COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING CARBON DIOXIDE- (CO2-) REGULATED STOMATAL APERTURES, WATER TRANSPIRATION AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY IN PLANTS

摘要

In alternative embodiments, the invention provides compositions and methods for manipulating the exchange of water and/or carbon dioxide (CO2) through plant stomata by combining the control of expression of CO2 sensor genes with the control of expression of OSTl protein kinase and the related protein kinases SnRK2.2 and SnRK2.3, and their genes. In alternative embodiments, the invention provides plants having increased water use efficiency, and drought-resistant plants; and methods for engineering of water transpiration and water use efficiency in plants, and engineering plants with increased water use efficiency and drought-resistant plants.