Plants With Increased Yield

• US 20100205690A1
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BASF Plant Science GmbH (BASF SE)
• Original Assignee: BASF Plant Science GmbH (BASF SE)
• Inventors: Potzdam, Gerhard, Bläsing, Oliver, Thimm, Oliver, Puzio, Piotr, Schön, Hardy
• Granted Patent: US 8,809,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 800/278
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8261 with agronomic (input) traits, e.g. crop yield
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8271 for stress resistance, e.g. heavy metal resistance
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8273 for drought, cold, salt resistance
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/146 Genetically Modified [GMO] plants, e.g. transgenic plants

Abstract

The present invention disclosed herein provides a method for producing a plant with increased yield as compared to a corresponding wild type plant comprising increasing or generating one or more activities in a plant or a part thereof. The present invention further relates to nucleic acids enhancing or improving one or more traits of a transgenic plant, and cells, progenies, seeds and pollen derived from such plants or parts, as well as methods of making and methods of using such plant cell(s) or plant(s), progenies, seed(s) or pollen. Particularly, said improved trait(s) are manifested in an increased yield, preferably by improving one or more yield-related trait(s), e.g. low temperature tolerance.

Claims

1. A method for producing a plant with increased yield as compared to a corresponding wild type plant comprising at least the following step:

increasing or generating in a plant or a part thereof one or more activities selected from the group consisting of (DL)-glycerol-3-phosphatase, 2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate phosphatase, 3-methyl-2-oxobutanoate hydroxymethyltransferase, alcohol acetyltransferase, amino acid permease, aminomethyltransferase, ammonium transporter, aquaporin, Arabinose transport system ATP-binding protein, Argininosuccinate synthase, aspartate aminotransferase, B1906-protein, B3410-protein, cardiolipin synthetase, CoA-transferase-like protein (NAD(P)-binding), cobalt transport protein, DNA and protein binding protein for controling the proteome at post-transcriptional level, Enoyl CoA hydratase, enoyl-CoA hydratase, enoyl-CoA isomerase, ethanolamine kinase, formate acetyltransferase 1, glucitol/sorbitol-specific enzyme IIA component protein, glutamine synthetase, glutathione S-transferase, glycerol dehydrogenase, Glycogen synthesis initiator protein, GTP-binding protein, Heat shock protein, hexose transporter, holo-[acyl-carrier-protein] synthase, inorganic phosphate transporter, lanosterol synthase, Molybdenum-binding subunit of aldehyde oxidases and xanthine dehydrogenases , multidrug resistance protein, multiple drug resistance protein, NADH dehydrogenase/NAD(P)H nitroreductase, oxidoreductase, peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase, Peroxisomal targeting signal 2 receptor, Phosphoadenosine phosphosulfate reductase, Phosphocarrier protein, Pirin-like protein, precorrin-6y methylase, protein required for degradation of glycoproteins, pyrimidine deaminase/reductase, Regulator of cell morphogenesis and NO signaling, serine acetyltransferase, signalosome complex subunit, SLR1094-protein, subunit of TORC1, thiol-specific monooxygenase, transcriptional regulatory protein, transketolase, two-module transport protein, uridine diphosphate-N-acetylglucosamine transporter, yer175w-a-protein, yhr213w-a-protein, YML079W-protein, YMR157C-protein, YNL024C-protein, and YNR040W-protein.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising

(i) increasing or generating of the expression of and/or

(ii) increasing or generating the expression of an expression product of;

and/or

(iii) increasing or generating one or more activities of an expression product encoded by

at least one nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of;

(a) a nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide shown in column 5 or 7 of table II;

(b) a nucleic acid molecule shown in column 5 or 7 of table I;

(c) a nucleic acid molecule, which, as a result of the degeneracy of the genetic code, can be derived from a polypeptide sequence depicted in column 5 or 7 of table II and confers an increased yield as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell, a transgenic plant or a part thereof;

(d) a nucleic acid molecule having at least around 30% identity with the nucleic acid molecule sequence of a polynucleotide comprising the nucleic acid molecule shown in column 5 or 7 of table I and confers an increased yield as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell, a plant or a part thereof;

(e) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide having at least around 30% identity with the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of (a) to (c) and having the activity represented by a nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide as depicted in column 5 of table I and confers an increased yield as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell, a plant or a part thereof;

