Regulation of expression of programmed cell death, including senescence,
in plants is achieved by integration of a gene or gene fragment encoding senescence-induced
deoxyhypusine synthase, senescence-induced elF-5A or both into the plant genome
in antisense orientation. Plant genes encoding senescence-induced deoxyhypusine
synthase and senescence-induced elF-5A are identified and the nucleotide sequences
of each, alone and in combination are used to modify senescence in transgenic plants.