Transcription factors and developmental control in plants

Lots of plant transcription factors have been identified in the recent deca de, notably the knotted-1 related transcription factor family, the MADS-box transcription factors family, and factors involved in induction of floral meristem and those controlling cellular differentiation in plants. These tr anscription factors not only play an important role in the growth, developm ent, morphogenesis and metabolic control of plants, but may also help modif y plant morphology via ectopic expression. It is therefore likely that tran scription factors might be developed into a novel type of biotechnological tool which could modify plant traits.