(f) a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with a nucleic acid molecule of (a) to (c) under stringent hybridization conditions and confers an increased yield as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell, a plant or a part thereof;

(g) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide which can be isolated with the aid of monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies made against a polypeptide encoded by one of the nucleic acid molecules of (a) to (e) and having the activity represented by the nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide as depicted in column 5 of table I;

(h) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide comprising the consensus sequence or one or more polypeptide motifs as shown in column 7 of table IV and preferably having the activity represented by a nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide as depicted in column 5 of table II or IV;

(i) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide having the activity represented by a protein as depicted in column 5 of table II and conferring increased yield as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell, a plant or a part thereof;

(j) a nucleic acid molecule which comprises a polynucleotide, which is obtained by amplifying a cDNA library or a genomic library using the primers in column 7 of table III and preferably having the activity represented by a nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide as depicted in column 5 of table II or IV; and

k) a nucleic acid molecule which is obtainable by screening a suitable nucleic acid library under stringent hybridization conditions with a probe comprising a complementary sequence of a nucleic acid molecule of (a) or (b) or with a fragment thereof, having at least around 50 nt of a nucleic acid molecule complementary to a nucleic acid molecule sequence characterized in (a) to (e) and encoding a polypeptide having the activity represented by a protein comprising a polypeptide as depicted in column 5 of table II.

15. A plant cell nucleus, a plant cell, a plant tissue, propagation material, seed, pollen, progeny, or a plant part, resulting in a plant with increase yield after regeneration;

or a plant with increased yield;

or a part thereof;

with said yield increased as compared to a corresponding wild type produced by the method according to claim 3.

16. The transgenic plant cell nucleus, transgenic plant cell, transgenic plant or part thereof of claim 15 derived from a monocotyledonous plant.

17. The transgenic plant cell nucleus, transgenic plant cell, transgenic plant or part thereof of claim 15 derived from a dicotyledonous plant.

18. The transgenic plant cell nucleus, transgenic plant cell, transgenic plant or part thereof of claim 15, wherein the corresponding plant is selected from the group consisting of corn (maize), wheat, rye, oat, triticale, rice, barley, soybean, peanut, cotton, oil seed rape, including canola and winter oil seed rape, manihot, pepper, sunflower, flax, borage, safflower, linseed, primrose, rapeseed, turnip rape, tagetes, solanaceous plants comprising potato, tobacco, eggplant, tomato;

Vicia species, pea, alfalfa, coffee, cacao, tea, Salix species, oil palm, coconut, perennial grass, forage crops and Arabidopsis thaliana.

19. The transgenic plant cell nucleus, transgenic plant cell, transgenic plant or part thereof of claim 15, wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of corn, soy, oil seed rape (including canola and winter oil seed rape), cotton, wheat and rice.

2. A method for producing a plant with increased yield as compared to a corresponding wild type plant comprising at least one of the steps selected from the group consisting of:

(i) increasing or generating the activity of a polypeptide comprising a polypeptide, a consensus sequence or at least one polypeptide motif as depicted in column 5 or 7 of table II or of table IV, respectively;

(ii) increasing or generating the activity of an expression product of a nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide as depicted in column 5 or 7 of table I, and

(iii) increasing or generating the activity of a functional equivalent of (i) or (ii).

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the one or more activities increased or generated is (DL)-glycerol-3-phosphatase, 2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate phosphatase, 3-methyl-2-oxobutanoate hydroxymethyltransferase, alcohol acetyltransferase, amino acid permease, aminomethyltransferase, ammonium transporter, aquaporin, Arabinose transport system ATP-binding protein, Argininosuccinate synthase, aspartate aminotransferase, B 1906-protein, B3410-protein, cardiolipin synthetase, CoA-transferase-like protein (NAD(P)-binding), cobalt transport protein, DNA and protein binding protein for controling the proteome at post-transcriptional level, Enoyl CoA hydratase , enoyl-CoA hydratase, enoyl-CoA isomerase, ethanolamine kinase, formate acetyltransferase 1, glucitol/sorbitol-specific enzyme IIA component protein, glutamine synthetase, glutathione S-transferase, glycerol dehydrogenase, Glycogen synthesis initiator protein, GTP-binding protein, Heat shock protein, hexose transporter, holo-[acyl-carrier-protein] synthase, inorganic phosphate transporter, lanosterol synthase, Molybdenum-binding subunit of aldehyde oxidases and xanthine dehydrogenases, multidrug resistance protein, multiple drug resistance protein, NADH dehydrogenase/NAD(P)H nitroreductase, oxidoreductase, peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase, Peroxisomal targeting signal 2 receptor, Phosphoadenosine phosphosulfate reductase, Phosphocarrier protein, Pirin-like protein, precorrin-6y methylase, protein required for degradation of glycoproteins, pyrimidine deaminase/reductase, Regulator of cell morphogenesis and NO signaling, serine acetyltransferase, signalosome complex subunit, SLR1094-protein, subunit of TORC1, thiol-specific monooxygenase, transcriptional regulatory protein, transketolase, two-module transport protein, uridine diphosphate-N-acetylglucosamine transporter, yer175w-a-protein, yhr213w-a-protein, YML079W-protein, YMR157C-protein, YNL024C-protein, or YNR040W-protein, respectively.

