83E-03 3 2 LNU837 0.748 5.16E-03 3 22

LNU834 0.705 1.05E-02 1 21 LNU837 0.786 2.45E-03 2 22

LNU837 0.728 7.24E-03 3 37 LNU837 0.718 8.55E-03 2 31

LNU837 0.768 3.56E-03 2 37 LNU839 0.771 3.30E-03 3 30

LNU837 0.728 7.24E-03 2 24 LNU843 0.709 9.87E-03 1 32

LNU841 0.815 1.23E-03 3 26 LNU844 0.827 9.07E-04 1 2

LNU844 0.731 6.88E-03 1 5 LNU845 0.805 1.57E-03 3 2

LNU844 0.808 1.49E-03 1 9 LNU813 0.783 2.59E-03 3 4

LNU845 0.779 2.85E-03 1 30 LNU813 0.737 6.26E-03 3 8

LNU811 0.733 4.40E-03 1 15 LNU813 0.701 7.60E-03 1 11

LNU813 0.760 4.15E-03 3 3 LNU814 0.744 3.54E-03 3 6

LNU813 0.749 3.23E-03 3 26 LNU814 0.832 4.23E-04 1 21

LNU814 0.721 5.42E-03 3 1 LNU815 0.806 8.77E-04 1 21

LNU814 0.819 6.19E-04 3 21 LNU816 0.871 1.07E-04 3 9

LNU815 0.703 7.34E-03 1 6 LNU816 0.722 5.28E-03 1 44

LNU816 0.724 5.11E-03 3 28 LNU817 0.707 6.87E-03 3 2

LNU816 0.750 3.16E-03 1 40 LNU817 0.716 5.92E-03 2 12

LNU816 0.854 2.00E-04 1 27 LNU818 0.702 7.45E-03 1 39

LNU817 0.764 2.35E-03 1 2 LNU818 0.743 3.64E-03 1 11

LNU818 0.791 1.27E-03 1 22 LNU818 0.756 2.77E-03 1 19

LNU818 0.796 1.12E-03 1 38 LNU818 0.765 2.33E-03 1 20

LNU818 0.707 6.93E-03 1 37 LNU819 0.704 1.07E-02 3 4

LNU818 0.740 3.82E-03 1 10 LNU819 0.717 5.84E-03 3 30

LNU818 0.733 4.40E-03 1 32 LNU819 0.809 8.02E-04 1 16

LNU819 0.745 3.45E-03 28 LNU819 0.731 4.53E-03 1 6

LNU819 0.741 3.75E-03 1 14 LNU819 0.925 5.82E-06 1 21

LNU819 0.839 3.34E-04 1 1 LNU821 0.751 3.07E-03 1 6

LNU819 0.830 4.53E-04 1 18 LNU821 0.886 5.50E-05 1 21

LNU821 0.704 7.29E-03 1 1 LNU822 0.710 6.59E-03 2 44

LNU821 0.700 1.12E-02 1 8 LNU824 0.707 6.94E-03 1 41

LNU822 0.756 2.77E-03 31 LNU825 0.761 2.54E-03 3 40

LNU823 0.709 9.90E-03 1 8 LNU825 0.736 4.13E-03 2 16

LNU824 0.749 3.19E-03 1 43 LNU825 0.749 3.20E-03 2 18

LNU825 0.700 7.70E-03 3 27 LNU829 0.739 3.94E-03 3 14 Gene Exp. Cor. Gene Exp. Cor.

R P value R P value

Name set Set ID Name set Set ID

LNU825 0.707 6.85E-03 2 6 LNU829 0.848 2.48E-04 3 1

LNU829 0.757 4.39E-03 3 4 LNU829 0.709 9.84E-03 3 3

LNU829 0.773 1.93E-03 3 16 LNU829 0.931 3.74E-06 3 21

LNU829 0.771 2.02E-03 3 18 LNU831 0.771 2.02E-03 2 10

LNU829 0.740 5.92E-03 3 8 LNU832 0.799 1.05E-03 1 41

LNU831 0.714 6.16E-03 2 33 LNU832 0.785 1.46E-03 1 21

LNU831 0.711 6.49E-03 2 20 LNU834 0.723 5.22E-03 35

LNU832 0.726 7.53E-03 1 8 LNU834 0.708 6.75E-03 1 33

LNU832 0.783 1.54E-03 2 34 LNU835 0.726 5.00E-03 1 6

LNU834 0.746 3.40E-03 3 6 LNU835 0.828 4.72E-04 1 21

LNU835 0.715 5.98E-03 1 1 LNU835 0.756 2.80E-03 18

LNU835 0.704 7.26E-03 1 18 LNU838 0.744 3.57E-03 1 41

LNU835 0.718 5.69E-03 2 1 LNU838 0.746 5.33E-03 1 8

LNU835 0.841 3.17E-04 2 21 LNU839 0.746 3.40E-03 3 6

LNU838 0.750 3.16E-03 1 40 LNU841 0.719 5.61E-03 1 21

LNU839 0.723 5.22E-03 3 35 LNU843 0.734 4.27E-03 2 27

LNU839 0.708 6.75E-03 1 33 LNU846 0.739 3.91E-03 2 36

LNU841 0.745 3.46E-03 2 2 LNU846 0.714 6.16E-03 2 29

Table 87.

EXAMPLE 11

PRODUCTION OF FOXTAIL MILLET TRANSCRIPTOM AND HIGH THROUGHPUT CORRELATION ANALYSIS USING 60K FOXTAIL MILLET

OLIGONUCLEOTIDE MICRO-ARRAY

In order to produce a high throughput correlation analysis comparing between plant phenotype and gene expression level, the present inventors utilized a foxtail millet oligonucleotide micro-array, produced by Agilent Technologies [chem. (dot) agilent (dot) com/Scripts/PDS (dot) asp?lPage=50879]. The array oligonucleotide represents about 60K foxtail millet genes and transcripts. In order to define correlations between the levels of RNA expression and yield or vigor related parameters, various plant characteristics of 14 different foxtail millet accessions were analyzed. Among them, 11 accessions encompassing the observed variance were selected for RNA expression analysis. The correlation between the RNA levels and the characterized parameters was analyzed using Pearson correlation test [davidmlane (dot) com/hyperstat/A34739 (dot) html].

Experimental procedures

14 foxtail millet varieties were grown in 5 repetitive plots, in field. Briefly, the growing protocol was as follows: /. Regular growth conditions: foxtail millet plants were grown in the field using commercial fertilization and irrigation protocols, which include 283 m water per dunam (100 square meters) per entire growth period and fertilization of 16 units of URAN® 32% (Nitrogen Fertilizer Solution; PCS Sales, Northbrook, IL, USA) (normal growth conditions).

2. Drought conditions: foxtail millet seeds were sown in soil and grown under normal condition until heading stage (22 days from sowing), drought treatment was imposed by irrigating plants with 50% water relative to the normal treatment from this stage (171 m water per dunam (100 square meters) per entire growth period).

Analyzed foxtail millet tissues - All 14 foxtail millet lines were sample per each treatment. Three tissues [leaf, flower, and stem] at 2 different developmental stages [flowering, grain filling], representing different plant characteristics, were sampled and RNA was extracted as described above. Each micro-array expression information tissue type has received a Set ID as summarized in Tables 88-89 below.

Table 88

Foxtail millet transcriptom expression sets under drought conditions

Table 88. Provided are the barley transcriptome expression sets under drought conditions

Table 89

Foxtail millet transcriptom expression sets under normal conditions

Table 89. Provided are the barley transcriptome expression sets under normal conditions

Foxtail millet yield components and vigor related parameters assessment - Plants were continuously phenotyped during the growth period and at harvest (Table 102, below). The image analysis system included a personal desktop computer (Intel P4 3.0 GHz processor) and a public domain program - ImageJ 1.37 (Java based image processing program, which was developed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and freely available on the internet [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://rsbweb (dot) nih (dot) gov/]. Next, analyzed data was saved to text files and processed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute).

The following parameters were collected using digital imaging system:

At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the Plant 'Head' and the following parameters were measured and collected:

Average Grain Area (cm ) - A sample of -200 grains was weighted, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The grain area was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

Average Grain Length and width (cm) - A sample of -200 grains was weighted, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The sum of grain lengths and width (longest axis) were measured from those images and were divided by the number of grains.

At the end of the growing period 14 'Heads' were photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system.

Average Grain Perimeter (cm) - At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the Plant 'Head'. A sample of -200 grains were weighted, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The sum of grain perimeter was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

Head Average Area (cm ) The 'Head' area was measured from those images and was divided by the number of 'Heads'.

Head Average Length and width (mm) The 'Head' length and width (longest axis) were measured from those images and were divided by the number of 'Heads'.

The image processing system was used, which consists of a personal desktop computer (Intel P4 3.0 GHz processor) and a public domain program - ImageJ 1.37, Java based image processing software, which was developed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and is freely available on the internet at Hypertext Transfer Protocol://rsbweb (dot) nih (dot) gov/. Images were captured in resolution of 10 Mega Pixels (3888x2592 pixels) and stored in a low compression JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group standard) format. Next, image processing output data for seed area and seed length was saved to text files and analyzed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute).

Additional parameters were collected either by sampling 5 plants per plot or by measuring the parameter across all the plants within the plot.

Head weight (gr.) and head number (num.) - At the end of the experiment, heads were harvested from each plot and were counted and weighted.

Total Grain Yield (gr.) - At the end of the experiment (plant 'Heads') heads from plots were collected, the heads were threshed and grains were weighted. In addition, the average grain weight per head was calculated by dividing the total grain weight by number of total heads per plot (based on plot).

1000 Seeds weight [gr] - weight of 1000 seeds per plot

Biomass at harvest - At the end of the experiment the vegetative portion above ground (excluding roots) from plots was weighted.

Total dry mater per plot - Calculated as Vegetative portion above ground plus all the heads dry weight per plot.

Num days to anthesis - Calculated as the number of days from sowing till 50% of the plot arrives anthesis.

Maintenance of performance under drought conditions: Represent ratio for the specified parameter of Drought condition results divided by Normal conditions results (maintenance of phenotype under drought in comparison to normal conditions).

Data parameters collected are summarized in Table 90, herein below.

Table 90

Foxtail millet correlated parameters (vectors)

Correlated parameter with Correlation ID

1000 grain weight (gr) 1

Biomass at harvest (1M) (Kg.) 2

Grain Perimeter (cm) 3

Grain area (cm ² ) 4

Grain length (cm) 5

Grain width (cm) 6

Grains yield per Head (plot) (gr) 7

Head Area (cm ² ) 8 Correlated parameter with Correlation ID

Head Width (cm) 9

Head length (cm) 10

Heads num 11

Num days to Anthesis 12

Total Grains yield (gr) 13

Total dry matter (1M) (Kg.) 14

Total heads weight (Kg.) 15

Table 90. Provided are the foxtail millet collected parameters. Experimental Results

14 different foxtail millet accessions were grown and characterized for different parameters as described above (Table 90). The average for each of the measured parameter was calculated using the JMP software and values are summarized in Tables 91-96 below. Subsequent correlation analysis between the various transcriptom sets and the average parameters (Tables 91-96) was conducted (Tables 97-99). Follow, results were integrated to the database.

Table 91

Measured parameters of correlation IDs in foxtail millet accessions under drought conditions

Table 91 : Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Foxtail millet accessions (line) under drought growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section Table 92

Additional measured parameters of correlation IDs in foxtail millet accessions under drought conditions

Table 92: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Foxtail millet accessions (line) under drought growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section

Table 93

Measured parameters of correlation IDs in foxtail millet accessions for Maintenance of performance under drought conditions

Line/Cor

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 . ID

107.2849 101.1490 103.0938 100.7191 102.2663

Line-1 63.80296 89.85420

2 3 9 0 9

100.6347 101.0586 101.1316 100.0312 121.1905

Line-2 97.44009 86.66199

7 5 5 6 4

101.0354 102.8052 100.3921 102.3887

Line-3 99.89264 90.61080 76.40597

5 2 3 3

100.2820 100.8745 100.4319 100.4231

Line-4 97.29088 81.97765 83.95708

7 1 3 3

100.5697 101.5654 100.1770 101.3341

Line-5 95.73134 84.03025 83.22790

9 4 0 7

100.2308

Line-6 99.52308 87.17613 99.36660 99.75367 99.50116 70.03712

0

Line-7 101.3838 73.57305 100.8677 101.1388 101.0330 100.2182 77.37223 Line/Cor 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

0 1 5 5 3

102.1628 100.7836 111.7403

Line-8 66.77138 99.64822 99.96068 99.16887

7 9 7

100.7088

Line-9 94.53807 83.21661 99.83736 98.88644 98.15907 86.38569

1

102.6912 101.8209 102.6715 102.0042 100.6123

Line-10 75.47131 57.78836

4 4 6 1 6

Line-11 97.60676 90.15405 98.93543 97.94887 99.40096 98.50410 68.36558

Line-12 97.81459 89.80968 97.98844 96.37703 97.77776 98.54474 57.64576

101.6863 100.3909 101.1898 100.3346 100.8584

Line-13 89.51020 83.16443

6 5 1 5 8

100.2576 132.3801

Line-14 99.50250 59.88639 99.19422 99.24780 98.98318

2 8

Table 93: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Foxtail millet accessions (line) for maintenance of performance under drought (calculated as % of change under drought vs normal growth conditions). Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

Table 94

Additional measured parameters of correlation IDs in foxtail millet accessions for

Maintenance of performance under drought conditions

Line/

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Cor. ID

94.5018 96.6896 87.5584 78.7440 71.702 75.8084

Line-1 98.17799

2 3 7 2 54 8

87.6336 90.2497 85.1206 104.522 85.767 102.306

Line-2 98.29102

0 6 4 51 79 04

93.9319 93.9717 85.0980 64.3818 82.890 85.9014

Line-3 99.87804

9 4 4 1 37 1

87.3573 89.9583 91.4285 76.7466 66.681 95.8345

Line-4 98.42025

2 9 7 2 10 2

89.5099 91.0058 91.3468 75.8028 78.324 88.8243

Line-5 97.94159

6 6 2 1 85 9

105.260 106.442 96.1538 67.4184 98.018 86.9164

Line-6 98.75548

46 73 5 9 77 4

91.5546 93.8805 77.3065 59.8298 66.277 81.0359

Line-7 98.97568

1 5 7 9 55 6

97.6505 101.3370 96.5935 79.0461 88.0037 77.030 81.1834

Line-8

4 1 8 7 4 01 8

93.0566 98.0974 78.8853 65.2743 73.538 80.4334

Line-9 94.53334

6 1 2 1 82 6

88.2101 93.4977 72.3824 42.0619 64.635 82.3049

Line-10 95.66287

6 3 0 2 12 3

97.2714 99.6550 95.4398 63.7960 81.971 85.7542

Line-11 99.48243

0 4 9 3 52 6

87.8038 100.3507 88.1316 103.310 61.1359 84.962 87.7016

Line-12

2 7 7 64 0 99 7

102.458 100.8176 101.470 87.2471 71.8553 83.889 91.1522

Line-13

18 3 55 2 3 60 0

Line-14 89.3767 95.46426 93.8068 69.1232 91.6162 77.761 84.4253 Line/ 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

9 3 7 0 00 3

Table 94: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Foxtail millet accessions (line) for maintenance of performance under drought (calculated as % of change under drought vs normal growth conditions). Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section

Table 95

Measured parameters of correlation IDs in foxtail millet accessions under normal conditions

Table 95: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Foxtail millet accessions (line) under normal growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section

Table 96

Additional measured parameters of correlation IDs in foxtail millet accessions under normal conditions

Line/Cor

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 . ID

427.6000 1449.626

Line-1 37.82752 1.90548 23.12861 0.70263 3.80960

0 04

149.2000 1067.883

Line-2 57.87014 2.72325 24.24950 0.85440 5.94960

0 12

867.0000 1534.923

Line-3 19.58832 1.32700 17.56325 0.96320 6.19920

0 10

1204.000 1567.200

Line-4 17.09980 1.35550 14.79317 0.92380 5.63680

00 40

1146.400 1794.802

Line-5 19.75921 1.53239 15.38157 0.90380 6.27080

00 40

2132.000 1476.110

Line-6 9.41542 1.18075 8.56073 0.47950 6.07480

00 48

Line-7 22.92173 1.68275 16.08119 752.2000 1582.567 0.91660 6.31880 Line/Cor 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

0 28

394.2000 1317.880

Line-8 40.88973 2.12436 21.87883 0.45320 2.81880

0 24

186.6000 2131.601

Line-9 45.29355 2.49875 20.41332 0.59370 7.25320

0 56

131.8000 937.9276

Line-10 49.34091 2.42686 23.31557 0.99760 5.24440

0 0

434.2000 1880.213

Line-11 27.68630 1.55289 20.86882 0.91300 6.57600

0 40

646.4000 1427.118

Line-12 24.17832 1.58464 17.98348 1.02680 5.85120

0 84

2797.800 1216.243

Line-13 7.12724 1.24343 6.35334 0.62320 5.62400

00 20

994.6000 1296.694

Line-14 14.68632 1.82013 9.78380 0.46360 2.73200

0 24

Table 96: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Foxtail millet accessions (line) under normal growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section

Table 97

Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues and the phenotypic performance under drought conditions across foxtail millet varieties

Table 97. Correlations (R) between the genes expression levels in various tissues and the phenotypic performance, 'Corr. ID" - correlation set ID according to the correlated parameters Table above. "Exp Set" - Expression set. "R" = Pearson correlation coefficient; "P" = p value. Table 98

Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues and the phenotypic performance of maintenance of performance under drought conditions across foxtail millet varieties

the phenotypic performance. "Corr. ID " - correlation set ID according to the correlated parameters Table above. "Exp. Set" - Expression set. "R" = Pearson correlation coefficient; "P" = p value.

Table 99

Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues and the phenotypic performance under normal conditions across foxtail millet varieties

Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp. Cor.

R P value Set R P value

Name set Name set Set ID

ID

LNU801 0.752 1.22E-02 2 15 LNU802 0.711 1.42E-02 1 16

LNU802 0.740 9.19E-03 1 13 LNU803 0.704 2.30E-02 2 12

LNU804 0.703 1.59E-02 1 5 LNU804 0.748 8.11E-03 1 4

LNU804 0.779 4.76E-03 1 3 LNU805 0.748 1.29E-02 2 12

LNU806 0.814 4.13E-03 2 11 LNU807 0.765 6.06E-03 1 16

LNU807 0.713 1.38E-02 1 2 LNU809 0.786 4.09E-03 1 12

LNU809 0.811 4.42E-03 2 17 LNU801 0.703 5.17E-02 3 1

LNU801 0.783 7.38E-03 2 8 LNU801 0.823 1.21E-02 3 6

LNU801 0.759 2.90E-02 3 17 LNU801 0.744 9.00E-02 1 11

LNU801 0.832 4.00E-02 1 10 LNU801 0.810 5.07E-02 1 9

LNU801 0.787 6.31E-02 1 6 LNU802 0.756 1.13E-02 2 13

LNU802 0.764 1.01E-02 2 14 LNU802 0.904 2.09E-03 3 4

LNU802 0.878 4.14E-03 3 1 LNU802 0.817 4.70E-02 1 1

LNU802 0.844 8.46E-03 3 3 LNU802 0.764 7.68E-02 1 11

LNU802 0.890 1.75E-02 1 10 LNU802 0.863 2.68E-02 1 9

LNU802 0.866 2.57E-02 1 6 LNU803 0.833 3.94E-02 1 15

LNU803 0.800 1.72E-02 3 15 LNU804 0.886 1.88E-02 1 11 Cor.

Gene Exp. Gene Exp. Cor.

R P value Set R P value

Name set Name set Set ID

ID

LNU804 0.837 3.77E-02 1 10 LNU804 0.834 3.91E-02 1 6

LNU804 0.717 1.09E-01 1 8 LNU805 0.774 8.66E-03 2 5

LNU804 0.844 3.47E-02 1 9 LNU805 0.828 4.18E-02 1 10

LNU805 0.722 1.83E-02 2 7 LNU805 0.778 6.84E-02 1 6

LNU805 0.938 5.71E-03 1 8 LNU806 0.838 2.47E-03 2 8

LNU805 0.726 1.03E-01 1 9 LNU806 0.733 1.60E-02 2 9

LNU806 0.793 6.19E-03 2 6 LNU806 0.715 4.63E-02 3 11

LNU806 0.700 5.30E-02 3 15 LNU806 0.741 9.19E-02 1 4

LNU806 0.818 4.65E-02 1 1 LNU806 0.985 3.40E-04 1 11

LNU806 0.854 3.02E-02 1 10 LNU806 0.936 5.93E-03 1 9

LNU806 0.902 1.40E-02 1 6 LNU807 0.765 9.98E-03 2 8

LNU807 0.766 9.71E-03 2 10 LNU807 0.823 1.20E-02 3 12

LNU807 0.806 4.89E-03 2 9 LNU807 0.816 4.77E-02 1 10

LNU807 0.750 8.57E-02 1 1 LNU807 0.810 5.07E-02 1 6

LNU807 0.709 1.14E-01 1 11 LNU808 0.725 4.19E-02 3 4

LNU807 0.803 5.44E-02 1 9 LNU808 0.871 4.83E-03 3 12

LNU808 0.766 2.65E-02 3 3 LNU808 0.955 3.05E-03 1 10

LNU808 0.716 1.09E-01 1 1 LNU808 0.902 1.38E-02 1 6

LNU808 0.867 2.53E-02 1 8 LNU809 0.706 2.25E-02 2 2

LNU808 0.881 2.06E-02 1 9 LNU809 0.823 1.21E-02 3 10

LNU809 0.828 1.11E-02 3 15 LNU809 0.930 8.08E-04 3 8

LNU809 0.856 6.71E-03 3 11 LNU809 0.885 1.91E-02 1 16

LNU809 0.981 1.74E-05 3 9 LNU809 0.770 7.31E-02 1 13

LNU809 0.872 2.37E-02 1 5 LNU810 0.722 1.85E-02 2 16

LNU809 0.792 6.03E-02 1 12 LNU810 0.724 4.22E-02 3 16

LNU810 0.785 7.20E-03 2 13 LNU810 0.707 1.16E-01 1 13

LNU810 0.722 4.31E-02 3 14 LNU810 0.792 6.04E-02 1 12

Table 99. Correlations (R) between the genes expression levels in various tissues and the phenotypic performance. "Corr. ID " - correlation set ID according to the correlated parameters Table above. "Exp. Set" - Expression set. "R" = Pearson correlation coefficient; "P" = p value.

EXAMPLE 12

GENE CLONING AND GENERATION OF BINARY VECTORS FOR PLANT

EXPRESSION

To validate their role in improving yield, selected genes were over-expressed in plants, as follows.

Cloning strategy

Selected genes from those presented in Examples 1-13 hereinabove were cloned into binary vectors for the generation of transgenic plants. For cloning, the full-length open reading frames (ORFs) were identified. EST clusters and in some cases mRNA sequences were analyzed to identify the entire open reading frame by comparing the results of several translation algorithms to known proteins from other plant species.

In order to clone the full-length cDNAs, reverse transcription (RT) followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR; RT-PCR) was performed on total RNA extracted from leaves, roots or other plant tissues, growing under normal/limiting or stress conditions. Total RNA extraction, production of cDNA and PCR amplification was performed using standard protocols described elsewhere (Sambrook J., E.F. Fritsch, and T. Maniatis. 1989. Molecular Cloning. A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Ed. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York.) which are well known to those skilled in the art. PCR products were purified using PCR purification kit (Qiagen).

Usually, 2 sets of primers were prepared for the amplification of each gene, via nested PCR (if required). Both sets of primers were used for amplification on a cDNA. In case no product was obtained, a nested PCR reaction was performed. Nested PCR was performed by amplification of the gene using external primers and then using the produced PCR product as a template for a second PCR reaction, where the internal set of primers were used. Alternatively, one or two of the internal primers were used for gene amplification, both in the first and the second PCR reactions (meaning only 2-3 primers are designed for a gene). To facilitate further cloning of the cDNAs, an 8-12 base pairs (bp) extension was added to the 5' of each internal primer. The primer extension includes an endonuclease restriction site. The restriction sites were selected using two parameters: (a) the restriction site does not exist in the cDNA sequence; and (b) the restriction sites in the forward and reverse primers were designed such that the digested cDNA was inserted in the sense direction into the binary vector utilized for transformation.

PCR products were digested with the restriction endonucleases (New England

BioLabs Inc) according to the sites designed in the primers. Each digested/ undigested PCR product was inserted into a high copy vector pUC19 (New England BioLabs Inc], or into plasmids originating from this vector. In some cases the undigested PCR product was inserted into pCR-Blunt II-TOPO (Invitrogen) or into pJET1.2 (CloneJET PCR Cloning Kit, Thermo Scientific) or directly into the binary vector. The digested/ undigested products and the linearized plasmid vector were ligated using T4 DNA ligase enzyme (Roche, Switzerland or other manufacturers). In cases where pCR-Blunt II- TOPO is used no T4 ligase is needed.

Sequencing of the inserted genes was performed, using the ABI 377 sequencer (Applied Biosystems). In some cases, after confirming the sequences of the cloned genes, the cloned cDNA was introduced into a modified pGI binary vector containing the At6669 promoter (e.g., pQFNc) and the NOS terminator (SEQ ID NO: 4891) via digestion with appropriate restriction endonucleases.

In case of Brachypodium transformation, after confirming the sequences of the cloned genes, the cloned cDNAs were introduced into pEBbVNi (Figure 9A) containing 35S promoter (SEQ ID NO: 4892) and the NOS terminator (SEQ ID NO:4891) via digestion with appropriate restriction endonucleases. The genes were cloned downstream to the 35S promoter and upstream to the NOS terminator.

Several DNA sequences of the selected genes were synthesized by GeneArt (Life Technologies, Grand Island, NY, USA). Synthetic DNA was designed in silico. Suitable restriction enzymes sites were added to the cloned sequences at the 5' end and at the 3' end to enable later cloning into the desired binary vector.

Binary vectors - The pPI plasmid vector was constructed by inserting a synthetic poly-(A) signal sequence, originating from pGL3 basic plasmid vector (Promega, GenBank Accession No. U47295; nucleotides 4658-4811) into the HindlU restriction site of the binary vector pBI101.3 (Clontech, GenBank Accession No. U12640). pGI is similar to pPI, but the original gene in the backbone is GUS-Intron and not GUS.

The modified pGI vector (e.g., pQFN, pQFNc, pQYN_6669, pQNa_RP, pQFYN or pQXNc) is a modified version of the pGI vector in which the cassette is inverted between the left and right borders so the gene and its corresponding promoter are close to the right border and the NPTII gene is close to the left border.

At6669, the new Arabidopsis thaliana promoter sequence (SEQ ID NO:4880) was inserted in the modified pGI binary vector, upstream to the cloned genes, followed by DNA ligation and binary plasmid extraction from positive E. coli colonies, as described above. Colonies were analyzed by PCR using the primers covering the insert which were designed to span the introduced promoter and gene. Positive plasmids were identified, isolated and sequenced. pEBbVNi (Figure 9A) is a modified version of pJJ2LB in which the Hygromycin resistance gene was replaced with the BAR gene which confers resistance to the BASTA herbicide [BAR gene coding sequence is provided in GenBank Accession No. JQ293091.1 (SEQ ID NO:5436); further description is provided in Akama K, et al. "Efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana using the bar gene as selectable marker" , Plant Cell Rep. 1995, 14(7):450-4; Christiansen P, et al. "A rapid and efficient transformation protocol for the grass Brachypodium distachyon ", Plant Cell Rep. 2005 Mar;23(10-l l):751-8. Epub 2004 Oct 19; and Pacurar DI, et al. "A high-throughput Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system for the grass model species Brachypodium distachyon L", Transgenic Res. 2008 17(5):965-75; each of which is fully incorporated herein by reference in its entirety]. The pEBbVNi construct contains the 35S promoter (SEQ ID NO:4892). pJJ2LB is a modified version of pCambia0305.2 (Cambia).

In case genomic DNA was cloned, the genes were amplified by direct PCR on genomic DNA extracted from leaf tissue using the DNAeasy kit (Qiagen Cat. No. 69104).

Selected genes cloned by the present inventors are provided in Table 100 below.

Table 100

Table 100. Provided are the names of the cloned genes, the high copy plasmids, the organism from which the gene was cloned, the primers used for cloning, and the sequence identifiers of the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the cloned genes.

EXAMPLE 13

TRANSFORMING AGROBACTERIUM TUMEFACIENS CELLS WITH BINARY VECTORS HARBORING THE POLYNUCLEOTIDES OF THE INVENTION

The above described binary vectors were used to transform Agrobacterium cells. Two additional binary constructs, having only the At6669 or the 35S promoter, or no additional promoter were used as negative controls.

The binary vectors were introduced to Agrobacterium tumefaciens GV301 or LB4404 (for Arabidopsis) or to AGL1 (for Brachypodium) competent cells (about 10 ⁹ cells/mL) by electroporation. The electroporation was performed using a MicroPulser electroporator (Biorad), 0.2 cm cuvettes (Biorad) and EC-2 electroporation program (Biorad). The treated cells were cultured in LB liquid medium at 28 °C for 3 hours, then plated over LB agar supplemented with gentamycin (for Arabidopsis; 50 mg/L; for Agrobacterium strains GV301) or streptomycin (for Arabidopsis; 300 mg/L; for Agrobacterium strain LB4404); or with Carbenicillin (for Brachypodium; 50 mg/L) and kanamycin (for Arabidopsis and Brachypodium; 50 mg/L) at 28 °C for 48 hours. Abrobacterium colonies, which were developed on the selective media, were further analyzed by PCR using the primers designed to span the inserted sequence in the pPI plasmid. The resulting PCR products were isolated and sequenced to verify that the correct polynucleotide sequences of the invention are properly introduced to the Agrobacterium cells.

EXAMPLE 14

TRANSFORMATION OF ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA PLANTS WITH THE

POLYNUCLEOTIDES OF THE INVENTION

Arabidopsis thaliana Columbia plants (To plants) were transformed using the Floral Dip procedure described by Clough and Bent, 1998 (Floral dip: a simplified method for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant J 16:735-43) and by Desfeux et al., 2000 (Female Reproductive Tissues Are the Primary Target of Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation by the Arabidopsis Floral-Dip Method. Plant Physiol, July 2000, Vol. 123, pp. 895-904), with minor modifications. Briefly, To Plants were sown in 250 ml pots filled with wet peat-based growth mix. The pots were covered with aluminum foil and a plastic dome, kept at 4 °C for 3-4 days, then uncovered and incubated in a growth chamber at 18-24 °C under 16/8 hour light/dark cycles. The To plants were ready for transformation six days before anthesis.

Single colonies of Agrobacterium carrying the binary constructs were generated as described in Examples 12-13 above. Colonies were cultured in LB medium supplemented with kanamycin (50 mg/L) and gentamycin (50 mg/L). The cultures were incubated at 28 °C for 48 hours under vigorous shaking and then centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 5 minutes. The pellets comprising the Agrobacterium cells were re-suspended in a transformation medium containing half-strength (2.15 g/L) Murashige-Skoog (Duchefa); 0.044 μΜ benzylamino purine (Sigma); 112 μg/L B5 Gambourg vitamins (Sigma); 5 % sucrose; and 0.2 ml/L Silwet L-77 (OSI Specialists, CT) in double- distilled water, at pH of 5.7.

Transformation of To plants was performed by inverting each plant into an Agrobacterium suspension, such that the above ground plant tissue was submerged for 3-5 seconds. Each inoculated To plant was immediately placed in a plastic tray, then covered with clear plastic dome to maintain humidity and is kept in the dark at room temperature for 18 hours, to facilitate infection and transformation. Transformed (transgenic) plants were then uncovered and transferred to a greenhouse for recovery and maturation. The transgenic To plants were grown in the greenhouse for 3-5 weeks until siliques were brown and dry. Seeds were harvested from plants and kept at room temperature until sowing.

For generating Ti and T ₂ transgenic plants harboring the genes, seeds collected from transgenic To plants were surface-sterilized by soaking in 70 % ethanol for 1 minute, followed by soaking in 5 % sodium hypochloride and 0.05 % triton for 5 minutes. The surface- sterilized seeds were thoroughly washed in sterile distilled water then placed on culture plates containing half-strength Murashige-Skoog (Duchefa); 2 % sucrose; 0.8 % plant agar; 50 mM kanamycin; and 200 mM carbenicylin (Duchefa). The culture plates were incubated at 4 °C for 48 hours, then transferred to a growth room at 25 °C for an additional week of incubation. Vital Ti Arabidopsis plants were transferred to fresh culture plates for another week of incubation. Following incubation the Ti plants were removed from culture plates and planted in growth mix contained in 250 ml pots. The transgenic plants were allowed to grow in a greenhouse to maturity. Seeds harvested from Ti plants were cultured and grown to maturity as T ₂ plants under the same conditions as used for culturing and growing the Ti plants.

EXAMPLE 15

TRANSFORMATION OF BRACHYPODIUM DISTACHYON PLANTS WITH THE

POLYNUCLEOTIDES OF THE INVENTION

Similar to the Arabidopsis model plant, Brachypodium distachyon has several features that recommend it as a model plant for functional genomic studies, especially in the grasses. Traits that make it an ideal model include its small genome (-160 Mbp for a diploid genome and 355 Mbp for a polyploidy genome), small physical stature, a short lifecycle, and few growth requirements. Brachypodium is related to the major cereal grain species but it is understood to be more closely related to the Triticeae (wheat, barley) than to the other cereals. Brachypodium, with its polyploidy accessions, can serve as an ideal model for these grains (whose genomics size and complexity is a major barrier to biotechnological improvement).

Brachypodium distachyon embryogenic calli were transformed using the procedure described by Vogel and Hill (2008) [High-efficiency Agrobacterium- mediated transformation of Brachypodium distachyon inbred line Bd21-3. Plant Cell Rep 27:471-478], Vain et al (2008) [Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the temperate grass Brachypodium distachyon (genotypeBd21) for T-DNA insertional mutagenesis. Plant Biotechnology J 6: 236-245], and Vogel J, et al. (2006) [Agrobacterium mediated transformation and inbred line development in the model grass Brachypodium distachyon. Plant Cell Tiss Org. Cult. 85: 199-211], each of which is fully incorporated herein by reference, with some minor modifications, which are briefly summarized hereinbelow.

