The present invention relates to the modification of lignin biosynthesis
in plants, using the nucleotide sequences encoding the enzymes
4-coumarate CoA-ligase (4CL), cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR), cinnamyl
alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) of the lignin biosynthetic pathway, from
ryegrass (Lolium) and fescue (Festuca). The present invention also
relates to regulatory elements, promoters capable of causing expression
of exogenous genes in plants, wherein the regulatory elements are from
the genes for caffeic acid Omethyl transferase (OMT), 4CL, CCR or CAD.
The invention also relates to vectors including the nucleic acids and
regulatory elements of the invention, plant cells, plants, plant seeds
and other plant parts transformed with the regulatory elements, nucleic
acids and vectors and methods using the nucleic acids, regulatory
elements and vectors.