6. The method of claim 2 resulting in increased yield compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant under standard growth conditions.

4. A method for producing a transgenic plant with increased yield as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant, comprising transforming a plant cell or a plant cell nucleus or a plant tissue with a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide shown in column 5 or 7 of table II;

(b) a nucleic acid molecule shown in column 5 or 7 of table I;

(c) a nucleic acid molecule, which, as a result of the degeneracy of the genetic code, can be derived from a polypeptide sequence depicted in column 5 or 7 of table II and confers an increased yield as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell, a plant or a part thereof;

(d) a nucleic acid molecule having at least around 30% identity with the nucleic acid molecule sequence of a polynucleotide comprising the nucleic acid molecule shown in column 5 or 7 of table I and confers an increased yield as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell, a plant or a part thereof;

(e) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide having at least around 30% identity with the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of (a) to (c) and having the activity represented by a nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide as depicted in column 5 of table I and confers an increased yield as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell, a plant or a part thereof;

(f) a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with a nucleic acid molecule of (a) to (c) under stringent hybridization conditions and confers an increased yield as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell, a plant or a part thereof;

(g) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide which can be isolated with the aid of monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies made against a polypeptide encoded by one of the nucleic acid molecules of (a) to (e) and having the activity represented by the nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide as depicted in column 5 of table I;

(h) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide comprising the consensus sequence or one or more polypeptide motifs as shown in column 7 of table IV and preferably having the activity represented by a nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide as depicted in column 5 of table II or IV;

(i) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide having the activity represented by a protein as depicted in column 5 of table II and conferring increased yield as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell, a plant or a part thereof;

(j) a nucleic acid molecule which comprises a polynucleotide, which is obtained by amplifying a cDNA library or a genomic library using the primers in column 7 of table III and preferably having the activity represented by a nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide as depicted in column 5 of table II or IV; and

k) a nucleic acid molecule which is obtainable by screening a suitable nucleic acid library under stringent hybridization conditions with a probe comprising a complementary sequence of a nucleic acid molecule of (a) or (b) or with a fragment thereof, having at least around 50 nt of a nucleic acid molecule complementary to a nucleic acid molecule sequence characterized in (a) to (e) and encoding a polypeptide having the activity represented by a protein comprising a polypeptide as depicted in column 5 of table II, and regenerating a transgenic plant from that said transformed plant cell nucleus, plant cell or plant tissue with increased yield.

7. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide shown in column 5 or 7 of table IIB;

(b) a nucleic acid molecule shown in column 5 or 7 of table IB;

(c) a nucleic acid molecule, which, as a result of the degeneracy of the genetic code, can be derived from a polypeptide sequence depicted in column 5 or 7 of table II and confers increased yield as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell, a plant or a part thereof;

(d) a nucleic acid molecule having at least about 30% identity with the nucleic acid molecule sequence of a polynucleotide comprising the nucleic acid molecule shown in column 5 or 7 of table I and conferring increased yield as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell, a transgenic plant or a part thereof;

(e) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide having at least about 30% identity with the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of (a) to (c) and having the activity represented by a nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide as depicted in column 5 of table I and confers increased yield as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell, a plant or a part thereof;

(f) a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes with a nucleic acid molecule of (a) to (c) under stringent hybridization conditions and confers increased yield as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell, a plant or a part thereof;

(g) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide which can be isolated with the aid of monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies made against a polypeptide encoded by one of the nucleic acid molecules of (a) to (e) and having the activity represented by the nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide as depicted in column 5 of table I;