Callus initiation - Immature spikes (about 2 months after seeding) were harvested at the very beginning of seeds filling. Spikes were then husked and surface sterilized with 3% NaCIO containing 0.1% Tween 20, shaked on a gyratory shaker at low speed for 20 minutes. Following three rinses with sterile distilled water, embryos were excised under a dissecting microscope in a laminar flow hood using fine forceps.

Excised embryos (size -0.3 mm, bell shaped) were placed on callus induction medium (CIM) [LS salts (Linsmaier, E. M. & Skoog, F. 1965. Physiol. Plantarum 18, 100) and vitamins plus 3% sucrose, 6 mg/L CuS0 ₄ , 2.5 mg/1 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid, pH 5.8 and 0.25% phytagel (Sigma)] scutellar side down, 100 embryos on a plate, and incubated at 28°C in the dark. One week later, the embryonic calli was cleaned from emerging roots, shoots and somatic calli, and was subcultured onto fresh CIM medium. During culture, yellowish embryogenic callus (EC) appeared and were further selected (e.g., picked and transferred) for further incubation in the same conditions for additional 2 weeks. Twenty-five pieces of sub-cultured calli were then separately placed on 90 X 15 mm petri plates, and incubated as before for three additional weeks.

Transformation - As described in Vogel and Hill (2008, Supra), Agrobacterium was scraped off 2-day-old MGL plates (plates with the MGL medium which contains: Tryptone 5g/l,Yeast Extract 2.5 g/1, NaCl 5 g/1, D-Mannitol 5 g/1, MgS0 ₄ *7H ₂ 0 0.204 g/1, K ₂ HP0 ₄ 0.25 g/1, Glutamic Acid 1.2 g/1, Plant Agar 7.5 g/1) and resuspended in liquid MS medium supplemented with 200 μΜ acetosyringone to an optic density (OD) at 600 nm (OD ₆ oo) of 0.6. Once the desired OD was attained, 1 ml of 10% Synperonic PE/F68 (Sigma) per 100 ml of inoculation medium was added.

To begin inoculation, 300 callus pieces were placed in approximately 12 plates (25 callus pieces in each plate) and covered with the Agrobacterium suspension (8-8.5 ml). The callus was incubated in the Agrobacterium suspension for 15 minutes with occasional gentle rocking. After incubation, the Agrobacterium suspension was aspirated off and the calli were then transferred into co-cultivation plates, prepared by placing a sterile 7-cm diameter filter paper in an empty 90 X 15 mm petri plate. The calli pieces were then gently distributed on the filter paper. One co-cultivation plate was used for two starting callus plates (50 initial calli pieces). The co-cultivation plates were then sealed with parafilm and incubated at 22°C in the dark for 3 days.

The callus pieces were then individually transferred onto CIM medium as described above, which was further supplemented with 200 mg/1 Ticarcillin (to kill the Agrobacterium) and Bialaphos (5 mg/L) (for selection of the transformed resistant embryogenic calli sections), and incubated at 28°C in the dark for 14 days.

The calli pieces were then transferred to shoot induction media (SIM; LS salts and vitamins plus 3% Maltose monohydrate) supplemented with 200 mg/1 Ticarcillin, Bialaphos (5 mg/L), Indol-3-acetic acid (IAA) (0.25 mg/L), and 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) (1 mg/L), and were sub-cultured in light to the same media after 10 days (total of 20 days). At each sub-culture all the pieces from a single callus were kept together to maintain their independence and were incubated under the following conditions: lighting to a level of 60 IE m-2 s-1, a 16-h light, 8-h dark photoperiod and a constant 24°C temperature. Plantlets emerged from the transformed calli.

When plantlets were large enough to handle without damage, they were transferred to plates containing the above mentioned shoot induction media (SIM) without Bialaphos. Each plantlet was considered as a different event. The plantlets grew axillary tillers and eventually became bushy. Each bush from the same plant (event ID) was then divided to tissue culture boxes ("Humus") containing "rooting medium" [MS basal salts, 3% sucrose, 3 g/L phytagel, 2 mg/1 a-Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) and 1 mg/L IAA and Ticarcillin 200 mg/L, PH 5.8). All plants in a "Humus box" were different plants of the same transformation event.

When plantlets established roots they were transplanted to soil and transferred to a greenhouse. To verify the transgenic status of plants containing the other constructs, TO plants were subjected to PCR as previously described by Vogel et al. 2006 [Agrobacterium mediated transformation and inbred line development in the model grass Brachypodium distachyon. Plant Cell Tiss Org. Cult. 85: 199-211].

EXAMPLE 16

EVALUATING TRANSGENIC ARABIDOPSIS NUE UNDER LOW OR NORMAL NITROGEN CONDITIONS USING SEEDLING ASSAYS

Assay 1: plant growth under low and favorable nitrogen concentration levels

Surface sterilized seeds were sown in basal media [50 % Murashige-Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with 0.8 % plant agar as solidifying agent] in the presence of Kanamycin (used as a selecting agent). After sowing, plates were transferred for 2-3 days for stratification at 4 °C and then grown at 25 °C under 12-hour light 12-hour dark daily cycles for 7 to 10 days. At this time point, seedlings randomly chosen were carefully transferred to plates containing ½ MS media (15 mM N) for the normal nitrogen concentration treatment and 0.30 mM nitrogen for the low nitrogen concentration treatments. For experiments performed in T ₂ lines, each plate contained 5 seedlings of the same transgenic event, and 3-4 different plates (replicates) for each event. For each polynucleotide of the invention at least four-five independent transformation events were analyzed from each construct. For experiments performed in Ti lines, each plate contained 5 seedlings of 5 independent transgenic events and 3-4 different plates (replicates) were planted. In total, for Ti lines, 20 independent events were evaluated. Plants expressing the polynucleotides of the invention were compared to the average measurement of the control plants (empty vector or GUS reporter gene under the same promoter) used in the same experiment.

Digital imaging - A laboratory image acquisition system, which consists of a digital reflex camera (Canon EOS 300D) attached with a 55 mm focal length lens (Canon EF-S series), mounted on a reproduction device (Kaiser RS), which includes 4 light units (4 x 150 Watts light bulb) and located in a darkroom, is used for capturing images of plantlets sawn in agar plates.

The image capturing process was repeated every 3-4 days starting at day 1 till day 10 (see for example the images in Figures 3A-B). An image analysis system was used, which consists of a personal desktop computer (Intel P4 3.0 GHz processor) and a public domain program - ImageJ 1.39 [Java based image processing program which was developed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and freely available on the internet at rsbweb (dot) nih (dot) gov/]. Images are captured in resolution of 10 Mega Pixels (3888 x 2592 pixels) and stored in a low compression JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group standard) format. Next, analyzed data was saved to text files and processed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute).

Seedling analysis - Using the digital analysis seedling data was calculated, including leaf area, root coverage and root length.

The relative growth rate for the various seedling parameters was calculated according to the following Formulas XIII (Relative growth rate of leaf area) and VI (Relative growth rate of root length).

At the end of the experiment, plantlets were removed from the media and weighed for the determination of plant fresh weight. Plantlets were then dried for 24 hours at 60 °C, and weighed again to measure plant dry weight for later statistical analysis. Growth rate was determined by comparing the leaf area coverage, root coverage and root length, between each couple of sequential photographs, and results were used to resolve the effect of the gene introduced on plant vigor under optimal conditions. Similarly, the effect of the gene introduced on biomass accumulation, under optimal conditions, was determined by comparing the plants' fresh and dry weight to that of control plants (containing an empty vector or the GUS reporter gene under the same promoter). From every construct created, 3-5 independent transformation events are examined in replicates.

Statistical analyses - To identify genes conferring significantly improved plant vigor or enlarged root architecture, the results obtained from the transgenic plants were compared to those obtained from control plants. To identify outperforming genes and constructs, results from the independent transformation events tested were analyzed separately. To evaluate the effect of a gene event over a control the data was analyzed by Student's t-test and the p value was calculated. Results were considered significant if p < 0.1. The JMP statistics software package was used (Version 5.2.1, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA).

Experimental results:

The genes presented in the following Tables were cloned under the regulation of a constitutive promoter (At6669). Evaluation of the effect of transformation in a plant of each gene was carried out by testing the performance of different number of transformation events. Some of the genes were evaluated in more than one seedling assay. The results obtained in these second experiments were significantly positive as well. Event with p-value <0.1 was considered statistically significant.

The genes presented in Tables 101-104 showed a significant improvement in plant NUE since they produced larger plant biomass (plant fresh and dry weight; leaf area, root length and root coverage) in T2 generation (Tables 101-102) or Tl generation (Tables 103-104) when grown under limiting nitrogen growth conditions, compared to control plants that were grown under identical growth conditions. Plants producing larger root biomass have better possibilities to absorb larger amount of nitrogen from soil.

Table 101

Genes showing improved plant performance at nitrogen deficient conditions (T2 generation)

Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg]

Gene Name Event # % %

Ave. P-Val. Ave. P-Val.

Incr. Incr.

LNU938 80352.1 5.65 L 46 117.0 0.24 68 Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg]

Gene Name Event # % %

Ave. P-Val. Ave. P-Val.

Incr. Incr.

LNU938 80353.1 - - - 103.8 0.04 49

LNU938 80355.5 5.40 0.18 40 90.1 0.22 29

LNU910 80350.1 5.03 0.17 30 103.2 0.09 48

LNU869 80083.3 5.75 L 49 86.0 0.21 23

LNU869 80084.4 5.35 0.10 39 - - -

LNU869 80085.2 4.62 0.27 20 - - -

LNU869 80085.3 5.15 0.03 34 85.8 0.23 23

LNU840 78676.4 - - - 84.8 0.26 22

LNU837 79574.5 4.60 0.26 19 - - -

LNU837 79574.7 4.98 0.04 29 91.5 0.17 31

LNU771 80077.2 5.28 0.02 37 85.8 0.06 23

LNU771 80079.3 - - - 103.7 0.14 49

CONT. - 3.86 - - 69.7 - -

LNU964 80552.4 4.77 0.04 14 94.8 0.29 19

LNU964 80552.6 5.05 0.01 20 103.2 0.06 30

LNU957 80437.1 5.95 L 42 95.0 0.14 20

LNU957 80437.6 5.28 0.29 26 99.7 0.05 26

LNU953 80428.1 5.62 0.05 34 115.3 0.15 45

LNU952 78218.3 - - - 104.1 0.14 31

LNU920 78510.1 5.40 0.08 29 105.0 L 32

LNU914 80514.5 5.50 0.02 31 86.1 0.14 8

LNU911 80420.5 - - - 98.4 0.29 24

LNU911 80424.2 5.15 0.03 23 127.8 0.09 61

LNU903 80417.6 - - - 98.2 0.01 24

LNU901 80474.5 4.62 0.28 10 - - -

LNU901 80476.4 4.85 0.18 15 - - -

LNU897 80448.3 5.40 0.20 29 99.0 0.03 25

LNU897 80449.1 4.70 0.10 12 - - -

LNU892 80410.1 - - - 98.8 0.10 24

LNU892 80412.1 4.85 0.13 15 96.0 0.17 21

LNU884 80407.1 6.17 0.02 47 116.2 L 46

LNU884 80407.5 4.88 0.22 16 - - -

LNU872 77724.7 5.15 0.13 23 99.7 L 26

LNU872 77725.4 5.10 0.11 21 90.4 0.05 14

LNU869 80084.3 5.30 L 26 93.6 0.05 18

LNU869 80084.4 5.53 0.02 32 114.5 L 44

LNU866 80443.5 5.17 0.09 23 - - -

LNU866 80444.2 5.07 0.09 21 - - -

LNU844 80342.1 4.55 0.17 8 - - -

LNU844 80344.2 5.05 0.21 20 95.6 0.12 20

LNU834_H1 80402.7 5.38 0.17 28 112.4 0.08 42 Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg]

Gene Name Event # % %

Ave. P-Val. Ave. P-Val.

Incr. Incr.

LNU791 77893.1 5.05 0.08 20 - - -

LNU749 80793.5 - - - 95.5 0.21 20

CONT. - 4.20 - - 79.4 - -

LNU975 80622.1 5.33 0.02 27 - - -

LNU975 80624.3 5.00 0.07 19 - - -

LNU819 78133.3 5.53 0.02 32 89.4 0.11 12

LNU817 80596.2 4.68 0.19 12 - - -

LNU801 78584.7 4.93 0.04 18 - - -

LNU800 77896.2 6.38 L 52 127.4 0.22 60

LNU794 78522.1 5.22 0.08 25 - - -

LNU760_H1 80127.4 4.88 0.12 16 87.1 0.16 9

CONT. - 4.19 - - 79.9 - -

LNU971 78395.1 - - - 92.1 0.13 32

LNU971 78395.5 - - - 94.8 0.21 36

LNU944 79779.3 4.07 0.27 14 - - -

LNU944 79781.6 - - - 98.0 0.11 41

LNU931 79774.5 3.92 0.28 10 - - -

LNU930 79770.5 4.88 0.03 36 - - -

LNU930 79772.1 3.98 0.11 11 - - -

LNU928 78211.4 4.50 0.16 26 94.9 0.18 36

LNU928 78215.4 4.28 0.03 19 - - -

LNU917 77498.2 4.42 0.09 24 88.8 0.24 28

LNU917 77500.1 4.55 0.01 27 - - -

LNU906 79219.6 - - - 87.2 0.17 25

LNU904 78987.1 - - - 115.6 0.29 66

LNU904 78987.2 4.33 0.01 21 - - -

LNU874 78369.1 - - - 85.5 0.12 23

LNU870 78501.1 4.53 0.01 26 - - -

LNU870 78505.1 4.12 0.06 15 104.9 0.11 51

LNU870 78505.7 4.22 0.14 18 97.9 0.29 41

LNU867 79589.3 4.40 0.03 23 - - -

LNU862 79757.1 4.45 0.08 24 76.6 0.22 10

LNU856 79753.3 - - - 80.9 0.14 16

LNU856 79753.5 4.65 0.21 30 97.0 0.20 39

LNU829 77912.5 4.38 0.11 22 114.0 0.26 64

LNU825 77716.4 4.03 0.20 13 - - -

LNU796 78235.7 4.35 0.27 22 - - -

LNU792 79161.2 4.33 L 21 - - -

LNU792 79215.1 4.15 0.14 16 - - -

LNU763 77588.7 - - - 97.1 0.26 39

LNU758 79739.5 4.00 0.18 12 - - - Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg]

Gene Name Event # % %

Ave. P-Val. Ave. P-Val.

Incr. Incr.

LNU758 79740.3 - - - 99.3 0.29 43

CONT. - 3.58 - - 69.6 - -

LNU955 80432.7 5.25 0.02 35 - - -

LNU953 80428.1 - - - 84.9 0.17 25

LNU949 80557.1 - - - 83.8 0.05 24

LNU949 80557.4 - - - 77.9 0.23 15

LNU901 80474.2 4.70 0.16 21 86.9 0.20 28

LNU901 80474.3 4.70 0.09 21 98.7 0.04 46

LNU901 80476.4 4.33 0.29 11 - - -

LNU892 80414.5 - - - 80.2 0.25 19

LNU866 80444.6 4.47 0.21 15 87.8 0.11 30

LNU843 78963.5 - - - 79.5 0.27 17

LNU834_H1 80402.3 - - - 80.6 0.12 19

LNU834_H1 80402.7 - - - 75.9 0.24 12

LNU798 79671.4 - - - 86.8 0.20 28

LNU798 79673.2 - - - 80.9 0.24 20

LNU787 80547.5 4.97 0.12 27 93.0 L 37

LNU766 78932.1 4.60 0.04 18 100.7 0.13 49

CONT. - 3.90 - - 67.7 - -

LNU844 80344.2 - - - 94.6 0.13 18

CONT. - - - - 80.2 - -

Table 101 : "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; " Incr." = % increment; "p-val." - p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant.

Table 102

Genes showing improved plant performance at nitrogen deficient conditions (T2 generation)

Roots Coverage

Leaf Area [cm ² ] Roots Length [cm]

[cm ² ]

Gene Name Event #

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU954 80358.5 0.434 0.02 21 10.8 0.06 40 7.19 L 16

LNU938 80352.1 - - - 12.4 L 60 6.92 0.02 12

LNU938 80353.1 0.440 L 22 10.2 0.01 32 7.48 L 21

LNU938 80355.5 0.400 0.18 11 12.8 0.25 66 7.22 0.05 17

LNU910 80346.1 - - - - - - 6.80 0.28 10

LNU910 80348.1 0.403 0.08 12 - - - 6.82 0.04 11

LNU910 80350.1 0.461 0.02 28 11.3 0.09 47 7.18 L 16

LNU869 80083.3 - - - 13.0 0.16 69 7.16 L 16

LNU869 80084.3 0.424 0.09 18 10.3 L 33 6.55 0.23 6 Roots Coverage

Leaf Area [cm ² ] Roots Length [cm]

[cm ² ]

Gene Name Event #

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU869 80084.4 0.404 0.28 12 9.92 0.16 28 - - -

LNU869 80085.2 0.414 0.14 15 - - - - - -

LNU869 80085.3 0.477 L 33 13.9 0.02 80 7.69 L 25

LNU840 78676.4 0.456 L 27 - - - 6.82 0.28 11

LNU840 78677.1 0.415 0.08 15 8.73 0.18 13 - - -

LNU840 78763.2 - - - 9.27 0.09 20 - - -

LNU840 78763.6 0.432 0.11 20 - - - - - -

LNU837 79574.5 0.433 0.09 20 11.2 0.17 44 - - -

LNU837 79574.7 0.434 0.02 21 10.6 0.03 38 7.16 0.02 16

LNU837 79575.2 - - - - - - 6.54 0.18 6

LNU837 79575.4 0.437 0.19 21 - - - - - -

LNU771 80077.2 0.490 L 36 12.9 L 67 7.53 L 22

LNU771 80078.5 0.398 0.22 11 8.87 0.18 15 6.58 0.23 7

LNU771 80079.3 0.495 L 37 - - - 7.16 0.22 16

LNU771 80079.4 0.459 L 28 10.0 0.19 30 6.89 0.03 12

CONT. - 0.360 - - 7.72 - - 6.17 - -

LNU964 80552.4 0.460 0.05 8 12.5 L 39 7.62 0.11 11

LNU964 80552.6 0.514 0.10 21 12.2 0.11 35 8.16 L 19

LNU957 80437.1 0.478 0.16 13 11.8 L 30 7.34 0.19 7

LNU957 80437.6 - - - - - - 7.61 0.05 11

LNU953 80428.1 0.467 0.26 10 10.9 0.02 20 7.32 0.15 7

LNU920 78509.5 - - - 10.8 0.05 19 7.70 0.04 12

LNU920 78510.1 - - - 10.7 0.17 18 7.66 0.02 12

LNU911 80420.5 - - - 10.8 0.26 19 7.50 0.09 9

LNU911 80424.2 0.493 0.03 16 11.8 0.19 31 7.51 0.04 10

LNU910 80350.1 - - - - - - 7.20 0.20 5

LNU903 80417.6 - - - 10.7 0.11 18 7.36 0.10 7

LNU901 80474.3 - - - 10.6 0.17 17 - - -

LNU901 80476.4 0.450 0.29 6 10.9 0.27 20 7.38 0.07 8

LNU897 80448.3 - - - 11.1 0.22 23 - - -

LNU897 80449.1 - - - 10.8 0.14 20 7.50 0.05 9

LNU892 80412.1 - - - 12.5 0.07 39 7.57 0.04 10

LNU884 80407.1 0.481 0.07 13 15.0 0.05 66 7.46 0.07 9

LNU872 77724.7 - - - - - - 7.52 0.08 10

LNU872 77725.6 - - - - - - 7.24 0.20 6

LNU869 80084.4 0.481 0.27 13 15.0 L 66 8.19 L 19

LNU866 80443.5 0.464 0.07 9 - - - - - -

LNU844 80341.2 - - - - - - 7.31 0.22 7

LNU844 80342.1 0.457 0.23 8 11.6 0.06 29 7.54 0.13 10

LNU844 80342.4 - - - 10.1 0.19 11 7.21 0.20 5 Roots Coverage

Leaf Area [cm ² ] Roots Length [cm]

[cm ² ]

Gene Name Event #

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU844 80344.2 - - - 11.3 0.06 25 7.64 0.08 12

LNU834_H1 80402.7 0.499 L 18 12.9 0.09 43 7.77 0.01 13

LNU805 80784.1 - - - - - - 7.37 0.18 8

LNU773 80398.1 - - - 10.7 0.13 19 - - -

LNU749 80793.5 - - - 11.9 0.09 32 7.82 0.02 14

CONT. - 0.424 - - 9.05 - - 6.85 - -

LNU956 80856.3 0.372 0.21 12 8.68 0.23 20 7.25 0.29 7

LNU818 80919.1 - - - - - - 7.21 0.09 6

CONT. - 0.334 - - 7.23 - - 6.79 - -

LNU975 80622.1 0.400 0.16 15 - - - - - -

LNU975 80624.3 0.375 0.17 7 7.86 L 18 7.03 L 14

LNU832_H2 80605.6 0.407 0.02 17 8.29 0.12 25 6.82 L 11

LNU819 78133.3 0.405 0.07 16 9.58 0.01 44 6.60 L 7

LNU817 80596.2 - - - 7.47 0.19 12 - - -

LNU801 78584.7 - - - 7.34 0.04 11 - - -

LNU801 78585.5 - - - 7.32 0.09 10 - - -

LNU801 78585.7 0.427 0.09 22 8.56 0.07 29 6.47 0.26 5

LNU800 77896.2 0.433 L 24 10.00 0.02 51 - - -

LNU799 78672.5 - - - 7.39 0.24 11 - - -

LNU794 78522.1 - - - 8.83 0.21 33 6.69 0.08 9

LNU760_H1 80127.4 0.378 0.17 8 9.25 0.06 39 6.45 0.30 5

LNU760_H1 80130.1 - - - 7.87 0.09 19 - - -

LNU760_H1 80130.4 - - - 8.15 0.01 23 6.38 0.16 4

CONT. - 0.350 - - 6.64 - - 6.14 - -

LNU971 78393.3 - - - - - - 7.22 0.14 7

LNU971 78395.2 - - - - - - 7.06 0.21 5

LNU971 78395.5 0.486 0.05 19 - - - 7.11 0.19 5

LNU931 79774.1 - - - - - - 7.25 0.07 7

LNU930 79770.5 - - - 10.3 0.30 10 7.15 0.16 6

LNU930 79772.5 - - - 11.8 0.02 26 7.10 0.24 5

LNU928 78211.4 0.442 0.15 8 11.0 0.18 17 7.40 0.01 10

LNU917 77500.1 0.497 L 22 12.7 0.01 36 7.47 0.01 11

LNU904 78987.1 0.471 0.11 15 - - - 7.38 0.17 9

LNU904 78987.2 - - - 10.7 0.26 14 - - -

LNU904 78989.1 - - - - - - 7.04 0.16 4

LNU899 79765.4 - - - 10.4 0.21 11 7.57 L 12

LNU899 79765.5 - - - - - - 7.26 0.03 8

LNU874 78369.1 0.460 0.08 13 - - - 7.15 0.16 6

LNU870 78501.1 0.441 0.16 8 12.1 0.14 29 7.23 0.12 7

LNU870 78505.7 0.474 0.09 16 - - - - - - Roots Coverage

Leaf Area [cm ² ] Roots Length [cm]

[cm ² ]

Gene Name Event #

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU867 79589.3 - - - 14.0 0.05 49 7.27 0.27 8

LNU867 79590.5 - - - - - - 7.08 0.24 5

LNU862 79755.9 - - - 12.7 0.09 36 7.39 0.02 10

LNU862 79757.1 0.447 0.18 9 12.5 0.04 33 7.29 0.04 8

LNU856 79753.3 0.481 0.13 18 12.3 0.02 31 7.93 L 18

LNU829 77912.3 - - - - - - 7.16 0.27 6

LNU829 77912.5 0.455 0.24 11 10.1 0.28 8 7.44 L 10

LNU829 77914.1 - - - - - - 7.18 0.07 6

LNU829 77914.2 - - - - - - 7.51 L 11

LNU796 78234.5 - - - - - - 7.31 0.04 8

LNU796 78235.7 - - - - - - 7.44 0.10 10

LNU792 79161.2 0.499 0.03 22 11.3 0.08 21 7.29 0.03 8

LNU792 79215.3 0.469 0.21 15 - - - 7.16 0.08 6

LNU763 77588.1 - - - 10.5 0.28 11 - - -

LNU763 77588.6 0.459 0.14 12 - - - - - -

LNU753 77143.3 - - - - - - 7.38 0.02 9

CONT. - 0.409 - - 9.38 - - 6.75 - -

LNU955 80432.7 - - - - - - 6.81 0.27 17

LNU953 80428.1 0.458 0.06 11 9.88 0.04 32 6.52 0.07 12

LNU949 80557.1 - - - 9.85 0.05 32 6.31 0.15 9

LNU949 80557.2 0.468 0.10 13 8.31 0.29 11 - - -

LNU949 80557.4 - - - 9.07 0.10 21 - - -

LNU901 80474.2 0.525 0.10 27 10.4 0.09 39 7.03 0.02 21

LNU901 80476.4 0.454 0.25 9 10.5 0.10 40 6.40 0.15 10

LNU892 80410.1 - - - 9.13 0.03 22 6.37 0.09 10

LNU892 80414.7 - - - 9.87 0.11 32 - - -

LNU873 80473.6 - - - 12.1 0.17 61 6.45 0.26 11

LNU866 80444.6 0.467 0.05 13 9.26 0.18 24 6.23 0.29 7

LNU834_H1 80402.1 - - - 9.04 0.21 21 - - -

LNU834_H1 80402.3 - - - 8.88 0.21 19 - - -

LNU834_H1 80402.7 - - - - - - 6.38 0.16 10

LNU834_H1 80404.5 0.466 0.17 12 11.5 0.30 54 - - -

LNU798 79671.4 0.465 0.09 12 9.92 0.07 32 6.56 0.04 13

LNU798 79673.2 - - - - - - 6.61 0.04 14

LNU787 80546.5 - - - 8.44 0.19 13 - - -

LNU787 80547.4 - - - 8.78 0.12 17 6.83 0.01 18

LNU787 80547.5 0.484 L 17 11.8 L 58 7.34 L 27

LNU766 78932.1 0.509 0.02 23 10.3 0.14 37 7.05 L 22

CONT. - 0.415 - - 7.49 - - 5.79 - -

LNU884 80407.5 0.490 0.23 11 11.9 0.27 17 6.99 0.23 7 Roots Coverage

Leaf Area [cm ² ] Roots Length [cm]

[cm ² ]

Gene Name Event #

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU844 80341.2 - - - 12.4 0.26 23 6.90 0.25 6

LNU791 77895.4 - - - 11.8 0.14 17 7.07 0.05 8

CONT. - 0.440 - - 10.1 - - 6.53 - -

Table 102: CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; " Incr." = % increment; "p-val." - p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant.

Table 103

Genes showing improved plant performance at nitrogen deficient conditions (Tl generation)

Table 103: "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; " Incr." = % increment, "p-val." - p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant.

Table 104

Genes showing improved plant performance at nitrogen deficient conditions (Tl generation)

Table 104: "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; " Incr." = % increment; "p-val." - p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant. The genes listed in Tables 105-106 have improved plant relative growth rate (relative growth rate of the leaf area, root coverage and root length) when grown under limiting nitrogen growth conditions compared to control plants (T2 and Tl generations) that were grown under identical growth conditions. Plants showing fast growth rate show a better plant establishment in soil under nitrogen deficient conditions. Faster growth was observed when growth rate of leaf area, root length and root coverage was measured.

Table 105

Genes showing improved plant growth rate at nitrogen deficient conditions (T2 generation)

RGR Of Roots RGR Of Root

RGR Of Leaf Area

Coverage Length

Gene Name Event #

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU954 80358.5 0.0422 0.08 22 1.29 0.01 42 0.649 0.03 22

LNU938 80352.1 - - - 1.48 L 63 0.640 0.03 21

LNU938 80352.2 - - - - - - 0.613 0.08 16

LNU938 80353.1 0.0418 0.09 20 1.21 0.01 33 0.666 L 26

LNU938 80354.1 - - - - - - 0.588 0.28 11

LNU938 80355.5 - - - 1.55 0.01 70 0.673 0.02 27

LNU910 80346.1 - - - - - - 0.631 0.14 19

LNU910 80348.1 - - - - - - 0.615 0.09 16

LNU910 80350.1 0.0445 0.04 28 1.33 0.01 47 0.646 0.03 22

LNU869 80083.3 - - - 1.56 L 72 0.680 0.03 28

LNU869 80084.3 0.0410 0.15 18 1.23 L 35 0.614 0.11 16

LNU869 80084.4 - - - 1.15 0.11 27 - - -

LNU869 80085.2 - - - 1.12 0.21 23 - - -

LNU869 80085.3 0.0444 0.08 28 1.66 L 82 0.673 0.05 27

LNU840 78676.4 0.0428 0.15 23 - - - - - -

LNU840 78677.1 - - - 1.04 0.24 15 0.606 0.15 14

LNU840 78763.2 - - - 1.12 0.13 24 0.605 0.24 14

LNU840 78763.6 0.0405 0.23 17 - - - 0.598 0.26 13

LNU837 79574.5 - - - 1.35 0.02 49 0.622 0.13 17

LNU837 79574.7 0.0416 0.11 20 1.27 L 40 0.664 0.01 25

LNU837 79575.2 - - - - - - 0.589 0.23 11

LNU837 79575.4 0.0420 0.22 21 1.13 0.19 24 - - -

LNU771 80077.2 0.0454 0.02 31 1.52 L 68 0.689 L 30

LNU771 80077.4 - - - - - - 0.594 0.22 12

LNU771 80078.5 - - - 1.06 0.21 17 0.605 0.15 14

LNU771 80079.3 0.0451 0.07 30 1.25 0.06 38 0.656 0.08 24 RGR Of Roots RGR Of Root

RGR Of Leaf Area

Coverage Length

Gene Name Event #

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU771 80079.4 0.0454 0.02 31 1.18 0.08 30 0.613 0.12 16

CONT. - 0.0347 - - 0.908 - - 0.530 - -

LNU964 80548.3 - - - - - - 0.685 0.26 12

LNU964 80552.4 0.0460 0.23 13 1.49 0.01 40 0.727 0.07 19

LNU964 80552.6 0.0475 0.17 17 1.45 0.04 37 0.734 0.04 20

LNU957 80437.1 - - - 1.38 0.06 30 - - -

LNU953 80428.1 - - - 1.27 0.18 20 - - -

LNU920 78509.5 - - - 1.27 0.19 19 0.703 0.14 15

LNU920 78510.1 - - - 1.26 0.22 18 - - -

LNU911 80424.2 0.0463 0.23 14 1.35 0.13 27 - - -

LNU903 80417.6 - - - 1.29 0.18 21 0.693 0.18 14

LNU901 80474.3 - - - 1.27 0.22 19 0.709 0.15 16

LNU901 80476.4 - - - 1.27 0.25 19 - - -

LNU897 80448.3 - - - 1.31 0.17 23 - - -

LNU897 80449.1 - - - 1.30 0.17 22 0.696 0.17 14

LNU892 80412.1 - - - 1.51 0.02 42 0.701 0.15 15

LNU884 80407.1 - - - 1.81 L 70 - - -

LNU872 77724.7 - - - - - - 0.691 0.19 13

LNU872 77725.6 - - - - - - 0.704 0.13 15

LNU869 80084.3 - - - 1.26 0.28 18 - - -

LNU869 80084.4 0.0473 0.20 16 1.80 L 69 0.760 0.02 25

LNU844 80341.2 - - - - - - 0.701 0.16 15

LNU844 80342.1 - - - 1.38 0.06 29 - - -

LNU844 80344.2 - - - 1.35 0.09 27 0.698 0.18 14

LNU834_H1 80402.7 - - - 1.55 0.01 46 0.765 0.02 25

LNU773 80398.1 - - - 1.30 0.18 22 - - -

LNU749 80793.5 - - - 1.42 0.05 33 0.722 0.08 18

CONT. - 0.0407 - - 1.06 - - 0.610 - -

LNU956 80854.3 - - - 1.06 0.29 21 - - -

LNU956 80856.3 0.0385 0.26 12 1.06 0.19 22 0.711 0.26 8

CONT. - 0.0344 - - 0.873 - - 0.661 - -

LNU975 80624.3 - - - 0.904 0.17 16 - - -

LNU832_H2 80605.6 0.0371 0.14 17 0.951 0.11 22 0.610 0.02 11

LNU819 78133.3 0.0361 0.26 14 1.12 L 44 - - -

LNU801 78585.7 0.0370 0.21 17 0.994 0.05 27 - - -

LNU800 77896.2 0.0377 0.09 19 1.18 L 51 - - -

LNU794 78522.1 - - - 1.03 0.06 31 - - -

LNU760_H1 80127.2 - - - 0.896 0.27 15 - - -

LNU760_H1 80127.4 - - - 1.08 L 37 - - -

LNU760_H1 80130.1 - - - 0.909 0.20 16 - - - RGR Of Roots RGR Of Root

RGR Of Leaf Area

Coverage Length

Gene Name Event #

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU760_H1 80130.4 - - - 0.964 0.05 23 0.600 0.05 10

CONT. - 0.0317 - - 0.782 - - 0.548 - -

LNU971 78395.2 - - - - - - 0.658 0.21 10

LNU971 78395.5 0.0486 0.09 21 - - - - - -

LNU930 79772.5 - - - 1.39 0.04 26 - - -

LNU928 78211.4 0.0470 0.14 17 1.30 0.19 18 0.672 0.13 12

LNU917 77500.1 0.0487 0.08 21 1.49 0.01 36 - - -

LNU904 78987.1 0.0469 0.19 17 - - - - - -

LNU904 78987.2 0.0455 0.26 13 1.26 0.27 15 - - -

LNU874 78369.1 0.0481 0.09 20 - - - - - -

LNU870 78501.1 - - - 1.45 0.04 32 0.659 0.25 10

LNU870 78505.7 0.0478 0.13 19 1.28 0.26 16 - - -

LNU867 79589.3 - - - 1.68 L 52 0.684 0.12 14

LNU862 79755.9 - - - 1.52 0.01 38 0.702 0.03 17

LNU862 79757.1 0.0463 0.20 15 1.51 0.01 37 0.696 0.06 16

LNU856 79753.3 0.0495 0.08 23 1.47 0.01 33 0.693 0.07 16

LNU856 79753.5 0.0453 0.29 13 1.31 0.21 19 - - -

LNU852 79580.2 - - - - - - 0.654 0.24 9

LNU829 77912.3 - - - - - - 0.658 0.25 10

LNU796 78234.5 0.0455 0.23 13 - - - - - -

LNU796 78235.7 - - - 1.45 0.08 32 0.668 0.20 11

LNU792 79161.2 0.0485 0.09 21 1.37 0.06 24 0.680 0.10 14

LNU792 79215.1 - - - - - - 0.665 0.17 11

LNU792 79215.3 - - - 1.38 0.12 26 - - -

LNU763 77588.1 - - - 1.26 0.26 15 - - -

LNU763 77588.8 - - - - - - 0.706 0.04 18

LNU753 77141.2 - - - 1.46 0.07 32 0.666 0.21 11

CONT. - 0.0402 - - 1.10 - - 0.599 - -

LNU955 80432.7 - - - 1.61 0.01 78 0.669 0.22 19

LNU953 80428.1 - - - 1.19 0.04 31 - - -

LNU949 80557.1 - - - 1.18 0.05 30 - - -

LNU949 80557.2 0.0476 0.13 18 - - - - - -

LNU949 80557.4 - - - 1.11 0.16 22 - - -

LNU914 80514.5 - - - 1.09 0.25 20 - - -

LNU901 80474.2 0.0513 0.06 27 1.24 0.03 37 - - -

LNU901 80474.3 - - - 1.10 0.23 21 - - -

LNU901 80476.4 - - - 1.27 0.03 39 0.632 0.30 12

LNU892 80410.1 - - - 1.11 0.09 23 0.649 0.14 15

LNU892 80414.7 - - - 1.21 0.05 34 - - -

LNU873 80473.6 - - - 1.44 L 59 - - - RGR Of Roots RGR Of Root

RGR Of Leaf Area

Coverage Length

Gene Name Event #

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU866 80444.6 - - - 1.12 0.16 24 0.643 0.25 14

LNU834_H1 80402.1 - - - 1.11 0.16 22 - - -

LNU834_H1 80402.3 - - - 1.08 0.20 19 - - -

LNU834_H1 80404.5 - - - 1.40 0.04 55 0.656 0.22 16

LNU798 79671.4 - - - 1.18 0.06 30 - - -

LNU798 79673.2 - - - 1.08 0.26 19 - - -

LNU787 80546.5 - - - - - - 0.648 0.20 15

LNU787 80547.4 - - - 1.06 0.21 16 - - -

LNU787 80547.5 0.0478 0.11 18 1.41 L 56 0.686 0.08 22

LNU766 78932.1 0.0482 0.11 19 1.23 0.04 36 0.653 0.19 16

CONT. - 0.0404 - - 0.907 - - 0.565 - -

LNU884 80407.5 - - - 1.42 0.22 21 0.633 0.04 17

LNU872 77725.4 - - - - - - 0.584 0.22 8

LNU844 80341.2 - - - 1.47 0.17 24 0.591 0.25 9

LNU791 77895.4 - - - 1.37 0.26 16 0.584 0.22 8

CONT. - - - - 1.18 - - 0.541 - -

Table 105: "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; " Incr." = % increment; "p-val." - p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant.

