Method and composition for increasing sterol accumulation in higher plants.

摘要

A method of increasing sterol accumulation in a plant by increasing the copy number of a gene encoding a polypeptide having HMG-CoA reductase activity is disclosed. The copy number is preferably increased by transforming plants with a recombinant DNA molecule comprising a vector operatively linked to an exogenous DNA segment that encodes a polypeptide having HMG-CoA reductase activity, and a promoter suitable for driving the expression of said polypeptide. Also disclosed are a method of increasing cycloartenol accumulation in a plant, a method of increasing the resistance of plants to pests and the transformed plants themselves.