(h) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide comprising the consensus sequence or one or more polypeptide motifs as shown in column 7 of table IV and preferably having the activity represented by a nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide as depicted in column 5 of table II or IV;

a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide having the activity represented by a protein as depicted in column 5 of table II and confers an increased yield as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell, a plant or a part thereof;

(j) a nucleic acid molecule which comprises a polynucleotide, which is obtained by amplifying a cDNA library or a genomic library using the primers in column 7 of table III and preferably having the activity represented by a nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide as depicted in column 5 of table II or IV; and

(k) a nucleic acid molecule which is obtainable by screening a suitable nucleic acid library under stringent hybridization conditions with a probe comprising a complementary sequence of a nucleic acid molecule of (a) or (b) or with a fragment thereof, having at least 50 nt, of a nucleic acid molecule complementary to a nucleic acid molecule sequence characterized in (a) to (e) and encoding a polypeptide having the activity represented by a protein comprising a polypeptide as depicted in column 5 of table II.

8. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 7, whereby the nucleic acid molecule according to (a) to (k) is at least in one or more nucleotides different from the sequence depicted in column 5 or 7 of table I A and preferably encodes a protein which differs at least in one or more amino acids from the protein sequences depicted in column 5 or 7 of table IIA.

9. A nucleic acid construct which confers the expression of said the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 7, a nucleic acid molecule which is at least in one or more nucleotides different from the sequence depicted in column 5 or 7 of table IA and preferably encodes a protein which differs at least in one or more amino acids from the protein sequences depicted in column 5 or 7 of table IIA, a nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide shown in column 5 or 7 of table II, or a nucleic acid molecule shown in column 5 or 7 of table I, comprising one or more regulatory elements.

10. A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule as claimed in claim 7, a nucleic acid molecule which is at least in one or more nucleotides different from the sequence depicted in column 5 or 7 of table IA and preferably encodes a protein which differs at least in one or more amino acids from the protein sequences depicted in column 5 or 7 of table IIA, a nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide shown in column 5 or 7 of table II, or a nucleic acid molecule shown in column 5 or 7 of table I, or a nucleic acid construct which confers the expression of said isolated nucleic acid molecule or said nucleic acid molecule comprising one or more regulatory elements.

11. A process for producing a polypeptide, comprising expressing in a host nucleus or host cell a polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 7, a nucleic acid molecule which is at least in one or more nucleotides different from the sequence depicted in column 5 or 7 of table IA and preferably encodes a protein which differs at least in one or more amino acids from the protein sequences depicted in column 5 or 7 of table IIA, a nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide shown in column 5 or 7 of table II, or a nucleic acid molecule shown in column 5 or 7 of table I.

12. A polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid molecule as claimed in claim 7 or encoded by a nucleic acid molecule which is at least in one or more nucleotides different from the sequence depicted in column 5 or 7 of table IA and preferably encodes a protein which differs at least in one or more amino acids from the protein sequences depicted in column 5 or 7 of table IIA, or as depicted in table IIB, whereby the polypeptide distinguishes over the sequence as shown in table IIA by one or more amino acids.

13. An antibody, which binds specifically to the polypeptide as claimed in claim 12.

14. A plant cell nucleus, plant cell, plant tissue, propagation material, pollen, progeny, harvested material or a plant comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule as claimed in claim 7, a nucleic acid molecule which is at least in one or more nucleotides different from the sequence depicted in column 5 or 7 of table IA and preferably encodes a protein which differs at least in one or more amino acids from the protein sequences depicted in column 5 or 7 of table IIA, a nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide shown in column 5 or 7 of table II, or a nucleic acid molecule shown in column 5 or 7 of table I, or a host nucleus or the host cell which has been transformed stably or transiently with said isolated nucleic acid molecule or said nucleic acid molecule.

20. A transgenic plant comprising one or more of plant cell nuclei or plant cells, progeny, seed or pollen produced by the transgenic plant of claim 14.

21. A transgenic plant, transgenic plant cell nucleus, transgenic plant cell, plant comprising one or more of such transgenic plant cell nuclei or plant cells, progeny, seed or pollen derived from or produced by the transgenic plant of claim 14, wherein said transgenic plant, transgenic plant cell nucleus, transgenic plant cell, plant comprising one or more of such transgenic plant cell nuclei or plant cells, progeny, seed or pollen is genetically homozygous for a transgene conferring increased yield as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell, a transgenic plant or a part thereof.