Table 106

Genes showing improved plant growth rate at nitrogen deficient conditions (Tl generation)

Table 106: "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; " Incr." = % increment; "p-val." - p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant.

The genes listed in Tables 107-110 improved plant NUE when grown at standard nitrogen concentration levels. These genes produced larger plant biomass (plant fresh and dry weight; leaf area, root coverage and roots length) when grown under standard nitrogen growth conditions compared to control plants that were grown under identical growth conditions in T2 (Tables 107-108) and Tl (Tables 109-110) generations. Larger plant biomass under these growth conditions indicates the high ability of the plant to better metabolize the nitrogen present in the medium. Plants producing larger root biomass have better possibilities to absorb larger amount of nitrogen from soil.

Table 107

Genes showing improved plant performance at standard nitrogen growth conditions

(T2 generation)

Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg]

Gene Name Event # % %

Ave. P-Val. Ave. P-Val.

Incr. Incr.

LNU938 80355.5 6.80 0.27 16 140.0 0.21 43

LNU910 80348.5 - - - 129.1 0.21 32

LNU910 80350.1 7.17 0.12 23 118.7 0.18 21

LNU869 80083.3 7.10 0.09 21 142.9 0.12 46

LNU869 80084.4 10.3 0.10 77 184.2 L 88

LNU869 80085.3 8.25 0.01 41 158.8 0.02 63

LNU771 80077.2 - - - 170.8 L 75

LNU771 80079.3 - - - 123.8 0.26 27

CONT. - 5.85 - - 97.7 - -

LNU964 80548.3 5.30 0.25 25 112.8 0.03 40

LNU964 80552.4 7.85 0.04 86 162.1 0.06 101

LNU964 80552.6 5.70 0.01 35 103.6 0.07 28

LNU955 80432.7 6.63 0.03 57 120.4 0.03 49

LNU953 80428.1 5.40 0.15 28 - - -

LNU953 80429.2 6.83 0.16 62 143.8 0.24 78

LNU949 80557.4 5.85 L 38 112.4 L 39

LNU914 80514.5 5.70 0.16 35 115.7 0.18 43

LNU901 80474.2 6.75 0.03 60 128.8 L 60

LNU901 80474.3 7.58 0.02 79 130.8 0.06 62

LNU901 80476.4 - - - 116.2 0.17 44

LNU892 80410.1 6.50 L 54 137.1 0.03 70

LNU892 80412.1 5.70 0.21 35 - - -

LNU892 80414.7 6.03 0.13 43 125.5 0.19 55

LNU873 80469.3 6.42 0.10 52 119.8 0.18 49

LNU873 80473.6 4.80 0.20 14 96.2 0.24 19

LNU866 80444.6 7.20 0.03 70 150.2 0.15 86

LNU843 78963.5 4.60 0.23 9 93.2 0.21 16

LNU834_H1 80402.1 6.35 0.14 50 116.8 0.08 45 Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg]

Gene Name Event # % %

Ave. P-Val. Ave. P-Val.

Incr. Incr.

LNU834_H1 80402.3 5.88 0.04 39 97.9 0.22 21

LNU834_H1 80404.5 6.05 0.05 43 113.1 0.03 40

LNU798 79669.1 5.67 0.12 34 102.2 0.04 27

LNU798 79671.4 - - - 132.5 L 64

LNU798 79673.2 5.62 0.13 33 106.7 0.14 32

LNU787 80546.5 6.68 0.04 58 126.0 0.01 56

LNU787 80547.5 6.70 0.07 59 139.7 0.01 73

LNU766 78931.1 6.05 L 43 117.1 L 45

LNU766 78931.10 7.52 L 78 129.5 0.02 60

LNU766 78932.1 5.47 0.20 30 102.8 0.03 27

CONT. - 4.22 - - 80.7 - -

LNU952 78218.3 6.10 0.25 34 - - -

LNU952 78218.6 6.17 0.26 35 133.8 0.14 28

LNU905 79674.4 7.12 0.15 56 138.1 0.20 32

LNU897 80449.1 6.10 0.16 34 - - -

LNU884 80407.5 8.55 0.05 87 172.8 0.16 66

LNU872 77723.2 - - - 138.9 0.15 33

LNU872 77724.7 8.20 0.02 80 154.9 0.07 48

CONT. - 4.57 - - 104.4 - -

Table 107: "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; " Incr." = % increment; "p-val." - p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant.

Table 108

Genes showing improved plant performance at standard nitrogen growth conditions

(T2 generation)

Roots Coverage

Leaf Area [cm ² ] Roots Length [cm]

[cm ² ]

Gene Name Event #

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU954 80360.1 0.510 0.16 9 - - - - - -

LNU938 80355.5 0.554 0.05 19 - - - - - -

LNU910 80348.1 0.560 0.27 20 - - - - - -

LNU910 80348.5 0.586 L 26 - - - 6.83 0.26 9

LNU910 80350.1 0.620 0.02 33 7.98 0.11 22 6.97 L 11

LNU869 80083.3 0.603 0.06 29 - - - - - -

LNU869 80084.3 0.564 0.07 21 - - - - - -

LNU869 80084.4 0.767 L 65 - - - - - -

LNU869 80085.3 0.656 L 41 8.85 L 36 7.14 L 14

LNU840 78676.4 0.527 0.18 13 - - - 6.55 0.19 5

LNU840 78677.1 0.533 0.24 14 - - - - - -

LNU840 78763.2 0.540 0.16 16 - - - - - - Roots Coverage

Leaf Area [cm ² ] Roots Length [cm]

[cm ² ]

Gene Name Event #

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU771 80077.2 0.646 0.19 38 9.56 L 47 7.19 L 15

LNU771 80079.3 0.572 0.19 23 - - - - - -

LNU771 80079.4 0.538 0.07 15 - - - - - -

CONT. - 0.466 - - 6.52 - - 6.26 - -

LNU964 80548.1 0.557 L 23 6.39 0.20 15 6.21 0.06 8

LNU964 80548.3 0.514 0.02 14 - - - - - -

LNU964 80552.4 0.699 0.01 54 7.77 0.13 40 6.15 0.26 7

LNU964 80552.6 0.500 0.10 10 - - - 6.06 0.28 6

LNU955 80432.7 0.597 0.03 32 9.08 0.09 64 - - -

LNU953 80428.1 0.554 0.03 22 7.46 0.07 35 6.21 0.01 8

LNU953 80429.2 0.640 0.12 41 - - - - - -

LNU949 80557.4 0.612 L 35 8.01 0.02 45 6.43 L 12

LNU914 80514.5 0.598 L 32 - - - - - -

LNU914 80515.6 0.543 0.09 20 - - - - - -

LNU901 80474.2 0.598 0.02 32 8.49 0.02 53 6.53 0.07 14

LNU901 80474.3 0.605 L 34 6.52 0.10 18 - - -

LNU901 80476.4 0.513 0.05 13 - - - 6.25 0.20 9

LNU892 80410.1 0.582 0.07 29 7.37 0.01 33 6.24 0.04 9

LNU892 80414.7 0.552 0.12 22 - - - - - -

LNU873 80469.3 0.540 L 19 6.46 0.21 17 - - -

LNU873 80473.6 0.502 0.16 11 6.19 0.25 12 - - -

LNU866 80444.6 0.678 0.13 50 - - - - - -

LNU834_H1 80402.1 0.597 0.03 32 8.21 0.09 48 6.67 L 16

LNU834_H1 80402.3 0.519 0.03 15 6.42 0.10 16 - - -

LNU834_H1 80404.5 0.588 L 30 7.17 L 30 6.30 0.21 10

LNU798 79669.1 0.517 0.02 14 - - - - - -

LNU798 79671.4 0.681 L 51 9.55 0.29 73 6.63 0.26 16

LNU798 79673.2 0.573 0.13 27 7.55 0.29 36 6.66 0.14 16

LNU787 80546.5 0.568 0.01 26 7.62 0.19 38 6.31 0.24 10

LNU787 80547.4 - - - 6.11 0.29 10 6.47 0.02 13

LNU787 80547.5 0.607 0.06 34 8.87 0.03 60 6.53 0.02 14

LNU766 78931.1 0.535 0.12 18 7.02 0.09 27 - - -

LNU766 78931.10 0.648 0.03 43 8.84 0.01 60 6.78 0.03 18

LNU766 78932.1 0.589 0.05 30 7.38 0.17 33 6.79 0.04 19

CONT. - 0.453 - - 5.53 - - 5.73 - -

LNU952 78218.6 0.695 0.04 34 7.32 0.16 26 - - -

LNU920 78507.1 - - - 7.69 0.24 33 - - -

LNU920 78510.1 - - - - - - 6.53 0.29 10

LNU905 79674.4 0.663 0.16 28 8.22 0.07 42 - - -

LNU905 79676.1 0.614 0.20 19 7.19 0.28 24 - - - Roots Coverage

Leaf Area [cm ² ] Roots Length [cm]

[cm ² ]

Gene Name Event #

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU897 80449.1 0.620 0.17 20 - - - - - -

LNU884 80407.5 0.791 0.03 53 9.14 0.04 57 6.76 0.19 14

LNU872 77723.2 0.689 0.15 33 - - - - - -

LNU872 77724.7 0.650 0.10 26 9.50 0.05 64 6.90 0.13 17

LNU791 77895.4 - - - - - - 6.62 0.24 12

CONT. - 0.517 - - 5.81 - - 5.91 - -

Table 108: "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; " Incr." = % increment; "p- val." - p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant.

Table 109

Genes showing improved plant performance at standard nitrogen growth conditions

(Tl generation)

Table 109: "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; " Incr." = % increment; "p-val." - p-value; L means that p- value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant.

Table 110

Genes showing improved plant performance at standard nitrogen growth conditions

(Tl generation)

Table 110: "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; " Incr." = % increment; "p-val." - p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant.

The genes listed in Tables 111- 112 improved plant relative growth rate (RGR of leaf area, root length and root coverage) when grown at standard nitrogen concentration levels. These genes produced plants that grew faster than control plants when grown under standard nitrogen growth conditions. Faster growth was observed when growth rate of leaf area, root length and root coverage was measured.

Table 111

Genes showing improved growth rate at standard nitrogen growth conditions (T2 generation)

RGR Of Roots RG R Of Root

RGR Of Leaf Area

Coverage Length

Gene Name Event #

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU954 80360.4 - - - - - - 0.583 0.23 10

LNU938 80354.1 - - - - - - 0.588 0.21 11

LNU938 80355.5 0.0549 0.14 18 - - - - - -

LNU910 80348.1 0.0555 0.22 19 - - - - - -

LNU910 80348.5 0.0588 0.11 26 - - - - - -

LNU910 80350.1 0.0617 0.02 32 0.929 0.07 23 0.611 0.06 16

LNU869 80083.3 0.0584 0.12 25 - - - - - -

LNU869 80084.3 0.0549 0.16 18 - - - - - -

LNU869 80084.4 0.0767 L 64 0.911 0.23 20 - - -

LNU869 80085.3 0.0652 L 40 1.02 L 34 0.583 0.21 10

LNU840 78677.1 0.0537 0.25 15 - - - - - -

LNU840 78763.2 0.0529 0.30 13 - - - - - -

LNU771 80077.2 0.0630 0.05 35 1.11 L 46 0.627 0.09 19

LNU771 80079.3 0.0537 0.30 15 0.859 0.29 13 - - -

LNU771 80079.4 0.0544 0.18 17 - - - 0.577 0.29 9

CONT. - 0.0466 - - 0.758 - - 0.528 - -

LNU964 80548.1 0.0572 0.03 23 0.773 0.24 16 0.632 0.08 11

LNU964 80548.3 0.0522 0.26 12 - - - - - -

LNU964 80552.4 0.0733 L 58 0.917 0.03 38 - - -

LNU964 80552.6 0.0543 0.12 17 - - - - - -

LNU955 80432.7 0.0607 0.02 31 1.11 L 67 - - -

LNU953 80428.1 0.0561 0.04 21 0.879 0.04 32 - - -

LNU953 80429.2 0.0662 L 42 0.787 0.27 18 - - -

LNU949 80557.4 0.0630 L 36 0.971 L 46 0.627 0.13 10

LNU914 80514.5 0.0596 0.03 28 - - - - - -

LNU914 80515.6 0.0550 0.12 18 - - - - - -

LNU901 80474.2 0.0592 0.01 27 1.01 L 52 - - -

LNU901 80474.3 0.0623 L 34 0.792 0.16 19 - - -

LNU901 80476.4 0.0534 0.15 15 - - - - - -

LNU892 80410.1 0.0589 0.02 27 0.890 0.02 34 0.615 0.17 8

LNU892 80414.7 0.0551 0.12 19 - - - - - -

LNU873 80469.3 0.0550 0.08 18 0.779 0.26 17 - - -

LNU873 80473.6 0.0522 0.24 12 - - - - - -

LNU866 80444.6 0.0664 L 43 0.901 0.08 35 - - -

LNU834_H1 80402.1 0.0614 L 32 0.965 0.01 45 0.614 0.21 8

LNU834_H1 80402.3 0.0529 0.14 14 0.768 0.25 15 - - -

LNU834_H1 80404.5 0.0588 0.01 27 0.859 0.03 29 - - -

LNU798 79671.4 0.0701 L 51 1.12 L 68 - - - RGR Of Roots RG R Of Root

RGR Of Leaf Area

Coverage Length

Gene Name Event #

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU798 79673.2 0.0585 0.05 26 0.903 0.10 36 0.636 0.17 12

LNU787 80546.5 0.0572 0.03 23 0.899 0.06 35 - - -

LNU787 80547.4 - - - - - - 0.609 0.25 7

LNU787 80547.5 0.0659 L 42 1.06 L 59 0.634 0.07 12

LNU766 78931.1 0.0539 0.15 16 0.830 0.09 25 - - -

LNU766 78931.10 0.0668 L 44 1.02 L 54 0.639 0.10 13

LNU766 78932.1 0.0584 0.04 26 0.864 0.08 30 0.612 0.30 8

CONT. - 0.0464 - - 0.665 - - 0.568 - -

LNU952 78218.6 0.0694 0.04 41 0.879 0.15 31 0.589 0.13 19

LNU920 78507.1 - - - 0.907 0.20 36 - - -

LNU905 79674.4 0.0658 0.16 33 0.960 0.06 44 - - -

LNU905 79676.1 0.0620 0.15 26 0.848 0.22 27 0.584 0.12 18

LNU897 80449.1 0.0618 0.17 25 - - - - - -

LNU884 80407.5 0.0776 0.01 57 1.06 0.02 58 0.593 0.21 19

LNU872 77723.2 0.0681 0.07 38 0.834 0.26 25 0.582 0.26 17

LNU872 77724.7 0.0670 0.03 36 1.08 0.03 61 - - -

LNU773 80399.2 - - - 0.895 0.24 34 0.583 0.28 17

CONT. - 0.0493 - - 0.669 - - 0.497 - -

Table 111: "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; " Incr." = % increment; "p-val." - p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant.

Table 112

Genes showing improved growth rate at standard nitrogen growth conditions (Tl generation)

Table 112. "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; " Incr." = % increment; "p-val." - p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant. EXAMPLE 17

EVALUATION OF TRANSGENIC ARABIDOPSIS NUE, YIELD AND PLANT GROWTH RATE UNDER LOW OR NORMAL NITROGEN FERTILIZATION IN

GREENHOUSE ASSA Y

Assay 1: Nitrogen Use efficiency: Seed yield plant biomass and plant growth rate at limited and optimal nitrogen concentration under greenhouse conditions - This assay follows seed yield production, the biomass formation and the rosette area growth of plants grown in the greenhouse at limiting and non-limiting nitrogen growth conditions. Transgenic Arabidopsis seeds were sown in agar media supplemented with ½ MS medium and a selection agent (Kanamycin). The T ₂ transgenic seedlings were then transplanted to 1.7 trays filled with peat and perlite in a 1: 1 ratio. The trays were irrigated with a solution containing nitrogen limiting conditions, which were achieved by irrigating the plants with a solution containing 1.5 mM inorganic nitrogen in the form of KNO ₃ , supplemented with 1 mM KH ₂ P0 ₄ , 1 mM MgS0 ₄ , 3.6 mM KC1, 2 mM CaCl ₂ and microelements, while normal nitrogen levels were achieved by applying a solution of 6 mM inorganic nitrogen also in the form of KNO ₃ with 1 mM KH ₂ P0 ₄ , 1 mM MgS0 _4i 2 mM CaCl ₂ and microelements. All plants were grown in the greenhouse until mature seeds. Seeds were harvested, extracted and weight. The remaining plant biomass (the above ground tissue) was also harvested, and weighted immediately or following drying in oven at 50 °C for 24 hours.

Each construct was validated at its T ₂ generation. Transgenic plants transformed with a construct conformed by an empty vector carrying the 35S promoter and the selectable marker was used as control.

The plants are analyzed for their overall size, growth rate, flowering, seed yield, 1,000-seed weight, dry matter and harvest index (HI- seed yield/dry matter). Transgenic plants performance was compared to control plants grown in parallel under the same conditions. Mock- transgenic plants expressing the uidA reporter gene (GUS-Intron) or with no gene at all, under the same promoter were used as control.

The experiment was planned in nested randomized plot distribution. For each gene of the invention three to five independent transformation events were analyzed from each construct. Digital imaging - A laboratory image acquisition system, which consists of a digital reflex camera (Canon EOS 300D) attached with a 55 mm focal length lens (Canon EF-S series), mounted on a reproduction device (Kaiser RS), which includes 4 light units (4 x 150 Watts light bulb) was used for capturing images of plant samples.

The image capturing process was repeated every 2 days starting from day 1 after transplanting till day 15. Same camera, placed in a custom made iron mount, was used for capturing images of larger plants sawn in white tubs in an environmental controlled greenhouse. The tubs were square shape include 1.7 liter trays. During the capture process, the tubs were placed beneath the iron mount, while avoiding direct sun light and casting of shadows.

An image analysis system was used, which consists of a personal desktop computer (Intel P4 3.0 GHz processor) and a public domain program - ImageJ 1.39 [Java based image processing program which was developed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and freely available on the internet at rsbweb (dot) nih (dot) gov/] . Images are captured in resolution of 10 Mega Pixels (3888 x 2592 pixels) and stored in a low compression JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group standard) format. Next, analyzed data was saved to text files and processed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute).

Leaf analysis - Using the digital analysis leaves data was calculated, including leaf number, rosette area, rosette diameter, leaf blade area.

Vegetative growth rate: the relative growth rate (RGR) of leaf number [Formula VIII (described above)], rosette area (Formula IX, described above), plot coverage (Formula XI, described above) and harvest index (Formula XV) is calculated with the indicated formulas.

Seeds average weight - At the end of the experiment all seeds were collected.

The seeds were scattered on a glass tray and a picture is taken. Using the digital analysis, the number of seeds in each sample was calculated.

Dry weight and seed yield - On about day 80 from sowing, the plants were harvested and left to dry at 30 °C in a drying chamber. The biomass and seed weight of each plot were measured and divided by the number of plants in each plot. Dry weight = total weight of the vegetative portion above ground (excluding roots) after drying at 30 °C in a drying chamber; Seed yield per plant = total seed weight per plant (gr). 1000 seed weight (the weight of 1000 seeds) (gr.).

The harvest index (HI) is calculated using Formula XV as described above.

Oil percentage in seeds - At the end of the experiment all seeds from each plot were collected. Seeds from 3 plots were mixed grounded and then mounted onto the extraction chamber. 210 ml of n-Hexane (Cat No. 080951 Biolab Ltd.) were used as the solvent. The extraction was performed for 30 hours at medium heat 50 °C. Once the extraction has ended the n-Hexane was evaporated using the evaporator at 35 °C and vacuum conditions. The process was repeated twice. The information gained from the Soxhlet extractor (Soxhlet, F. Die gewichtsanalytische Bestimmung des Milchfettes, Polytechnisches J. (Dingler's) 1879, 232, 461) was used to create a calibration curve for the Low Resonance NMR. The content of oil of all seed samples is determined using the Low Resonance NMR (MARAN Ultra- Oxford Instrument) and its MultiQuant software package

Silique length analysis - On day 50 from sowing, 30 siliques from different plants in each plot were sampled in block A. The chosen siliques were green-yellow in color and were collected from the bottom parts of a grown plant's stem. A digital photograph was taken to determine silique's length.

Statistical analyses - To identify genes conferring significantly improved tolerance to abiotic stresses, the results obtained from the transgenic plants were compared to those obtained from control plants. To identify outperforming genes and constructs, results from the independent transformation events tested were analyzed separately. Data was analyzed using Student's t-test and results were considered significant if the p value was less than 0.1. The JMP statistics software package was used (Version 5.2.1, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA).

Tables 113-122 summarize the observed phenotypes of transgenic plants exogenously expressing the gene constructs using the greenhouse seed maturation (GH- SM) assays under low nitrogen (Tables 113-117) or normal nitrogen (Tables 118-122) conditions. The evaluation of each gene was performed by testing the performance of different number of events. Event with p-value <0.1 was considered statistically significant. Table 113

Genes showing improved plant performance at low Nitrogen growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter

Inflorescence

Dry Weight [mg] Flowering

Gene Emergence

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU947 77448.4 458.1 0.03 17 - - - - - -

LNU895 77934.1 416.9 0.10 6 - - - - - -

LNU895 77935.3 424.4 0.05 8 - - - - - -

LNU878 77252.1 474.4 0.21 21 - - - - - -

LNU878 77254.3 420.6 0.07 7 - - - - - -

LNU820 77806.2 431.9 0.02 10 - - - - - -

LNU820 77807.2 423.8 0.05 8 - - - - - -

LNU820 77809.1 445.6 0.22 14 - - - - - -

LNU815 77494.1 425.6 0.08 9 - - - - - -

LNU808 77678.3 456.9 0.03 17 - - - - - -

LNU803 77902.2 446.9 L 14 - - - - - -

LNU784 77612.3 480.0 L 23 - - - - - -

LNU784 77615.1 429.4 0.03 10 - - - - - -

LNU779 77887.1 428.1 0.03 9 - - - - - -

LNU774 77247.4 408.5 0.25 4 - - - - - -

CONT. - 391.6 - - - - - - - -

LNU895 77934.4 616.9 0.07 8 23.0 0.04 -5 18.3 0.21 -4

LNU895 77935.4 - - - - - - 18.9 0.30 -1

LNU890 78202.1 616.9 0.18 8 - - - - - -

LNU878 77251.3 633.1 0.19 11 23.5 0.02 -3 18.0 L -6

LNU878 77254.2 606.9 0.12 6 - - - - - -

LNU838 77616.2 - - - 23.5 0.02 -3 - - -

LNU838 77616.3 593.8 0.30 4 23.6 0.04 -2 - - -

LNU838 77617.2 - - - - - - 18.5 0.02 -3

LNU838 77617.5 - - - 23.7 0.19 -2 - - -

LNU811 78179.1 - - - 23.2 0.26 -4 18.4 0.01 -4

LNU808 77677.2 - - - - - - 18.8 0.27 -1

LNU808 77678.3 633.8 0.12 11 22.7 0.19 -6 17.4 0.21 -9

LNU808 77679.3 - - - 23.2 0.09 -4 17.4 L -9

LNU803 77901.2 - - - 23.7 0.06 -2 - - -

LNU803 77902.2 676.2 L 18 - - - - - -

LNU793 78169.2 - - - 22.9 L -5 - - -

LNU784 77615.1 - - - 23.2 0.09 -4 - - -

LNU784 77615.12 - - - 23.1 0.15 -4 17.5 L -8

LNU775 77592.3 819.8 0.06 43 23.1 0.01 -5 16.6 L -13

LNU774 77246.3 678.1 0.23 18 21.4 L -12 16.6 L -13

LNU774 77247.4 587.5 0.25 3 23.1 0.17 -5 18.6 0.06 -2 Inflorescence

Dry Weight [mg] Flowering

Gene Emergence

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU754 77801.2 - - - 23.1 0.15 -4 18.2 0.05 -5

CONT. - 572.3 - - 24.2 - - 19.1 - -

Table 113 "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; "% Incr." = % increment ; "p-val." - p- value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant. The transgenes were under the transcriptional regulation of the new At6669 promoter (SEQ ID NO: 4880). It should be noted that a negative increment (in percentages) when found in flowering or inflorescence emergence indicates drought avoidance of the plant.

Table 114

Genes showing improved plant performance at low Nitrogen growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter

Leaf Blade Area

Leaf Number Plot Coverage [cm ² ]

Gene [cm ² ]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU895 77933.2 - - - 11.8 0.15 3 - - -

LNU878 77251.3 - - - - - - 107.1 0.24 19

LNU878 77252.1 2.10 0.15 40 - - - 125.2 0.21 39

LNU878 77254.3 1.58 0.04 5 - - - 94.6 0.02 5

LNU815 77492.6 - - - 11.8 0.15 3 104.9 0.24 17

LNU815 77495.1 1.62 0.19 8 - - - 99.5 0.28 11

LNU808 77678.3 1.62 0.26 8 - - - 95.9 0.04 7

LNU803 77902.2 - - - 12.2 L 8 - - -

LNU803 77904.4 1.78 0.15 19 - - - 105.6 L 18

LNU784 77615.7 - - - - - - 101.6 0.18 13

LNU784 77615.9 1.76 0.11 17 - - - 101.2 0.04 13

LNU779 77887.1 - - - - - - 93.5 0.25 4

LNU775 77593.3 - - - - - - 93.6 0.18 4

LNU774 77246.3 - - - 11.8 0.18 4 - - -

LNU774 77247.2 - - - 11.9 0.11 5 - - -

LNU756 77581.3 - - - - - - 99.9 0.06 11

LNU756 77585.4 1.55 0.18 3 - - - 94.7 0.19 5

CONT. - 1.50 - - 11.4 - - 89.8 - -

LNU895 77934.4 1.74 0.07 21 - - - 108.2 0.29 19

LNU878 77251.3 1.56 0.10 8 - - - - - -

LNU838 77616.3 1.54 0.29 7 - - - - - -

LNU811 78179.1 1.63 0.02 13 - - - 98.9 0.15 9

LNU808 77677.2 1.52 0.28 5 - - - - - -

LNU808 77677.3 1.54 0.28 7 - - - - - -

LNU808 77678.3 1.61 0.05 12 11.9 0.09 6 104.8 0.06 15 Leaf Blade Area

Leaf Number Plot Coverage [cm ² ]

Gene [cm ² ]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU803 77902.2 - - - 12.2 0.15 8 - - -

LNU803 77904.4 - - - 11.9 0.09 6 - - -

LNU793 78169.2 1.57 0.11 9 - - - - - -

LNU784 77615.1 1.63 0.12 13 - - - 102.1 0.05 12

LNU775 77593.1 1.55 0.22 8 - - - - - -

LNU774 77246.3 1.96 0.04 36 - - - 120.5 0.03 32

LNU769 78165.2 - - - 11.8 0.14 5 - - -

CONT. - 1.44 - - 11.3 - - 91.1 - -

Table 114. "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; "% Incr." = % increment; "p-val." - p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant. The transgenes were under the transcriptional regulation of the new At6669 promoter (SEQ ID NO: 4880).

Table 115

Genes showing improved plant performance at low Nitrogen growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter

RGR Of Leaf RGR Of Plot RGR Of Rosette

Gene Number Coverage [cm ² /day] Diameter [cm/day]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU940 77812.1 0.886 0.08 17 - - - - - -

LNU878 77251.3 - - - 13.8 0.13 19 - - -

LNU878 77252.1 - - - 16.2 L 39 0.597 0.03 17

LNU820 77807.2 0.838 0.28 11 - - - - - -

LNU815 77492.6 - - - 13.7 0.16 17 - - -

LNU815 77495.1 - - - - - - 0.562 0.15 10

LNU803 77902.2 0.905 0.04 19 - - - - - -

LNU803 77902.3 0.855 0.22 13 - - - - - -

LNU803 77904.4 - - - 13.7 0.14 18 0.570 0.09 11

LNU784 77612.3 0.905 0.08 19 - - - - - -

LNU784 77615.7 - - - 13.2 0.27 13 - - -

LNU784 77615.9 - - - 13.1 0.30 12 - - -

LNU756 77581.3 - - - - - - 0.550 0.28 7

LNU756 77584.2 0.851 0.20 12 - - - - - -

LNU754 77805.2 0.863 0.17 14 - - - - - -

CONT. - 0.758 - - 11.7 - - 0.513 - -

LNU895 77934.4 - - - 13.3 0.20 19 0.542 0.23 13

LNU890 78204.6 0.798 0.22 14 - - - - - -

LNU811 78179.1 - - - - - - 0.542 0.23 13

LNU803 77901.2 - - - - - - 0.547 0.22 14 RGR Of Leaf RGR Of Plot RGR Of Rosette

Gene Number Coverage [cm ² /day] Diameter [cm/day]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU803 77902.2 0.841 0.09 20 - - - - - -

LNU775 77591.2 0.798 0.23 14 - - - - - -

LNU775 77593.1 - - - - - - 0.544 0.23 13

LNU774 77246.3 - - - 14.9 0.03 33 0.573 0.08 19

LNU769 78165.1 0.796 0.23 13 - - - - - -

CONT. - 0.703 - - 11.2 - - 0.481 - -

Table 115. "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; "% Incr." = % increment; "p-val." p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01 p<0.1 was considered as significant. The transgenes were under the transcriptional regulation of the new At6669 promoter (SEQ ID NO: 4880).

Table 116

Genes showing improved plant performance at low Nitrogen growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter

Rosette Diameter

Harvest Index Rosette Area [cm ² ]

Gene [cm]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU940 77811.5 0.458 0.18 1 - - - - - -

LNU878 77251.3 - - - 13.4 0.24 19 6.05 0.10 8

LNU878 77252.1 - - - 15.7 0.21 39 6.61 0.19 18

LNU878 77254.3 - - - 11.8 0.02 5 - - -

LNU838 77616.2 0.476 0.11 11 - - - - - -

LNU838 77617.2 0.472 0.07 10 - - - - - -

LNU820 77806.6 0.471 0.08 10 - - - - - -

LNU815 77492.2 0.484 0.03 13 - - - - - -

LNU815 77492.6 - - - 13.1 0.24 17 5.91 0.28 5

LNU815 77495.1 - - - 12.4 0.28 11 - - -

LNU808 77678.3 - - - 12.0 0.04 7 - - -

LNU808 77679.3 0.466 0.11 9 - - - - - -

LNU803 77901.2 0.497 0.01 16 - - - - - -

LNU803 77904.4 - - - 13.2 L 18 6.22 L 11

LNU784 77615.12 0.458 0.18 7 - - - - - -

LNU784 77615.7 - - - 12.7 0.18 13 5.98 0.17 6

LNU784 77615.9 - - - 12.7 0.04 13 6.05 L 8

LNU779 77887.1 - - - 11.7 0.25 4 5.78 0.20 3

LNU779 77890.3 0.464 0.17 8 - - - - - -

LNU777 77573.3 - - - - - - 6.02 0.14 7

LNU775 77593.3 - - - 11.7 0.18 4 - - -

LNU756 77581.3 0.469 0.26 10 12.5 0.06 11 - - -

LNU756 77585.3 0.452 0.28 6 - - - - - - Rosette Diameter

Harvest Index Rosette Area [cm ² ]

Gene [cm]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU756 77585.4 - - - 11.8 0.19 5 5.86 0.03 4

CONT. - 0.428 - - 11.2 - - 5.61 - -

LNU895 77934.4 - - - 13.5 0.29 19 6.18 0.14 11

LNU878 77251.1 0.461 0.27 6 - - - - - -

LNU878 77251.3 - - - - - - 5.84 0.16 5

LNU838 77620.3 0.464 0.23 6 - - - - - -

LNU811 78179.1 - - - 12.4 0.15 9 6.09 0.01 9

LNU811 78180.3 0.489 0.03 12 - - - - - -

LNU808 77677.5 0.494 0.06 13 - - - - - -

LNU808 77678.3 - - - 13.1 0.06 15 5.95 0.11 7

LNU797 78021.2 0.467 0.17 7 - - - - - -

LNU797 78025.3 0.485 0.22 11 - - - - - -

LNU793 78169.1 0.474 0.09 8 - - - - - -

LNU784 77615.1 - - - 12.8 0.05 12 6.06 0.04 9

LNU775 77593.1 - - - - - - 5.84 0.19 5

LNU774 77246.3 - - - 15.1 0.03 32 6.62 0.13 19

LNU774 77247.4 0.481 0.07 10 - - - - - -

LNU770 77922.1 0.499 0.15 14 - - - - - -

LNU770 77925.3 0.460 0.27 5 - - - - - -

LNU761 78159.1 0.473 0.10 8 - - - - - -

CONT. - 0.437 - - 11.4 - - 5.58 - -

Table 116. "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; "% Incr." = % increment; "p-val." - p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant. The transgenes were under the transcriptional regulation of the new At6669 promoter (SEQ ID NO: 4880).

