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Abstract

The invention concerns a method for improving growth characteristics of plants by increasing activity in a plant of an RNA-binding protein which is:

(i) a polypeptide having RNA-binding activity and comprising 2 or 3 RNA recognition motifs (RRMs) and a motif having at least 75% identity to motif I: PYEAAVVALPVVVKERLVRILRLGIATRYD (SEQ ID NO: 12) and/or a motif having at least 50% identity to motif II: RFDPFTGEPYKFDP (SEQ ID NO: 13); or(ii) an RBP1 polypeptide having (a) RNA-binding activity; (b) two RRM domains, (c) the following two motifs: (i) KIFVGGL (SEQ ID NO: 41); and (ii) RPRGFGF (SEQ ID NO: 42), allowing for up to three amino acid substitutions and any conservative change in the motifs; and (d) having at least 20% identity to SEQ ID NO: 15.Also provided is transgenic plants introduced with an RNA-binding protein-encoding nucleic acid having improved growth characteristics and constructs useful in the methods.

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First Claim