22. A process for the identification of a compound conferring increased yield as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant cell, a transgenic plant or a part thereof in a plant cell, a transgenic plant or a part thereof, a transgenic plant or a part thereof, comprising the steps:

(a) culturing a plant cell;

a transgenic plant or a part thereof expressing the polypeptide of claim 12 and a readout system capable of interacting with the polypeptide under suitable conditions which permit the interaction of the polypeptide with said readout system in the presence of a compound or a sample comprising a plurality of compounds and capable of providing a detectable signal in response to the binding of a compound to said polypeptide under conditions which permit the expression of said readout system and of the polypeptide;

(b) identifying if the compound is an effective agonist by detecting the presence or absence or increase of a signal produced by said readout system.

23. A method for the production of an agricultural composition comprising identifying a compound according to the method of claim 22 and formulating the compound identified in a form acceptable for an application in agriculture.

24. A composition comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 7, a nucleic acid molecule which is at least in one or more nucleotides different from the sequence depicted in column 5 or 7 of table IA and preferably encodes a protein which differs at least in one or more amino acids from the protein sequences depicted in column 5 or 7 of table IIA, a nucleic acid construct comprising said isolated nucleic acid molecule or said nucleic acid molecule, a vector comprising said isolated nucleic acid molecule, said nucleic acid molecule, or said nucleic acid construct, a polypeptide encoded by isolated nucleic acid molecule or said nucleic acid molecule, a compound identified by said polypeptide, a nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide shown in column 5 or 7 of table II, a nucleic acid molecule shown in column 5 or 7 of table I, and/or an antibody that binds specifically to said polypeptide;

and optionally an agriculturally acceptable carrier.

25. The polypeptide of claim 12 or the nucleic acid molecule which is selected from yeast or E. coli.

27. A marker for identification or selection of a plant with increased yield as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant, comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 7 or a nucleic acid molecule which is at least in one or more nucleotides different from the sequence depicted in column 5 or 7 of table IA and preferably encodes a protein which differs at least in one or more amino acids from the protein sequences depicted in column 5 or 7 of table IIA.

28. A method for detection of yield increase in plants or plant cells, comprising utilizing the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 7 as a marker.

31. The plant of claim 14, wherein said plant shows an improved yield-related trait.

32. The plant of claim 14, wherein said plant shows an improved nutrient use efficiency and/or abiotic stress tolerance.

33. The plant of claim 14, wherein said plant shows an improved increased low temperature tolerance.

34. The plant of claim 14, wherein the plant shows an increase of harvestable yield.

35. The plant of claim 14, wherein the plant shows an improved wherein yield increase is calculated on a per plant basis or in relation to a specific arable area.

36. A method for increasing yield of a population of plants, comprising checking the growth temperature(s) in the area for planting, comparing the temperatures with the optimal growth temperature of a plant species or a variety considered for planting, planting and growing the plant of claim 14 if the growth temperature is not optimal for the planting and growing of the plant species or the variety considered for planting.

37. A host cell, which has been transformed stably or transiently with the isolated nucleic acid molecule as claimed in claim 7, a nucleic acid molecule which is at least in one or more nucleotides different from the sequence depicted in column 5 or 7 of table IA and preferably encodes a protein which differs at least in one or more amino acids from the protein sequences depicted in column 5 or 7 of table IIA, a nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide shown in column 5 or 7 of table II, a nucleic acid molecule shown in column 5 or 7 of table I, a nucleic acid construct comprising said isolated nucleic acid molecule or said nucleic acid molecule, or a vector comprising said isolated nucleic acid molecule, said nucleic acid molecule, or said nucleic acid construct, wherein the host cell shows an enhanced tolerance and/or resistance to abiotic environmental stress and/or increased yield as compared to a corresponding non-transformed, wild type plant cell, a plant or a part thereof.