Table 117

Genes showing improved plant performance at low Nitrogen growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter

Seed Yield [mg] 1000 Seed Weight [mg]

Gene Name Event #

Ave. P-Val. % Incr. Ave. P-Val. % Incr.

LNU947 77448.4 - - - 26.4 0.09 26

LNU878 77252.1 - - - 25.9 0.08 23

LNU878 77254.3 - - - 22.6 0.19 7

LNU841 77146.1 - - - 21.7 L 3

LNU841 77148.1 - - - 21.6 0.12 3

LNU838 77616.2 187.7 0.22 12 - - -

LNU820 77807.2 - - - 22.7 0.12 8

LNU820 77809.1 - - - 24.4 0.21 16 Seed Yield [mg] 1000 Seed Weight [mg]

Gene Name Event #

Ave. P-Val. % Incr. Ave. P-Val. % Incr.

LNU815 77494.1 - - - 23.6 0.25 12

LNU808 77678.1 180.2 0.25 8 21.5 0.25 3

LNU808 77678.3 - - - 22.8 L 9

LNU808 77679.3 182.7 0.21 9 - - -

LNU803 77901.2 182.5 0.22 9 - - -

LNU784 77615.1 - - - 22.7 0.07 8

LNU784 77615.9 - - - 22.3 0.13 6

LNU779 77887.1 186.2 0.10 11 - - -

LNU779 77890.3 187.5 0.19 12 - - -

LNU777 77573.3 - - - 22.1 L 5

LNU774 77246.3 - - - 23.1 0.23 10

LNU770 77922.1 183.6 0.14 10 - - -

LNU756 77584.6 - - - 23.0 0.09 10

CONT. - 167.4 - - 21.0 - -

LNU890 78202.1 - - - 22.7 0.17 13

LNU878 77254.2 273.8 0.01 10 - - -

LNU878 77254.3 - - - 20.8 L 4

LNU838 77616.3 262.1 0.13 5 - - -

LNU811 78180.3 266.8 0.26 7 - - -

LNU808 77678.3 - - - 20.9 0.03 4

LNU803 77902.2 - - - 21.8 0.19 9

LNU797 78025.2 - - - 21.4 0.28 7

LNU797 78025.3 266.7 0.11 7 - - -

LNU793 78169.2 262.4 0.19 5 - - -

LNU775 77592.3 - - - 24.0 0.01 20

LNU774 77246.3 - - - 21.0 0.01 5

LNU774 77247.4 282.3 0.02 13 - - -

CONT. - 249.0 - - 20.0 - -

Table 117. "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; "% Incr." = % increment; "p-val." - p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant. The transgenes were under the transcriptional regulation of the new At6669 promoter (SEQ ID NO: 4880).

Table 118

Genes showing improved plant performance at Normal growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter

Inflorescence

Dry Weight [mg] Flowering

Gene Emergence

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU947 77446.1 - - - 17.1 0.23 -4 - - -

LNU947 77447.3 - - - 17.0 0.15 -5 - - - Inflorescence

Dry Weight [mg] Flowering

Gene Emergence

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU947 77448.3 - - - 17.0 0.15 -5 - - -

LNU947 77448.4 831.9 0.14 5 17.0 0.15 -5 - - -

LNU895 77935.4 893.8 0.19 13 - - - - - -

LNU878 77251.3 871.2 0.06 10 17.0 0.15 -5 - - -

LNU878 77252.1 859.4 0.03 9 17.0 0.15 -5 - - -

LNU878 77254.3 884.4 L 12 - - - - - -

LNU841 77148.4 - - - 17.1 0.23 -4 - - -

LNU820 77807.2 833.1 0.13 5 - - - - - -

LNU815 77492.2 - - - 17.0 0.15 -5 - - -

LNU808 77678.3 904.3 0.30 14 - - - - - -

LNU808 77679.3 - - - 17.0 0.15 -5 - - -

LNU803 77902.2 879.9 0.11 11 - - - - - -

LNU803 77904.4 - - - 17.0 0.15 -5 - - -

LNU784 77612.3 970.6 0.21 23 - - - - - -

LNU779 77889.3 836.2 0.12 6 - - - - - -

LNU777 77573.3 893.1 L 13 17.0 0.15 -5 - - -

LNU777 77574.4 - - - 17.1 0.23 -4 - - -

LNU774 77246.3 - - - 17.0 0.15 -5 - - -

LNU774 77248.2 - - - 17.0 0.15 -5 - - -

LNU756 77581.3 - - - 17.0 0.15 -5 - - -

LNU756 77584.2 835.7 0.11 6 - - - - - -

LNU756 77584.6 887.9 L 12 - - - - - -

LNU754 77801.2 - - - 17.0 0.15 -5 - - -

CONT. - 791.6 - - 17.9 - - - - -

LNU895 77934.4 1115.6 0.09 15 - - - - - -

LNU890 78202.1 1017.5 0.19 5 - - - - - -

LNU878 77251.3 1237.0 0.01 28 22.8 L -6 18.1 L -5

LNU878 77252.1 - - - 23.2 0.21 -5 17.7 0.08 -7

LNU878 77254.2 1026.6 0.24 6 23.7 0.03 -3 18.6 0.28 -2

LNU878 77254.3 1068.1 0.02 10 - - - - - -

LNU841 77148.1 - - - - - - 18.5 0.29 -2

LNU838 77616.2 - - - - - - 18.7 0.10 -2

LNU838 77617.5 - - - 23.5 L -4 - - -

LNU811 78179.1 - - - 23.6 0.18 -3 17.9 0.25 -6

LNU808 77678.3 - - - 22.9 L -6 17.2 0.25 -9

LNU808 77679.3 - - - 23.7 0.02 -3 18.2 0.07 -4

LNU803 77902.2 1035.0 0.07 7 - - - 18.2 0.07 -4

LNU803 77904.4 - - - 23.7 0.03 -3 - - -

LNU797 78025.2 1087.7 L 12 - - - - - -

LNU793 78168.1 1024.6 0.24 6 - - - - - - Inflorescence

Dry Weight [mg] Flowering

Gene Emergence

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU793 78169.2 - - - 22.1 0.05 -9 17.3 0.06 -9

LNU784 77615.12 - - - 23.6 0.02 -3 17.9 0.25 -6

LNU784 77615.9 - - - - - - 18.2 0.07 -4

LNU775 77592.3 1193.1 L 23 22.7 L -7 16.6 L -13

LNU775 77593.3 - - - 23.2 0.06 -5 18.7 0.10 -2

LNU774 77246.3 1090.6 L 13 22.0 L -10 16.5 L -13

LNU774 77247.2 - - - - - - 18.8 0.27 -1

LNU774 77247.4 - - - 23.2 0.06 -5 - - -

LNU761 78159.1 1029.3 0.09 6 - - - - - -

LNU761 78160.7 1050.0 0.23 9 - - - - - -

LNU754 77801.2 - - - 23.1 0.30 -5 - - -

CONT. - 967.7 - - 24.4 - - 19.0 - -

Table 118. "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; "% Incr." = % increment; "p-val." - p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant. The transgenes were under the transcriptional regulation of the new At6669 promoter (SEQ ID NO: 4880). It should be noted that a negative increment (in percentages) when found in flowering or inflorescence emergence indicates drought avoidance of the plant.

Table 119

Genes showing improved plant performance at Normal growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter

Leaf Blade Area

Leaf Number Plot Coverage [cm ² ]

Gene [cm ² ]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU947 77448.4 - - - - - - 107.3 0.29 13

LNU940 77812.1 - - - 11.6 0.19 5 - - -

LNU895 77935.4 1.76 0.16 1 11.7 0.11 6 106.3 0.07 11

LNU878 77251.3 1.95 0.27 19 11.8 0.05 6 - - -

LNU878 77252.1 2.01 0.18 22 - - - 117.3 0.10 23

LNU841 77146.2 - - - 11.9 0.13 8 - - -

LNU820 77807.2 - - - 11.7 0.07 6 - - -

LNU808 77677.5 - - - 12.1 0.20 9 - - -

LNU803 77901.2 1.75 0.23 7 - - - - - -

LNU803 77902.2 - - - 11.9 0.02 8 - - -

LNU803 77904.4 - - - 12.1 0.20 9 - - -

LNU777 77573.3 1.85 0.19 12 11.6 0.11 5 108.5 0.26 14

LNU777 77574.4 - - - 11.8 0.29 7 - - -

LNU775 77593.3 - - - 11.6 0.19 5 - - -

LNU774 77247.2 - - - 11.6 0.19 5 - - -

LNU770 77922.1 - - - 11.4 0.30 3 - - - Leaf Blade Area

Leaf Number Plot Coverage [cm ² ]

Gene [cm ² ]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU770 77925.3 - - - 11.4 0.30 3 - - -

LNU756 77585.3 - - - 12.1 0.05 10 - - -

LNU754 77801.2 - - - - - - 102.1 0.21 1

LNU754 77802.2 - - - - - - 105.1 0.25 10

CONT. - 1.64 - - 11.1 - - 95.3 - -

LNU878 77251.3 1.86 0.03 21 11.8 0.10 8 115.4 0.03 23

LNU878 77252.1 1.74 0.13 13 - - - 108.2 0.13 15

LNU838 77616.3 - - - 11.2 0.17 3 - - -

LNU838 77620.3 - - - 11.4 0.07 4 - - -

LNU808 77679.3 - - - 11.5 0.05 5 - - -

LNU803 77902.3 - - - 11.3 0.24 4 - - -

LNU784 77615.1 - - - 12.0 0.15 10 - - -

LNU775 77592.3 1.94 0.20 26 - - - 115.8 0.11 23

LNU774 77246.3 2.07 0.02 34 12.1 L 11 132.2 0.09 41

LNU774 77247.4 - - - 11.2 0.23 3 - - -

CONT. - 1.54 - - 10.9 - - 94.0 - -

Table 119. "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; "% Incr." = % increment; "p-val." - p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant. The transgenes were under the transcriptional regulation of the new At6669 promoter (SEQ ID NO:4880).

Table 120

Genes showing improved plant performance at Normal growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter

RGR Of Leaf RGR Of Plot RGR Of Rosette

Gene Number Coverage [cm ² /day] Diameter [cm/day]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU947 77446.1 0.846 0.15 20 - - - - - -

LNU947 77448.4 0.879 0.09 25 - - - - - -

LNU940 77811.2 0.810 0.28 15 - - - - - -

LNU878 77251.1 0.813 0.28 16 - - - - - -

LNU878 77251.3 - - - 15.5 0.11 25 - - -

LNU878 77252.1 - - - 15.2 0.12 23 - - -

LNU841 77146.2 0.845 0.16 20 - - - - - -

LNU838 77620.3 0.818 0.24 16 - - - - - -

LNU820 77807.2 0.889 0.06 27 - - - - - -

LNU808 77677.5 0.854 0.13 22 - - - - - -

LNU803 77902.2 0.913 0.03 30 - - - - - -

LNU803 77903.1 0.827 0.21 18 - - - - - - RGR Of Leaf RGR Of Plot RGR Of Rosette

Gene Number Coverage [cm ² /day] Diameter [cm/day]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU779 77887.3 0.817 0.25 16 - - - - - -

LNU777 77574.4 0.843 0.15 20 - - - - - -

LNU775 77591.2 0.818 0.26 17 - - - - - -

LNU774 77247.2 - - - 15.9 0.09 28 0.632 0.21 13

LNU770 77925.3 0.811 0.26 16 - - - - - -

LNU756 77585.3 0.859 0.12 22 - - - - - -

CONT. - 0.702 - - 12.4 - - 0.558 - -

LNU959 78222.8 0.790 0.23 17 - - - - - -

LNU878 77251.3 - - - 14.2 0.22 21 - - -

LNU878 77254.2 0.803 0.16 19 - - - - - -

LNU811 78179.1 0.782 0.26 16 - - - - - -

LNU803 77901.2 0.820 0.12 21 - - - - - -

LNU797 78022.1 0.811 0.12 20 - - - - - -

LNU797 78025.3 0.822 0.13 22 - - - - - -

LNU793 78168.1 0.790 0.23 17 - - - - - -

LNU793 78169.2 - - - 14.3 0.28 22 - - -

LNU784 77612.3 0.781 0.22 16 - - - - - -

LNU784 77615.1 0.784 0.25 16 - - - - - -

LNU775 77592.3 - - - 14.3 0.21 22 - - -

LNU774 77246.3 - - - 16.5 0.03 40 0.588 0.20 16

LNU774 77247.2 0.812 0.13 20 - - - - - -

LNU761 78159.1 0.775 0.27 15 - - - - - -

LNU754 77801.2 0.799 0.19 18 - - - - - -

CONT. - 0.675 - - 11.7 - - 0.508 - -

Table 120. "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; "% Incr." = % increment; "p-val." - p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant. The transgenes were under the transcriptional regulation of the new At6669 promoter (SEQ ID NO: 4880).

Table 121

Genes showing improved plant performance at Normal growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter

Rosette Diameter

Harvest Index Rosette Area [cm ² ]

Gene [cm]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU947 77448.4 - - - 13.4 0.29 13 - - -

LNU940 77812.4 0.500 0.05 1 - - - - - -

LNU895 77935.4 - - - 13.3 0.07 11 6.22 0.09 5

LNU878 77252.1 - - - 14.7 0.10 23 6.58 0.21 12 Rosette Diameter

Harvest Index Rosette Area [cm ² ]

Gene [cm]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU838 77616.2 0.504 0.02 8 - - - - - -

LNU815 77492.2 0.482 0.28 3 - - - - - -

LNU808 77677.3 0.488 0.30 5 - - - - - -

LNU808 77678.1 0.497 0.05 6 - - - - - -

LNU803 77904.4 0.489 0.29 5 - - - - - -

LNU784 77615.12 0.505 0.02 8 - - - - - -

LNU779 77887.1 0.512 0.08 10 - - - - - -

LNU777 77573.3 - - - 13.6 0.26 14 6.41 0.19 9

LNU775 77591.2 0.503 0.28 8 - - - - - -

LNU775 77593.3 0.503 0.03 8 - - - - - -

LNU775 77595.1 0.509 0.01 9 - - - - - -

LNU770 77922.4 0.499 0.08 7 - - - - - -

LNU756 77585.4 0.491 0.19 5 - - - - - -

LNU754 77801.2 0.506 0.26 8 12.8 0.21 7 6.26 0.07 6

LNU754 77802.2 - - - 13.1 0.25 10 - - -

CONT. - 0.467 - - 11.9 - - 5.90 - -

LNU959 78224.4 0.527 0.08 22 - - - - - -

LNU895 77933.2 0.483 0.07 12 - - - - - -

LNU890 78204.4 0.508 0.07 18 - - - - - -

LNU890 78204.8 0.519 0.12 20 - - - - - -

LNU878 77251.3 - - - 14.4 0.03 23 6.46 0.03 12

LNU878 77252.1 - - - 13.5 0.13 15 6.18 0.08 7

LNU878 77254.2 0.480 0.14 11 - - - - - -

LNU811 78176.8 0.481 0.04 11 - - - - - -

LNU808 77677.5 0.498 0.07 15 - - - - - -

LNU803 77902.3 0.471 0.08 9 - - - - - -

LNU803 77903.1 0.464 0.21 7 - - - - - -

LNU793 78166.4 0.483 0.03 12 - - - - - -

LNU775 77592.3 - - - 14.5 0.11 23 6.46 0.27 12

LNU775 77593.1 0.500 0.19 16 - - - - - -

LNU774 77246.3 - - - 16.5 0.09 41 6.75 0.03 17

LNU769 78163.4 0.467 0.19 8 - - - - - -

LNU769 78165.1 0.481 0.04 11 - - - - - -

LNU761 78157.1 0.533 L 23 - - - - - -

LNU761 78157.6 0.515 L 19 - - - - - -

LNU761 78160.7 0.471 0.09 9 - - - - - -

LNU754 77801.1 0.490 0.08 13 - - - - - -

LNU754 77802.2 0.492 0.02 14 - - - - - -

LNU754 77804.1 0.491 0.20 14 - - - - - -

CONT. - 0.432 - - 11.7 - - 5.75 - - Table 121. "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; "% Incr." = % increment; "p-val." - p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant. The transgenes were under the transcriptional regulation of the new At6669 promoter (SEQ ID NO: 4880).

Table 122

Genes showing improved plant performance at Normal growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter

Seed Yield [mg] 1000 Seed Weight [mg]

Gene Name Event #

Ave. P-Val. % Incr. Ave. P-Val. % Incr.

LNU947 77447.3 409.8 0.09 11 - - -

LNU947 77448.4 - - - 25.7 0.10 16

LNU895 77933.2 - - - 23.5 0.06 6

LNU895 77935.3 - - - 23.6 0.27 6

LNU878 77251.3 - - - 25.2 0.24 13

LNU878 77254.3 414.6 0.21 12 25.0 L 12

LNU820 77807.2 - - - 25.2 L 13

LNU820 77809.1 - - - 25.3 0.12 13

LNU815 77494.1 - - - 24.7 0.03 11

LNU815 77495.3 406.0 0.14 10 - - -

LNU808 77678.3 - - - 24.5 0.22 10

LNU803 77901.2 395.8 0.20 7 - - -

LNU803 77902.2 - - - 24.9 L 12

LNU784 77612.3 - - - 23.4 0.04 5

LNU784 77615.1 - - - 25.2 L 13

LNU784 77615.9 - - - 23.1 0.10 4

LNU779 77887.1 407.7 0.07 10 22.8 0.25 2

LNU777 77573.3 - - - 27.4 L 23

LNU775 77595.1 413.4 0.10 12 - - -

LNU774 77246.3 - - - 24.0 0.02 8

LNU774 77247.2 406.2 0.08 10 - - -

LNU756 77584.6 - - - 24.5 0.01 10

CONT. - 370.6 - - 22.3 - -

LNU959 78224.4 471.4 0.22 13 - - -

LNU895 77934.4 - - - 24.3 0.03 16

LNU895 77935.3 - - - 22.6 0.03 7

LNU890 78202.1 - - - 22.2 0.04 5

LNU890 78204.4 488.9 0.07 17 - - -

LNU890 78204.8 560.4 0.05 34 - - -

LNU878 77251.3 - - - 24.3 0.18 15

LNU878 77252.1 - - - 25.4 0.08 21

LNU878 77254.2 493.1 0.20 18 - - -

LNU878 77254.3 - - - 23.1 0.27 10 Seed Yield [mg] 1000 Seed Weight [mg]

Gene Name Event #

Ave. P-Val. % Incr. Ave. P-Val. % Incr.

LNU811 78176.8 478.0 0.29 14 - - -

LNU797 78021.4 445.1 0.25 7 - - -

LNU797 78025.2 - - - 25.2 0.06 20

LNU797 78025.3 - - - 21.6 0.23 3

LNU793 78168.1 - - - 23.3 L 11

LNU784 77615.1 - - - 22.5 0.01 7

LNU775 77592.3 - - - 26.2 L 25

LNU774 77246.3 - - - 22.4 0.22 6

LNU774 77249.1 - - - 23.1 L 10

LNU761 78157.1 495.8 0.12 19 - - -

LNU761 78157.6 475.0 0.08 14 - - -

LNU761 78159.1 466.0 0.26 12 - - -

LNU761 78160.7 493.9 0.01 18 - - -

CONT. - 417.6 - - 21.0 - -

Table 122. "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; "% Incr." = % increment; "p-val." - p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant. The transgenes were under the transcriptional regulation of the new At6669 promoter (SEQ ID NO: 4880).

EXAMPLE 18

EVALUATION OF TRANSGENIC ARABIDOPSIS NUE, YIELD AND PLANT GROWTH RATE UNDER LOW OR NORMAL NITROGEN FERTILIZATION IN

GREENHOUSE ASSA Y

Assay 2: Nitrogen Use efficiency measured until bolting stage: plant biomass and plant growth rate at limited and optimal nitrogen concentration under greenhouse conditions - This assay follows the plant biomass formation and the rosette area growth of plants grown in the greenhouse at limiting and non-limiting nitrogen growth conditions. Transgenic Arabidopsis seeds were sown in agar media supplemented with ½ MS medium and a selection agent (Kanamycin). The T ₂ transgenic seedlings were then transplanted to 1.7 trays filled with peat and perlite in a 1: 1 ratio. The trays were irrigated with a solution containing nitrogen limiting conditions, which were achieved by irrigating the plants with a solution containing 1.5 mM inorganic nitrogen in the form of KN0 ₃ , supplemented with 1 mM KH ₂ P0 ₄ , 1 mM MgS0 _4i 3.6 mM KCl, 2 mM CaCl ₂ and microelements, while normal nitrogen levels were achieved by applying a solution of 6 mM inorganic nitrogen also in the form of KNO ₃ with 1 mM KH ₂ P0 ₄ , 1 mM MgS0 ₄ , 2 mM CaCl ₂ and microelements. All plants were grown in the greenhouse until bolting stage. Plant biomass (the above ground tissue) was weight in directly after harvesting the rosette (plant fresh weight [FW]). Following plants were dried in an oven at 50 °C for 48 hours and weighted (plant dry weight [DW]).

Each construct is validated at its T ₂ generation. Transgenic plants transformed with a construct conformed by an empty vector carrying the 35S promoter and the selectable marker was used as control.

The plants were analyzed for their overall size, growth rate, fresh weight and dry matter. Transgenic plants performance was compared to control plants grown in parallel under the same conditions. Mock- transgenic plants expressing the uidA reporter gene (GUS-Intron) or with no gene at all, under the same promoter were used as control.

The experiment was planned in nested randomized plot distribution. For each gene of the invention three to five independent transformation events were analyzed from each construct.

Digital imaging - A laboratory image acquisition system, which consists of a digital reflex camera (Canon EOS 300D) attached with a 55 mm focal length lens (Canon EF-S series), mounted on a reproduction device (Kaiser RS), which includes 4 light units (4 x 150 Watts light bulb) was used for capturing images of plant samples.

The image capturing process was repeated every 2 days starting from day 1 after transplanting till day 15. Same camera, placed in a custom made iron mount, was used for capturing images of larger plants sawn in white tubs in an environmental controlled greenhouse. The tubs were square shape include 1.7 liter trays. During the capture process, the tubes were placed beneath the iron mount, while avoiding direct sun light and casting of shadows.

An image analysis system was used, which consists of a personal desktop computer (Intel P4 3.0 GHz processor) and a public domain program - ImageJ 1.39 [Java based image processing program which was developed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and freely available on the internet at rsbweb (dot) nih (dot) gov/] . Images were captured in resolution of 10 Mega Pixels (3888 x 2592 pixels) and stored in a low compression JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group standard) format. Next, analyzed data was saved to text files and processed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute).

Leaf analysis - Using the digital analysis leaves data was calculated, including leaf number, rosette area, rosette diameter, leaf blade area.

Vegetative growth rate: the relative growth rate (RGR) of leaf number (Formula

VIII described above), rosette area (Formula IX described above) and plot coverage (Formula XI, described above) are calculated using the indicated formulas.

Plant Fresh and Dry weight - On about day 80 from sowing, the plants were harvested and directly weight for the determination of the plant fresh weight (FW) and left to dry at 50 °C in a drying chamber for about 48 hours before weighting to determine plant dry weight (DW).

Statistical analyses - To identify genes conferring significantly improved tolerance to abiotic stresses, the results obtained from the transgenic plants were compared to those obtained from control plants. To identify outperforming genes and constructs, results from the independent transformation events tested were analyzed separately. Data was analyzed using Student's t-test and results were considered significant if the p value was less than 0.1. The JMP statistics software package was used (Version 5.2.1, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA).

The genes listed in Tables 123-124 improved plant NUE when grown at limiting nitrogen concentration levels. These genes produced larger plants with a larger photosynthetic area, biomass (fresh weight, dry weight, leaf number, rosette diameter, rosette area and plot coverage) when grown under limiting nitrogen conditions (nutrient deficiency stress) as compared to control plants grown under identical growth conditions.

Table 123

Genes showing improved plant biomass production at limiting nitrogen growth conditions

Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg] Leaf Number

Gene Name Event # P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU952 78218.1 - - - 112.5 0.05 26 - - -

LNU952 78218.3 - - - 106.2 0.18 19 - - -

LNU952 78218.6 - - - 100.0 0.29 12 - - -

LNU952 78219.3 - - - 118.8 0.04 33 - - - Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg] Leaf Number

Gene Name Event # P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU945 78998.2 - - - - - - 10.9 0.13 6

LNU945 78999.1 - - - 100.0 0.29 12 - - -

LNU920 78507.1 - - - 106.2 0.18 19 - - -

LNU920 78508.1 - - - 112.5 0.27 26 - - -

LNU920 78508.2 - - - 112.5 0.05 26 - - -

LNU916 78208.3 - - - 106.2 0.18 19 - - -

LNU914 80516.2 - - - 127.7 0.18 43 - - -

LNU911 80420.3 - - - 106.2 0.18 19 - - -

LNU911 80420.5 - - - - - - 10.4 0.22 1

LNU905 79674.3 - - - 112.5 0.05 26 - - -

LNU905 79674.4 - - - 106.2 0.18 19 - - -

LNU905 79675.3 - - - 118.8 0.04 33 - - -

LNU844 80342.4 - - - 106.2 0.18 19 - - -

LNU840 78676.1 - - - 106.2 0.18 19 - - -

LNU840 78676.4 11.2 L 54 131.2 0.23 47 - - -

LNU840 78763.6 9.38 0.09 29 106.2 0.18 19 - - -

LNU832_H2 80602.1 - - - 106.2 0.18 19 - - -

LNU832_H2 80604.2 - - - 106.2 0.18 19 - - -

LNU832_H2 80605.1 - - - 107.1 0.19 20 10.6 0.05 3

LNU819 78133.3 8.75 0.06 20 - - - - - -

LNU801 78585.2 - - - 100.0 0.29 12 - - -

LNU791 77893.2 - - - 106.2 0.18 19 - - -

LNU791 77895.2 - - - 100.0 0.29 12 - - -

LNU760_H1 80127.2 - - - 131.2 0.23 47 - - -

CONT. - 7.29 - - 89.6 - - 10.3 - -

LNU966 78605.5 102.5 0.01 20 968.8 0.11 16 12.6 L 13

LNU966 78605.7 94.4 0.14 10 - - - 11.5 0.14 3

LNU941 78611.1 - - - - - - 11.7 0.02 5

LNU941 78613.1 105.0 L 23 1050.0 L 26 - - -

LNU941 78613.5 92.5 0.13 8 937.5 0.05 12 - - -

LNU941 78615.3 91.2 0.20 7 - - - 12.2 0.29 10

LNU925 78991.5 - - - - - - 12.1 0.24 8

LNU925 78992.1 - - - - - - 11.8 0.17 6

LNU925 78992.6 - - - 951.8 0.04 14 - - -

LNU922 78290.1 - - - 956.2 0.29 14 - - -

LNU918 78433.1 - - - - - - 11.6 0.06 4

LNU918 78433.2 99.4 0.02 16 906.2 0.22 8 11.8 0.17 6

LNU918 78433.3 98.1 0.02 15 - - - - - -

LNU918 78433.8 - - - 975.0 0.01 17 12.1 L 8

LNU918 78434.2 93.1 0.19 9 925.0 0.07 11 - - -

LNU915 78426.1 107.5 0.20 26 1025.0 0.03 23 - - - Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg] Leaf Number

Gene Name Event # P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU915 78427.1 101.4 0.28 19 964.3 0.07 15 - - -

LNU915 78428.1 108.1 0.03 26 1056.2 L 26 12.6 L 13

LNU915 78428.2 - - - 931.2 0.29 11 11.6 0.07 4

LNU909 78424.3 91.2 0.20 7 - - - 11.8 0.03 6

LNU909 78425.4 - - - 943.8 0.04 13 - - -

LNU909 78425.5 118.1 0.07 38 1062.5 L 27 12.7 L 14

LNU909 78425.7 90.6 0.24 6 - - - - - -

LNU890 78202.1 - - - - - - 12.4 L 12

LNU854 78236.1 93.1 0.19 9 - - - - - -

LNU854 78236.3 - - - 885.7 0.28 6 - - -

LNU854 78238.1 91.9 0.16 7 - - - 11.8 0.22 6

LNU854 78240.1 - - - - - - 11.6 0.23 4

LNU849 78498.3 - - - 968.8 0.02 16 - - -

LNU849 78498.4 - - - 1018.8 0.02 22 - - -

LNU849 78499.1 93.8 0.08 10 - - - - - -

LNU849 78500.1 - - - 893.8 0.23 7 - - -

LNU849 78500.3 - - - - - - 12.2 0.29 10

LNU830 78741.1 - - - 918.8 0.16 10 - - -

LNU830 78741.3 - - - 925.0 0.18 11 11.4 0.15 3

LNU830 78741.5 - - - - - - 13.2 0.27 19

LNU824 77826.1 100.0 0.02 17 956.2 0.02 14 12.6 0.28 13

LNU824 77827.2 110.2 0.12 29 974.1 0.01 17 11.6 0.07 4

LNU824 77828.4 - - - 925.0 0.07 11 11.8 0.22 6

LNU824 77829.3 103.1 0.28 21 950.0 0.11 14 11.5 0.08 3

LNU822 78623.2 108.8 0.14 27 1062.5 0.14 27 11.9 L 7

LNU822 78623.6 115.6 L 35 1056.2 0.03 26 12.1 L 8

LNU822 78623.7 - - - - - - 12.2 0.06 10

LNU822 78625.7 91.2 0.19 7 - - - - - -

LNU813 77681.3 94.4 0.14 10 918.8 0.10 10 - - -

LNU813 77682.3 97.5 0.02 14 881.2 0.30 5 - - -

LNU813 77685.1 - - - 918.8 0.08 10 - - -

LNU813 77685.2 95.6 0.19 12 - - - - - -

LNU806 78512.7 98.1 0.20 15 918.8 0.10 10 - - -

LNU806 78514.2 - - - 987.5 0.30 18 12.8 0.16 15

LNU806 78515.3 98.8 0.15 15 - - - - - -

LNU806 78515.4 - - - 950.0 0.05 14 12.5 0.19 12

LNU806 78515.5 95.6 0.27 12 1037.5 0.12 24 12.5 0.25 12

LNU802 80307.3 94.4 0.08 10 - - - - - -

LNU802 80309.2 - - - - - - 11.5 0.14 3

LNU802 80309.3 101.9 0.25 19 943.8 0.04 13 11.6 0.06 4

LNU802 80310.1 93.1 0.12 9 975.0 0.01 17 - - - Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg] Leaf Number

Gene Name Event # P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU779 77887.2 111.2 0.30 30 975.0 0.01 17 12.2 L 10

LNU779 77889.3 90.0 0.29 5 - - - - - -

LNU761 78157.1 99.1 0.23 16 983.0 0.10 18 - - -

LNU761 78157.6 96.2 0.06 13 925.0 0.07 11 - - -

LNU761 78160.3 104.4 0.21 22 - - - 12.6 0.07 13

CONT. - 85.5 - - 835.7 - - 11.1 - -

LNU970 78389.7 - - - - - - 9.88 0.02 6

LNU970 78389.8 - - - - - - 10.2 0.04 9

LNU968 77919.4 - - - - - - 9.62 0.21 3

LNU950 78913.4 - - - - - - 9.56 0.22 3

LNU934 79007.5 - - - - - - 9.69 0.08 4

LNU934 79008.3 - - - - - - 9.56 0.22 3

LNU908 79736.2 - - - - - - 9.56 0.22 3

LNU908 79738.5 - - - - - - 9.56 0.22 3

LNU843 78962.4 - - - - - - 9.81 0.15 5

LNU843 78963.2 - - - - - - 9.62 0.21 3

LNU790 78886.2 - - - - - - 10.8 0.30 15

LNU790 78886.3 - - - - - - 9.69 0.24 4

LNU790 78890.3 - - - - - - 9.62 0.21 3

CONT. - - - - - - - 9.32 - -

LNU966 78604.1 275.0 0.06 8 3195.8 0.05 12 - - -

LNU966 78605.5 - - - - - - 11.8 0.26 8

LNU942 77243.2 - - - - - - 11.6 L 6

LNU941 78611.1 272.1 0.14 7 3107.1 0.13 9 - - -

LNU941 78614.2 - - - - - - 11.3 0.09 4

LNU941 78615.3 280.0 0.01 10 3150.0 L 11 - - -

LNU922 78287.3 276.6 0.19 8 3225.9 0.06 13 11.8 0.10 8

LNU922 78287.5 275.4 0.25 8 - - - - - -

LNU922 78290.1 - - - 3121.4 L 10 - - -

LNU922 78290.7 - - - 3031.2 0.28 7 - - -

LNU915 78426.1 - - - 2937.5 0.23 3 - - -

LNU915 78427.1 - - - - - - 11.8 0.10 8

LNU915 78428.1 - - - 3191.1 0.25 12 11.6 0.14 6

LNU915 78428.2 - - - - - - 11.6 0.01 6

LNU909 78424.3 267.1 0.23 5 - - - - - -

LNU909 78425.5 266.9 0.13 5 3088.4 0.01 9 - - -

LNU909 78425.7 273.1 0.02 7 3031.2 0.09 7 - - -

LNU868 77621.5 - - - - - - 11.5 0.02 5

LNU854 78237.2 - - - - - - 11.8 0.26 8

LNU854 78238.1 - - - 3093.8 0.11 9 - - -

LNU830 78741.3 - - - - - - 11.3 0.18 3 Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg] Leaf Number

