Disclosed are novel genetically modified plant cells wherein a SHI (short
internodes) family gene is integrated into the nuclear genome. Also
disclosed are plant cells where a SHI antisense gene is integrated or
plants including heterologous expression control of autologous SHI genes.
The plant cells confer novel phenotypes upon plants incorporating the SHI
family gene. The invention also discloses transgenic plants and methods
for plant production, where the plants are dwarfed, but exhibit normal or
increased flower set after induction of flowering with GA. The plants of
the invention are obtained without use of any growth retardants.