The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology
and concerns a method for enhancing yield-related traits and/or improving
various plant growth characteristics by modulating expression in a plant
of a nucleic acid encoding a GRP (Growth Regulating Protein). The GRP is
selected from a LOB-domain comprising protein (LOB: Lateral Organ
Boundaries), herein abbreviated as LBD polypeptide, a JMJC (JUMONJI-C)
polypeptide, a CKI (Casein Kinase I) polypeptide, a bHLH11-like (basic
Helix-Loop-Helix 11) protein, a plant homeodomain finger-homeodomain
(PHDf-HD) polypeptide, an ASR (abscisic acid-, stress-, and
ripening-induced) polypeptide and/or a Squamosa promoter binding
protein-like 1 1 (SPL11) transcription factor polypeptide. The present
invention also concerns plants having modulated expression of a nucleic
acid encoding a GRP, which plants have improved growth characteristics
relative to corresponding wild type plants or other control plants. The
invention also provides novel GRP nucleic acids and GRP polypeptides as
well as constructs useful in the methods of the invention.