Gene Name Event # P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU830 78741.5 - - - - - - 11.2 0.23 2

LNU824 77826.1 266.2 0.16 4 - - - - - -

LNU824 77827.3 266.2 0.11 4 3000.0 0.07 6 - - -

LNU824 77829.3 - - - 2987.5 0.09 5 11.6 0.27 6

LNU822 78623.7 - - - 3032.1 0.04 7 - - -

LNU822 78625.2 - - - 3012.5 0.06 6 - - -

LNU813 77681.3 - - - - - - 11.6 0.02 6

LNU813 77681.4 - - - - - - 11.6 0.09 6

LNU806 78514.2 - - - - - - 12.1 0.10 10

LNU806 78515.3 - - - 3031.2 0.04 7 11.6 0.02 6

LNU806 78515.5 - - - 2992.9 0.08 5 - - -

LNU759 77236.8 - - - 2950.0 0.18 4 - - -

LNU751 77477.1 - - - - - - 12.0 0.25 10

LNU751 77480.1 - - - 3118.8 0.20 10 - - -

CONT. - 255.1 - - 2842.4 - - 10.9 - -

LNU948 78378.1 83.1 0.02 17 - - - - - -

LNU948 78380.2 84.8 0.02 19 - - - - - -

LNU921 79063.2 78.6 0.16 10 628.6 0.22 12 - - -

LNU888 78771.1 84.4 0.06 18 - - - 12.2 L 9

LNU888 78772.7 - - - - - - 11.8 0.06 5

LNU881 78372.2 79.4 0.04 11 650.0 0.07 16 - - -

LNU857 78867.1 77.2 0.11 8 627.7 0.15 12 - - -

LNU816 78958.4 78.8 0.12 11 618.8 0.22 10 - - -

LNU816 78958.5 91.2 L 28 693.8 0.02 23 - - -

LNU816 78958.7 90.0 L 26 718.8 0.01 28 - - -

LNU809 79168.2 - - - 618.8 0.19 10 - - -

LNU809 79168.3 79.4 0.15 11 618.8 0.19 10 11.5 0.23 3

LNU807 79248.1 - - - 625.0 0.15 11 - - -

LNU788 78516.1 86.7 L 22 660.7 0.05 17 - - -

LNU788 78517.2 76.2 0.14 7 637.5 0.11 13 - - -

LNU788 78518.1 87.5 L 23 693.8 0.02 23 - - -

LNU783 79178.2 80.0 0.03 12 650.0 0.07 16 - - -

LNU778 78941.1 81.9 0.02 15 637.5 0.10 13 - - -

LNU778 78944.2 - - - - - - 11.5 0.28 3

LNU762 79329.2 78.1 0.10 10 612.5 0.24 9 - - -

LNU752 78153.10 92.5 0.04 30 700.0 0.03 24 11.6 0.30 4

LNU752 78155.2 82.2 0.11 15 - - - - - -

CONT. - 71.2 - - 562.5 - - 11.2 - -

LNU977 78032.1 162.5 0.16 11 - - - 11.6 0.08 2

LNU977 78033.1 167.5 0.29 15 - - - - - -

LNU958 77687.7 165.0 0.19 13 - - - - - - Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg] Leaf Number

Gene Name Event # P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU958 77689.2 178.8 0.02 22 1450.0 0.21 12 - - -

LNU933 78897.1 168.1 0.19 15 - - - - - -

LNU907 78872.8 162.1 0.17 11 - - - - - -

LNU882 78973.1 - - - - - - 11.8 0.10 4

LNU880 78196.1 180.6 0.01 24 1503.6 0.13 16 - - -

LNU880 78197.4 167.9 0.08 15 - - - - - -

LNU880 78200.6 197.9 L 35 1456.2 0.24 13 11.6 0.19 2

LNU871 78195.4 - - - - - - 12.2 L 7

LNU848 77909.2 170.0 0.06 16 - - - - - -

LNU848 77909.3 178.1 0.14 22 1450.0 0.23 12 - - -

LNU847 78967.2 197.5 0.02 35 1543.8 0.09 19 12.2 0.22 8

LNU847 78967.4 - - - - - - 11.9 L 5

LNU846 78436.2 - - - - - - 12.4 0.09 9

LNU846 78438.2 184.4 0.13 26 - - - 11.9 0.23 5

LNU846 78439.2 - - - - - - 11.6 0.21 2

LNU846 78439.4 - - - - - - 12.1 0.08 6

LNU845 78917.3 194.2 0.10 33 1520.8 0.19 18 - - -

LNU845 78917.6 173.1 0.16 18 - - - - - -

LNU835 78186.2 204.4 0.27 40 1506.2 0.21 16 - - -

LNU828 77598.3 193.8 0.29 33 - - - 12.2 0.11 8

LNU823 78122.2 178.1 0.02 22 - - - - - -

LNU823 78136.4 166.2 0.12 14 - - - - - -

LNU823 78139.1 174.5 0.03 19 - - - - - -

LNU814 78953.2 179.4 0.02 23 1500.0 0.13 16 - - -

LNU814 78953.3 177.5 0.02 21 - - - 11.9 0.05 5

LNU814 78954.1 - - - - - - 12.1 0.23 6

LNU814 78955.4 188.8 L 29 1493.8 0.14 15 - - -

LNU772 78938.1 - - - - - - 12.0 0.03 6

LNU772 78940.2 - - - - - - 11.8 0.17 4

LNU757 77485.4 210.6 0.02 44 1612.5 0.06 25 - - -

CONT. - 146.2 - - 1293.4 - - 11.4 - -

LNU972 78907.1 - - - - - - 11.7 0.08 6

LNU972 78908.2 - - - - - - 11.9 0.05 9

LNU972 78909.3 - - - - - - 11.9 0.03 9

LNU972 78910.2 - - - 3500.9 0.13 21 - - -

LNU961 79143.3 350.0 0.04 16 3556.2 0.07 23 11.6 0.14 5

LNU961 79145.3 - - - 3562.5 0.02 23 11.8 0.15 8

LNU958 77687.2 - - - - - - 12.7 0.25 16

LNU958 77687.5 - - - - - - 12.1 0.02 10

LNU958 77689.1 - - - 3200.0 0.20 10 12.2 L 12

LNU958 77689.2 - - - - - - 11.6 0.28 5 Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg] Leaf Number

Gene Name Event # P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU948 78379.4 - - - - - - 12.1 0.04 10

LNU948 78380.2 380.6 0.04 27 3618.8 0.01 25 12.3 0.05 12

LNU948 78380.3 358.1 0.24 19 3618.8 0.12 25 - - -

LNU921 79061.1 - - - 3163.4 0.26 9 - - -

LNU921 79063.2 - - - - - - 12.0 0.14 9

LNU921 79064.3 - - - - - - 11.4 0.28 4

LNU913 78592.4 - - - - - - 11.9 0.20 9

LNU913 78593.1 - - - - - - 12.1 0.03 10

LNU913 78593.6 - - - - - - 12.0 0.14 9

LNU912 78403.2 - - - - - - 12.4 L 13

LNU912 78404.1 342.5 0.28 14 - - - 11.7 0.08 6

LNU888 78772.1 - - - - - - 11.9 0.05 9

LNU888 78772.2 - - - - - - 11.8 0.07 8

LNU888 78772.7 - - - - - - 11.6 0.12 6

LNU881 78372.2 - - - - - - 12.5 0.06 14

LNU881 78373.1 344.4 0.04 15 - - - 12.0 0.14 9

LNU881 78373.2 - - - - - - 12.3 0.05 12

LNU881 78374.1 343.3 0.27 14 - - - - - -

LNU823 78136.1 353.8 0.01 18 3318.8 0.09 15 - - -

LNU823 78136.4 - - - - - - 12.4 0.04 13

LNU823 78137.3 - - - - - - 11.5 0.27 5

LNU823 78139.1 397.1 0.08 32 - - - - - -

LNU816 78957.1 - - - - - - 11.6 0.12 6

LNU816 78958.4 - - - - - - 11.9 0.03 9

LNU816 78958.7 - - - - - - 12.8 0.04 16

LNU809 79168.3 - - - - - - 11.6 0.14 5

LNU809 79169.2 - - - 3212.5 0.19 11 11.6 0.14 5

LNU782 77441.1 350.0 0.17 16 - - - - - -

LNU782 77444.10 - - - - - - 11.6 0.14 5

LNU782 77444.9 - - - - - - 12.1 0.08 10

LNU772 78937.4 335.6 0.13 12 3468.8 0.05 20 - - -

LNU772 78938.1 433.1 L 44 3181.2 0.23 10 13.0 0.08 18

LNU772 78940.2 - - - - - - 11.8 0.15 8

LNU762 79329.2 - - - - - - 11.9 0.20 9

LNU762 79330.3 - - - 3287.5 0.12 13 - - -

LNU757 77481.1 - - - - - - 11.9 0.04 8

LNU757 77483.2 - - - - - - 11.6 0.29 6

LNU757 77483.3 - - - - - - 12.3 0.01 12

LNU757 77485.4 346.9 0.08 15 - - - - - -

CONT. - 300.5 - - 2898.0 - - 11.0 - -

LNU933 78897.1 - - - - - - 12.8 L 5 Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg] Leaf Number

Gene Name Event # P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU882 78973.1 - - - - - - 12.9 0.18 6

LNU871 78191.1 - - - 1093.8 0.19 1 - - -

LNU871 78191.3 163.1 0.27 10 1112.5 0.11 8 - - -

LNU871 78195.4 - - - - - - 13.1 L 7

LNU865 79761.7 - - - 1162.5 0.02 13 13.1 L 8

LNU847 78967.4 - - - - - - 13.3 0.22 9

LNU835 78189.1 - - - - - - 13.1 0.12 8

LNU828 77597.3 165.6 0.24 11 1131.2 0.18 10 - - -

LNU795 79521.6 - - - 1112.5 0.29 8 - - -

LNU766 78931.2 - - - - - - 12.7 0.17 4

LNU766 78932.1 - - - 1100.0 0.20 7 - - -

CONT. - 148.6 - - 1026.5 - - 12.2 - -

LNU975 80622.1 - - - - - - 10.5 0.01 8

LNU975 80624.5 - - - - - - 10.7 L 10

LNU975 80625.5 - - - - - - 10.2 L 5

LNU971 78391.1 9.38 0.16 22 - - - - - -

LNU971 78391.6 - - - - - - 10.1 0.03 4

LNU971 78395.1 - - - 131.2 0.12 17 10.1 0.30 3

LNU971 78395.2 10.7 0.04 39 135.7 0.09 21 - - -

LNU964 80552.8 - - - - - - 10.0 0.26 3

LNU960 78599.4 - - - - - - 10.1 0.11 4

LNU960 78600.3 - - - - - - 10.2 0.05 5

LNU957 80435.3 - - - - - - 10.1 0.03 4

LNU957 80437.6 - - - - - - 10.3 L 6

LNU957 80437.8 10.0 0.26 30 - - - - - -

LNU955 80432.1 - - - - - - 10.1 0.30 3

LNU953 80427.1 8.75 0.23 14 - - - - - -

LNU953 80428.1 - - - - - - 10.1 0.08 3

LNU953 80429.1 - - - - - - 10.0 0.26 3

LNU949 80553.7 - - - - - - 10.3 0.12 6

LNU949 80557.4 8.75 0.23 14 - - - - - -

LNU946 80648.1 - - - - - - 10.2 0.05 5

LNU946 80648.2 10.0 0.02 30 - - - - - -

LNU946 80650.2 9.29 0.21 21 - - - - - -

LNU944 79781.2 - - - - - - 9.94 0.27 2

LNU944 79781.6 - - - - - - 10.1 0.03 4

LNU930 79771.1 - - - - - - 10.0 0.13 3

LNU928 78213.1 - - - - - - 10.1 0.30 3

LNU917 77496.2 - - - - - - 10.2 0.05 5

LNU917 77500.2 - - - 137.5 0.24 22 10.1 0.11 4

LNU917 77500.4 - - - 137.5 0.24 22 - - - Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg] Leaf Number

Gene Name Event # P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU917 77500.6 - - - - - - 10.6 L 8

LNU906 79219.5 - - - - - - 10.2 0.18 4

LNU904 78986.5 - - - - - - 9.94 0.27 2

LNU904 78987.2 - - - - - - 10.2 0.18 4

LNU903 80417.4 10.6 0.03 38 - - - - - -

LNU901 80474.1 - - - 126.8 0.13 13 - - -

LNU901 80474.5 - - - - - - 10.4 0.18 6

LNU899 79765.4 9.38 0.16 22 131.2 0.12 17 - - -

LNU899 79765.5 - - - - - - 10.2 0.18 4

LNU899 79766.3 - - - - - - 10.0 0.26 3

LNU897 80445.2 11.9 0.23 54 150.0 L 33 11.1 L 13

LNU897 80448.4 - - - - - - 10.1 0.08 3

LNU892 80410.1 - - - 125.0 0.17 11 - - -

LNU892 80414.2 12.0 L 55 - - - - - -

LNU892 80414.5 - - - - - - 10.3 L 6

LNU884 80405.3 - - - - - - 10.5 0.26 8

LNU884 80407.1 - - - - - - 10.5 L 8

LNU884 80408.2 - - - 137.5 0.24 22 10.1 0.11 4

LNU874 78366.3 10.0 0.26 30 - - - 10.1 0.03 4

LNU874 78370.1 - - - 162.5 0.27 44 - - -

LNU874 78370.3 - - - 133.9 0.17 19 - - -

LNU874 78370.7 - - - - - - 10.2 0.18 4

LNU873 80469.1 - - - 125.0 0.17 11 10.6 L 8

LNU870 78505.1 8.75 0.23 14 131.2 0.12 17 - - -

LNU870 78505.5 11.2 0.14 46 - - - 10.1 0.30 3

LNU867 79590.3 - - - - - - 9.94 0.27 2

LNU866 80443.2 - - - - - - 10.3 0.12 6

LNU862 79758.5 11.2 0.14 46 156.2 L 39 11.1 L 13

LNU856 79753.3 - - - - - - 9.94 0.27 2

LNU856 79753.9 8.66 0.27 13 - - - 9.94 0.27 2

LNU852 79580.2 9.38 0.16 22 - - - - - -

LNU831 79331.7 - - - 131.2 0.12 17 10.2 0.24 5

LNU831 79333.1 8.75 0.23 14 - - - - - -

LNU831 79335.2 - - - - - - 10.4 L 7

LNU829 77912.3 - - - - - - 10.4 L 6

LNU829 77914.1 - - - - - - 10.6 0.11 9

LNU825 77716.4 - - - - - - 10.1 0.08 3

LNU825 77717.4 10.0 0.26 30 - - - - - -

LNU817 80596.1 - - - - - - 10.3 L 6

LNU817 80596.2 9.38 0.16 22 125.0 0.17 11 - - -

LNU817 80598.1 - - - 125.0 0.17 11 - - - Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg] Leaf Number

Gene Name Event # P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU817 80599.2 8.75 0.23 14 - - - 10.1 0.11 4

LNU805 80783.2 - - - - - - 10.0 0.26 3

LNU805 80784.1 - - - - - - 10.2 0.05 5

LNU800 77896.1 - - - - - - 10.0 0.26 3

LNU800 77896.4 - - - 137.5 0.24 22 10.2 0.18 4

LNU800 77900.7 8.75 0.23 14 - - - - - -

LNU799 78672.5 - - - - - - 10.4 0.18 6

LNU799 78672.7 - - - 162.5 0.08 44 - - -

LNU799 78674.2 9.38 0.16 22 - - - - - -

LNU799 78674.5 - - - 150.0 0.13 33 10.2 0.05 5

LNU796 78235.5 - - - - - - 10.1 0.11 4

LNU794 78522.1 - - - 131.2 0.12 17 10.4 0.03 6

LNU794 78524.1 10.0 0.02 30 - - - - - -

LNU794 78524.5 - - - - - - 10.2 0.24 5

LNU794 78525.2 - - - - - - 10.1 0.11 4

LNU792 79161.2 - - - - - - 10.6 L 8

LNU792 79162.2 - - - - - - 10.3 L 6

LNU792 79215.1 - - - - - - 10.2 0.18 4

LNU778 78943.5 - - - - - - 10.5 0.01 8

LNU778 78944.5 11.9 L 54 137.5 0.01 22 - - -

LNU773 80399.1 - - - - - - 10.4 0.08 7

LNU771 80077.2 - - - 125.0 0.17 11 - - -

LNU763 77588.2 - - - - - - 10.2 0.24 5

LNU763 77588.6 10.0 0.26 30 125.0 0.17 11 10.4 0.08 7

LNU758 79739.10 10.6 0.03 38 150.0 0.13 33 11.2 0.12 15

LNU758 79739.5 - - - - - - 10.2 0.02 4

LNU758 79741.2 - - - - - - 10.1 0.11 4

LNU753 77141.2 - - - 125.0 0.17 11 - - -

LNU753 77143.3 - - - - - - 9.94 0.27 2

LNU753 77144.1 9.38 0.16 22 131.2 0.12 17 10.2 0.24 5

LNU753 77144.2 - - - - - - 10.0 0.26 3

LNU749 80792.2 - - - 125.0 0.17 11 10.0 0.26 3

CONT. - 7.70 - - 112.5 - - 9.75 - -

LNU976 78364.1 - - - - - - 12.9 0.12 6

LNU968 77919.4 - - - 1231.2 0.03 8 - - -

LNU963 78385.1 - - - - - - 12.8 0.07 6

LNU950 78911.3 - - - 1212.5 0.08 6 - - -

LNU934 79007.3 - - - - - - 12.8 0.07 6

LNU934 79008.3 122.1 0.15 5 - - - - - -

LNU908 79736.2 134.4 0.28 16 1312.5 0.10 15 - - -

LNU893 77154.4 - - - - - - 13.4 L 10 Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg] Leaf Number

Gene Name Event # P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU885 78416.5 125.0 0.05 8 1300.0 0.05 14 - - -

LNU858 79587.2 - - - - - - 12.6 0.06 4

LNU790 78886.2 - - - - - - 12.6 0.22 4

LNU790 78890.1 134.4 0.06 16 1237.5 0.07 8 12.6 0.18 4

CONT. - 116.2 - - 1141.1 - - 12.1 - -

LNU947 77448.4 - - - - - - 12.7 0.03 6

LNU947 77449.1 - - - - - - 12.4 0.22 3

LNU940 77811.6 - - - - - - 12.6 0.13 5

LNU900 78851.3 - - - - - - 12.4 0.22 3

LNU898 78981.3 - - - - - - 12.3 0.26 2

LNU898 78983.4 - - - - - - 12.9 0.09 7

LNU898 78985.1 - - - 1393.8 0.16 14 - - -

LNU894 78282.3 - - - - - - 12.4 0.22 3

LNU894 78283.7 - - - - - - 12.9 0.03 8

LNU846 78436.2 - - - 1368.8 0.04 12 - - -

LNU846 78438.2 - - - - - - 12.4 0.22 3

LNU846 78439.4 - - - 1393.8 0.02 14 12.9 0.03 8

LNU820 77806.2 227.0 0.06 37 1410.7 0.11 15 - - -

LNU820 77807.2 - - - - - - 12.5 0.11 4

LNU820 77809.1 - - - 1413.4 0.26 16 - - -

LNU815 77492.2 193.1 0.05 17 1343.8 0.21 10 - - -

LNU815 77492.6 - - - 1331.2 0.12 9 - - -

LNU815 77494.1 - - - 1337.5 0.07 10 12.9 0.03 8

LNU814 78953.2 - - - - - - 12.3 0.26 2

LNU814 78955.4 - - - - - - 12.5 0.08 4

LNU811 78179.1 - - - 1412.5 0.03 16 12.8 0.28 7

LNU811 78180.3 - - - 1300.0 0.19 6 - - -

LNU797 78022.1 - - - - - - 12.5 0.25 4

LNU793 78166.4 - - - 1325.0 0.23 8 - - -

LNU759 77236.2 - - - - - - 12.3 0.26 2

LNU756 77581.3 - - - - - - 12.8 0.25 6

LNU756 77584.6 - - - 1285.7 0.28 5 - - -

LNU751 77477.1 - - - 1416.1 0.09 16 - - -

LNU751 77478.4 - - - - - - 12.4 0.22 3

LNU751 77480.1 - - - - - - 12.6 0.04 5

CONT. - 165.1 - - 1221.4 - - 12.0 - -

LNU972 78909.3 - - - 1531.2 0.28 5 12.4 0.09 5

LNU972 78910.2 - - - 1506.2 0.28 4 - - -

LNU965 78360.5 - - - - - - 12.2 0.13 4

LNU961 79143.2 - - - 1568.8 0.30 8 - - -

LNU961 79145.3 - - - 1525.0 0.14 5 - - - Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg] Leaf Number

Gene Name Event # P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU943 78407.2 - - - - - - 12.1 0.26 3

LNU943 78407.4 - - - 1581.2 0.02 9 - - -

LNU926 78858.8 - - - - - - 12.1 0.26 3

LNU913 78593.1 - - - - - - 12.4 0.09 5

LNU896 78979.5 - - - 1531.2 0.11 5 - - -

LNU876 79596.2 - - - 1525.0 0.18 5 - - -

LNU864 79339.2 195.8 0.20 1 1617.0 0.08 11 - - -

LNU833 78184.1 - - - - - - 12.1 0.26 3

LNU804 78950.4 - - - 1537.5 0.13 6 - - -

LNU789 78891.6 - - - 1766.7 0.30 22 - - -

LNU789 78893.3 - - - 1500.0 0.30 3 - - -

LNU768 77881.3 194.4 0.26 6 1537.5 0.21 6 - - -

LNU768 77883.4 198.1 0.13 8 1581.2 0.02 9 - - -

LNU764 78926.1 214.4 0.28 17 1618.8 0.07 11 12.4 0.17 5

CONT. - 183.8 - - 1453.6 - - 11.7 - -

Table 123. "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; " Incr." = % increment; "p-val." - p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant.

Table 124

Genes showing improved plant biomass production at limiting nitrogen growth conditions

Rosette Diameter

Plot Coverage [cm ² ] Rosette Area [cm ² ]

[cm]

Gene Name Event #

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU952 78218.1 49.8 0.02 19 6.23 0.02 19 4.62 0.02 12

LNU952 78218.3 45.0 0.24 7 5.62 0.24 7 4.37 0.09 6

LNU952 78218.6 46.3 0.24 11 5.79 0.24 11 4.33 0.22 5

LNU952 78219.3 47.1 0.08 12 5.88 0.08 12 4.51 0.04 9

LNU945 78998.2 45.8 0.20 9 5.72 0.20 9 4.45 0.12 8

LNU920 78507.1 52.9 0.08 26 6.62 0.08 26 4.94 0.06 20

LNU920 78507.2 45.8 0.25 9 5.73 0.25 9 4.35 0.11 6

LNU920 78508.1 51.6 L 23 6.45 L 23 4.72 L 15

LNU920 78508.2 53.6 L 28 6.70 L 28 4.84 L 18

LNU916 78208.3 50.8 0.02 21 6.35 0.02 21 4.63 L 12

LNU914 80514.5 46.2 0.15 10 5.78 0.15 10 4.36 0.15 6

LNU914 80516.2 50.4 0.14 20 6.29 0.14 20 4.71 L 14

LNU914 80516.4 - - - - - - 4.50 0.03 9

LNU911 80420.3 46.2 0.12 10 5.77 0.12 10 4.36 0.09 6

LNU911 80424.2 46.3 0.12 10 5.78 0.12 10 4.43 0.05 7 Rosette Diameter

Plot Coverage [cm ² ] Rosette Area [cm ² ]

[cm]

Gene Name Event #

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU905 79674.3 47.4 0.08 13 5.92 0.08 13 4.51 0.09 9

LNU905 79674.4 - - - - - - 4.40 0.08 1

LNU905 79675.3 51.5 L 23 6.44 L 23 4.65 L 13

LNU844 80342.3 - - - - - - 4.27 0.27 4

LNU844 80342.4 - - - - - - 4.32 0.29 5

LNU840 78676.1 49.2 0.02 17 6.15 0.02 17 4.71 L 14

LNU840 78676.4 52.9 0.09 26 6.62 0.09 26 4.74 0.05 15

LNU840 78763.6 46.7 0.10 11 5.83 0.10 11 4.45 0.04 8

LNU834_H1 80402.7 47.6 0.21 14 5.95 0.21 14 4.47 0.23 8

LNU832_H2 80604.2 48.2 0.06 15 6.03 0.06 15 4.58 0.11 11

LNU819 78133.3 - - - - - - 4.56 0.02 11

LNU801 78585.2 45.6 0.29 9 5.70 0.29 9 4.42 0.20 7

LNU791 77893.1 54.0 0.01 29 6.74 0.01 29 4.86 L 18

LNU791 77893.2 48.8 0.03 16 6.09 0.03 16 4.52 0.04 10

LNU760_H1 80127.2 51.7 0.17 23 6.47 0.17 23 4.65 0.05 13

CONT. - 41.9 - - 5.24 - - 4.12 - -

LNU966 78605.5 81.2 0.03 38 10.2 0.03 38 5.22 0.05 15

LNU966 78605.7 72.2 L 22 9.03 L 22 4.94 0.01 9

LNU941 78611.1 67.9 L 15 8.48 L 15 4.67 0.22 3

LNU941 78613.1 75.3 0.03 27 9.41 0.03 27 5.10 L 13

LNU941 78615.3 75.2 L 27 9.40 L 27 5.03 L 11

LNU925 78992.1 77.2 0.26 31 9.65 0.26 31 5.18 0.21 15

LNU925 78992.6 62.1 0.26 5 7.76 0.26 5 - - -

LNU918 78433.1 - - - - - - 4.73 0.23 5

LNU918 78433.2 69.7 0.21 18 8.72 0.21 18 4.90 0.23 8

LNU918 78433.3 70.2 L 19 8.78 L 19 4.85 0.02 7

LNU918 78434.2 65.6 0.02 11 8.21 0.02 11 4.82 0.03 6

LNU915 78426.1 71.3 L 21 8.91 L 21 5.05 L 12

LNU915 78427.1 69.8 0.29 18 8.73 0.29 18 - - -

LNU915 78428.1 78.8 L 33 9.85 L 33 5.14 L 14

LNU915 78428.2 66.3 0.27 12 8.28 0.27 12 - - -

LNU909 78424.3 69.3 0.29 17 8.66 0.29 17 - - -

LNU909 78425.4 - - - - - - 5.10 0.05 13

LNU909 78425.5 81.3 0.25 38 10.2 0.25 38 5.29 0.20 17

LNU909 78425.7 67.8 0.14 15 8.48 0.14 15 4.83 0.15 7

LNU890 78202.1 74.4 L 26 9.30 L 26 4.84 0.08 7

LNU854 78236.1 62.9 0.14 6 7.86 0.14 6 4.67 0.22 3

LNU854 78238.1 68.7 L 16 8.59 L 16 4.74 0.11 5

LNU849 78498.4 72.6 L 23 9.08 L 23 4.93 0.09 9

LNU849 78499.1 69.3 0.04 17 8.66 0.04 17 4.84 0.29 7 Rosette Diameter

Plot Coverage [cm ² ] Rosette Area [cm ² ]

[cm]

Gene Name Event #

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU830 78741.5 79.8 0.17 35 9.98 0.17 35 5.18 0.20 15

LNU830 78742.8 63.8 0.20 8 7.97 0.20 8 - - -

LNU824 77826.1 82.9 0.20 40 10.4 0.20 40 5.40 0.11 19

LNU824 77827.3 64.6 0.20 9 8.08 0.20 9 - - -

LNU824 77828.4 69.4 0.04 18 8.68 0.04 18 4.73 0.11 5

LNU824 77829.3 73.8 0.05 25 9.22 0.05 25 4.97 0.10 10

LNU822 78623.2 82.2 0.27 39 10.3 0.27 39 5.29 0.22 17

LNU822 78623.6 87.8 L 49 11.0 L 49 5.56 0.04 23

LNU822 78623.7 74.0 0.21 25 9.26 0.21 25 4.96 0.14 10

LNU822 78625.2 75.9 0.29 28 9.48 0.29 28 5.12 0.25 13

LNU813 77682.3 77.3 0.16 31 9.66 0.16 31 5.20 L 15

LNU806 78514.2 87.1 0.02 47 10.9 0.02 47 5.61 L 24

LNU806 78515.3 69.3 L 17 8.66 L 17 4.75 0.10 5

LNU806 78515.4 - - - - - - 4.87 0.26 8

LNU806 78515.5 76.4 L 29 9.55 L 29 4.98 L 10

LNU802 80307.3 65.9 0.03 12 8.24 0.03 12 4.68 0.20 3

LNU802 80309.2 67.0 0.27 13 8.38 0.27 13 - - -

LNU802 80309.3 67.3 0.09 14 8.41 0.09 14 4.81 0.04 6

LNU802 80310.1 67.1 0.08 14 8.39 0.08 14 4.81 0.14 6

LNU779 77887.2 77.0 0.03 30 9.63 0.03 30 5.09 0.11 13

LNU761 78157.6 67.8 0.15 15 8.48 0.15 15 4.79 0.28 6

LNU761 78159.1 66.3 0.08 12 8.29 0.08 12 4.75 0.08 5

LNU761 78160.3 84.0 0.07 42 10.5 0.07 42 5.44 0.02 20

CONT. - 59.1 - - 7.38 - - 4.52 - -

LNU976 78364.1 45.6 L 47 5.71 L 47 4.19 L 25

LNU976 78364.2 34.1 0.22 10 4.27 0.22 10 - - -

LNU976 78364.5 - - - - - - 3.50 0.26 4

LNU970 78388.1 36.2 0.02 17 4.52 0.02 17 3.63 0.03 8

LNU970 78389.7 33.4 0.27 8 4.18 0.27 8 3.62 0.06 8

LNU970 78389.8 44.2 0.03 42 5.52 0.03 42 4.00 L 19

LNU968 77919.4 36.5 0.01 18 4.57 0.01 18 3.66 0.02 9

LNU963 78383.4 36.6 0.07 18 4.57 0.07 18 3.65 0.27 9

LNU950 78913.4 39.1 0.12 26 4.89 0.12 26 3.74 0.18 11

LNU950 78915.2 35.7 0.03 15 4.46 0.03 15 3.66 0.04 9

LNU949 80553.5 37.5 0.22 21 4.69 0.22 21 3.74 0.21 11

LNU949 80553.8 39.6 0.01 28 4.95 0.01 28 3.69 0.16 10

LNU934 79007.5 33.2 0.27 7 4.16 0.27 7 - - -

LNU934 79008.1 33.9 0.14 9 4.24 0.14 9 3.64 0.15 8

LNU902 79606.5 38.2 0.03 23 4.77 0.03 23 3.77 0.10 12

LNU875 78413.4 36.3 0.29 17 4.54 0.29 17 3.68 0.22 9 Rosette Diameter

Plot Coverage [cm ² ] Rosette Area [cm ² ]

[cm]

Gene Name Event #

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU873 80473.4 - - - - - - 3.73 0.27 11

LNU843 78962.4 37.7 L 22 4.71 L 22 3.67 0.02 9

LNU843 78963.2 36.3 0.11 17 4.53 0.11 17 3.68 0.08 9

LNU790 78886.2 40.8 L 31 5.10 L 31 3.72 0.08 11

LNU790 78886.3 35.0 0.04 13 4.38 0.04 13 3.67 0.07 9

LNU790 78889.2 - - - - - - 3.59 0.07 7

LNU767 79146.1 41.6 0.09 34 5.20 0.09 34 3.85 0.15 15

LNU767 79146.2 36.5 0.01 18 4.57 0.01 18 3.72 L 11

CONT. - 31.0 - - 3.88 - - 3.36 - -

LNU941 78613.1 107.3 0.04 19 13.4 0.04 19 6.23 0.02 11

LNU941 78614.2 111.8 0.01 24 14.0 0.01 24 6.25 0.02 12

LNU941 78615.3 102.4 0.13 13 12.8 0.13 13 6.03 0.15 8

LNU918 78433.3 - - - - - - 5.92 0.16 6

LNU915 78427.1 104.1 0.06 15 13.0 0.06 15 5.92 0.17 6

LNU915 78428.1 101.4 0.24 12 12.7 0.24 12 - - -

LNU909 78425.5 99.4 0.26 10 12.4 0.26 10 - - -

LNU868 77621.5 - - - - - - 6.06 0.25 8

LNU854 78237.2 114.2 L 26 14.3 L 26 6.00 0.20 7

LNU849 78498.3 - - - - - - 6.09 0.10 9

LNU849 78498.4 105.0 0.05 16 13.1 0.05 16 5.99 0.10 7

LNU830 78741.3 - - - 12.3 0.26 9 - - -

LNU830 78741.5 107.9 0.09 19 13.5 0.09 19 6.26 0.02 12

LNU813 77682.3 - - - - - - 5.88 0.28 5

LNU813 77685.1 109.6 0.02 21 13.7 0.02 21 6.28 0.12 12

LNU806 78514.2 100.4 0.28 11 12.6 0.28 11 5.86 0.29 5

LNU806 78515.3 100.7 0.13 11 12.6 0.13 11 5.93 0.15 6

LNU806 78515.5 101.9 0.15 13 12.7 0.15 13 5.96 0.11 6

LNU780 77489.4 - - - - - - 6.04 0.24 8

CONT. - 90.5 - - 11.3 - - 5.60 - -

LNU948 78378.1 74.9 0.04 20 9.36 0.04 20 5.02 0.18 8

LNU948 78380.2 67.9 0.07 9 8.49 0.07 9 4.84 0.22 5

LNU921 79063.2 64.6 0.28 4 8.07 0.28 4 - - -

LNU889 79601.4 67.5 0.08 8 8.44 0.08 8 4.83 0.19 4

LNU888 78771.1 75.6 0.22 21 9.45 0.22 21 5.13 0.29 11

LNU881 78372.2 71.0 0.07 14 8.87 0.07 14 4.95 0.07 7

LNU857 78867.2 69.8 0.27 12 8.72 0.27 12 4.95 0.27 7

LNU857 78870.1 - - - - - - 4.77 0.22 3

LNU816 78958.5 75.0 L 20 9.37 L 20 5.17 L 12

LNU816 78958.7 76.6 0.03 23 9.58 0.03 23 5.22 L 13

LNU809 79168.2 72.6 0.24 16 9.07 0.24 16 4.98 0.20 8 Rosette Diameter

Plot Coverage [cm ² ] Rosette Area [cm ² ]