26. (canceled)

29. A method for the identification of a plant with an increased yield comprising screening a population of one or more plant cell nuclei, plant cells, plant tissues or plants or parts thereof for an activity selected from the group consisting of (DL)-glycerol-3-phosphatase, 2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate phosphatase, 3-methyl-2-oxobutanoate hydroxymethyltransferase, alcohol acetyltransferase, amino acid permease, aminomethyltransferase, ammonium transporter, aquaporin, Arabinose transport system ATP-binding protein, Argininosuccinate synthase, aspartate aminotransferase, B 1906-protein, B3410-protein, cardiolipin synthetase, CoA-transferase-like protein (NAD(P)-binding), cobalt transport protein, DNA and protein binding protein for controling the proteome at post-transcriptional level, Enoyl CoA hydratase , enoyl-CoA hydratase, enoyl-CoA isomerase, ethanolamine kinase, formate acetyltransferase 1, glucitol/sorbitol-specific enzyme IIA component protein, glutamine synthetase, glutathione S-transferase, glycerol dehydrogenase, Glycogen synthesis initiator protein, GTP-binding protein, Heat shock protein, hexose transporter, holo-[acyl-carrier-protein] synthase, inorganic phosphate transporter, lanosterol synthase, Molybdenum-binding subunit of aldehyde oxidases and xanthine dehydrogenases, multidrug resistance protein, multiple drug resistance protein, NADH dehydrogenase/NAD(P)H nitroreductase, oxidoreductase, peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase, Peroxisomal targeting signal 2 receptor, Phosphoadenosine phosphosulfate reductase, Phosphocarrier protein, Pirin-like protein, precorrin-6y methylase, protein required for degradation of glycoproteins, pyrimidine deaminase/reductase, Regulator of cell morphogenesis and NO signaling, serine acetyltransferase, signalosome complex subunit, SLR1094-protein, subunit of TORC1, thiol-specific monooxygenase, transcriptional regulatory protein, transketolase, two-module transport protein, uridine diphosphate-N-acetylglucosamine transporter, yer175w-a-protein, yhr213w-a-protein, YML079W-protein, YMR157C-protein, YNL024C-protein, and YNR040W-protein, comparing the level of activity with the activity level in a reference;

identifying one or more plant cell nuclei, plant cells, plant tissues or plants or parts thereof with the activity increased compared to the reference, optionally producing a plant from the identified plant cell nuclei, cell or tissue.

30. A method for the identification of a plant with an increased yield comprising screening a population of one or more plant cell nuclei, plant cells, plant tissues or plants or parts thereof for the expression level of an nucleic acid coding for an polypeptide conferring an activity selected from the group consisting of (DL)-glycerol-3-phosphatase, 2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate phosphatase, 3-methyl-2-oxobutanoate hydroxymethyltransferase, alcohol acetyltransferase, amino acid permease, aminomethyltransferase, ammonium transporter, aquaporin, Arabinose transport system ATP-binding protein, Argininosuccinate synthase, aspartate aminotransferase, B 1906-protein, B3410-protein, cardiolipin synthetase, CoA-transferase-like protein (NAD(P)-binding), cobalt transport protein, DNA and protein binding protein for controling the proteome at post-transcriptional level, Enoyl CoA hydratase , enoyl-CoA hydratase, enoyl-CoA isomerase, ethanolamine kinase, formate acetyltransferase 1, glucitol/sorbitol-specific enzyme IIA component protein, glutamine synthetase, glutathione S-transferase, glycerol dehydrogenase, Glycogen synthesis initiator protein, GTP-binding protein, Heat shock protein, hexose transporter, holo-[acyl-carrier-protein] synthase, inorganic phosphate transporter, lanosterol synthase, Molybdenum-binding subunit of aldehyde oxidases and xanthine dehydrogenases, multidrug resistance protein, multiple drug resistance protein, NADH dehydrogenase/NAD(P)H nitroreductase, oxidoreductase, peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase, Peroxisomal targeting signal 2 receptor, Phosphoadenosine phosphosulfate reductase, Phosphocarrier protein, Pirin-like protein, precorrin-6y methylase, protein required for degradation of glycoproteins, pyrimidine deaminase/reductase, Regulator of cell morphogenesis and NO signaling, serine acetyltransferase, signalosome complex subunit, SLR1094-protein, subunit of TORC1, thiol-specific monooxygenase, transcriptional regulatory protein, transketolase, two-module transport protein, uridine diphosphate-N-acetylglucosamine transporter, yer175w-a-protein, yhr213w-a-protein, YML079W-protein, YMR157C-protein, YNL024C-protein, and YNR040W-protein, comparing the level of expression with a reference;

identifying one or more plant cell nuclei, plant cells, plant tissues or plants or parts thereof with the expression level increased compared to the reference, optionally producing a plant from the identified plant cell nuclei, cell or tissue.