[cm]

Gene Name Event #

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU809 79168.3 67.9 0.26 9 8.49 0.26 9 - - -

LNU807 79248.1 66.3 0.13 6 8.28 0.13 6 4.81 0.10 4

LNU807 79250.2 65.0 0.22 4 8.13 0.22 4 - - -

LNU795 79525.1 70.5 0.01 13 8.82 0.01 13 - - -

LNU795 79525.5 66.0 0.15 6 8.25 0.15 6 4.80 0.11 4

LNU788 78516.1 76.3 0.07 22 9.54 0.07 22 5.11 0.30 10

LNU788 78517.2 66.7 0.07 7 8.34 0.07 7 4.86 0.06 5

LNU788 78518.1 89.3 0.11 43 11.2 0.11 43 5.59 L 21

LNU778 78941.1 72.6 0.15 16 9.07 0.15 16 4.94 0.16 7

LNU778 78944.2 70.0 0.01 12 8.75 0.01 12 4.90 0.16 6

LNU752 78153.10 75.8 0.26 22 9.48 0.26 22 5.24 0.16 13

LNU752 78155.2 64.9 0.29 4 8.11 0.29 4 4.83 0.26 4

CONT. - 62.3 - - 7.79 - - 4.63 - -

LNU977 78032.1 89.1 0.28 11 - - - - - -

LNU933 78897.1 - - - - - - 5.57 0.24 6

LNU880 78197.2 85.7 0.28 7 - - - - - -

LNU871 78195.4 90.4 0.07 12 11.3 0.11 10 5.46 0.23 4

LNU848 77906.2 - - - - - - 5.58 0.06 6

LNU847 78967.2 87.7 0.07 9 11.0 0.14 7 5.39 0.20 2

LNU846 78438.2 - - - - - - 5.53 0.12 5

LNU846 78439.2 - - - - - - 5.52 0.22 5

LNU846 78439.4 105.8 L 32 13.2 L 29 6.04 L 15

LNU828 77598.3 96.6 0.17 20 12.1 0.20 18 5.85 0.10 11

LNU823 78122.2 90.5 0.25 13 - - - 5.62 0.30 7

LNU772 78938.1 105.8 0.14 32 13.2 0.15 29 6.10 0.26 16

LNU757 77485.4 93.2 L 16 11.7 0.01 14 5.63 0.08 7

CONT. - 80.4 - - 10.2 - - 5.26 - -

LNU972 78907.1 79.1 0.15 21 9.89 0.15 21 5.43 0.24 9

LNU972 78908.2 77.3 0.06 18 9.66 0.06 18 5.40 L 8

LNU972 78909.3 88.0 0.12 35 11.0 0.12 35 5.78 0.09 16

LNU961 79143.3 78.3 0.01 20 9.79 0.01 20 5.51 L 10

LNU961 79143.4 72.6 0.13 11 9.07 0.13 11 5.42 0.05 9

LNU961 79145.3 79.1 0.01 21 9.89 0.01 21 5.38 L 8

LNU961 79145.6 70.6 0.24 8 8.83 0.24 8 5.14 0.19 3

LNU958 77687.2 87.1 L 33 10.9 L 33 5.75 L 15

LNU958 77687.5 83.6 L 28 10.5 L 28 5.72 L 15

LNU958 77689.1 84.4 L 29 10.6 L 29 5.76 L 16

LNU958 77689.2 76.8 0.15 17 9.59 0.15 17 5.37 0.22 8

LNU948 78378.1 83.1 L 27 10.4 L 27 5.66 L 13

LNU948 78379.4 77.8 0.19 19 9.73 0.19 19 - - - Rosette Diameter

Plot Coverage [cm ² ] Rosette Area [cm ² ]

[cm]

Gene Name Event #

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU948 78380.2 84.5 L 29 10.6 L 29 5.64 L 13

LNU948 78380.3 71.6 0.27 9 8.95 0.27 9 5.21 0.09 5

LNU921 79063.2 82.4 L 26 10.3 L 26 5.53 L 11

LNU921 79064.2 - - - - - - 5.25 0.05 5

LNU921 79064.3 74.3 0.14 14 9.28 0.14 14 5.34 0.07 7

LNU913 78592.1 79.5 L 22 9.94 L 22 5.36 0.01 7

LNU913 78592.3 77.5 0.14 18 9.69 0.14 18 5.39 0.21 8

LNU913 78592.4 86.6 L 32 10.8 L 32 5.73 0.07 15

LNU913 78593.1 86.4 L 32 10.8 L 32 5.63 L 13

LNU913 78593.6 92.6 L 42 11.6 L 42 5.96 L 20

LNU912 78401.3 - - - - - - 5.25 0.18 5

LNU912 78403.2 83.9 0.06 28 10.5 0.06 28 5.70 0.06 14

LNU912 78404.1 80.3 L 23 10.0 L 23 5.44 L 9

LNU889 79601.4 76.4 0.03 17 9.55 0.03 17 5.42 L 9

LNU889 79602.4 - - - - - - 5.27 0.21 6

LNU881 78372.2 91.4 L 40 11.4 L 40 5.88 L 18

LNU881 78373.1 73.9 0.14 13 9.24 0.14 13 - - -

LNU881 78373.2 91.7 L 40 11.5 L 40 5.96 0.01 19

LNU823 78136.4 87.2 L 33 10.9 L 33 5.68 0.05 14

LNU816 78957.1 76.3 0.04 17 9.54 0.04 17 5.42 0.02 9

LNU816 78958.4 86.4 L 32 10.8 L 32 5.60 L 12

LNU816 78958.7 96.1 0.02 47 12.0 0.02 47 6.27 0.01 26

LNU809 79168.3 77.9 0.14 19 9.74 0.14 19 5.46 0.18 9

LNU809 79169.2 78.2 0.17 20 9.77 0.17 20 5.32 0.21 7

LNU783 79176.3 74.1 0.14 13 9.26 0.14 13 - - -

LNU783 79176.6 77.0 0.03 18 9.62 0.03 18 5.44 0.08 9

LNU783 79178.4 70.3 0.27 7 8.79 0.27 7 5.54 L 11

LNU782 77441.1 84.1 L 29 10.5 L 29 5.45 L 9

LNU782 77444.10 73.5 0.15 12 9.19 0.15 12 5.17 0.23 4

LNU782 77444.9 91.8 0.07 40 11.5 0.07 40 6.19 0.03 24

LNU772 78937.4 - - - - - - 5.22 0.26 5

LNU772 78938.1 96.4 L 47 12.1 L 47 6.07 L 22

LNU772 78938.2 73.9 0.12 13 9.23 0.12 13 5.29 0.02 6

LNU772 78940.2 78.9 0.04 21 9.87 0.04 21 5.43 0.12 9

LNU762 79329.2 80.9 L 24 10.1 L 24 5.50 L 10

LNU757 77481.1 - - - - - - 5.12 0.23 3

LNU757 77483.3 74.8 0.05 14 9.34 0.05 14 5.40 L 8

CONT. - 65.4 - - 8.18 - - 4.99 - -

LNU907 78872.1 - - - - - - 5.68 0.11 9

LNU907 78872.3 - - - - - - 5.32 0.21 2 Rosette Diameter

Plot Coverage [cm ² ] Rosette Area [cm ² ]

[cm]

Gene Name Event #

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU882 78973.1 78.8 L 10 9.85 L 10 5.48 L 5

LNU882 78973.4 85.5 0.23 20 10.7 0.23 20 5.74 0.17 10

LNU871 78195.4 77.2 L 8 9.66 L 8 5.37 0.07 3

LNU865 79761.7 80.8 L 13 10.1 L 13 5.49 0.14 5

LNU847 78968.3 - - - - - - 5.41 0.07 4

LNU845 78917.3 75.2 0.29 5 9.40 0.29 5 5.34 0.11 2

LNU835 78186.2 76.3 0.10 7 9.54 0.10 7 - - -

LNU835 78189.1 73.5 0.26 3 9.19 0.26 3 5.34 0.27 2

LNU807 79250.1 81.1 0.15 13 10.1 0.15 13 5.50 L 6

LNU766 78931.1 - - - - - - 5.31 0.28 2

LNU766 78931.2 - - - - - - 5.49 0.26 5

LNU766 78932.1 88.4 0.16 24 11.1 0.16 24 5.78 0.16 11

CONT. - 71.6 - - 8.94 - - 5.21 - -

LNU975 80622.1 62.2 0.11 26 7.78 0.11 26 4.99 0.19 11

LNU975 80624.5 56.3 L 14 7.04 L 14 4.62 0.14 3

LNU971 78395.1 57.1 L 15 7.14 L 15 4.82 L 7

LNU971 78395.2 60.4 L 22 7.55 L 22 5.02 L 12

LNU964 80548.6 - - - - - - 4.58 0.26 2

LNU960 78600.3 60.4 0.06 22 7.55 0.06 22 4.91 0.03 9

LNU957 80437.8 52.0 0.13 5 6.50 0.13 5 4.70 0.07 5

LNU955 80432.4 53.8 0.07 9 6.72 0.07 9 4.58 0.28 2

LNU953 80427.1 - - - - - - 4.76 0.29 6

LNU949 80553.7 55.9 L 13 6.99 L 13 4.64 0.15 3

LNU949 80553.8 55.1 0.09 11 6.89 0.09 11 4.74 0.02 5

LNU949 80557.4 - - - - - - 4.94 0.21 10

LNU946 80648.2 52.2 0.24 5 6.52 0.24 5 - - -

LNU944 79781.6 53.2 0.03 8 6.65 0.03 8 4.68 0.02 4

LNU928 78213.1 53.7 0.28 9 6.71 0.28 9 4.67 0.05 4

LNU917 77500.4 - - - - - - 4.79 0.27 7

LNU917 77500.6 - - - - - - 4.82 0.06 7

LNU906 79219.1 - - - - - - 4.61 0.15 3

LNU906 79219.6 - - - - - - 4.69 0.08 4

LNU904 78987.3 - - - - - - 4.68 0.19 4

LNU901 80474.1 57.2 L 16 7.15 L 16 4.77 L 6

LNU901 80474.5 53.2 0.04 8 6.65 0.04 8 4.66 0.04 4

LNU901 80476.5 59.5 0.16 20 7.44 0.16 20 4.81 0.17 7

LNU899 79765.4 - - - - - - 4.75 0.13 6

LNU899 79766.2 52.3 0.17 6 6.54 0.17 6 - - -

LNU899 79766.3 55.1 0.02 11 6.89 0.02 11 - - -

LNU897 80445.2 69.1 L 40 8.63 L 40 5.15 L 15 Rosette Diameter

Plot Coverage [cm ² ] Rosette Area [cm ² ]

[cm]

Gene Name Event #

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU892 80410.1 54.1 0.17 9 6.77 0.17 9 - - -

LNU892 80414.5 53.5 0.02 8 6.68 0.02 8 4.63 0.09 3

LNU884 80405.3 58.0 L 17 7.25 L 17 4.74 L 6

LNU874 78366.3 61.6 L 24 7.70 L 24 5.05 L 12

LNU874 78370.1 56.4 L 14 7.05 L 14 4.80 0.25 7

LNU874 78370.3 56.6 L 14 7.08 L 14 4.82 L 7

LNU873 80469.3 53.2 0.28 8 6.65 0.28 8 - - -

LNU873 80473.3 55.1 0.09 11 6.88 0.09 11 4.62 0.14 3

LNU873 80473.6 54.4 0.10 10 6.79 0.10 10 4.68 0.24 4

LNU870 78501.1 - - - - - - 4.70 0.03 5

LNU870 78505.5 53.7 0.15 9 6.72 0.15 9 4.64 0.12 3

LNU867 79590.4 61.1 0.13 23 7.63 0.13 23 4.89 L 9

LNU867 79590.7 58.6 L 18 7.32 L 18 4.93 0.13 10

LNU866 80443.2 52.9 0.04 7 6.62 0.04 7 - - -

LNU862 79755.6 - - - - - - 4.69 0.28 4

LNU862 79757.1 54.9 0.16 11 6.87 0.16 11 4.82 0.27 7

LNU862 79758.3 - - - - - - 4.69 0.09 4

LNU862 79758.5 70.4 L 42 8.80 L 42 5.41 L 20

LNU856 79753.3 55.3 L 12 6.91 L 12 4.79 L 7

LNU831 79331.7 67.1 0.08 35 8.38 0.08 35 5.18 L 15

LNU829 77912.3 58.6 0.23 18 7.33 0.23 18 4.98 0.22 11

LNU829 77914.2 55.7 0.25 13 6.96 0.25 13 4.78 L 6

LNU817 80599.2 53.0 0.03 7 6.62 0.03 7 - - -

LNU800 77896.1 59.7 L 21 7.46 L 21 4.84 0.06 8

LNU800 77896.4 53.7 0.05 8 6.71 0.05 8 4.76 0.16 6

LNU799 78672.7 57.7 0.03 17 7.21 0.03 17 4.84 0.11 8

LNU799 78674.5 60.7 0.08 23 7.59 0.08 23 4.94 0.13 10

LNU794 78522.1 61.8 0.18 25 7.73 0.18 25 4.81 0.15 7

LNU794 78524.1 - - - - - - 4.95 0.30 10

LNU794 78524.5 58.6 0.24 18 7.33 0.24 18 4.93 0.20 10

LNU794 78525.2 56.8 L 15 7.10 L 15 4.72 L 5

LNU792 79161.2 51.6 0.28 4 6.45 0.28 4 - - -

LNU778 78944.5 63.7 L 29 7.96 L 29 5.16 L 15

LNU773 80399.1 57.2 0.01 16 7.16 0.01 16 4.79 0.23 7

LNU763 77588.6 64.2 L 30 8.02 L 30 4.83 0.05 8

LNU758 79739.10 63.0 0.15 27 7.88 0.15 27 - - -

LNU753 77141.2 56.3 L 14 7.03 L 14 4.77 L 6

LNU753 77143.3 57.6 0.02 16 7.19 0.02 16 4.79 0.07 7

LNU753 77144.1 56.0 L 13 7.00 L 13 4.80 L 7

LNU749 80792.2 - - - - - - 4.76 0.17 6 Rosette Diameter

Plot Coverage [cm ² ] Rosette Area [cm ² ]

[cm]

Gene Name Event #

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU749 80792.3 54.1 0.09 9 6.76 0.09 9 4.66 0.07 4

CONT. - 49.5 - - 6.19 - - 4.49 - -

LNU970 78390.3 101.4 0.22 8 12.7 0.22 8 - - -

LNU893 77154.4 105.3 0.09 12 13.2 0.09 12 5.96 0.18 6

LNU885 78416.5 - - - - - - 6.04 0.24 7

LNU790 78890.1 121.6 L 29 15.2 L 29 6.42 0.01 14

CONT. - 94.1 - - 11.8 - - 5.64 - -

LNU947 77448.4 104.8 L 33 13.1 L 31 5.95 L 12

LNU940 77811.6 90.4 0.27 15 - - - - - -

LNU940 77813.1 96.4 0.01 23 12.0 L 21 5.73 0.03 8

LNU900 78851.3 94.7 0.07 20 11.8 0.09 19 5.60 0.10 6

LNU898 78983.4 96.3 0.10 23 12.0 0.13 21 5.81 0.05 10

LNU894 78283.4 85.5 0.25 9 10.7 0.28 7 5.49 0.25 4

LNU894 78283.7 102.3 L 30 12.8 L 28 5.96 L 13

LNU846 78436.2 87.5 0.26 11 10.9 0.30 10 - - -

LNU846 78439.4 103.6 0.07 32 13.0 0.09 30 6.04 0.08 14

LNU820 77807.2 89.2 0.22 14 11.2 0.26 12 - - -

LNU820 77809.1 86.5 0.15 10 10.8 0.15 8 - - -

LNU815 77492.6 85.2 0.22 8 10.7 0.23 7 - - -

LNU815 77494.1 103.8 0.02 32 13.0 0.03 30 5.94 L 12

LNU814 78953.2 84.6 0.25 8 10.6 0.27 6 - - -

LNU811 78176.8 86.8 0.22 10 10.9 0.24 9 - - -

LNU811 78179.1 97.6 0.22 24 12.2 0.25 22 5.78 0.25 9

LNU811 78180.3 85.4 0.21 9 10.7 0.22 7 - - -

LNU797 78025.3 - - - - - - 5.59 0.16 6

LNU793 78168.1 87.7 0.11 11 11.0 0.10 10 - - -

LNU793 78169.1 85.3 0.21 8 10.7 0.21 7 - - -

LNU769 78163.4 85.6 0.23 9 10.7 0.25 7 - - -

LNU756 77581.3 90.6 0.06 15 11.3 0.05 14 5.51 0.18 4

LNU751 77478.3 90.0 0.10 14 11.3 0.12 13 - - -

CONT. - 78.6 - - 9.97 - - 5.30 - -

LNU965 78360.5 112.4 0.02 20 14.0 0.06 18 - - -

LNU943 78407.2 110.0 0.10 17 13.8 0.15 15 - - -

LNU913 78593.1 115.2 0.01 23 14.4 0.04 21 6.19 0.07 8

LNU833 78184.1 101.4 0.07 8 12.7 0.09 6 5.85 0.14 2

LNU764 78926.1 103.8 0.01 11 13.0 L 9 5.97 0.18 4

CONT. - 93.7 - - 11.9 - - 5.75 - -

Table 124: "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; " Incr." = % increment; "p-val." - p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant. The genes listed in Table 125 improved plant NUE when grown at limiting nitrogen concentration levels. These genes produced faster developing plants when grown under limiting nitrogen growth conditions, compared to control plants, grown under identical conditions as measured by growth rate of leaf number, rosette diameter and plot coverage.

Table 125

Genes showing improved rosette growth performance at limiting nitrogen growth conditions

RGR Of Plot

RGR Of Leaf RGR Of Rosette

Coverage

Number Diameter [cm/day]

Gene Name Event # [cm ² /day]

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU952 78218.1 - - - 5.74 0.18 17 0.354 0.12 13

LNU952 78219.3 - - - - - - 0.345 0.23 10

LNU945 78998.2 - - - - - - 0.347 0.20 10

LNU920 78507.1 - - - 6.13 0.06 25 0.377 0.03 20

LNU920 78508.1 - - - 5.90 0.10 20 - - -

LNU920 78508.2 - - - 6.12 0.05 25 0.372 0.02 18

LNU916 78208.3 - - - 5.84 0.15 19 0.349 0.19 11

LNU914 80516.2 - - - 5.79 0.15 18 0.356 0.09 13

LNU914 80516.4 - - - - - - 0.344 0.24 10

LNU911 80424.2 - - - - - - 0.349 0.16 11

LNU905 79674.3 - - - 5.56 0.28 13 0.349 0.21 11

LNU905 79675.3 - - - 6.01 0.08 23 0.369 0.03 17

LNU840 78676.1 - - - 5.78 0.15 18 0.368 0.04 17

LNU840 78676.4 - - - 6.08 0.06 24 0.346 0.21 10

LNU834_H1 80402.7 - - - 5.61 0.26 14 0.348 0.20 11

LNU832_H2 80605.1 - - - - - - 0.348 0.22 11

LNU819 78133.3 - - - - - - 0.342 0.26 9

LNU791 77893.1 - - - 6.26 0.04 28 0.381 0.01 21

LNU791 77893.2 - - - 5.77 0.16 18 0.357 0.09 14

LNU760_H1 80127.2 - - - 6.04 0.08 23 0.358 0.09 14

CONT. - - - - 4.90 - - 0.314 - -

LNU966 78604.1 0.819 0.23 12 9.03 0.03 29 - - -

LNU966 78605.5 0.839 0.15 15 9.63 L 38 0.374 0.25 11

LNU966 78605.7 - - - 8.64 0.04 24 0.375 0.23 11

LNU941 78611.1 0.833 0.13 14 8.08 0.16 16 - - -

LNU941 78613.1 - - - 8.95 0.02 28 0.381 0.17 13

LNU941 78613.5 - - - 8.12 0.22 16 - - -

LNU941 78615.3 0.812 0.28 11 8.86 0.02 27 0.376 0.22 11

LNU925 78992.1 - - - 9.16 0.02 31 0.385 0.16 14

LNU925 78992.6 - - - - - - 0.371 0.29 10

LNU922 78290.1 0.833 0.18 14 8.73 0.05 25 - - -

LNU918 78433.1 0.805 0.22 10 - - - - - - RGR Of Plot

RGR Of Leaf RGR Of Rosette

Coverage

Number Diameter [cm/day]

Gene Name Event # [cm ² /day]

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU918 78433.2 - - - 8.28 0.13 18 - - -

LNU918 78433.3 - - - 8.35 0.08 20 - - -

LNU918 78433.8 0.841 0.08 15 - - - - - -

LNU918 78434.2 - - - 7.84 0.27 12 0.375 0.22 11

LNU915 78426.1 - - - 8.47 0.07 21 0.375 0.24 11

LNU915 78427.1 - - - 8.24 0.14 18 - - -

LNU915 78428.1 0.880 0.03 21 9.41 L 35 - - -

LNU915 78428.2 0.812 0.20 11 7.87 0.26 13 - - -

LNU909 78424.3 0.832 0.12 14 8.23 0.13 18 - - -

LNU909 78425.4 0.802 0.26 10 8.36 0.11 20 - - -

LNU909 78425.5 0.858 0.09 18 9.77 L 40 0.390 0.15 16

LNU909 78425.7 - - - 8.12 0.16 16 - - -

LNU890 78202.1 0.871 0.05 19 8.89 0.02 27 - - -

LNU854 78238.1 - - - 8.07 0.18 16 - - -

LNU854 78240.1 - - - 8.49 0.10 22 0.383 0.24 14

LNU849 78498.4 - - - 8.44 0.06 21 - - -

LNU849 78499.1 - - - 8.31 0.10 19 - - -

LNU849 78500.3 - - - 8.66 0.07 24 0.380 0.24 13

LNU830 78741.3 - - - 8.18 0.15 17 0.378 0.22 12

LNU830 78741.5 0.917 0.05 26 9.41 L 35 0.379 0.22 12

LNU824 77826.1 0.877 0.07 20 9.81 L 40 0.403 0.06 20

LNU824 77828.4 - - - 8.21 0.13 17 - - -

LNU824 77829.3 - - - 8.66 0.04 24 - - -

LNU822 78623.2 - - - 9.81 L 40 0.398 0.13 18

LNU822 78623.6 0.809 0.27 11 10.5 L 50 0.418 0.02 24

LNU822 78623.7 0.817 0.23 12 8.88 0.03 27 0.379 0.20 13

LNU822 78625.2 0.828 0.28 13 9.05 0.03 29 0.381 0.23 13

LNU822 78625.7 - - - 8.20 0.16 17 - - -

LNU813 77682.3 - - - 9.07 0.02 30 0.399 0.07 18

LNU806 78514.2 - - - 10.4 L 48 0.428 L 27

LNU806 78515.3 - - - 8.21 0.12 18 - - -

LNU806 78515.4 0.876 0.04 20 8.08 0.17 16 - - -

LNU806 78515.5 0.895 0.05 23 8.97 0.02 28 - - -

LNU802 80307.3 - - - 7.86 0.26 13 - - -

LNU802 80309.2 - - - 7.87 0.28 13 - - -

LNU802 80309.3 - - - 8.00 0.21 15 - - -

LNU802 80310.1 - - - 8.08 0.17 16 - - -

LNU779 77887.2 0.822 0.18 13 9.09 0.01 30 0.377 0.23 12

LNU761 78157.6 0.828 0.20 13 8.18 0.14 17 - - -

LNU761 78159.1 - - - 7.91 0.25 13 - - -

LNU761 78160.3 0.848 0.12 16 9.99 L 43 0.410 0.03 22

CONT. - 0.730 - - 6.99 - - 0.337 - -

LNU976 78364.1 - - - 5.53 L 48 0.334 0.01 27

LNU970 78388.1 - - - 4.43 0.15 18 - - -

LNU970 78389.8 0.669 0.27 14 5.28 L 41 0.299 0.20 13

LNU968 77919.4 - - - 4.44 0.15 19 - - - RGR Of Plot

RGR Of Leaf RGR Of Rosette

Coverage

Number Diameter [cm/day]

Gene Name Event # [cm ² /day]

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU963 78383.4 - - - 4.46 0.14 19 - - -

LNU962 78635.8 0.666 0.27 13 - - - - - -

LNU950 78913.4 - - - 4.81 0.03 29 0.297 0.24 13

LNU950 78915.2 - - - 4.35 0.20 16 - - -

LNU949 80553.5 - - - 4.56 0.11 22 0.299 0.23 14

LNU949 80553.8 - - - 4.80 0.03 28 - - -

LNU949 80557.4 - - - 4.25 0.30 14 - - -

LNU934 79008.1 - - - - - - 0.297 0.22 13

LNU908 79738.5 0.670 0.28 14 - - - - - -

LNU902 79606.5 - - - 4.51 0.12 21 - - -

LNU875 78413.4 - - - 4.40 0.19 18 - - -

LNU873 80473.4 - - - 4.40 0.20 18 0.300 0.21 14

LNU843 78962.4 - - - 4.61 0.08 23 - - -

LNU843 78963.2 - - - 4.35 0.20 16 - - -

LNU790 78886.2 0.697 0.16 18 4.94 0.02 32 - - -

LNU790 78886.3 0.677 0.27 15 4.25 0.28 14 0.292 0.30 11

LNU790 78889.2 0.686 0.21 17 - - - - - -

LNU787 80547.7 0.721 0.09 22 - - - - - -

LNU767 79146.1 0.695 0.20 18 5.12 L 37 0.302 0.17 15

LNU767 79146.2 - - - 4.43 0.15 19 0.300 0.18 14

CONT. - 0.589 - - 3.74 - - 0.263 - -

LNU966 78605.5 0.819 0.20 17 - - - - - -

LNU941 78614.2 - - - 13.8 0.19 23 - - -

LNU922 78287.3 0.798 0.26 14 - - - - - -

LNU915 78428.2 0.807 0.26 15 - - - - - -

LNU854 78237.2 - - - 14.2 0.14 27 - - -

LNU830 78741.5 - - - 13.3 0.28 19 - - -

LNU813 77685.1 - - - 13.6 0.21 22 - - -

LNU751 77477.1 0.878 0.07 25 - - - - - -

CONT. - 0.702 - - 11.2 - - - - -

LNU948 78378.1 - - - 10.5 0.04 22 - - -

LNU888 78771.1 - - - 10.7 0.05 25 0.481 0.05 24

LNU881 78372.2 - - - 9.74 0.19 13 - - -

LNU857 78867.2 - - - 9.70 0.23 13 - - -

LNU816 78958.5 - - - 10.9 0.02 26 0.481 0.02 24

LNU816 78958.7 - - - 10.4 0.05 21 0.449 0.10 16

LNU809 79168.2 - - - 10.1 0.15 17 - - -

LNU809 79168.3 - - - 9.60 0.28 11 0.430 0.26 11

LNU807 79248.1 - - - - - - 0.430 0.24 11

LNU795 79525.1 - - - 9.66 0.24 12 - - -

LNU795 79525.5 - - - - - - 0.429 0.23 11

LNU788 78516.1 - - - 10.8 0.02 25 0.454 0.14 17

LNU788 78518.1 - - - 12.2 L 41 0.466 0.04 20

LNU783 79178.2 - - - - - - 0.446 0.19 15

LNU778 78941.1 - - - 10.0 0.15 16 - - -

LNU778 78944.2 - - - 9.86 0.16 14 0.432 0.22 12 RGR Of Plot

RGR Of Leaf RGR Of Rosette

Coverage

Number Diameter [cm/day]

Gene Name Event # [cm ² /day]

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU752 78153.10 - - - 11.1 0.03 29 0.503 0.01 30

CONT. - - - - 8.61 - - 0.388 - -

LNU933 78897.1 0.890 0.12 17 - - - - - -

LNU882 78975.3 0.863 0.23 13 - - - - - -

LNU880 78196.1 - - - - - - 0.490 0.30 9

LNU880 78200.6 - - - 12.0 0.15 21 0.502 0.18 11

LNU848 77906.2 - - - 11.6 0.24 17 - - -

LNU848 77907.4 0.866 0.18 14 - - - - - -

LNU847 78967.2 0.892 0.13 17 - - - - - -

LNU847 78967.4 0.858 0.23 13 - - - - - -

LNU846 78436.2 0.938 0.04 23 - - - - - -

LNU846 78438.2 - - - - - - 0.502 0.16 11

LNU846 78439.4 0.852 0.26 12 13.1 0.02 32 0.506 0.13 12

LNU828 77598.3 0.876 0.16 15 12.0 0.14 21 0.512 0.11 14

LNU814 78953.3 0.885 0.15 16 - - - - - -

LNU814 78955.4 0.865 0.23 13 - - - - - -

LNU772 78937.4 0.849 0.29 11 - - - - - -

LNU772 78938.1 - - - 13.0 0.04 31 0.500 0.21 11

LNU772 78940.2 0.861 0.26 13 - - - - - -

LNU757 77485.4 - - - 11.6 0.23 17 - - -

LNU750 78863.2 - - - - - - 0.493 0.23 9

CONT. - 0.762 - - 9.91 - - 0.451 - -

LNU972 78907.1 - - - 9.59 0.11 22 - - -

LNU972 78908.2 0.810 0.24 14 9.30 0.17 18 0.443 0.13 13

LNU972 78909.3 0.862 0.08 22 10.8 0.01 38 0.481 0.02 23

LNU961 79143.3 - - - 9.64 0.10 23 0.455 0.07 16

LNU961 79143.4 - - - - - - 0.438 0.18 12

LNU961 79145.3 0.801 0.27 13 9.44 0.14 20 0.443 0.13 13

LNU961 79145.6 0.806 0.26 14 - - - - - -

LNU958 77687.2 0.893 0.05 26 10.5 0.02 33 0.492 L 26

LNU958 77687.5 - - - 9.85 0.06 25 0.448 0.10 14

LNU958 77689.1 - - - 10.2 0.03 30 0.479 0.02 22

LNU958 77689.2 - - - 9.40 0.15 20 0.440 0.17 12

LNU948 78378.1 0.810 0.26 14 10.0 0.04 28 0.472 0.02 20

LNU948 78379.4 - - - 9.34 0.17 19 0.437 0.20 12

LNU948 78380.2 0.836 0.14 18 10.1 0.04 29 0.443 0.14 13

LNU921 79063.2 0.889 0.04 25 10.1 0.04 28 0.445 0.12 14

LNU921 79064.3 0.806 0.28 14 - - - 0.433 0.23 11

LNU913 78592.1 - - - 9.58 0.11 22 - - -

LNU913 78592.3 0.798 0.29 13 9.17 0.22 17 - - -

LNU913 78592.4 - - - 10.4 0.02 32 0.454 0.09 16

LNU913 78593.1 0.831 0.16 17 10.4 0.02 32 0.452 0.08 16

LNU913 78593.6 - - - 11.1 L 42 0.482 0.01 23

LNU912 78401.3 - - - - - - 0.431 0.28 10

LNU912 78403.2 - - - 10.1 0.04 28 0.462 0.05 18

LNU912 78404.1 0.806 0.25 14 9.74 0.08 24 0.441 0.16 13 RGR Of Plot

RGR Of Leaf RGR Of Rosette

Coverage

Number Diameter [cm/day]

Gene Name Event # [cm ² /day]

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU889 79601.4 - - - 9.11 0.23 16 0.433 0.23 11

LNU889 79602.4 0.802 0.29 13 9.30 0.19 18 - - -

LNU888 78772.2 0.804 0.30 13 - - - - - -

LNU881 78372.2 0.833 0.15 18 10.9 L 39 0.471 0.02 20

LNU881 78373.1 0.846 0.12 19 - - - - - -

LNU881 78373.2 0.831 0.20 17 10.8 0.01 37 0.466 0.04 19

LNU823 78136.4 0.856 0.10 21 10.5 0.02 34 0.466 0.04 19

LNU816 78957.1 - - - 9.02 0.27 15 - - -

LNU816 78958.4 - - - 10.5 0.01 34 0.455 0.07 16

LNU816 78958.7 - - - 11.3 L 44 0.497 L 27

LNU809 79168.3 - - - 9.38 0.17 19 0.456 0.07 16

LNU809 79169.2 - - - 9.42 0.15 20 0.444 0.13 13

LNU783 79176.3 - - - 9.01 0.27 15 - - -

LNU783 79176.6 - - - 9.33 0.16 19 0.445 0.13 14

LNU783 79178.4 - - - - - - 0.462 0.04 18

LNU782 77441.1 0.884 0.07 25 10.1 0.04 29 0.428 0.28 9

LNU782 77444.10 0.812 0.23 15 - - - - - -

LNU782 77444.2 0.798 0.29 13 - - - - - -

LNU782 77444.9 - - - 10.9 L 39 0.509 L 30

LNU772 78938.1 0.945 0.02 33 11.7 L 49 0.506 L 29

LNU772 78940.2 - - - 9.42 0.14 20 - - -

LNU762 79329.2 - - - 9.70 0.09 23 0.440 0.15 12

LNU757 77481.1 0.857 0.09 21 - - - - - -

LNU757 77483.2 0.820 0.21 16 - - - - - -

LNU757 77483.3 0.832 0.16 17 - - - 0.447 0.12 14

CONT. - 0.708 - - 7.85 - - 0.391 - -

LNU882 78973.4 - - - 10.2 0.09 18 0.449 0.25 8

LNU807 79250.1 - - - 9.82 0.18 14 - - -

LNU766 78932.1 - - - 10.6 0.04 22 - - -

CONT. - - - - 8.64 - - 0.416 - -

LNU975 80622.1 - - - 7.90 L 28 0.416 0.05 16

LNU975 80624.5 0.743 0.20 19 7.02 0.14 14 - - -

LNU971 78395.1 - - - 7.01 0.16 14 - - -

LNU971 78395.2 - - - 7.28 0.06 18 0.400 0.13 12

LNU960 78599.4 0.725 0.28 17 - - - - - -

LNU960 78600.3 - - - 7.49 0.03 22 0.400 0.13 12

LNU957 80435.3 0.723 0.30 16 - - - - - -

LNU955 80432.3 0.735 0.24 18 - - - - - -

LNU955 80432.4 - - - 6.83 0.25 11 - - -

LNU953 80429.1 0.722 0.30 16 - - - - - -

LNU949 80553.7 - - - 6.94 0.19 13 - - -

LNU949 80557.4 - - - 7.12 0.12 16 0.396 0.19 11

LNU928 78212.1 0.818 0.04 31 - - - - - -

LNU928 78213.1 - - - 6.82 0.25 11 - - -

LNU923 77603.3 - - - - - - 0.391 0.24 9

LNU917 77500.4 - - - 6.91 0.25 12 - - - RGR Of Plot

RGR Of Leaf RGR Of Rosette

Coverage

Number Diameter [cm/day]

Gene Name Event # [cm ² /day]

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU906 79219.5 0.743 0.21 19 - - - - - -

LNU904 78987.2 0.775 0.11 25 - - - - - -

LNU901 80476.5 - - - 7.41 0.04 20 - - -

LNU899 79765.4 - - - 6.88 0.22 12 0.395 0.18 10

LNU899 79766.2 - - - - - - 0.390 0.28 9

LNU897 80445.2 - - - 8.64 L 40 0.431 0.01 20

LNU892 80410.1 - - - - - - 0.393 0.23 10

LNU884 80405.3 - - - 7.35 0.04 19 - - -

LNU884 80407.1 - - - 7.09 0.13 15 - - -

LNU884 80408.2 - - - 7.12 0.15 16 - - -

LNU884 80408.4 - - - 7.10 0.13 15 0.395 0.21 10

LNU874 78366.3 - - - 7.47 0.03 21 0.402 0.11 12

LNU874 78370.1 - - - 7.03 0.13 14 - - -

LNU874 78370.3 - - - 7.05 0.12 15 0.398 0.15 11

LNU874 78370.7 0.727 0.28 17 - - - - - -

LNU873 80469.1 0.771 0.12 24 - - - - - -

LNU873 80473.3 - - - 6.91 0.19 12 - - -

LNU873 80473.6 - - - 6.88 0.21 12 0.400 0.13 12

LNU870 78501.1 - - - - - - 0.398 0.15 11

LNU870 78505.1 - - - - - - 0.401 0.14 12

LNU867 79589.3 - - - - - - 0.389 0.27 9

LNU867 79590.3 0.746 0.22 20 - - - - - -

LNU867 79590.4 - - - 7.30 0.07 18 - - -

LNU867 79590.7 - - - 7.30 0.05 19 0.405 0.10 13

LNU866 80442.2 0.734 0.25 18 - - - - - -

LNU866 80443.2 0.752 0.17 21 - - - - - -

LNU866 80444.6 - - - 6.87 0.24 12 - - -

LNU862 79757.1 - - - - - - 0.391 0.26 9

LNU862 79758.3 - - - - - - 0.392 0.22 10

LNU862 79758.5 - - - 8.82 L 43 0.459 L 28

LNU856 79753.3 - - - 6.80 0.26 10 - - -

LNU856 79753.5 0.742 0.21 19 - - - - - -

LNU831 79331.7 - - - 8.43 L 37 0.428 0.01 20

LNU831 79335.2 0.783 0.10 26 - - - - - -

LNU829 77912.3 - - - 7.24 0.07 18 0.399 0.16 11

LNU829 77914.1 0.774 0.11 24 - - - - - -

LNU829 77914.2 - - - 6.90 0.21 12 0.398 0.15 11

LNU817 80598.1 - - - 6.81 0.28 11 - - -

LNU800 77896.1 - - - 7.38 0.04 20 - - -

LNU799 78672.5 0.725 0.29 17 - - - - - -

LNU799 78672.7 - - - 7.09 0.11 15 - - -

LNU799 78674.2 - - - 7.03 0.15 14 - - -

LNU799 78674.5 - - - 7.50 0.02 22 0.406 0.10 13

LNU796 78235.5 0.755 0.16 21 - - - - - -

LNU794 78522.1 - - - 7.67 0.02 25 - - -

LNU794 78524.1 - - - 7.85 0.01 28 0.399 0.18 11 RGR Of Plot

RGR Of Leaf RGR Of Rosette

Coverage

Number Diameter [cm/day]

Gene Name Event # [cm ² /day]

P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU794 78524.5 - - - 7.30 0.06 19 0.392 0.24 9

LNU794 78525.2 - - - 7.14 0.09 16 - - -

LNU792 79161.2 0.778 0.11 25 - - - - - -

LNU792 79162.2 0.720 0.30 16 - - - - - -

LNU778 78943.5 0.778 0.10 25 - - - - - -

LNU778 78944.1 0.841 0.03 35 - - - - - -

LNU778 78944.5 - - - 8.11 L 32 0.432 L 21

LNU773 80399.1 - - - 6.96 0.16 13 - - -

LNU771 80077.2 - - - 6.83 0.28 11 0.403 0.12 13

LNU763 77588.6 - - - 7.62 0.02 24 - - -

LNU763 77589.3 0.725 0.28 16 - - - - - -

LNU758 79739.10 - - - 7.84 L 27 0.400 0.17 12

LNU753 77141.2 - - - 6.90 0.20 12 - - -

LNU753 77143.3 - - - 7.23 0.06 17 - - -

LNU753 77144.1 - - - 6.88 0.21 12 0.387 0.29 8

CONT. - 0.622 - - 6.16 - - 0.358 - -

LNU790 78890.1 - - - 14.8 0.04 29 0.510 0.25 13

CONT. - - - - 11.5 - - 0.452 - -

LNU947 77448.4 - - - 12.6 0.02 32 - - -

LNU940 77813.1 - - - 12.1 0.06 26 0.470 0.21 13

LNU900 78851.3 - - - 11.3 0.19 18 - - -

LNU898 78983.4 - - - 11.7 0.11 23 0.468 0.23 13

LNU894 78283.7 - - - 12.4 0.04 29 - - -

LNU846 78439.4 - - - 12.5 0.03 31 0.468 0.23 13

LNU815 77494.1 - - - 12.7 0.02 33 - - -

LNU811 78179.1 - - - 11.8 0.10 24 - - -

LNU756 77581.3 - - - 11.0 0.27 15 - - -

LNU751 77477.4 0.941 0.11 18 - - - - - -

LNU751 77478.3 - - - 11.1 0.23 16 - - -

CONT. - 0.800 - - 9.56 - - 0.415 - -

LNU965 78360.5 - - - 13.7 0.11 20 0.534 0.16 10

LNU943 78407.2 - - - 13.4 0.16 17 - - -

LNU913 78593.1 - - - 14.0 0.07 23 - - -

CONT. - - - - 11.4 - - 0.487 - -

Table 125. "CONT." - Control; "Ave." Average; " Incr." = % increment; "p-val." p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant.

The genes listed in Tables 126-127 improved plant NUE when grown at standard nitrogen concentration levels. These genes produced larger plants with a larger photosynthetic area and increased biomass (fresh weight, dry weight, leaf number, rosette diameter, rosette area and plot coverage) when grown under standard nitrogen conditions as compared to control plants grown under identical growth conditions. Table 126

Genes showing improved plant biomass production at standard nitrogen growth conditions

Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg] Leaf Number

Gene

Event # P- % P- % P- % Name Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU966 78605.5 - - - - - - 12.1 0.07 5

LNU941 78611.1 - - - 3018.8 0.07 1 - - -

LNU941 78613.1 - - - 2987.5 0.15 5 11.9 0.30 2

LNU941 78614.2 - - - 3137.5 L 11 - - -

LNU941 78615.3 - - - - - - 13.1 L 13

LNU925 78991.7 - - - - - - 12.6 0.03 8

LNU925 78992.1 230.6 0.28 4 3031.2 0.21 7 12.2 0.28 6

LNU925 78992.6 - - - 2957.1 0.17 4 - - -

LNU922 78290.1 - - - 2943.8 0.27 4 12.9 0.11 11

LNU918 78433.3 238.6 0.23 8 - - - - - -

LNU918 78433.8 - - - 3156.2 0.06 11 - - -

LNU918 78434.2 - - - - - - 12.5 0.19 8

LNU915 78426.1 236.2 0.25 7 - - - 12.4 0.04 7

LNU915 78428.1 242.5 0.30 10 3131.2 0.13 11 12.3 0.06 6

LNU915 78428.2 - - - - - - 12.1 0.05 5

LNU909 78424.3 236.2 0.16 7 - - - 12.9 L 12

LNU909 78425.4 - - - - - - 12.6 L 9

LNU909 78425.7 - - - - - - 12.4 L 7

LNU890 78202.1 - - - - - - 12.3 0.01 6

LNU854 78238.1 - - - - - - 12.0 0.15 4

LNU849 78498.4 - - - - - - 12.4 0.10 7

LNU849 78499.1 - - - 2981.2 0.27 5 - - -

LNU849 78500.3 234.4 0.16 6 - - - - - -

LNU830 78741.3 - - - - - - 12.0 0.11 4

LNU830 78741.5 - - - - - - 12.1 0.07 5

LNU824 77826.1 235.6 0.11 6 - - - 12.6 0.16 9

LNU822 78623.2 - - - 2943.8 0.22 4 12.8 0.01 11

LNU822 78623.6 - - - 2937.5 0.25 4 11.9 0.30 2

LNU822 78625.2 - - - - - - 11.9 0.17 3

LNU822 78625.7 - - - - - - 12.1 0.05 5

LNU813 77682.3 - - - - - - 12.7 0.19 9

LNU806 78515.4 - - - - - - 12.9 L 12

LNU806 78515.5 - - - - - - 12.2 0.15 6

LNU802 80310.1 239.4 0.07 8 - - - - - -

LNU779 77887.2 - - - - - - 12.1 0.17 4

LNU779 77887.3 - - - - - - 12.6 0.12 8

LNU761 78159.1 - - - - - - 11.9 0.29 3

LNU761 78160.3 235.0 0.19 6 - - - 12.5 0.08 8 Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg] Leaf Number

Gene

Event # P- % P- % P- % Name Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

CONT. - 221.4 - - 2832.1 - - 11.6 - -

LNU976 78364.1 - - - - - - 9.75 0.11 5

LNU976 78364.2 - - - - - - 9.75 0.11 5

LNU976 78364.5 - - - - - - 9.69 0.22 5

LNU843 78962.4 - - - - - - 9.56 0.25 3

LNU790 78890.3 - - - - - - 9.81 0.28 6

CONT. - - - - - - - 9.27 - -

LNU966 78605.5 - - - - - - 11.9 0.02 8

LNU941 78613.1 403.2 0.03 14 5655.4 0.16 19 11.5 0.15 4

LNU941 78614.2 - - - 5047.3 0.24 6 12.1 0.04 10

LNU941 78615.3 377.9 0.24 7 - - - - - -

LNU915 78427.1 - - - 5133.3 0.12 8 - - -

LNU915 78428.1 373.8 0.27 5 5237.5 0.21 10 - - -

LNU915 78428.2 - - - 5231.2 0.17 10 - - -

LNU854 78238.1 - - - 5087.5 0.15 7 11.9 0.02 8

LNU849 78499.1 - - - - - - 11.4 0.17 4

LNU849 78500.1 - - - - - - 11.8 0.06 7

LNU830 78741.5 - - - - - - 12.3 L 12

LNU830 78742.6 - - - - - - 11.8 0.02 7

LNU813 77681.4 - - - - - - 11.5 0.15 4

LNU806 78514.2 - - - 5231.2 0.08 10 11.4 0.26 4

LNU806 78515.3 - - - - - - 11.5 0.27 4

LNU780 77489.4 - - - - - - 11.6 0.15 5

LNU751 77477.4 - - - - - - 11.4 0.23 3

LNU751 77480.1 - - - - - - 11.6 0.18 5

CONT. - 354.5 - - 4755.4 - - 11.0 - -

LNU948 78376.3 240.0 L 32 2737.5 L 49 - - -

LNU948 78378.1 226.2 0.03 24 2212.5 0.13 20 11.8 0.05 5

LNU921 79063.2 - - - - - - 12.1 L 8

LNU921 79064.2 257.5 0.02 41 2868.8 L 56 - - -

LNU921 79064.3 286.2 L 57 3000.0 L 63 11.8 0.23 6

LNU912 78402.3 231.9 0.04 27 2581.2 0.04 40 - - -

LNU912 78405.2 - - - - - - 12.3 0.19 10

LNU889 79599.1 237.5 0.07 30 2681.2 0.04 46 12.1 0.18 8

LNU889 79602.4 - - - - - - 11.9 0.30 7

LNU881 78373.1 231.2 0.02 27 2643.8 L 44 - - -

LNU881 78373.2 259.4 0.06 42 3143.8 0.03 71 11.9 0.13 6

LNU881 78374.1 - - - - - - 12.0 0.01 7

LNU865 79761.2 267.5 L 47 3018.8 L 64 12.0 0.10 7

LNU865 79761.4 227.5 0.06 25 2618.8 0.17 42 12.0 L 7

LNU865 79761.7 281.2 L 54 3112.5 L 69 - - - Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg] Leaf Number

Gene

Event # P- % P- % P- % Name Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU857 78868.2 - - - - - - 11.6 0.12 3

LNU831 79331.2 - - - - - - 11.7 0.14 5

LNU831 79333.1 265.0 0.04 45 3087.5 L 68 - - -

LNU831 79333.2 258.5 L 42 2945.8 L 60 - - -

LNU816 78957.1 242.5 L 33 2956.2 L 61 - - -

LNU816 78958.5 - - - - - - 11.9 0.03 6

LNU816 78958.7 - - - - - - 11.9 0.13 6

LNU809 79168.5 229.4 0.23 26 2550.0 0.02 38 - - -

LNU807 79248.1 - - - - - - 11.9 0.18 7

LNU807 79250.1 - - - - - - 11.6 0.12 3

LNU795 79521.6 - - - - - - 11.4 0.27 2

LNU795 79525.1 203.1 0.21 11 - - - - - -

LNU795 79525.4 265.6 L 46 2950.0 L 60 - - -

LNU788 78516.1 225.6 0.03 24 2437.5 0.03 32 - - -

LNU788 78517.1 - - - - - - 12.4 0.08 11

LNU788 78517.2 - - - - - - 11.9 0.03 6

LNU788 78518.1 238.8 0.17 31 2331.2 0.07 27 12.4 0.04 11

LNU788 78520.4 - - - - - - 11.9 0.01 7

LNU783 79178.4 - - - - - - 11.8 0.23 6

LNU778 78944.1 - - - - - - 11.8 0.02 6

LNU778 78944.2 - - - - - - 11.8 0.05 5

LNU762 79328.3 - - - - - - 12.2 0.11 9

LNU762 79329.2 - - - - - - 11.8 0.02 6

LNU752 78153.1 264.4 L 45 3043.8 L 65 12.1 L 8

LNU752 78155.2 - - - - - - 12.0 0.10 7

CONT. - 182.3 - - 1841.3 - - 11.2 - -

LNU977 77991.4 - - - 4112.5 0.14 10 - - -

LNU977 78033.1 365.0 0.24 19 4481.2 0.24 20 - - -

LNU880 78196.1 342.5 0.02 12 4043.8 0.02 9 - - -

LNU880 78197.4 - - - 3981.2 0.03 7 - - -

LNU871 78191.1 319.4 0.24 5 - - - - - -

LNU871 78191.3 326.2 0.20 7 4243.8 L 14 - - -

LNU848 77906.2 - - - 4100.0 0.29 10 - - -

LNU848 77909.2 - - - 3987.5 0.08 7 - - -

LNU848 77909.5 - - - 4031.2 0.09 8 - - -

LNU846 78438.1 322.1 0.18 5 - - - - - -

LNU845 78920.1 - - - 4000.0 0.02 7 - - -

LNU828 77600.4 331.9 0.23 9 4100.0 0.07 10 - - -

LNU823 78122.2 321.2 0.19 5 3918.8 0.10 5 - - -

LNU823 78136.1 327.5 0.28 7 - - - - - -

LNU823 78136.4 320.8 0.30 5 - - - - - - Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg] Leaf Number

Gene

Event # P- % P- % P- % Name Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU823 78137.3 - - - - - - 12.3 0.11 6

LNU772 78937.4 - - - - - - 11.9 0.03 3

LNU772 78938.1 331.9 0.06 9 - - - 12.8 0.01 10

LNU757 77481.1 - - - 4098.2 0.13 10 - - -

LNU757 77485.2 335.6 0.19 10 4081.2 0.28 10 - - -

LNU757 77485.4 338.1 0.02 11 4250.0 0.08 14 - - -

LNU750 78863.2 - - - - - - 11.9 0.23 2

CONT. - 305.5 - - 3722.0 - - 11.6 - -

LNU972 78907.1 386.2 0.29 7 5068.8 0.04 10 11.9 0.02 6

LNU972 78909.3 - - - - - - 12.5 0.29 11

LNU961 79143.3 - - - - - - 11.6 0.24 2

LNU961 79145.3 396.9 0.24 9 5556.2 L 20 - - -

LNU961 79145.8 - - - 5037.5 0.05 9 - - -

LNU958 77687.2 - - - - - - 12.4 L 9

LNU958 77687.5 - - - - - - 12.5 0.05 11

LNU958 77689.1 - - - - - - 12.0 0.02 6

LNU958 77689.2 - - - 5093.8 0.04 10 - - -

LNU948 78379.4 - - - - - - 12.1 L 7

LNU948 78380.2 - - - 5275.0 0.16 14 12.3 L 9

LNU921 79063.2 - - - - - - 12.5 L 11

LNU921 79064.3 - - - - - - 11.9 0.05 5

LNU913 78592.1 - - - - - - 12.1 L 7

LNU913 78592.3 - - - - - - 12.4 0.16 9

LNU913 78592.4 - - - - - - 13.1 0.26 16

LNU913 78593.6 - - - - - - 13.1 L 16

LNU912 78403.2 - - - - - - 12.0 0.02 6

LNU912 78404.1 406.9 L 12 5300.0 0.07 15 - - -

LNU888 78772.7 - - - - - - 12.3 0.02 9

LNU881 78372.2 - - - 5393.8 0.19 17 - - -

LNU881 78373.1 406.2 L 12 5431.2 L 18 - - -

LNU881 78373.2 - - - - - - 12.6 0.08 11

LNU881 78374.1 398.0 L 10 5265.2 L 14 12.4 0.06 9

LNU881 78374.4 - - - 5157.1 0.03 12 - - -

LNU823 78136.1 - - - 5000.0 0.06 8 - - -

LNU823 78136.4 391.2 0.03 8 5093.8 0.03 10 - - -

LNU823 78137.3 390.3 0.24 8 5273.2 0.01 14 - - -

LNU816 78957.1 - - - 5250.0 0.12 14 12.1 0.18 7

LNU816 78958.7 - - - - - - 12.7 0.28 12

LNU809 79168.3 - - - - - - 11.9 0.24 6

LNU782 77441.1 - - - - - - 12.2 0.04 8

LNU782 77443.3 - - - 4943.8 0.12 7 - - - Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg] Leaf Number

Gene

Event # P- % P- % P- % Name Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU782 77444.9 - - - - - - 12.6 0.20 12

LNU772 78937.4 - - - 4962.5 0.08 8 - - -

LNU772 78938.1 387.5 0.16 1 - - - 12.4 L 9

LNU772 78940.2 - - - - - - 12.6 0.04 12

LNU762 79330.3 - - - 5019.6 0.22 9 - - -

LNU757 77481.1 - - - - - - 12.5 0.05 11

LNU757 77483.2 - - - - - - 11.8 0.14 5

LNU757 77485.2 - - - 4937.5 0.13 7 - - -

LNU757 77485.4 - - - - - - 12.2 0.04 8

CONT. - 362.5 - - 4614.3 - - 11.3 - -

LNU933 78900.5 - - - 2568.8 0.23 6 - - -

LNU907 78872.3 - - - 2850.0 0.08 17 - - -

LNU907 78872.8 - - - 2662.5 0.04 9 - - -

LNU882 78973.4 - - - - - - 13.8 0.11 8

LNU871 78195.4 286.2 0.13 13 2625.0 0.21 8 - - -

LNU865 79761.2 271.9 0.25 7 - - - - - -

LNU857 78867.2 - - - 2622.3 0.08 8 - - -

LNU848 77909.3 - - - - - - 13.2 0.08 4

LNU847 78967.4 - - - 2687.5 0.30 10 - - -

LNU835 78186.6 - - - 2731.2 0.29 12 - - -

LNU835 78187.2 - - - 2706.2 0.12 11 - - -

LNU835 78189.1 - - - 2637.5 0.06 8 - - -

LNU828 77600.4 - - - 2718.8 0.05 12 - - -

LNU807 79250.1 - - - - - - 13.3 0.12 4

LNU798 79671.4 - - - - - - 13.1 0.20 2

LNU795 79521.3 295.6 0.03 17 2650.0 0.05 9 - - -

LNU795 79525.4 - - - 2556.2 0.24 5 - - -

LNU766 78931.2 - - - - - - 13.1 0.20 2

LNU766 78932.1 291.9 0.03 15 2937.5 L 21 13.3 0.03 4

LNU752 78153.1 - - - 2662.5 0.04 9 - - -

LNU750 78863.3 - - - 2650.0 0.13 9 - - -

CONT. - 253.4 - - 2433.9 - - 12.8 - -

LNU976 78364.1 - - - 3637.5 0.27 11 - - -

LNU976 78364.2 - - - - - - 12.2 0.14 3

LNU970 78389.8 276.2 0.11 12 3700.0 L 13 - - -

LNU968 77917.3 - - - 3470.5 0.12 6 - - -

LNU967 79001.1 - - - 3493.8 0.14 7 - - -

LNU967 79002.4 258.1 0.07 5 3511.6 0.24 8 - - -

LNU963 78383.4 255.0 0.22 4 3668.8 L 12 - - -

LNU963 78384.2 268.8 0.02 9 3493.8 0.11 7 - - -

LNU950 78915.2 263.1 0.06 7 3581.2 0.06 10 - - - Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg] Leaf Number

Gene

Event # P- % P- % P- % Name Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU934 79007.5 - - - - - - 12.2 0.09 3

LNU908 79734.4 - - - 3443.8 0.14 6 12.1 0.29 2

LNU908 79736.2 - - - 3525.0 0.18 8 - - -

LNU908 79736.4 258.1 0.21 5 - - - - - -

LNU902 79604.2 256.2 0.24 4 3600.0 0.11 10 - - -

LNU902 79604.4 - - - - - - 12.5 0.03 5

LNU902 79606.1 - - - 3518.8 0.05 8 - - -

LNU885 78416.1 - - - 3481.2 0.08 7 - - -

LNU885 78416.5 - - - 3437.5 0.14 5 - - -

LNU885 78419.3 261.9 0.04 6 3475.0 0.15 7 - - -

LNU885 78420.1 265.6 0.01 8 3718.8 L 14 - - -

LNU879 77799.2 - - - 3481.2 0.08 7 - - -

LNU879 77799.3 259.4 0.24 5 - - - - - -

LNU875 78413.4 - - - - - - 12.4 0.07 4

LNU875 78415.1 - - - 3562.5 0.24 9 - - -

LNU858 79584.2 - - - 3625.0 0.15 11 - - -

LNU858 79585.1 263.3 0.02 7 3747.3 0.05 15 - - -

LNU858 79586.3 275.0 0.28 12 - - - 12.4 0.22 4

LNU790 78889.2 - - - - - - 12.5 0.16 5

LNU790 78890.1 268.1 0.11 9 3662.5 0.08 12 - - -

LNU790 78890.3 - - - 3400.0 0.25 4 12.6 0.07 6

LNU767 79146.1 - - - - - - 12.3 0.06 4

LNU767 79146.2 263.1 0.02 7 3506.2 0.08 7 12.3 0.18 4

CONT. - 246.0 - - 3262.5 - - 11.9 - -

LNU947 77446.1 318.8 0.02 8 3731.2 0.11 5 - - -

LNU947 77447.3 318.1 0.02 8 3737.5 0.03 5 12.5 0.07 4

LNU940 77812.4 - - - 3737.5 0.03 5 - - -

LNU900 78851.3 317.5 0.11 8 3800.0 0.03 7 - - -

LNU900 78852.5 - - - 3678.6 0.11 3 - - -

LNU900 78854.3 314.4 0.09 7 - - - - - -

LNU898 78981.3 322.1 0.01 9 3873.2 0.11 9 12.4 0.14 3

LNU898 78983.4 325.6 0.01 10 3843.8 L 8 12.4 0.05 3

LNU898 78985.1 308.1 0.14 5 3750.0 0.07 5 - - -

LNU898 78985.4 - - - 3656.2 0.18 3 - - -

LNU894 78282.3 - - - 3750.0 0.07 5 12.6 0.20 5

LNU894 78283.4 316.2 0.13 7 3718.8 0.18 5 - - -

LNU894 78283.7 322.5 0.10 9 3775.0 0.16 6 12.8 L 6

LNU846 78436.2 323.8 L 10 3825.0 0.02 8 - - -

LNU820 77807.2 325.0 0.19 10 3737.5 0.05 5 - - -

LNU815 77492.2 - - - 3712.5 0.06 4 - - -

LNU815 77492.6 315.6 0.24 7 3818.8 0.10 7 12.5 0.07 4 Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg] Leaf Number

Gene

Event # P- % P- % P- % Name Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU815 77494.1 - - - - - - 13.1 0.14 9

LNU815 77495.3 - - - - - - 12.5 0.02 4

LNU814 78953.2 - - - - - - 12.7 0.09 5

LNU814 78953.3 311.9 0.13 6 - - - - - -

LNU814 78955.4 - - - - - - 12.6 0.14 4

LNU811 78176.1 - - - 3775.0 0.02 6 - - -

LNU811 78176.8 - - - - - - 12.4 0.05 3

LNU797 78025.2 - - - 3916.1 L 10 - - -

LNU797 78025.3 - - - 3812.5 0.05 7 - - -

LNU793 78166.4 303.8 0.29 3 - - - - - -

LNU793 78167.2 - - - - - - 12.4 0.14 3

LNU793 78169.1 - - - - - - 12.5 0.27 4

LNU780 77489.4 - - - 3689.6 0.28 4 - - -

LNU776 79747.1 - - - 3834.5 0.28 8 - - -

LNU769 78163.8 308.1 0.27 5 - - - - - -

LNU769 78165.2 327.5 0.13 11 3681.2 0.13 4 - - -

LNU759 77236.2 - - - 3632.1 0.30 2 - - -

LNU759 77236.8 312.5 0.06 6 3825.0 0.08 8 - - -

LNU751 77477.1 - - - 3806.2 L 7 - - -

LNU751 77478.3 308.1 0.14 5 - - - - - -

CONT. - 294.8 - - 3555.4 - - 12.0 - -

LNU972 78907.1 - - - 4868.8 0.04 12 - - -

LNU943 78407.1 - - - - - - 12.4 0.13 3

LNU943 78407.2 - - - - - - 12.2 0.29 2

LNU913 78592.1 - - - - - - 12.4 0.03 3

LNU913 78592.4 432.5 0.25 17 4681.2 0.21 8 - - -

LNU864 79339.2 - - - 4718.8 0.12 9 - - -

LNU850 78638.7 - - - 4837.5 0.05 11 - - -

LNU768 77883.4 - - - 4587.5 0.30 6 - - -

CONT. - 368.8 - - 4341.1 - - 12.0 - -

Table 126. "CONT." - Control; "Ave." - Average; " Incr." = % increment; "p-val." p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant.

Table 127

Genes showing improved plant biomass production at standard nitrogen growth conditions

Rosette Diameter

Plot Coverage [cm ² ] Rosette Area [cm ² ]

Gene [cm]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU966 78604.1 87.4 0.28 11 10.9 0.28 11 5.52 0.28 1 Rosette Diameter

Plot Coverage [cm ² ] Rosette Area [cm ² ]

Gene [cm]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU966 78605.5 87.3 0.17 11 10.9 0.17 11 - - -

LNU941 78615.3 87.8 0.29 12 11.0 0.29 12 - - -

LNU918 78434.2 - - - - - - 5.48 0.19 6

LNU915 78426.1 91.7 0.26 17 11.5 0.26 17 5.74 0.21 11

LNU915 78428.1 94.7 0.03 20 11.8 0.03 20 5.69 0.06 10

LNU909 78424.3 96.2 0.24 22 12.0 0.24 22 5.78 0.11 12

LNU830 78741.5 - - - - - - 5.51 0.24 7

LNU824 77826.1 87.0 0.18 11 10.9 0.18 11 - - -

LNU822 78623.7 91.8 0.28 17 11.5 0.28 17 5.61 0.29 8

LNU806 78515.4 86.7 0.19 10 10.8 0.19 10 5.49 0.17 6

LNU806 78515.5 100.9 0.19 28 12.6 0.19 28 5.96 0.27 15

CONT. - 78.6 - - 9.83 - - 5.17 - -

LNU976 78364.1 42.6 L 44 5.33 L 44 4.05 L 24

LNU976 78364.5 35.5 0.01 20 4.44 0.01 20 3.64 0.02 11

LNU970 78388.1 35.7 0.02 21 4.46 0.02 21 3.70 0.15 13

LNU970 78389.2 - - - - - - 3.39 0.16 3

LNU970 78389.8 36.1 0.18 22 4.81 L 30 3.80 L 16

LNU970 78390.3 - - - - - - 3.41 0.10 4

LNU968 77918.3 33.3 0.15 13 4.17 0.15 13 3.46 0.26 6

LNU968 77919.4 35.9 L 21 4.49 L 21 3.64 L 11

LNU963 78383.4 32.2 0.07 9 4.03 0.07 9 3.43 0.18 5

LNU963 78385.1 34.1 0.20 15 4.26 0.20 15 3.53 0.21 8

LNU950 78913.4 - - - - - - 3.46 0.29 6

LNU949 80557.4 33.2 0.15 12 4.15 0.15 12 3.51 0.23 7

LNU934 79007.5 32.9 0.10 11 4.11 0.10 11 - - -

LNU934 79008.1 32.7 0.22 10 4.09 0.22 10 3.48 0.20 6

LNU902 79606.5 - - - - - - 3.77 0.26 15

LNU843 78962.4 33.8 0.24 14 4.23 0.24 14 - - -

LNU790 78886.3 31.7 0.19 7 3.96 0.19 7 3.39 0.16 4

LNU790 78890.1 35.0 L 18 4.38 L 18 3.62 L 10

LNU787 80547.3 31.4 0.21 6 3.92 0.21 6 3.43 0.07 5

LNU785 79616.8 35.5 0.01 20 4.43 0.01 20 3.49 0.02 7

LNU767 79146.1 35.0 0.27 18 4.38 0.27 18 - - -

LNU767 79146.2 33.5 0.03 13 4.18 0.03 13 3.49 0.02 7

CONT. - 29.6 - - 3.70 - - 3.27 - -

LNU941 78613.1 105.6 0.15 14 13.2 0.15 13 6.16 0.13 7

LNU915 78428.1 - - - - - - 6.18 0.26 7

LNU909 78425.4 - - - - - - 6.08 0.25 6

LNU830 78741.3 123.8 0.21 34 16.5 0.01 41 6.88 L 19

LNU830 78741.5 127.1 L 38 15.9 L 36 6.74 0.01 17 Rosette Diameter

Plot Coverage [cm ² ] Rosette Area [cm ² ]

Gene [cm]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU830 78742.6 103.8 0.23 12 13.0 0.25 11 6.03 0.29 5

LNU813 77681.4 115.6 0.16 25 14.4 0.18 24 6.63 0.03 15

CONT. - 92.4 - - 11.7 - - 5.76 - -

LNU948 78376.3 94.8 0.03 23 11.9 0.03 23 5.98 0.17 11

LNU948 78378.1 103.6 0.11 34 13.0 0.11 34 6.04 0.15 12

LNU921 79063.2 93.0 0.02 20 11.6 0.02 20 5.65 0.14 5

LNU921 79064.2 97.5 L 26 12.2 L 26 6.27 L 16

LNU921 79064.3 109.9 L 42 13.7 L 42 6.10 L 13

LNU889 79599.1 91.9 0.01 19 11.5 0.01 19 5.75 0.05 7

LNU889 79602.4 86.1 0.08 11 10.8 0.08 11 5.58 0.29 3

LNU888 78771.1 84.6 0.27 9 10.6 0.27 9 - - -

LNU881 78372.2 94.2 L 22 11.8 L 22 5.94 L 10

LNU881 78373.1 95.7 0.03 24 12.0 0.03 24 5.81 0.04 8

LNU881 78373.2 108.9 0.08 41 13.6 0.08 41 6.31 0.14 17

LNU881 78374.1 95.8 0.03 24 12.0 0.03 24 5.93 0.01 10

LNU865 79761.2 129.8 L 68 16.2 L 68 6.89 L 28

LNU865 79761.4 111.1 L 44 13.9 L 44 6.58 0.03 22

LNU865 79761.7 95.8 0.23 24 12.0 0.23 24 5.92 0.12 10

LNU831 79333.1 93.5 0.11 21 11.7 0.11 21 5.88 0.12 9

LNU816 78957.1 101.1 0.27 31 12.6 0.27 31 6.04 0.02 12

LNU816 78958.5 100.6 0.09 30 12.6 0.09 30 5.99 0.03 11

LNU816 78958.7 95.0 L 23 11.9 L 23 5.82 0.02 8

LNU809 79168.3 84.4 0.14 9 10.5 0.14 9 5.72 0.07 6

LNU809 79169.5 87.1 0.20 13 10.9 0.20 13 5.67 0.14 5

LNU795 79525.1 92.3 0.07 19 11.5 0.07 19 5.85 0.02 8

LNU795 79525.4 92.7 0.20 20 11.6 0.20 20 - - -

LNU795 79525.5 - - - - - - 5.61 0.17 4

LNU788 78516.1 110.6 0.06 43 13.8 0.06 43 6.25 L 16

LNU788 78517.1 97.7 L 26 12.2 L 26 5.88 0.01 9

LNU788 78518.1 125.2 0.06 62 15.6 0.06 62 6.62 L 23

LNU783 79178.2 85.4 0.15 10 10.7 0.15 10 5.58 0.24 3

LNU783 79178.4 84.9 0.22 10 10.6 0.22 10 5.95 0.02 10

LNU778 78944.1 109.0 0.16 41 13.6 0.16 41 6.16 0.18 14

LNU778 78944.2 87.1 0.06 13 10.9 0.06 13 5.61 0.22 4

LNU762 79328.3 86.0 0.15 11 10.7 0.15 11 - - -

LNU762 79330.3 82.6 0.26 7 10.3 0.26 7 - - -

LNU752 78153.1 - - - - - - 6.16 0.22 14

LNU752 78155.2 84.2 0.23 9 10.5 0.23 9 5.69 0.11 5

CONT. - 77.4 - - 9.67 - - 5.40 - -

LNU882 78973.4 105.5 0.10 7 13.2 0.10 7 6.07 0.11 4 Rosette Diameter

Plot Coverage [cm ² ] Rosette Area [cm ² ]

Gene [cm]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU848 77906.2 112.2 0.07 13 14.0 0.07 13 6.37 L 9

LNU846 78439.4 120.8 0.20 22 15.1 0.20 22 6.53 L 12

LNU823 78122.2 - - - - - - 6.04 0.19 3

LNU823 78137.3 109.4 0.19 10 13.7 0.19 10 - - -

LNU814 78955.4 - - - - - - 5.99 0.28 2

LNU772 78938.1 122.1 L 23 15.3 L 23 6.48 0.11 11

LNU757 77485.4 103.0 0.28 4 12.9 0.28 4 - - -

CONT. - 99.0 - - 12.4 - - 5.84 - -

LNU972 78907.1 77.6 0.27 10 9.69 0.27 10 - - -

LNU972 78909.3 87.4 L 23 10.9 L 23 5.90 0.09 13

LNU961 79143.4 - - - - - - 5.57 0.20 7

LNU961 79145.3 80.9 0.10 14 10.1 0.10 14 5.50 0.20 5

LNU958 77687.2 86.2 0.08 22 10.8 0.08 22 - - -

LNU958 77687.5 88.0 0.05 24 11.0 0.05 24 6.04 0.05 16

LNU958 77689.1 81.8 L 16 10.2 L 16 5.53 0.02 6

LNU948 78378.1 84.7 0.28 20 10.6 0.28 20 5.76 0.24 10

LNU948 78379.4 75.6 0.14 7 9.45 0.14 7 - - -

LNU948 78380.2 81.3 0.25 15 10.2 0.25 15 5.54 0.16 6

LNU921 79063.2 83.6 0.19 18 10.4 0.19 18 - - -

LNU921 79064.3 83.6 L 18 10.5 L 18 5.65 0.02 8

LNU913 78592.1 90.3 0.03 28 11.3 0.03 28 5.91 L 13

LNU913 78592.3 83.4 0.03 18 10.4 0.03 18 5.58 0.15 7

LNU913 78592.4 90.8 L 28 11.4 L 28 5.79 0.03 11

LNU913 78593.1 85.4 L 21 10.7 L 21 5.68 L 9

LNU913 78593.6 95.2 L 35 11.9 L 35 5.88 L 13

LNU912 78403.2 81.4 L 15 10.2 L 15 5.70 L 9

LNU912 78404.1 80.8 0.17 14 10.1 0.17 14 - - -

LNU889 79599.1 74.2 0.29 5 9.28 0.29 5 - - -

LNU889 79601.4 75.9 0.16 7 9.49 0.16 7 5.46 0.14 5

LNU889 79602.4 74.8 0.21 6 9.35 0.21 6 5.43 0.14 4

LNU881 78372.2 86.7 0.08 22 10.8 0.08 22 5.84 L 12

LNU881 78373.2 92.0 L 30 11.5 L 30 5.81 L 11

LNU881 78374.1 79.5 0.14 12 9.94 0.14 12 - - -

LNU823 78136.4 80.5 0.01 14 10.1 0.01 14 5.50 0.03 5

LNU816 78957.1 86.7 0.03 22 10.8 0.03 22 5.78 0.11 11

LNU816 78958.7 96.7 L 37 12.1 L 37 6.13 L 17

LNU809 79168.3 80.8 0.14 14 10.1 0.14 14 5.48 0.12 5

LNU809 79169.2 80.4 0.01 14 10.1 0.01 14 5.48 0.04 5

LNU782 77441.1 87.6 0.04 24 10.9 0.04 24 5.72 0.02 10

LNU782 77444.2 76.2 0.26 8 9.53 0.26 8 - - - Rosette Diameter

Plot Coverage [cm ² ] Rosette Area [cm ² ]

Gene [cm]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU782 77444.9 87.9 0.19 24 11.0 0.19 24 5.66 0.07 8

LNU772 78937.4 75.5 0.14 7 9.44 0.14 7 - - -

LNU772 78938.1 99.5 L 41 12.4 L 41 6.35 0.03 22

LNU772 78940.2 85.8 L 21 10.7 L 21 5.86 L 12

LNU762 79329.2 75.6 0.24 7 9.45 0.24 7 - - -

CONT. - 70.8 - - 8.85 - - 5.22 - -

LNU882 78973.1 89.3 L 19 11.2 L 19 5.94 0.20 12

LNU882 78973.4 92.0 0.02 23 11.5 0.02 23 5.91 L 11

LNU871 78195.4 78.1 0.18 4 9.77 0.18 4 5.45 0.24 3

LNU865 79761.2 83.8 0.11 12 10.5 0.11 12 5.69 0.06 7

LNU865 79761.7 87.1 0.23 16 10.9 0.23 16 5.89 0.21 11

LNU857 78867.1 84.7 0.17 13 10.6 0.17 13 5.79 0.20 9

LNU835 78186.2 84.2 L 12 10.5 L 12 5.78 0.02 9

LNU807 79250.1 81.1 0.08 8 10.1 0.08 8 - - -

LNU798 79671.4 88.0 0.03 17 11.0 0.03 17 5.72 0.08 8

LNU795 79525.4 80.8 0.09 8 10.1 0.09 8 5.48 0.18 3

LNU766 78931.2 84.1 0.07 12 10.5 0.07 12 5.71 L 8

LNU766 78932.1 94.9 0.14 27 11.9 0.14 27 5.91 0.06 11

CONT. - 74.9 - - 9.36 - - 5.30 - -

LNU976 78362.2 - - - - - - 6.38 0.08 6

LNU976 78364.2 116.5 0.10 14 14.6 0.08 12 6.57 0.02 10

LNU970 78389.8 140.6 L 38 17.6 L 36 6.84 L 14

LNU970 78390.3 119.1 0.06 16 14.9 0.05 15 6.53 0.11 9

LNU963 78383.1 - - - - - - 6.31 0.12 5

LNU963 78383.3 - - - - - - 6.28 0.22 5

LNU963 78384.2 119.9 0.05 17 15.0 0.03 16 6.38 0.07 6

LNU934 79007.5 127.0 0.17 24 15.9 0.19 23 - - -

LNU902 79606.1 110.6 0.29 8 13.8 0.30 7 6.32 0.11 5

LNU885 78416.1 110.6 0.28 8 13.8 0.28 7 6.28 0.16 5

LNU885 78419.3 111.5 0.24 9 13.9 0.24 8 6.42 0.24 7

LNU879 77799.2 - - - - - - 6.25 0.29 4

LNU858 79586.3 113.6 0.22 11 14.2 0.24 10 6.41 0.06 7

LNU858 79587.2 - - - - - - 6.29 0.16 5

LNU790 78890.1 119.7 0.08 17 15.0 0.08 16 6.50 0.14 8

CONT. - 102.2 - - 12.9 - - 5.99 - -

LNU947 77446.1 89.3 0.29 7 11.2 0.29 7 - - -

LNU947 77447.3 96.7 0.01 16 12.1 0.01 16 5.74 0.16 6

LNU947 77448.4 125.6 L 50 15.7 L 50 6.93 0.09 28

LNU940 77812.4 95.1 0.04 14 11.9 0.04 14 5.79 0.05 7

LNU940 77813.1 106.9 L 28 13.4 L 28 6.02 L 11 Rosette Diameter

Plot Coverage [cm ² ] Rosette Area [cm ² ]

Gene [cm]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU900 78851.3 101.5 0.03 21 12.7 0.03 21 5.85 0.07 8

LNU900 78854.3 95.3 0.05 14 11.9 0.05 14 6.01 0.07 11

LNU898 78983.4 104.6 L 25 13.1 L 25 6.00 0.02 11

LNU898 78985.1 97.5 0.30 16 12.2 0.30 16 - - -

LNU898 78985.4 92.5 0.09 10 11.6 0.09 10 5.65 0.18 4

LNU894 78283.7 106.3 0.28 27 13.3 0.28 27 - - -

LNU846 78439.4 114.8 0.19 37 14.4 0.19 37 6.41 0.17 18

LNU820 77807.2 100.2 L 20 12.5 L 20 6.00 L 11

LNU815 77494.1 113.0 L 35 14.1 L 35 6.26 L 15

LNU815 77495.3 91.5 0.07 9 11.4 0.07 9 5.77 0.13 6

LNU814 78953.2 100.2 0.12 20 12.5 0.12 20 5.94 0.19 10

LNU814 78953.3 97.3 0.23 16 12.2 0.23 16 5.79 0.22 7

LNU811 78176.3 - - - - - - 5.66 0.18 4

LNU811 78176.8 95.2 0.21 14 11.9 0.21 14 - - -

LNU811 78179.1 119.1 0.09 42 14.9 0.09 42 6.49 0.17 20

LNU797 78021.4 - - - - - - 5.70 0.10 5

LNU797 78025.3 100.3 0.15 20 12.5 0.15 20 5.96 0.08 10

LNU793 78166.4 - - - - - - 5.96 0.27 10

LNU793 78168.1 97.7 0.02 17 12.2 0.02 17 5.88 0.08 8

LNU793 78169.2 97.8 0.04 17 12.2 0.04 17 5.80 0.07 7

LNU769 78163.8 - - - - - - 5.78 0.08 6

LNU756 77581.3 98.6 0.26 18 12.3 0.26 18 5.89 0.20 9

LNU751 77478.3 95.4 0.02 14 11.9 0.02 14 - - -

CONT. - 83.7 - - 10.5 - - 5.43 - -

LNU972 78909.3 122.2 0.04 11 15.3 0.04 11 - - -

LNU943 78407.2 123.5 0.23 12 15.4 0.23 12 - - -

LNU913 78592.1 121.9 0.05 11 15.2 0.05 11 6.47 0.10 4

LNU913 78593.1 134.7 0.15 22 16.8 0.15 22 6.91 L 11

LNU864 79339.2 118.0 0.13 7 14.7 0.13 7 - - -

LNU833 78184.1 117.7 0.11 7 14.7 0.11 7 6.52 0.18 5

LNU764 78926.1 116.1 0.16 5 14.5 0.16 5 - - -

LNU764 78929.1 118.2 0.07 7 14.8 0.07 7 - - -

CONT. - 110.3 - - 13.8 - - 6.21 - -

Table 127: "CONT." - Control; " Ave." - Average; " Incr." = % increment; "p-val." p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant.

The genes listed in Table 128 improved plant NUE when grown at standard nitrogen concentration levels. These genes produced faster developing plants when grown under limiting nitrogen growth conditions, compared to control plants, grown under identical growth conditions, as measured by growth rate of leaf number, rosette diameter and plot coverage.

Table 128

Genes showing improved rosette growth performance at standard nitrogen growth conditions

RGR Of Leaf RGR Of Plot RGR Of Rosette

Gene Number Coverage [cm ² /day] Diameter [cm/day]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU941 78613.5 0.870 0.22 18 - - - - - -

LNU941 78615.3 0.902 0.14 23 - - - - - -

LNU922 78290.1 0.916 0.11 25 - - - - - -

LNU918 78433.8 0.889 0.16 21 - - - - - -

LNU918 78434.2 0.864 0.27 18 - - - - - -

LNU915 78426.1 - - - 11.0 0.28 18 0.454 0.29 16

LNU915 78428.1 - - - 11.4 0.19 22 - - -

LNU915 78428.2 0.871 0.20 19 - - - - - -

LNU909 78424.3 0.919 0.09 25 11.4 0.19 23 0.463 0.23 18

LNU909 78425.4 0.881 0.19 20 - - - - - -

LNU849 78498.4 0.880 0.19 20 - - - - - -

LNU830 78741.3 0.859 0.25 17 - - - - - -

LNU830 78741.5 0.851 0.29 16 - - - - - -

LNU822 78623.2 0.859 0.28 17 - - - - - -

LNU813 77682.3 0.862 0.27 17 - - - - - -

LNU806 78515.4 0.921 0.10 25 - - - - - -

LNU806 78515.5 - - - 12.0 0.09 30 0.460 0.27 18

LNU779 77887.3 0.887 0.16 21 - - - - - -

CONT. - 0.734 - - 9.29 - - 0.391 - -

LNU976 78364.1 - - - 5.11 L 43 0.312 0.02 22

LNU976 78364.5 - - - 4.32 0.07 21 0.297 0.07 17

LNU970 78388.1 - - - 4.32 0.07 21 - - -

LNU970 78389.8 - - - 4.21 0.12 18 0.293 0.10 15

LNU968 77918.3 - - - 4.01 0.28 13 - - -

LNU968 77919.4 - - - 4.37 0.06 23 - - -

LNU963 78385.1 - - - 4.07 0.22 14 - - -

LNU949 80553.8 - - - 4.22 0.12 19 0.286 0.20 12

LNU949 80557.4 - - - 4.05 0.24 14 0.282 0.25 11

LNU902 79606.5 - - - 4.36 0.09 23 0.288 0.21 13

LNU843 78962.4 - - - 4.08 0.20 15 - - -

LNU790 78890.1 - - - 4.16 0.14 17 0.284 0.22 11

LNU785 79616.8 - - - 4.26 0.09 20 - - -

LNU767 79146.1 - - - 4.20 0.14 18 - - - RGR Of Leaf RGR Of Plot RGR Of Rosette

Gene Number Coverage [cm ² /day] Diameter [cm/day]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU767 79146.2 - - - 4.01 0.27 13 - - -

CONT. - - - - 3.56 - - 0.255 - -

LNU918 78433.1 0.818 0.28 15 - - - - - -

LNU854 78238.1 0.816 0.30 15 - - - - - -

LNU849 78500.1 0.819 0.29 15 - - - - - -

LNU830 78741.3 - - - 15.4 0.09 35 0.615 0.12 24

LNU830 78741.5 - - - 15.3 0.11 34 - - -

LNU813 77681.4 - - - 14.3 0.21 25 - - -

LNU780 77489.4 - - - 14.3 0.23 25 - - -

CONT. - 0.712 - - 11.5 - - 0.497 - -

LNU948 78376.3 - - - 13.9 0.13 26 0.579 0.29 15

LNU948 78378.1 - - - 15.2 0.04 38 - - -

LNU948 78380.3 0.791 0.04 41 - - - - - -

LNU921 79061.1 0.796 0.05 42 - - - - - -

LNU921 79063.2 - - - 13.8 0.14 25 - - -

LNU921 79064.2 - - - 14.4 0.06 31 0.632 0.06 25

LNU921 79064.3 - - - 16.4 L 49 0.597 0.16 18

LNU921 79065.1 0.781 0.05 39 - - - - - -

LNU912 78401.4 - - - - - - 0.582 0.27 15

LNU912 78402.3 0.711 0.23 27 - - - - - -

LNU912 78405.2 0.905 0.01 61 - - - - - -

LNU889 79599.1 0.863 0.03 54 13.8 0.14 25 - - -

LNU889 79601.4 0.686 0.28 22 - - - - - -

LNU888 78771.1 0.699 0.25 25 - - - - - -

LNU881 78372.2 0.740 0.22 32 13.4 0.18 22 - - -

LNU881 78373.1 0.688 0.24 23 14.6 0.06 33 0.584 0.22 16

LNU881 78373.2 - - - 16.3 0.01 48 0.639 0.06 27

LNU881 78374.1 - - - 13.9 0.13 26 - - -

LNU881 78374.4 0.725 0.16 29 - - - - - -

LNU865 79759.4 0.829 0.03 48 - - - - - -

LNU865 79761.2 - - - 19.3 L 76 0.680 0.01 35

LNU865 79761.4 - - - 16.5 L 50 0.663 0.02 31

LNU865 79761.7 - - - 14.1 0.12 28 0.583 0.25 16

LNU857 78866.1 0.755 0.09 35 - - - - - -

LNU857 78867.1 0.789 0.08 41 - - - - - -

LNU857 78868.2 0.717 0.21 28 - - - - - -

LNU857 78870.1 0.704 0.25 25 - - - - - -

LNU831 79331.2 0.720 0.21 28 - - - - - -

LNU831 79331.5 0.704 0.24 25 - - - - - -

LNU831 79333.1 - - - 14.1 0.11 28 0.615 0.11 22 RGR Of Leaf RGR Of Plot RGR Of Rosette

Gene Number Coverage [cm ² /day] Diameter [cm/day]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU831 79333.2 - - - 13.4 0.25 21 - - -

LNU816 78957.1 - - - 15.2 0.05 38 0.603 0.15 20

LNU816 78958.2 0.692 0.25 23 - - - - - -

LNU816 78958.4 0.768 0.10 37 - - - - - -

LNU816 78958.5 - - - 14.8 0.05 35 0.576 0.28 14

LNU816 78958.7 - - - 13.7 0.14 25 - - -

LNU809 79167.2 0.762 0.08 36 - - - - - -

LNU809 79168.5 0.831 0.03 48 - - - - - -

LNU807 79248.1 0.773 0.10 38 - - - - - -

LNU807 79250.1 0.688 0.26 23 - - - - - -

LNU795 79521.6 0.766 0.07 37 - - - - - -

LNU795 79525.1 - - - 13.3 0.21 21 - - -

LNU795 79525.4 - - - 14.1 0.11 28 0.606 0.15 20

LNU788 78516.1 - - - 16.2 L 47 0.594 0.17 18

LNU788 78517.1 - - - 14.3 0.08 30 - - -

LNU788 78517.2 - - - 13.3 0.25 21 - - -

LNU788 78518.1 - - - 17.8 L 62 0.575 0.29 14

LNU788 78520.4 0.791 0.07 41 - - - - - -

LNU783 79178.2 0.720 0.19 28 - - - - - -

LNU783 79178.4 - - - - - - 0.587 0.21 16

LNU778 78944.1 - - - 16.3 0.01 48 0.593 0.21 18

LNU778 78944.2 0.719 0.23 28 - - - - - -

LNU762 79326.1 0.697 0.29 24 - - - - - -

LNU752 78151.2 0.686 0.26 22 - - - - - -

LNU752 78153.1 0.684 0.28 22 15.3 0.05 39 0.618 0.12 22

CONT. - 0.561 - - 11.0 - - 0.504 - -

LNU846 78439.4 - - - 15.1 0.13 22 - - -

LNU814 78955.5 0.958 0.09 17 - - - - - -

LNU772 78938.1 - - - 15.1 0.13 22 - - -

LNU757 77483.2 0.925 0.19 13 - - - - - -

CONT. - 0.818 - - 12.4 - - - - -

LNU972 78907.1 0.923 0.01 20 - - - - - -

LNU972 78909.3 - - - 10.4 0.06 23 0.484 0.08 16

LNU961 79143.3 0.835 0.26 8 - - - - - -

LNU961 79143.4 - - - - - - 0.458 0.28 10

LNU958 77687.2 - - - 10.2 0.09 21 - - -

LNU958 77687.5 - - - 10.5 0.05 24 0.491 0.06 17

LNU958 77689.1 - - - 9.75 0.21 15 - - -

LNU948 78378.1 - - - 9.85 0.21 17 0.469 0.19 12

LNU948 78380.2 - - - 9.66 0.26 14 - - - RGR Of Leaf RGR Of Plot RGR Of Rosette

Gene Number Coverage [cm ² /day] Diameter [cm/day]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU921 79063.2 - - - 10.0 0.15 18 - - -

LNU921 79064.3 - - - 9.89 0.17 17 - - -

LNU913 78592.1 - - - 10.8 0.04 27 0.471 0.16 13

LNU913 78592.3 0.874 0.09 13 10.1 0.12 19 - - -

LNU913 78592.4 0.887 0.14 15 10.8 0.03 27 0.462 0.24 10

LNU913 78593.1 - - - 10.2 0.09 21 - - -

LNU913 78593.6 0.923 0.04 20 11.2 0.01 33 0.460 0.25 10

LNU912 78403.2 0.846 0.22 10 9.68 0.24 15 0.471 0.17 13

LNU912 78404.1 - - - 9.60 0.27 14 - - -

LNU888 78772.1 0.847 0.26 10 - - - - - -

LNU888 78772.7 0.877 0.14 14 - - - - - -

LNU881 78372.2 - - - 10.1 0.12 20 0.467 0.19 12

LNU881 78373.2 0.856 0.21 11 11.0 0.02 31 0.466 0.19 11

LNU881 78374.1 0.890 0.08 16 - - - - - -

LNU823 78136.4 - - - 9.63 0.26 14 - - -

LNU816 78957.1 - - - 10.3 0.09 22 0.472 0.16 13

LNU816 78958.7 - - - 11.5 L 36 0.500 0.03 20

LNU809 79168.3 0.844 0.26 10 9.74 0.22 15 - - -

LNU809 79169.2 - - - 9.59 0.27 13 - - -

LNU782 77441.1 - - - 10.4 0.07 23 - - -

LNU782 77444.9 - - - 10.4 0.08 22 - - -

LNU772 78938.1 - - - 11.9 L 41 0.524 L 25

LNU772 78940.2 - - - 10.2 0.10 21 0.482 0.09 15

LNU757 77481.1 0.911 0.05 18 - - - - - -

LNU757 77483.3 0.841 0.29 9 - - - - - -

LNU757 77485.4 0.925 0.01 20 - - - - - -

CONT. - 0.770 - - 8.45 - - 0.418 - -

LNU882 78973.1 - - - 10.8 0.06 21 0.469 0.09 14

LNU882 78973.4 - - - 11.1 0.03 24 0.456 0.16 11

LNU865 79761.2 - - - 10.0 0.24 13 0.461 0.12 12

LNU865 79761.7 - - - 10.4 0.13 17 0.466 0.10 14

LNU857 78867.1 - - - 10.3 0.17 15 0.459 0.15 12

LNU848 77909.3 - - - 10.2 0.21 15 - - -

LNU835 78186.2 - - - 10.1 0.23 13 0.461 0.12 13

LNU828 77598.3 - - - 10.3 0.18 15 - - -

LNU807 79248.5 0.998 0.24 14 - - - - - -

LNU798 79671.4 - - - 10.7 0.06 20 0.450 0.22 10

LNU766 78931.2 - - - 10.0 0.24 13 0.444 0.30 8

LNU766 78932.1 - - - 11.3 0.02 26 0.456 0.18 11

LNU752 78153.1 1.02 0.16 17 - - - - - - RGR Of Leaf RGR Of Plot RGR Of Rosette

Gene Number Coverage [cm ² /day] Diameter [cm/day]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

CONT. - 0.873 - - 8.92 - - 0.410 - -

LNU976 78364.2 - - - - - - 0.579 0.14 15

LNU970 78389.8 - - - 17.5 0.01 38 0.578 0.14 15

LNU970 78390.3 - - - 14.8 0.25 17 0.560 0.28 11

LNU963 78384.2 - - - 15.0 0.20 19 - - -

LNU934 79007.5 - - - 15.5 0.14 23 - - -

LNU924 77608.3 - - - - - - 0.558 0.30 11

LNU902 79604.4 0.894 0.11 19 - - - - - -

LNU790 78890.1 - - - 14.7 0.26 16 - - -

LNU790 78890.3 0.881 0.16 17 - - - - - -

LNU767 79146.1 0.862 0.21 15 - - - - - -

CONT. - 0.750 - - 12.6 - - 0.503 - -

LNU947 77447.3 - - - 11.7 0.23 15 - - -

LNU947 77448.4 - - - 15.2 L 50 0.552 L 28

LNU940 77812.4 - - - 11.7 0.25 15 - - -

LNU940 77813.1 - - - 13.0 0.03 28 0.482 0.18 12

LNU900 78851.3 - - - 12.2 0.11 21 - - -

LNU900 78854.3 - - - 11.6 0.26 14 0.511 0.04 19

LNU898 78983.4 - - - 12.7 0.05 26 0.482 0.17 12

LNU898 78985.1 - - - 12.0 0.17 18 0.480 0.21 12

LNU894 78282.3 - - - 12.0 0.20 18 - - -

LNU894 78283.4 0.909 0.18 16 12.4 0.11 22 - - -

LNU894 78283.7 - - - 12.8 0.07 27 0.485 0.28 13

LNU846 78438.2 - - - - - - 0.476 0.26 11

LNU846 78439.4 - - - 13.8 0.01 36 0.499 0.13 16

LNU820 77807.2 - - - 12.2 0.11 21 0.502 0.06 17

LNU815 77492.6 - - - 12.5 0.11 23 0.479 0.28 11

LNU815 77494.1 - - - 13.8 L 36 0.510 0.04 19

LNU815 77495.3 - - - - - - 0.476 0.23 11

LNU814 78953.2 - - - 12.1 0.13 20 0.490 0.13 14

LNU814 78953.3 - - - 11.8 0.23 16 - - -

LNU811 78176.8 - - - 11.6 0.25 15 - - -

LNU811 78179.1 - - - 14.2 L 41 0.517 0.05 20

LNU797 78025.3 - - - 12.2 0.14 20 0.487 0.16 13

LNU793 78166.4 - - - 12.1 0.15 19 0.479 0.24 11

LNU793 78168.1 - - - 12.1 0.13 19 0.493 0.11 15

LNU793 78169.2 - - - 11.9 0.19 17 - - -

LNU769 78163.4 - - - - - - 0.488 0.20 14

LNU769 78163.8 - - - - - - 0.480 0.22 12

LNU756 77581.3 - - - 12.1 0.14 20 0.483 0.19 12 RGR Of Leaf RGR Of Plot RGR Of Rosette

Gene Number Coverage [cm ² /day] Diameter [cm/day]

Event #

Name P- % P- % P- %

Ave. Ave. Ave.

Val. Incr. Val. Incr. Val. Incr.

LNU751 11 All. I 0.878 0.25 12 - - - - - -

LNU751 11411.4 0.914 0.19 16 - - - - - -

LNU751 77478.3 - - - 11.7 0.23 15 - - -

CONT. - 0.786 - - 10.1 - - 0.430 - -

LNU913 78593.1 - - - 16.7 0.09 23 - - -

LNU896 78978.1 0.887 0.26 14 - - - - - -

CONT. - 0.777 - - 13.6 - - - - -

Tab] e 128. "CONT." - Contro ; "Ave." - Average; " Incr." = % increment; "p-val."

- p-value; L means that p-value is less than 0.01, p<0.1 was considered as significant.

EXAMPLE 19

EVALUATION OF TRANSGENIC BRACHYPODIUM NUE AND YIELD UNDER LOW OR NORMAL NITROGEN FERTILIZATION IN GREENHOUSE ASSAY

Assay 1: Nitrogen Use efficiency measured plant biomass and yield at limited and optimal nitrogen concentration under greenhouse conditions until heading - This assay follows the plant biomass formation and growth (measured by height) of plants which are grown in the greenhouse at limiting and non-limiting (e.g., normal) nitrogen growth conditions. Transgenic Brachypodium seeds were sown in peat plugs. The Ti transgenic seedlings were then transplanted to 27.8 X 11.8 X 8.5 cm trays filled with peat and perlite in a 1 : 1 ratio. The trays were irrigated with a solution containing nitrogen limiting conditions, which were achieved by irrigating the plants with a solution containing 3 mM inorganic nitrogen in the form of NH ₄ N0 ₃ , supplemented with 1 mM KH ₂ P0 ₄ , 1 mM MgS0 _4, 3.6 mM KC1, 2 mM CaCl ₂ and microelements, while normal nitrogen levels were achieved by applying a solution of 6 mM inorganic nitrogen also in the form of NH ₄ N0 ₃ with 1 mM KH ₂ P0 ₄ , 1 mM MgS0 _4, 2 mM CaCl ₂ , 3.6 mM KC1 and microelements. All plants were grown in the greenhouse until heading. Plant biomass (the above ground tissue) was weighted right after harvesting the shoots (plant fresh weight [FW]). Following, plants were dried in an oven at 70 °C for 48 hours and weighed (plant dry weight [DW]). Each construct was validated at its Ti generation. Transgenic plants transformed with a construct conformed by an empty vector carrying the BASTA selectable marker were used as control (Figure 9B).

The plants were analyzed for their overall size, fresh weight and dry matter. Transgenic plants performance was compared to control plants grown in parallel under the same conditions. Mock- transgenic plants with no gene and no promoter at all, were used as control (Figure 9B).

The experiment was planned in blocks and nested randomized plot distribution within them. For each gene of the invention five independent transformation events were analyzed from each construct.

Phenotyping

Plant Fresh and Dry shoot weight - In Heading assays when heading stage has completed (about day 30 from sowing), the plants were harvested and directly weighed for the determination of the plant fresh weight on semi-analytical scales (0.01 gr) (FW) and left to dry at 70°C in a drying chamber for about 48 hours before weighting to determine plant dry weight (DW).

Time to Heading - In both Seed Maturation and Heading assays heading was defined as the full appearance of the first spikelet in the plant. The time to heading occurrence is defined by the date the heading is completely visible. The time to heading occurrence date was documented for all plants and then the time from planting to heading was calculated.

Leaf thickness - In Heading assays when minimum 5 plants per plot in at least 90% of the plots in an experiment have been documented at heading, measurement of leaf thickness was performed using a micro-meter on the second leaf below the flag leaf.

Plant Height - In both Seed Maturation and Heading assays once heading was completely visible, the height of the first spikelet was measured from soil level to the bottom of the spikelet.

Tillers number - In Heading assays manual count of tillers was preformed per plant after harvest, before weighing. EXAMPLE 20

EVALUATION OF TRANSGENIC BRA CHYPODIUM NUE AND YIELD UNDER LOW OR NORMAL NITROGEN FERTILIZATION IN GREENHOUSE ASSAY

Assay 2: Nitrogen Use efficiency measured plant biomass and yield at limited and optimal nitrogen concentration under greenhouse conditions until Seed Maturation - This assay follows the plant biomass and yield production of plants that were grown in the greenhouse at limiting and non-limiting nitrogen growth conditions. Transgenic Brachypodium seeds were sown in peat plugs. The Ti transgenic seedlings were then transplanted to 27.8 X 11.8 X 8.5 cm trays filled with peat and perlite in a 1: 1 ratio. The trays were irrigated with a solution containing nitrogen limiting conditions, which were achieved by irrigating the plants with a solution containing 3 mM inorganic nitrogen in the form of NH ₄ N0 ₃ , supplemented with 1 mM KH ₂ P0 ₄ , 1 mM MgS0 _4i 3.6 mM KC1, 2 mM CaCl ₂ and microelements, while normal nitrogen levels were achieved by applying a solution of 6 mM inorganic nitrogen also in the form of NH ₄ N0 ₃ with 1 mM KH ₂ P0 ₄ , 1 mM MgS0 _4, 2 mM CaCl ₂ , 3.6 mM KC1 and microelements. All plants were grown in the greenhouse until seed maturation. Each construct was validated at its Ti generation. Transgenic plants transformed with a construct conformed by an empty vector carrying the BASTA selectable marker were used as control (Figure 9B).

The plants were analyzed for their overall biomass, fresh weight and dry matter, as well as a large number of yield and yield components related parameters. Transgenic plants performance was compared to control plants grown in parallel under the same conditions. Mock- transgenic plants with no gene and no promoter at all (Figure 9B). The experiment was planned in blocks and nested randomized plot distribution within them. For each gene of the invention five independent transformation events were analyzed from each construct.

Phenotyping

Plant Fresh and Dry vegetative weight - In Seed Maturation assays when maturity stage has completed (about day 80 from sowing), the plants were harvested and directly weighed for the determination of the plant fresh weight (FW) and left to dry at 70°C in a drying chamber for about 48 hours before weighting to determine plant dry weight (DW). Spikelets Dry weight (SDW) - In Seed Maturation assays when maturity stage has completed (about day 80 from sowing), the spikelets were separated from the biomass, left to dry at 70°C in a drying chamber for about 48 hours before weighting to determine spikelets dry weight (SDW).

Grain Yield per Plant - In Seed Maturation assays after drying of spikelets for

SDW, spikelets were run through production machine, then through cleaning machine, until seeds were produced per plot, then weighed and Grain Yield per Plant was calculated.

Grain Number - In Seed Maturation assays after seeds per plot were produced and cleaned, the seeds were run through a counting machine and counted.

1000 Seed Weight - In Seed Maturation assays after seed production, a fraction was taken from each sample (seeds per plot; -0.5 gr), counted and photographed. 1000 seed weight was calculated.

Harvest Index - In Seed Maturation assays after seed production, harvest index was calculated by dividing grain yield and vegetative dry weight.

Time to Heading - In both Seed Maturation and Heading assays heading was defined as the full appearance of the first spikelet in the plant. The time to heading occurrence is defined by the date the heading is completely visible. The time to heading occurrence date was documented for all plants and then the time from planting to heading was calculated.

Leaf thickness - In Heading assays when minimum 5 plants per plot in at least 90% of the plots in an experiment have been documented at heading, measurement of leaf thickness was performed using a micro-meter on the second leaf below the flag leaf.

Grain filling period - In Seed Maturation assays maturation was defined by the first color-break of spikelet + stem on the plant, from green to yellow/brown.

Plant Height - In both Seed Maturation and Heading assays once heading was completely visible, the height of the first spikelet was measured from soil level to the bottom of the spikelet.

Tillers number - In Heading assays manual count of tillers was preformed per plant after harvest, before weighing.

Number of reproductive heads per plant - In Heading assays manual count of heads per plant was performed. Statistical analyses - To identify genes conferring significantly improved tolerance to abiotic stresses, the results obtained from the transgenic plants were compared to those obtained from control plants. To identify outperforming genes and constructs, results from the independent transformation events tested were analyzed separately. Data was analyzed using Student's t-test and results were considered significant if the p value was less than 0.1. The JMP statistics software package was used (Version 5.2.1, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA).

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention. To the extent that section headings are used, they should not be construed as necessarily limiting.